USC redistricting plan put on hold
Upper St. Clair Township commissioners voted 4-2 on Jan. 7 to table a redistricting plan for the township’s five wards after concerns were expressed by members of the Republican Committee of Upper St. Clair that more time was needed to examine the plan.
Commission Vice President Russell Del Re and Commission President Robert Orchowski, along with Commissioners Daniel Paoli and Nick Seitanakis, voted to table the vote on the plan. Commissioners Mark Christie and Donald Recktenwald Jr. voted against the motion to table the redistricting. Commissioner Glenn Dandoy was absent.
A vote on the redistricting may need to take place before the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commissioners on Jan. 28, depending on information that Township Manager Matthew Serakowski receives from Allegheny County.
Serakowski said before the vote to table that it was coming as a surprise to him that there were any issues with the proposal.
He said the document was provide to both the Republican and Democratic parties more than two months ago.
“There were multiple meetings held” between township staff and representatives of the two parties regarding the plan, Serakowski said.
“This isn’t like it was just sprung on everyone,” he said.
Serakowski said “We have spent several months on this and only learned of this in the last few hours.”
Serakowski recommended that the commissioners table action on the plan, and he will find out as soon as possible what deadline the county election board has in order to put plans in place for the upcoming election in the spring.
He said if the deadline is sooner than the commissioners’ next meeting on Jan. 28, he will recommend a special meeting be called as soon as advertising requirements can be met.
Serakowski said Scott Brilhart, township community development director, will contact both parties this week to determine exactly what issues they may have with the plan as proposed.
Randi Bick, a Republican Committeewoman, told the commissioners before the vote that she felt both parties needed more time to review the plan. She said all five districts are impacted. She also said Barb Lloyd, the chairperson of the Republican Committee for the township, would be moved into a different ward under the proposal and Bick said she was unsure what the implications would be if that occurs. Brilhart said the state mandates the redistricting as a result of the 2010 census, so that the five wards in the township have a balanced number of voters in each ward.
Orchowski and Del Re both said they thought the proposed plan looked logical and straightforward.
Rectenwald said one item he likes about the plan is that very few citizens have to change their polling places.
Bick was concerned about elected people being placed in different wards in the plan.
Orchowski said “We did not get proper feedback on these concerns.”
The proposed redistricting plan, including maps, are available for review in the township’s library, as well as the township office.