PORT CARBON - The borough council Monday voted 4-2 to reappoint its previous solicitor, William L. J. "Bill" Burke.
On Jan. 8, the Schuylkill County Commissioners hired Burke, Port Carbon, as part-time assistant district attorney at a salary of $25,575. Burke is also an attorney who works at Burke & Burke, 23 E. Centre St., Shenandoah.
"I'm not sure how much time he can commit to being our solicitor," said Councilman Michael Quercia, who voted against the appointment.
Council Vice President John Franko said he discussed the matter with Burke prior to Tuesday's meeting.
"He said he'd still have time to do it. If we have no other nominations, I'll nominate Bill as solicitor," Franko said.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Ray Steranko. In a roll call vote, Burke was hired with votes from council President Harold "Bucky" Herndon and Councilman Warren Thomas.
Quercia and Councilman Andy Palokas voted 'no.'
Andy Palokas left the meeting soon after it adjourned and could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Burke was not at the council's meeting Tuesday and could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Secretary/Treasurer Sandra L. Palokas asked the council if she could get price quotes to hire a mobile document shredder to destroy 40 boxes of outdated files at the borough hall.
"There's stuff in there from, like, the '90s, like light bills and phone bills. The Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs has a site, and it tells you how long you have to keep what. The cabinets are all full. I feel like I'm working in a storage cabinet," Sandra Palokas said.
The council passed a motion to allow her to get price quotes. The council will then review them before hiring a firm, Steranko said.
At a work session 7 p.m. Jan. 6, the borough council decided all borough employees get permission from the council before spending any borough funds.
"I make a motion that all purchases in the borough are pre-approved," Steranko said at the work session.