MINERSVILLE - The borough council accepted the resignation of borough Manager Joseph K. Bass and fired a street department employee Tuesday night.
Bass, who resigned from his position effective July 15, was not at the meeting and has not responded for further comment.
The borough council approved a motion to advertise for the open borough manager position. Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30.
According to newspaper archives, police Chief Michael Combs said that Bass resigned on his own terms and there is no investigation into him nor were there any problems.
Bass was hired Jan. 11, 2011, as the borough's infrastructure manager and was put in charge of the sewer, the streets and the municipality's office staff. A grant writer, he also assisted the water department in acquiring funding.
Bass had held other borough positions before his employment in Minersville. In 1980, he was elected as a Mount Carmel borough councilman and became head of the council's finance committee and "served there for a year, 11 months and 16 days, until Dec. 16, 1981," he said in a previous story. Bass was the borough manager in Mount Carmel for 28 years before being fired Oct. 28, 2009.
On Oct. 28, 2009, the Mount Carmel council fired Bass and borough Treasurer Marian Muldowney in a surprise unanimous vote following a three-hour executive session, according to The News-Item, Shamokin.
The News-Item also stated in a story last month that Bass and Muldowney were fired in 2009 for receiving raises that the council said were never approved and for using borough council President Tony Matulewicz's signature stamp to approve checks.
After being fired, Bass said he job hunted for 13 months before Minersville borough council hired him. He replaced James Cleary, who resigned May 11, 2010, from the position of infrastructure manager he had held since January 2009.
Cleary's intent to retire came amid accusations of misconduct and misappropriation of funds brought to light in July by former Councilman Walter Miscavage, including allegations of borough employees being directed to perform multiple tasks at private homes and businesses on borough time, the misallocation of liquid fuels funding and 23 workers receiving bonuses of $1,000 each from funding for a sewer separation project.
In May 2011, the Minersville borough council approved an ordinance creating the office of borough manager, a title change for Bass.
The borough council also fired Matt Blacknall, an employee of the street department.
"Based on an investigation conducted by the Chief of Police Michael Combs, I now make a motion to terminate Mr. Blacknall as an employee of the borough, effective immediately," councilman Paul Vuksta said.
No other reason was given.
A motion was also accepted to advertise for the open street department position with applications due by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30.