Local governments reorganize for 2024; Sharon, Hermitage, WM have vacancies to fill

Jan. 5—With the start of the new year, municipal governments met this week to swear in new or re-elected members, to choose their own leadership and to conduct various housekeeping business necessary to govern.

For Sharon, Hermitage and West Middlesex, steps were taken to solicit candidates interested in being appointed to vacancies.

Sharon accepting applicants

for unfilled seat on council

SHARON — Three Sharon City Council members were sworn in Tuesday, and council prepared to replace a councilman who left because he was term-limited.

Council members Molly Bundrant, Carl Sizer and David Koerth were sworn in. Bundrant is beginning her third 4-year term, Sizer his second 4-year term and Koerth his second 2-year term. Koerth was previously appointed to city council in 2020 to fulfill the remainder of Frank Connelly's term. Connelly served 12 years on city council.

City council discussed replacing William James, who served 12 years as a council member, the maximum amount allowed under the Home Rule Charter.

Bundrant said they are accepting applications for the position, and will interview candidates before the 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17 regular council meeting.

In other business, city council unanimously passed resolutions to:

— Reappoint Bundrant as council president.

— Reappoint Sizer as council vice president.

— Reappoint Daphne Parrish as city clerk.

— Appoint Brett Stedman as the city solicitor, replacing William Madden.

Hermitage seeks candidates for vacant seat

HERMITAGE — Duane Piccirilli and William Moder, who were re-elected to four-year terms on five-member Hermitage board of commissioners in November, were sworn-in Tuesday by District Judge Mary A. Odem.

The commissioners then unanimously re-elected Piccirilli as the board president and Moder as vice president, the same posts they held in 2023.

After the swearing-in ceremony and appointment of officers, the commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with a plan to fill the vacancy created by commissioner-elect William McConnell's resignation from the board.

Although he successfully secured a two-year term on the board in November, McConnell resigned, effective Tuesday, so he could take a position as Mercer County solicitor.

City Manager Gary Hinkson said the city's charter required the vacancy be filled within 30 days of the resignation taking effect, and described the process for filling the vacancy during Tuesday's meeting.

Starting Thursday, a public notice will be posted to the city's website and social media and published twice in The Herald, Hinkson said.

Interested candidates must be registered Hermitage voters and registered Republicans, the same party as McConnell.

Candidates must have their information in to the city manager's office by 4 p.m. Jan. 16, Hinkson said.

Applicants will be interviewed during a public meeting at 5 p.m. Jan. 25 in the municipal building. The commissioners will deliberate in public then select someone to fill the seat.

Resignation leaves council vacancy in West Middlesex

WEST MIDDLESEX — West Middlesex Borough Council's members chose their 2024 officers Tuesday and now must prepare to fill a vacancy.

Council members elected Tim Webster as president, Bob Lark as vice president and William Novak as president pro tempore, Lark said.

During the November elections, Webster was re-elected and Robert Rankin was elected to his first term on council.

Stacey Curry serves as mayor, while Paula Luca serves as secretary and Robert Tesone serves as solicitor.

However, council member David Moyer submitted a resignation effective Dec. 31, 2023, prior to the reorganization meeting — which means borough council must fill the vacancy within 30 days, Lark said.

Moyer, who was elected in 2021, gave no reasons for the resignation, Lark said.

If an applicant is found to fill the vacancy, the position will be a two-year term until the 2025 municipal election. Whoever wins that election would secure the full four-year term, according to borough documents.

An applicant must be a registered voter and must have lived in the borough for at least the past year. Applicants must submit a letter for consideration of appointment before 3 p.m. Jan. 16.

The applicant should also submit a resume of their background and their reasons for seeking appointment.

Council members will interview the applicants and will select a new councilman by Jan. 31.

West Middlesex Borough Council's next work session will be on Jan. 10, followed by its regular meeting on Jan. 16.

Depending on how many applicants there are, Lark said a special public meeting could be called between council's Jan. 16 meeting and the end of the month to vote on filling the vacancy.

Sharpsville council reelects Grandy as president

SHARPSVILLE — Sharpsville Borough Council has its officers in place for this year following council's reorganization meeting Tuesday.

Incumbents Leonard Grandy and Christopher Combine, along with newcomer Nicholas Hanahan, were sworn in by Mayor Alex Kovach.

Grandy and Combine were re-elected last year, while Hanahan, who previously served on the Sharpsville school board, was elected to his first term on borough council.

All three were elected to four-year terms.

After the swearing-in ceremony, borough council's members elected their officers. Grandy was elected council president, Robert Piccirilli elected vice president and Kim Fryman elected president pro-tem. All elections were unanimous.

Grandy served as council president last year, while Patti Cardwell served as vice president and Piccirilli served as president pro-tem.

Follow Melissa Klaric on twitter @HeraldKlaric or email her at mklaric@sharonherald.com