A new borough secretary is on the job at the municipal building in Jamestown.

Tina Keeley, 44, a Pittsburgh native, started work Monday. She was offered the position Dec. 23 and said she "wasn't hesitant" in taking it.

Mrs. Keeley, a three-year Jamestown resident, said she is familiar with the area, but not the people. That's because she has 22 years of experience with billing and collections supervision in Meadville and Sharon.

"The environment here is nice, the people are nice and it's nice to be close to home. I'm loving life," she said.

Mrs. Keeley replaces Diane Helbig, who resigned Nov. 13.

Mrs. Helbig cited several months of problems as the reason for her resignation. The problems were connected to a change in the secretary's hours -- from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Council made the change in August after receiving complaints about the office not being open late enough for residents to pay utility bills or conduct other borough business.

Mrs. Helbig, of West Fallowfield Township, Crawford County, refused to comply with the new hours, saying she was hired seven years earlier with the understanding that she would be able to leave work in time to get her two children off the school bus.

Mrs. Helbig also said she was being punished for disagreeing with a possible water ordinance amendment.

The municipal building was closed for a time while the borough was without a secretary.

Messages for Council President Floyd "Bud" Owen Jr. were never returned.

Mrs. Keeley and her husband, Bob, live in Jamestown with their 12- and 14-year-old children.