Dormont council members cited John Marquart's independence without questioning either his expertise or competence as the chief reason for dismissing him as borough manager with one year remaining on a three-year contract.

Councilman Richard Grubb complained that the manager had failure to consult council on important borough business.

"I feel that policy makers should make policy and administrators should carry out that policy," he said during Monday's meeting, adding that Marquart often acted independently on policy matters and informed council later.

The vote to dismiss was 5-2, with Grubb joined in the majority by Joseph Costanzo, Norman Simeone, Louise Pitcher and Mary Beth Kovic, who was sworn in less than an hour earlier.

Council President Ed Good joined Councilwoman Linda Kitchen, who also was attending her first council meeting, in voting against Marquart's dismissal.

"The action that was taken here tonight was a disgrace," Good complained.

Marquart, who earned $62,000 per year and was awarded a $3,000 bonus in October, will receive three months' severance pay under the terms of that contract. His dismissal will take effect immediately. Even though Marquart, whose tenure began Oct. 1, 2001, fell into disfavor with council over the past two years, he garnered a lot of support at Monday's meeting.

Several borough residents and business owners helped to pack the typically empty council chambers to voice their disapproval of the dismissal, which had been rumored for several days.

Former Councilwoman Maggie Mitro, who chose not to run for re-election, went to the microphone during the citizens' portion of the meeting to say she thought Marquart's dismissal would "be doing Dormont a great injustice."

Her sentiments were echoed by a half dozen other residents and business owners as well as Mayor Thomas Lloyd, who asked the board to hold the vote until the matter could be discussed further. Good read letters of support from the Dormont police and volunteer fire departments.

Grubb cited Marquart's role in construction of the borough's recently completed road-salt storage building as one example of his displeasure with the manager.

Although Grubb estimated that the project had been talked about for more than 15 years, when it came time to have the shelter erected, Marquart acted without consulting council on the details. Grubb described the building as ugly, built in the wrong place, too small and limited in functionality.

Assistant Borough Manager Kristen Denne will temporarily assume Marquart's responsibilities. Good appointed Grubb to chair the committee to find a permanent replacement. Kitchen and Simeone will serve on that committee.