Mayor, Council Seats Available in North Apollo

 

-

by Jonathan Weaver

 

North Apollo Borough Council members are actively seeking applicants for Mayor and Council President after the unfortunate deaths of two of its leaders.

Mayor Edward Artman died December 18 at ACMH in East Franklin Township after beginning his second term as mayor and Council President Ed Barclay died December 31 in Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights.

Borough Secretary Edward Stitt – hired as a clerk in May 1985 – knew Mayor Artman more than 50 years - since they were both classmates at North Apollo Elementary.

“We’ve had situations where we’ve had people resign from Council, but we’ve never had two of `em die like that,” Stitt said. “It’s new territory for us – we had to feel our way through it.”

Borough Council’s first meeting of the year scheduled for January 5 was postponed due to the untimely passings. The meeting is rescheduled for 7PM Tuesday at the North Apollo Borough Council Building on Leonard Avenue.

Barclay was elected into office in 2012

Council Vice-President Debbie Stankus had a professional relationship with both officials. She even recalled talking with Barclay hours before on New Year’s Eve.

“To lose two people within two weeks is hard to wrap your head around,” Stankus said. “Very hard - but we have to move forward.”

Stankus – who was on council as well in 2004-06 after moving to North Apollo from Kiski Township and was first involved with the borough crime watch – thought highly of both men, including Barclay.

“He was so professional,” Stankus said. “He was so dedicated. He had a very dry humor, which was the funniest of all, but his passion for wanting the borough to thrive…

I don’t know if anyone’s going to measure up to that. He was a wonderful man.”

Council members already have many ideas for 2015 and “want to make Ed proud.”

Councilman Eugene Burns was elected last January after being a resident since 1976. He said both men made a good impression in his tenure and said Barclay “had the interest of the town.”

The three officials are curious to see the pool of applicants Tuesday evening. If no applicants are present, Council will have to advertise.

Members have 30 days from Mayor Artman’s death December 18 and 30 days as well from Council President Barclay’s death to appoint replacements. If not, members will have to apply for an extension

Applicants must be a registered North Apollo voter and a resident for at least one year.

The residence affidavit is available on the borough website and should be brought to the council meeting if they are interested. Further questions can be addressed to Stitt.

“We’re just hoping somebody steps forward,” Stankus said. “Either way, we’ll get things done. We have a lot to do, but we’ll get through it.”