At the March 19, 2025 joint board meeting, resident Linda Clark, once again, raised serious concerns about Attorney Matthew Gieg, specifically addressing his past struggles with alcoholism and his subsequent probation imposed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Public Concerns and a Solicitor’s Response: Transparency, Accountability, and Redemption

Clark criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the issue and questioned the integrity of the city’s legal representation and other officials. In a candid and emotional response, Gieg defended his professional conduct, acknowledged his past mistakes, and expressed pride in his recovery journey.

The Call for Transparency

Linda Clark, an outspoken member of the community, did not mince words in voicing her frustration over what she sees as a failure of accountability and openness from city officials. Having previously inquired about the situation ten days prior, she criticized the council for its delay in providing a formal statement.

“We're 10 days out. There's no statement,” Clark said, expressing disappointment that even the local newspaper had not pursued the issue. She emphasized that this was not a private personnel matter but rather a public concern, given that the city had contracted Gieg’s firm for legal services.

“This isn’t a personnel issue. This is a firm that has contracted to perform legal duties, and they are responsible to us.”

Clark accused the law firm of deception for failing to disclose Gieg’s disciplinary history upfront, arguing that the community should not have learned about it from outside news sources.

“The problem is there's a consequence for a behavior. And the behavior, I think everybody can agree that there may be something that drives it, but that becomes personal. The issue is that the service to other individuals that were paid for was not provided.”

Clark also pointed out that Gieg had been absent from multiple meetings, something Manager Ben Kafferlin would later defend and excuse, despite the city paying for his firm’s services. She called for immediate action against the firm, insisting that they should be held to the same standards as any other professional (possibly invoking history the Clark family has with the city council members who voted 5-0 to terminate her husband Blaine Clark from his position of police chief following a formal written accusation of criminal misconduct that continues to be investigated by the state's attorney general in the wake of the allegation that stemmed from a fellow officer immediately beneath her husband in his chain of command; recently he filed the necessary paperwork to run for a seat on city council in the upcoming Republican primary election.).

“This firm needs to be suspended or turned in because that's what you do to everybody else.”

Attorney Matthew Gieg’s Candid Response

In response to Clark’s criticisms, Attorney Matthew Gieg took the floor and delivered an impassioned defense of his character, his recovery, and his work performance.

“First of all, City Council did not know anything about my situation with the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board,” he stated. Gieg clarified that his probation stemmed from events that occurred years prior when he struggled with alcohol addiction.

“This happened several years ago when I ran into a problem with alcohol. I mean, I'll be totally transparent about it.”

He revealed that after acknowledging his struggles, he voluntarily met with the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board’s prosecuting attorney, resulting in a two-year probation period. He assured the public that his ability to practice law remained unaffected.

“I am proud to say that I am in recovery, that I'm sober, and that it does not affect my work product at all.”

Gieg further defended his decision not to inform the City Council about his probation, explaining that legal ethics did not require him to do so since his license to practice law remained intact. He insisted that he should be judged based on his work, not his past struggles.

“I would prefer to be defined by my work product rather than the fact that I had a problem with alcohol a few years ago.”

In an emotional moment, Gieg reflected on the widespread impact of addiction and the stigma attached to it.

“I would mention to guess there's not maybe one or two people or maybe five at the most in this room that have not been touched by or affected by some substance abuse addiction or something of that nature in their families or among their friends.”

He credited his recovery to personal accountability, professional support, and his faith. He also expressed gratitude for the support he received from his fiancée and colleagues.

“I've done all the right things. I took accountability. And I'm proud to be sitting here. I'm proud to have the backing of the City Council.”

City Council’s Stand and Manager’s Endorsement

Following Gieg’s statement, City Manager Ben Kafferlin addressed concerns regarding Gieg’s attendance at meetings, explaining that his presence was not always required. Kafferlin praised Gieg’s professionalism and work ethic.

“The fact is his time is very valuable, and we use a lot of it.”

He further stated that Gieg ranked among the top attorneys he had worked with over the past decade.

“I would say that I've had probably a dozen solicitors. I could comfortably say I've had a dozen solicitors over the last decade, and Matt Gieg is in the top two in terms of responsiveness.”

The Broader Implications

The controversy surrounding Attorney Gieg underscores larger issues of transparency, public trust, and the stigma associated with addiction recovery. Linda Clark’s passionate plea (born of fake outrage) highlights the importance of open governance, while Gieg’s response (that he should hever have been compelled to give) sheds light on the struggles of personal redemption and professional perseverance.

As the community processes these events, the core question remains: How should personal challenges intersect with public accountability? While some residents may continue to demand stricter transparency measures, others may see Gieg’s journey as an example of resilience and a reason to support second chances. Either way, the conversation in DuBois is far from over.

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