Lansford Borough Council last week got a little heated and loud during a discussion about a request for a hearing for an unnamed employee regarding scheduling.

Council voted down the request for hearing, but not until some verbal sparring between the mayor and a councilwoman who brought the motion to the floor.

Solicitor Bob Yurchak had cautioned council to say very little about the matter as it falls under the shroud of personnel, and little was said about the employee or the scheduling issue.

However, Mayor Hugh Vrablic, who oversees the police department, said he would not attend any hearing, calling it an illegal meeting and that he would sue Councilwoman Michele Bartek and the borough if it takes place.

Bartek then accused Vrablic about making snide comments regarding her and the employee in question, and demanded the mayor be removed if he continued. The comment made was unclear.

Vrablic and Bartek began a verbal volley, and Council President Bruce Markovich stopped them, saying it was not the time or place.

Councilwoman Jennifer Staines asked if they could go into executive session, and Markovich said they could after the meeting. Vrablic said no, that he was done, and other council members called for a vote on the matter.

Markovich said he and the solicitor would have to discuss how a hearing would be handled, as they had never done this before and they needed to review the Borough Code.

He felt they needed at least 30 days, and Bartek felt that was fine, as she didn’t want to see the borough get sued over the matter.

Councilman George Gilbert asked if there had been a formal request to the borough for an employee hearing, and Markovich said there had been four requests.

Markovich called for a vote on a hearing for the employee within 30 days, and council voted 4 to 3 against the hearing.

Voting against the hearing were Gilbert, Staines, and Councilmen Joe Butrie and Jack Soberick and voting yes were Bartek, Markovich and Councilwoman Gwyneth Collevechio.