UNION TWP., PA. Former clerk, officials settle suit over job

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- An out-of-court settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed by a former Union Township secretary-treasurer over the loss of her job.
The agreement between Cathy Kradel Schmidt and the township provides Schmidt with an undisclosed financial settlement but does not restore her to her former position.
Schmidt released only a short statement regarding the settlement, which read, "The case was resolved by way of an amicable financial settlement involving the township's insurer to the mutual satisfaction of all parties." She would not comment further.
Supervisor Kevin Guinaugh, contacted last night said: "We were satisfied that she wasn't reinstated to her job."
In job 15 years
Schmidt filed the lawsuit in federal court in Pittsburgh after she lost the position she held for 15 years when supervisors met for their re-organization meeting in January 2002. At that time they did not rehire Schmidt, instead hiring former supervisor and township auditor Sally Byler for the post.
Schmidt had angered Guinaugh and the late Supervisor Ralph Nuzzo by supporting the candidacy of Pat Angiolelli, who opposed Guinaugh in the November 2001 election. She claimed in her lawsuit that her first amendment rights were violated because she lost the job due to her support of Angiolelli's candidacy.
The third supervisor, Steve Galizia, was not named in the lawsuit because he voted against Byler's hiring.