To: Mayor Scott Zimmermann and the Aspinwall Borough Council.

We, the undersigned residents and concerned citizens of Aspinwall, formally submit this petition to express our unwavering support for the Borough Council’s recent decision to censure Mayor Scott Zimmermann and their formal request for his immediate resignation.

The Issue at Hand

On March 11, 2026, the Aspinwall Borough Council voted 5-1 to censure Mayor Zimmermann following his admission that he secretly recorded a private meeting on February 16 involving the borough solicitor and other officials. Under Pennsylvania’s Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act, recording a private conversation without the consent of all parties is a third-degree felony.

Why This Matters

The role of Mayor is one of public trust. By bypasssing legal requirements and ethical standards, Mayor Zimmermann has:

* Violated the Law: Ignorance of the law is not an excuse for an elected official tasked with overseeing the borough’s police department.

* Breached Public Trust: Effective governance requires transparency and mutual respect. Secretly recording colleagues creates a culture of fear and distrust within the borough administration.

* Compromised Borough Operations: As noted by community members, our police officers, borough employees, and council members should not have to fear that their private professional discussions are being recorded without their knowledge.

Our Request

While the Mayor has characterized his actions as a "brain fart," we believe that a felony-level violation of privacy is a fundamental disqualification from holding high office. The integrity of Aspinwall’s local government must be preserved.

Therefore, we the undersigned:

* Support the Aspinwall Borough Council in their resolution to censure Mayor Scott Zimmermann.

* Call upon Mayor Zimmermann to do the honorable thing for the good of the community and submit his resignation immediately.

* Urge the Council to continue pursuing all available remedies to ensure that our elected officials are held to the highest legal and ethical standards.

Aspinwall deserves leadership that operates with transparency, respects the law, and maintains the dignity of the office.