It was exasperating to recently read that Robert Villella had been terminated with no more than the "at-will" nature of his position given as if that were sufficient justification for council's actions.
While, sadly, that may be legally tenable, it is morally dishonest. Even with the power to discharge employees in that manner, it should be necessary to give cause, justifiable cause, or face an assumption that council acted arbitrarily, with personal animus, or with "ill" will.
Council's action seems additionally questionable if removing Mr. Villella was a proclaimed goal of newly elected council members or that anyone might feel "incredibly happy" by that action.
It should be essential to provide reasonable and rational dismissal reasons to the employee, even in private employment. But in public government it suggests some degree of malfeasance when cause is not provided where there is no statement of mutual agreement or benefit with the discharged employee.
If one of Mr. Villella's principal "sins" was resistance to shifting the Electric Department and its rate adjustments out of borough management, then I strongly object to the firing. Loss of operating funds from that source will lead to further difficulties providing city services. I believe the possibility that this would attract much new business or manufacturing to Ellwood is a doubtful pipe dream, and regular and dependable funding from state or federal sources has always seemed dubious.
Chuck Hammersmith
Ellwood City