White Oak: Council criticized for its handling of firing

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

A member of White Oak’s planning commission criticized council members in attendance at Monday’s council meeting, alleging a lack of communication on a personnel-related matter.

Planning commission member Glenn Beech, during public comment, said he and other members of the commission are disappointed council failed to inform the commission in a timely manner that the code enforcement officer had been fired.

Councilmen Joe Nagy, George Pambacas and Ken Robb and Councilwoman Julie Opferman were at Monday’s meeting. Councilmen Lou Bender, Chuck Davis and George Dillinger were absent.

“I’m here tonight to express my disappointment with how this council communicates, or in fact doesn’t communicate, with another entity within this borough administration, namely the White Oak Planning Commission,” Beech said.

He said that at the July 19 regular meeting, council “made the decision to relieve Mr. (Brian) Dinkfelt of his duties as code enforcement officer.”

Davis, Dillinger, Opferman, Pambacas and Robb voted to “terminate employee 001 effective immediately,” and councilmen Lou Bender and Joe Nagy voted against the termination.

Neither Dinkfelt’s name or his position were revealed during the July meeting. Council didn’t publicly discuss details about the termination because it is a personnel matter.

Beech was the only person to speak under public comment Monday. Members of council and Solicitor Patricia McGrail did not mention Dinkfelt’s name, nor did they discuss the grounds on which he was fired. After the meeting Monday, McGrail confirmed that she and council can not discuss the matter publicly or with the media because it’s related to personnel.

Beech said that a few days after Dinkfelt’s termination, a resident approached him to ask why the code enforcement officer had lost his job.

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