Elizabeth Borough holds reorganization meeting

Newcomer Emily McNeil and three returning council members were among those who were sworn in.

A short reorganization meeting was held Monday for Elizabeth Borough to swear in new and returning members to council, along with borough employees.

Mayor Barry Boucher began the meeting by presenting the affidavits of residency and the loyalty oath to those being sworn in.

Magisterial District Judge Beth Mills swore in Boucher and returning council members Chad Rager, Cole Buchina and Charles Smith, newcoming council member Emily McNeil and tax collector Robin Schmidt.

McNeil took the seat of former council member Dana Cress by winning in November. McNeil came to the regular meeting in December to meet everyone formally.

Borough manager Scott Craighead said at the December meeting that Cress has done a lot for the borough, and he’s excited to see Mc-Neil come into the position.

He hopes to put Cress on some sort of committee to help the borough in the future since she represented the borough at SHACOG meetings. The borough will need to nominate a new representative.

“Mrs. Cress has been a great council member for us, and has represented us at the council of government meetings,” Craighead said. “She has also helped us with a few grants to restore and maintain our historic past in the business district. We are excited about working with Emily to continue to make Elizabeth Borough thrive.”

Guffey also thanked Cress for her four years of service during the December meeting, and he said he’s looking forward to McNeil being a part of council.

Additionally at the reorganization meeting, officers stayed the same with Timothy Guffey remaining president and Rager remaining vice president.

Craighead will also retain his posts as treasurer, secretary and right-to-know officer.

Council also voted to keep PNC Bank for its bank, Dodaro, Dalfonso, Matta & Cambest, P.C. for its solicitor, Glenn Engineering for engineering services and the Mon Valley Independent as its official newspaper.

Committee assignments will be made during January’s regular meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 28.

In other business:

• Council approved a motion to pay a $5,850 invoice for emergency plumbing repair to Champion Plumbing.

• The borough is also looking to hire a new zoning board member and a zoning board alternate. Anyone interested can call 412-3847771.