Apr 16, 2015 3 min read

Emotions ran hot at Wednesday’s South Fayette Board of Commissioners’ meeting, as commissioners Deron Gabriel and Jessica Cardillo Wagenhoffer exchanged personal jabs over official business on the same day he filed a federal lawsuit claiming she, other commissioners and the township violated his civil rights after a censure vote against him while he was not present.

The ongoing spat drew comments from the audience, with some calling for commissioners’ resignations.

“I’m appalled at this behavior – of everybody on this board. You don’t throw daggers to get your point across,” said resident Nick Rodi.

“It is morally wrong for people to go behind others’ backs,” said resident Lisa Carney, in reference to Gabriel’s censure stemming from his alleged actions seeking legal opinions of the township solicitor without consulting others. “And I will remember on voting day, that (Gabriel) is having the solicitor waste township tax dollars defending against this suit. You should resign if you can’t get along with the other commissioners.” Gabriel is seeking re-election in this year’s election.

Earlier in the day, Gabriel filed the lawsuit, claiming the other four commissioners violated his civil rights after a 4-0 vote on March 18 to censure him for allegedly seeking opinions from the township solicitor without consulting them. Gabriel, chairman of the township’s legal committee, filed the suit through his attorney, Lawrence Fisher, after the motion to censure him was made by Wagenhoffer, who was charged with insurance fraud and was ordered by a Washington County judge to complete a first-time offender program. The suit states Gabriel sought a legal opinion from the solicitor of what impact criminal charges would have on Wagenhoffer’s role as a sitting commissioner.

The suit also claims the other commissioners ordered township employees, such as the manager, engineer and solicitor, to withhold information pertinent to the township that Gabriel needs to perform his duties as commissioner.

“The first I learned of the censure vote was when I was (contacted by media) the following day,” Gabriel said Wednesday. In my 7 1/2 years as a commissioner, we’ve always had a policy that nothing was voted on unless it was on the agenda. This (vote) was not on the agenda and I was totally blindsided by it.”

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, called the vote “a craven display of political cowardice and vengeance.”

Gabriel is seeking re-election in this year’s election. Township solicitor Jonathan Kamin, Eggleston, Commissioner Ray Pitetti and Gabriel’s attorney could not be reached for comment. Wagenhoffer and commissioners Joe Horowitz and Lisa Malosh declined to comment.