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Marla Marcinko
(Articles are in reverse chronological order)
TAB 7
Myron Arnowitt, director of Clean Water Action, the environmental group that first raised
concerns about nitrates in the Connoquenessing, said Marcinko didn't hesitate to confront the
steel company about environmental regulators.
"She put the concerns of the residents first and didn't worry about who would get mad at her," he
said.
Burch said Marcinko took a hands-on approach when the borough's water plant was closed after
getting hit by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan in September.
"I thought that would be closed for weeks if not months. They got the water supply back on line
in a matter of days," Burch said. "Talk about hands-on. I've seen pictures of her in wader boots
out there. She just doesn't issue orders. She gets in there and helps."
Dickinson said Zelienople's municipal politics are for the most part civil, in contrast to the
rambunctious meetings in Penn Hills.
Bob Sevcik, a Republican candidate for council in Democrat-dominated Penn Hills, said he
thinks the Zelienople job is poor preparation for what awaits Marcinko.
"What's a manager of some podunk town going to do in Penn Hills? What's their public works
(department), five guys with a pickup truck?" said Sevcik, the Penn Hills Republican Committee
chairman and frequent critic of the Democrat-controlled council.
Zelienople Councilwoman Marietta Reeb said Marcinko is sharp, hardworking and adept at
working within the many layers of government in Pennsylvania.
Zelienople, with about 4,000 residents, 21 full-time employees, and an $8.4 million budget, is a
fraction of Penn Hills, an inner-ring suburb with 46,000 residents, 175 full-time employees, and
a $33 million budget.
"She's been in the minor leagues. I'm afraid she's going to get hit with a 90-mile-an-hour fast
ball," Sevcik said.
By the time Marcinko starts work, the municipal budgeting process will be in full swing, having
lagged behind because of Colangelo's departure.
Penn Hills councilwoman Sara Kuhn hopes Marcinko can help council pass a budget sooner
than 2004, when it was approved 11 months late, with an 80 percent tax increase. The council
didn't meet at all for several months because a feud between members resulted in too few
showing up. "I told her she'd better be ready to hit the ground with both feet running," Kuhn
said.
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