Celeste Liscio had served on Forest Hills Council for close to eight years and was just months from finishing her final term.

But at last week's council meeting, she and Faith Katchmar resigned, citing insurmountable differences and tension with other council members.

"I'm not a quitter, [but] I quit because I just couldn't do it anymore," Ms. Liscio said.

Both also said they were consistently disrespected by other council members, especially when they disagreed with the majority of council.

"Many times," Ms. Liscio said, "I would speak or try to speak, [and] I would either be cut off or -- because I didn't have the same opinion as them -- I was treated [as if] I was not intelligent."

In their resignations Oct. 21, both women cited the ruling majority's decision last spring not to extend civil service protection to the new police chief, and said it was part of a pattern of council members meddling unnecessarily with borough administration.

Council members laid out the contract last spring, following the resignation of William Fabrizi as police chief. They have not yet hired a new chief.

"At times, I felt there was micromanaging .... Most of them didn't even come from a municipal background, and most of them felt they were in charge of that kind of stuff," Ms. Liscio said.

Ms. Katchmar said: "We have a lot of responsibility, but we have a manager and the public works foreman and the police chief, who we pay a decent wage, and they have to be able to do their jobs. Our job is more to be overseers."

The borough is seeking applicants for the two seats. Candidates should submit a letter and a resume by 4 p.m. Nov. 10 and be available at 7 that evening to make a case for their candidacy. Ms. Liscio's term expires Dec. 31, and Ms. Katchmar's expires at the end of 2011.

Mayor Raymond Heller also complained of council involvement in borough administration, citing instances in which council members directed borough employees to repair specific streets or fill potholes at the request of individual residents.

Mr. Heller's term ends this year, and he is not running for re-election.

He said borough employees had complained to him in private about the micromanagement but are afraid to speak for fear of losing their jobs.

"If they have seven bosses, that could really just drive them crazy," he said, referring to the seven members of the council. "[Borough employees] feel they can't speak up. They'll lose their job if they say 'no' to a council member's request."

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