RINGTOWN - The borough council began 2014 with one fewer member as the reduction of the number council members from seven to five was completed.
At the Jan. 6 biannual reorganization meeting, Mayor Albert R. Breznik Jr. swore in incumbent council members Burton Hetherington and Thomas F. Murray, new council member James E. Compton Sr. and tax collector Shirley M. Gilbert. Breznik, who was also a winner in the general election and was sworn in earlier in the day by Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale. The remaining Ringtown council members, who were not up for reelection, are Julian Milewski and Peg Forgotch.
The year 2012 began with the council dropping from seven to six members, and the final reduction came with the Nov. 2013 general election. Such reduction in borough councils is a trend as smaller boroughs across the region lose population. Girardville has had five members for several years, and Gilberton was approved in 2011 by a county Judge Jacqueline Russell to reduce its seven-member council to five, beginning with the 2013 election cycle. Gilberton began the new year with six council members.
When Ringtown's meeting began, the mayor took the gavel as the temporary chairman, asking for nominations for president. Milewski was the only person nominated and received a unanimous vote for his retention as president.
Taking over the meeting, Milewski asked for nominations for vice president, with Forgotch nominated and reelected.
Milewski spoke of the agenda the council and employees hope to carry out in the next two years.
"Tonight I would like to set a few goals for council to work toward over the next couple years," he said. "We have completed the council seat reduction to five members. The committee assignment roster will show several important changes. Each committee assignment will now have two members. Per Roberts Rules of Order, the president serves on all committees. As before, the day-to-day operations of the borough remain the responsibility of the council president and vice president by consensus of council."
He then spoke of what has been accomplished in recent years.
"In review, we have almost completed the forestry stewardship and logging plan we instituted," Milewski said. "The rash of power outages and water leaks showed us the need of a backup power supply and the water pump replacement project that are now completed. We now have a road docket in place at the courthouse, and the PENNVEST (Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Investment Authority) loan on the Cherry Street water line project is scheduled to be paid off this year, all while holding the line on taxes. We have accomplished much, but there remains more to do. There are a couple storm water drainage areas in need of mediation which can be scheduled over time.
"We have updated several borough ordinances to date but more need to be revised. The Autocon system likely will need to be replaced soon, and with a cost of $25,000, it should be a planned replacement instead of an emergency repair. Then there is the school building. Continued stasis of the building needs to be done at minimal cost. Again, the disposition of the building and property needs to be addressed. Your ideas are also important. Again, together, with co-operation we can get there. I am asking council tonight to band together. With your help and support, together we can get this and more done," said Milewski, a Republican-Herald employee.
In other business, the borough council made the following appointments:
- Secretary/treasurer: Gina Mays
- Financial depositories: Miners Bank, M&T Bank and National Penn Bank
- Solicitor: S. John Price
- Borough foreman: Scott Schuetrum
- Borough engineer: Alfred Benesch & Co.
- Health officer: Margaretann Milewski
- Sewer Enforcement officer: William Brior
- Municipal authority plant operator: M&B Environmental (Applied Water Management)
- Municipal authority board: Jason Milewski, reappointment, five years
- Borough fire chief: Raymond Dunsavage
- UCC Code Inspection officer: Building Inspection Underwriters
- Zoning hearing board: George Leiby, Michael Heiler and James Briel
- Recreation board: Albert Breznik, John Breznik, Robert Llewellyn, Elizabeth Wetzel and Burton Hetherington.