Published: November 11, 2009 10:29 pm      

Windber job cut causes foul for youth basketball games

WINDBER — The abrupt discharge of longtime borough administrative assistant Robin Gates on Tuesday disrupted at least one popular community program.

Youth basketball events scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Community Building were canceled due to lack of adequate supervision.

“The kids were all told to go home,” parent Susan Layton said. “There was nobody there to run the Community Building.”

“That does not surprise me,” Borough Manager Casey Durdines said. “That was something Robin handled on her own.”

Durdines opposed Borough Council’s action to eliminate

the 14-year employee’s job. He urged council to put off the decision until more options could be discussed.

“You are talking about a vital employee,” Durdines said at Tuesday’s meeting. “That is not something, I think, you can even talk about this evening.”

As the discussion continued and Councilman Simon “Red” Ohler pressed for the action as a budget-saving measure, Durdines was visibly upset.

“Lay me off, if you need to,” Durdines said. “I have broad shoulders. I can take it.”

Gates has been the de facto second-in-command of municipal business for much of her tenure.

She served as borough treasurer and recreation supervisor.

She has overseen recreation programs at the Community Building and Windber Recreation Park since the borough eliminated the recreation director position several years ago.

Gates took over as acting borough manager when Rich Wargo resigned in December 2007 and was considered a leading candidate for the job.

Council eventually hired Durdines in August 2008.

On Tuesday, council immediately named Durdines as interim treasurer and appointed Windber Municipal Authority to take over recreation programs. After an initial startup loan, the authority is to operate recreation with revenue generated by the programs.

Authority member Jason Zablotney said the group is ready for the challenge. Since being reorganized nearly three years ago, the municipal authority has been looking at a variety of ways to support the borough. One goal has been to find a way to fund a full-time recreation director.

The authority’s volunteers have not met with borough officials to discuss the transition, authority member Joanne Ursino said, adding that she was not aware of Wednesday’s basketball program cancellation.