Local borough brings back woman facing charges, settles whistleblower suit

HOMESTEAD, Pa. — Community members remain frustrated by reported actions within a local borough.

Channel 11′s Liz Kilmer received numerous tips after a Homestead borough employee who’s currently facing criminal charges was brought back to work in a new role.

We told you earlier this year when Shunta Parms, a code enforcer, was accused of unemployment fraud.

Parms reportedly turned herself in on charges brought forth by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. She was initially suspended by Homestead, but is now in a “temporary” administrative role, Channel 11 has learned.

“Council felt at this time, wherein Ms. Parms has not been found guilty of any crimes, that she could remain employed, albeit in a strictly limited roll,” said Sam Dalfonso, the borough’s solicitor.

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Parms is apparently related to a council member, and the allegations against her were first brought to light in a federal “whistleblower” lawsuit we exclusively brought you last year.

The 11-page complaint was filed by former Borough Manager Lauren Zang.

Zang claimed she was fired after sounding the alarm about Parms’ alleged unemployment fraud, as well as a council member’s reported hiring of her son for a construction project.

A settlement has just been reached in the case.

Channel 11 learned that Zang agreed to dismiss individual council members from the suit, but is receiving $141,000 from the borough.

That money will be paid by the borough’s insurance carrier, according to Dalfonso.

Dalfonso is relatively new to the role, after council voted to fire the previous solicitor in December 2020.

Before that, minutes for multiple public meetings were not publicly posted, which prompted Channel 11 to file a right-to-know request.

The borough initially declined to provide particular public documents, and so we filed an appeal with the Office of Open Records.

We have since received all of the requested documentation, except for the meeting minutes for July 28, 2020, when Zang was initially suspended.

A response from Dalfonso stated that he “personally questioned council members and the Borough’s previous solicitor” regarding the existence of those minutes, but could not uncover “any documentation of them.”

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