Lansford Borough Council will meet with its code officer to discuss a “hostile work environment” in executive session.

Councilman Bruce Markovich on Wednesday raised the issue under old business, as the matter was not on council’s agenda for its regular meeting.

“On Aug. 14, we received a letter from our code enforcement officer claiming he is working under a hostile work environment here in the office,” he said, noting that he asked for a meeting and council hasn’t acted.

“This isn’t going away,” Markovich said. “Yesterday, he received a letter saying that he now has to get certified by Nov. 30. When did council agree to that?”

Council President Joe Genits explained that he sent Shane Monk, the borough code enforcement officer, a letter regarding certification.

Mayor Denise Leibensperger said that it’s in his contract that he has to be certified under the International Property Maintenance Code.

Markovich said certification is not in his contract, rather there are two different rates of pay for him, one with and one without the certification.

Leibensperger asked if the contract states how quickly he has to be certified, and Markovich said “no.”

Councilman Joe Butrie said that he thought council gave Monk 90 days to become certified.

“He says he’s working in a hostile work environment, and we have to address it,” Markovich interjected over other council members and the mayor going back and forth about the 90 days.

Both Markovich and Councilwoman Michele Bartek said that council needs to have a meeting with Monk.

Genits said that Monk was given the opportunity to attend a prior executive session and didn’t show up.

“He told you he couldn’t,” Markovich retorted.

Genits then asked if council wanted him to come in for another executive session, and Markovich said that they have to meet with him.

Butrie suggested that council meet with Monk on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., before an executive session planned for interviewing candidates for borough secretary at 5 p.m.

“We have a meeting with him Sept. 16 at 4:30. The office is closed. It’s just council and him,” Butrie said.

Markovich added, “You have to resolve this. You can’t leave this hang out there.”

Council agreed to send Monk a letter asking him to attend the executive session. They didn’t want “another email” sent to him.

Genits then tried to explain the email that he sent regarding testing, saying that he hoped that Monk could test by the end of the month.

Markovich and Councilwoman Gwyneth Collevechio pointed out that council didn’t approve that requirement or discuss it.

“We didn’t have any say on that, though, Joe,” Collevechio told him.

Genits countered that council did have a say and he has had three people complain to him about the lack of certification, and that his rate of pay should be lowered.

The lower rate of pay without certification is in Monk’s contract, Markovich said. Monk is required to pay the cost of testing himself, according to his contract.

“So, I gave him a letter to attempt to test, and as of today, he tells me he’s trying to schedule himself to retake the test,” Genits said trying to explain this week’s email to Monk.

Markovich told Genits that he should have run that by council.

“He doesn’t work for you. He works for us,” Markovich said. “We’re going to meet with the man. That’s all that matters. We got to resolve this issue.”

Collevechio said what mattered what that council needed to be informed. Genits asked if he sent her a copy of the letter, and she said that he did.

Council then approved to have the borough solicitor send Monk a letter inviting him to air his complaints privately to council on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

Council also requested solicitor Bob Yurchak attend that executive session, and he agreed to do so.