Heights Mayor Addresses Attacks Against Council

Mayor Rose Heck spoke up Tuesday night about negative attacks against the borough council. 

“For candidates to cast a shadow on our town is offensive to me personally,” stated Heck referring to recent comments in the media about the way the borough does business including those that have come from Councilman Christian Semenecz, the sole Democrat on a council that has Republican majority. 

Heck said "political season has started early in Heights" referring to a letter to the editor titled "Closed Government is Not Good For Town" published in a "regional newspaper" which she did not refer to by name. She also did not mention who the author of the letter was by name.  

On the ballot for council this November are two Republican incumbents David Gonzalez and Sonya Buckman who will be challenged by Democrat candidates Carol Skiba and Matthew Maginley. 

"I’ve always believed in open government and I will continue to believe in open government but I will speak out loud and clear when people try to abuse the system by making the people who dedicate their time, energy, intelligence and knowledge to this council and try to make them appear to be doing something  that is not legal," said Heck. 

Heck's speech came after a clash amongst council members which started 
earlier in the meeting when Semenecz challenged the police committee's note keeping stating that minutes should have been kept and because there were none he chose to vote against the appointment of the two new police officers. 

Councilman Justin DiPisa the police commissioner told Semenecz he had plenty of time to ask for the information beforehand but instead waits until "the eleventh hour" to do so. DiPisa called it "unfair" and "irresponsible" of Semenecz to publicly imply that someone is at fault. 

Heck told Semenecz he has every right to ask questions just as each committee has a right to function. She asked him to work as a member of the council and to not attack fellow council members. 

Semencez stated that he would appreciate if the council agendas could be put out earlier so he'd have more time to "do his homework" before the meeting. He claimed that receiving agendas Friday night does not give him ample time to go over things as the borough hall is closed on weekends and he has work on Monday and Tuesday. 

Councliman David Gonzalez suggested that if one has a question one can pick up the phone and call someone to ask.