Donora mayor asks police superintendent to retire

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Donora Mayor Jim McDonough has moved to enforce an ordinance that would require police Superintendent Jim Brice to retire, despite council’s vote this month to repeal it.

In a message sent Friday, McDonough told Brice that he must submit his letter of retirement within 14 days, which would be June 12. 

During council’s May voting meeting, Councilman Donnie Pavelko made a motion to repeal borough ordinance No. 1181 of 1979 because he said it is “contrary to federal law,” specifically the Age Discrimination Act of 1967.  

The ordinance requires any police officer to retire once he reaches age 65.

Brice said Friday that he’s already consulted an attorney who told him it sounds like the borough is “begging for a lawsuit” and advised him not to comment any further.

Pavelko said the ordinance violates the law against age discrimination. The only person the ordinance currently applies to is Brice.

McDonough said he’s been given legal advice that the federal law doesn’t apply to police officers or firefighters.

The motion to repeal the ordinance passed 5-2 with council members Jane Ackerman, Cindy Brice, Pavelko, Sonny Lawson and Mike McDowell voting in favor. Councilmen Joe Greco and Ed Parquette voted against repealing the ordinance.

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