Zelie council approves agreement for new administrator position
ZELIENOPLE — Borough council unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement that details plans to hire a new administrator during a meeting on Monday, March 10.
The Southwestern Butler Council of Governments — consisting of Harmony, Zelienople, and Jackson and Lancaster townships — established the position, which will perform administrative functions for both the Southwest Butler Stormwater Authority and the Harmony Fire District.
Each of the four municipalities, along with the authority itself, will give contributions based on millage rates. Those funds will be used on wages and fringe benefits.
According to the agreement, Zelienople will provide $10,530 annually.
Harmony’s contribution will be $2,925. Jackson Township will contribute $30,420, which will be the second-highest contribution behind the authority itself, which will pay $31,500.
The total annual contribution will be paid in two equal installments, with the first installment due on or before Jan. 15 and the second installment being due on or before June 15 of each calendar year, according to the agreement.
Lancaster Township, which is expected to approve the agreement at a meeting next week, is set to contribute $14,625.
Contributions will be determined on an annual basis by council and will not increase by more than 5% per year.
Jackson Township manager Chris Rearick and Lancaster Township manager Mary Hess took in more than 70 applications and narrowed the field to three applicants.
While all four municipalities have agreed on a candidate, Rearick previously stated that they will not release the name of the individual until all municipalities have approved the agreement.
In other business, council members unanimously approved two special event permit applications.
Those included, the Zelienople Area Business Administration’s Open Air Market, which will take place on Thursday evenings from 5 to 9 p.m. beginning May 1 and continuing through Oct. 2; and the American Legion Memorial Day Service that is scheduled for May 26 from 10 a.m. until noon.
