Lower Burrell’s Hamilton offers up resignation, gets no takers

Lower Burrell Councilman Robert Hamilton offered his resignation because of recent and anticipated absences from council meetings.

But there were no takers.

Hamilton recently became CEO of Veterans Place in East Liberty and soon will begin classes to pursue a doctorate.

“I want to offer a public apology for the lack of meeting attendance,” Hamilton said of a string of recent absences from meetings.

He earlier announced he would not run this year for another four-year term because of his new promotion and school work. Hamilton said he plans to run for office again after he completes his school work.

“I will be starting my Ph.D. next month. I won’t be able to go to a lot of meetings but will be supporting the city outside the meetings,” Hamilton told council Monday night. He is chairman of public works, which includes streets and sewage.

As a full-time doctorate student in instructional leadership at Robert Morris University, Hamilton will be attending classes Monday nights for several months. That’s the same night council holds its two monthly meetings.

After this week’s Monday meeting, Hamilton said it’s a big deal that he is going to miss more council meetings.

Offering up his resignation, he said, “was the right thing to do.” It is imperative for city officials to be alerted and given the option to seek someone else if desired, Hamilton said.

“I offer my resignation to the city if needed,” he said.

Council and the mayor were silent.

“Hamilton made the offer, while noble, I don’t feel it is necessary for him to resign,” said Councilman Chris Fabry after the meeting. “Rob does a lot of stuff behind the scenes; he’s not doing a disservice by not attending the meetings.”

If need be, Hamilton can still attend meetings via Zoom if there is an important issue or his vote is need to break a tie, Fabry added.

But if Hamilton wants to vote on an issue, he will have to attend in person or virtually, said Lower Burrell Mayor John Andrejcik.

The mayor said he would hate to see Hamilton resign.

“This gentleman is a go-getter and he’s top-notch,” Andrejcik said.

No council members are calling for Hamilton’s resignation.