Gill Hall VFC sparks council dispute

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Members of Jefferson Hills Council continued to butt heads Monday night as plans for reopening the borough’s Gill Hall Volunteer Fire Company raise many unanswered questions for both residents and officials.

During a virtual meeting, council moved forward with agreeing to discuss the volunteer fire company’s future at an executive session at 6 p.m. Friday.

“We all have agreed that we want Gill Hall open,” said council president Karen Bucy. “The methods for getting them open is questioned. We will continue working on the plan, and we will be able to get that information disseminated to the public.”

At a special meeting April 27, council voted 5-2 to recertify the fire company.

It was decertified in January 2019 with council members citing low member turnout and poor service as the reason for the shutdown. Four members of that council, then-president Christopher King, Tracey Khalil, Jay Weber and Mary Reynolds are no longer in office.

Recertification means the fire department, located at 1228 Gill Hall Road, will receive municipal funds and field emergency calls from Allegheny County Emergency Services.

The company will be placed on a year-long probation, with an audit and a mediation occurring within the first six months.

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