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LEWISTOWN--The Lewistown Borough Council elected new leadership on Wednesday at its first meeting of the new year.
Jim Steele is the new president and Aaron Wilson will take over for Steele as vice president. The vote was 3-3 for both, with Mayor Deb Bargo casting the deciding votes for each.
"I had a different mission as the vice president than I will serve as president. I'm going to do the best I can to help and support the citizens in 2023," Steele said. "The new vice president is very active, too, so he will
be a big help."
Borough Manager Kim Zimmerman said the power transfer was smooth and cooperative. He also stressed the important role the president fills on the council.
"The president has a different role than the council members. He's basically in charge of the council. He's the one who assigns the members to what committees they sit on," Zimmerman said. "His say has a lot of input on who goes where on these committees and what the outcome of some of these votes will be. He provides leadership to the council. The transfer of power went smoothly. We have a good council and look forward to a great 2023."
In other news, the Brooklyn and United fire companies merged and will now be called Brooklyn-United Fire Company.
"United has now moved to the Brooklyn station and those two are officially one," Zimmerman said. "We have to get the ordinances ready and then it
will be official."
Also, The Borough Council will have its first annual Town Hall meeting at the Community Center at 6 p.m. on February 23 to talk about what the new leadership will do for the community over the next 2-3 years. It's an opportunity for the citizens to ask questions to the Borough Council and the executives.
In other Borough news:
• Approval of Minutes: Council Meeting of December 27th, 2022
• Approval of Treasurer's Report: End of year account balance, 2022
• Approval of the Schedule of Bills
• Acknowledge receipt of Fame Meeting Minutes
• Acknowledge receipt of Tax Collector's Report
• Acknowledge receipt of Codes Enforcement Report
• Approved start of demolition of 22 Ridge Street next week
• Catherine-Walnut Park will have its playground equipment put in next week.
• Agreed to hire a parking enforcement officer at 20 hours a week.
• The Borough appointed Zimmerman on the Mifflin County Tax Collection Committee (MCTCC) as the primary, with Frank Berrier as the secondary.
• Hired a vacant Workman position.
• Approved the repair of the boiler for the Brooklyn Fire Department for $7,556.
• Approved looking into an incentive program for part-time police officers or police officers to join the force.