An Aspinwall resident has launched a petition campaign seeking signatures in support of borough council’s recent censuring request of Mayor Scott Zimmermann, and the calls for his resignation.
Its virtual version, posted to ipetitions.com, is titled “Upholding Integrity and Accountability in Aspinwall Leadership.”
It purported to have had a little more than 130 signatures as of press time April 1.
Resident Steve Kochanowski, who started the petition, created paper copies March 31 for people concerned about signing up for things online.
His original online petition was launched via MoveOn.org, but it was flagged by an anonymous user and taken down within hours of its posting. He said he moved it to ipetitions.com but did not change the language.
The petition is in response to council’s actions March 11.
Council voted 5-1 to pass a resolution expressing its disapproval of the mayor’s actions and requested that he resign. Councilwoman Patti McCaffrey dissented and Councilwoman Lara Voytko recused herself.
McCaffrey called what Zimmermann did a big mistake but a “victimless crime,” and said requesting his resignation went too far.
Voytko said she is very close with the mayor and did not want to take any action creating a possible conflict of interest.
Zimmerman apologized at the meeting for his actions, calling it a “brain fart,” and declined to step down.
Kochanowski and other residents did not buy that excuse.
“It’s just a ‘brain fart’ doesn’t work for me,” Kochanowski said. “Had this been the previous administration, I would have said the same thing.”
Democrat newcomer Zimmermann defeated Republican incumbent Joe Noro in the mayoral race 689 to 608 in November, according to Allegheny County Election Division results.
Resolution allegations
Council’s resolution states that on Feb. 16 Zimmermann participated in a private meeting with council President Jeff Harris, McCaffrey, borough Manager Melissa O’Malley, Solicitor Stephen Korbel and zoning and code officer Ryan Santelli in council chambers to discuss matters of borough governance and after-hours operations.
The six-page resolution claims the mayor recorded audio of the meeting without knowledge or consent of the other attendees, using an iPhone.
The resolution also states Zimmermann and his attorney, James Depasquale, have acknowledged that the mayor intended to and did, in fact, record the meeting, and such conduct is a violation of the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act.
Harris read the resolution in full prior to the vote. He is aware of the petition.
“I respect those who have chosen to speak up on an issue that goes directly to public trust in local government,” Harris said April 1.
“Council’s action was not taken lightly; it was based on conduct that raised serious concerns about adherence to the law and the standards of judgment and integrity required of the mayor’s office. Public office is not about personal ambition but about serving as a trusted steward of the community.
“As stated in the resolution, council believes it is in the best interest of the borough for the mayor to step down, and the petition supports that action. When the integrity of the office and respect for the law are compromised, accountability is not optional, it’s mandatory.”
Harris also said the recording has been forensically confirmed to have been deleted at the mayor’s expense.
The resolution is available for review on the resolutions tab of the Aspinwall Council section of the borough website.
It is unclear whehter there will be any further legal action taken against the mayor.
Kochanowski hopes to get 500 signatures by the end of April and present the petition to council next month.
He said the petition is one way to hold the mayor accountable and show how his actions impacted the community.
“At the end of the day, what matters to me is that the people that work at the borough, our police, our first responders, our council people and our solicitor feel comfortable around him,” Kochanowski said.
“I don’t want them to have to worry about wondering if their conversations are being recorded or wondering if their private conversations are being told to other people outside of those four walls.”
Former council President Tim McClaughlin signed the petition.
“It is essential that we stand behind the council members who supported this resolution because their decision reinforces the basic expectation of trust and privacy required for our government to function,” McLaughlin said.
“By supporting this censure and request for the mayor’s resignation, we are showing our borough employees and police officers that their rights matter and that no one, regardless of their position, is above the law or ethical standards of our community.”
Zimmermann reacts
Zimmermann said he is aware of the petition and does not plan to step down.
“I’m not surprised, and everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” Zimmermann said. “They can feel free to express themselves however they want.”
Zimmermann said he has had no negative interactions with residents since the council meeting, and supporters have called to urge him to stay in office.
“Nothing’s really changed for me at all as far as moving around town,” he said.
The mayor maintains that recording the meeting without people’s knowledge was a mistake that will not be repeated, and he believes continuing to serve the borough is his act of contrition.
Some of that work includes focusing on hiring a new full-time officer and exploring adding a social worker to the police department. The new officer may be welcomed within a month or two.
“We’ve had excellent applications, excellent applicants,” Zimmermann said. “I can only hope moving on in the future we can have such good applicants.”
There were nine applicants and five selected for background checks.