Dalfonso’s appointment marks Westmoreland Commissioners’ first disagreement

By Rich Cholodofsky

Trib Total Media

Westmoreland County Commissioners Sean Kertes and Gina Cerilli on Thursday appointed a new member to the county’s housing authority board of directors, a move that resulted in the first disagreement among the county leaders.

Commissioner Doug Chew voted against the appointment of former Monessen District Judge Joseph Dalfonso to serve a five-year term on the board that oversees low income and elderly housing in the county. Chew said he was not afforded a proper review of Dalfonso’s qualifications for the volunteer position.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to meet him or even see a curriculum vitae. He hasn’t reached out to me, one of the two majority commissioners,” Chew said.

Chew, who, along with Kertes, formed a Republican majority on the board, started work this week. Cerilli is the lone Democrat elected in November and is taking over a minority role after having served the previous four years as the board’s chairwoman. She and Chew had a contentious relationship during the campaign and that bad blood seemed to continue Thursday.

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