Charleroi Borough hopes to have a new, full-time code enforcement officer on the job by the end of this month and a new policy in place to make sure employees are being treated properly.

With the new hire, the borough will also draft a work place harassment policy to help it better treat — and retain — their employees after several complaints, concerns and the abrupt resignation of their former code enforcement officer last month.

In June, Charleroi Borough’s full-time code enforcement officer Jeremy Hepple decided to call it quits and took another job after less than a year and a half.

Hepple turned in a handwritten letter to the borough, stating his resignation would take effect the same day.

Council members voted unanimously to accept the resignation last month, though some expressed frustration, including Mayor Greg Doerfler, a former borough employee, who said publicly he was disappointment in the borough’s ability to retain good workers because of how they have been treated on the job.

On Wednesday, Councilman Larry Celaschi requested the borough solicitor draft a work place harassment policy.

“We recently experienced our code enforcement officer taking his experience elsewhere when he resigned, he stated work place harassment

CHARLEROI • A8 FROM A1 by certain council members as the reason,” Celaschi said. “We have experienced current borough employees expressing concern and experiencing distress, even publicly voicing their concerns about the toxic work place environment and harassment inflicted by certain council members.

“We are faced with people running for the hills out of town because of certain council members. Look at what is going on around us.”

Celaschi said it is hard to find “qualified talent.”

“Again, talent is the word,” he said. “Talented professionals should not be treated this way. We need to bring these matters to light. We want Charleroi to be a welcoming place to attract employees and businesses and residents.”

Celaschi asked Solicitor Sean Logue to draft a formal policy “with strong language” to address the problems.

Celaschi requested the policy also include penalties to be imposed, according to state law, for anyone who would violate it.

“We want to be forward today, and improve something to prevent this type of treatment from happening again.”

Logue said he would work to draft a policy, including some social media stipulation, based on his prior experiences with similar issues.

Former Councilwoman Jody Cheplic said the policy would be a long-time coming.

“When our employees were hired, they were hired by council who had enough confidence in them to do their jobs and do them correctly,” she said. “There is no reason to micromanage anybody when they are doing their job.

“What you are doing is creating a toxic situation. So keep faith in the people you hire. That is all I have to say.”

The policy is expected to be drafted in time for council to consider next week, the same night borough officials are expected to hire a new full-time code enforcement officer.

So far, council has received 11 applications to fill the role.

Borough Manager Matt Staniszewski said of those, at least four applicants have prior experience with code enforcement or in some type of law enforcement.

Those applicants have interviews scheduled with the personnel and public safety committees next week.

Committee members will conduct the interviews, and include other questions submitted to them by council members before hand, before making a final recommendation prior to next week’s voting meeting.

In other business, council discussed veteran banners in the borough. The borough does not currently leave banners up year round and has received request from some families who would like to keep the banners they have purchased. Residents who would like to take ownership of the banners, or purchase a new one before they are reinstalled this year, are asked to call the borough directly.

Car break-ins

As matter of public safety, council announced they are not able to publicly comment on a string of car-breaks ins that have been happening in the borough and surrounding communities.

However, residents are encouraged to attend the Charleroi Regional Police board meeting 6 p.m. July 20 in Speers, where the matter is expected to be addressed.