2020 reorganization: Lehighton retains president, appoints new vice president, for 2020

Lehighton opted to retain its president, while choosing to appoint a new vice president at its reorganization meeting on Monday.

However, a newly elected councilman did not sit in on the meeting after he exchanged words with a fellow council member.

Before the meeting, William Rodweller, who won a seat in the November election, could be heard arguing with Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky.

After the meeting, Abelovsky said words were exchanged after she presented Rodweller with a letter.

“So, basically, it was just me (everyday ordinary citizen Autumn) talking to everyday ordinary citizen Wiliam, before the meeting,” Abelovsky said in an email to a Times News reporter.

When asked for a copy of the letter following the meeting, borough solicitor Jim Nanovic said that since the letter Abelovsky gave to Rodweller was not done during the public meeting, it was not public record.

During the reorganization, council retained Grant Hunsicker as president.

Afterward, council appointed Councilwoman Lisa Perry as vice president after a motion to appoint Joe Flickinger failed on a 4-2 vote.

Nicole Beckett was reappointed borough manager and Brenda Kreitz as borough secretary.

Other appointments included:

• Cathy Smith, treasurer/assistant secretary

• Kim Rubin, assistant secretary-treasurer

• Lonny Armbruster, Light & Power supervisor

• Barry Fisher, assistant Light & Power supervisor

• Kris Kunkle, public works supervisor

• Jeffrey Smith, public works assistant superintendent

• Tom Evans, recreation director

• Bruce Steigerwalt, borough engineer

• James Nanovic, borough solicitor

• Berkheimer, tax collector for earned income and local service taxes

• Barry Isett & Associates, zoning/code enforcement officer and building code officer

• Elizabeth Lorenz, health officer

• Patrick Mriss, fire chief

• Michael Mriss, assistant fire chief

• Brian Biechy, police chief

• The Times News, as the official public notification

• System Design Engineers, sewage enforcement officers

• Ryan Saunders, Lehighton Canal Recreation Commission

• Autumn Abelovsky, library board

• Lisa Perry, council representative for Police Pension Committee

• Nicole Beckett as delegate, and Brenda Kreitz as alternate delegate, to the Carbon County Tax Collection Committee

• Lisa Perry, as voting delegate, and Ryan Saunders as alternate, for the Carbon County Council of Governments

• Grant Hunsicker, voting delegate, and Lisa Perry as alternate, for PSAB Annual Conference (to be held June 7-10 at Hershey).

• Approved a resolution granting authorization to update bank depositories and signatories for all borough financial transactions