Bridgette Gill appointed to fill open Council seat

Council has a full bench of seven again. On December 8, members appointed Bridgette Gill to fill the seat left open when Rob Poust resigned, and Mrs. Gill was sworn in during the meeting and took her place at the table the same night.

When an elected Council seat in a Pennsylvania borough becomes vacant between elections, the remaining members fill it by appointment rather than calling a special election. The appointee serves out the balance of the unexpired term. That process is set out in the Borough’s governing charter — Home Rule Charter, Article III (Council) — and the seat will go before voters again at the next regular municipal election for the remainder of the term.

How the choice was made

Council opened the seat to applicants and, on November 10, interviewed three residents who came forward: Jennifer Bryan, Bridgette Gill and Debra Kann. A fourth interested resident, Michael Westbrook, submitted a letter of interest but did not appear for an interview.

With more than one candidate still in the running, members settled the appointment by secret paper ballot. Solicitor Stants and the Interim Borough Manager tallied the votes: Mrs. Gill received four and Mrs. Bryan received three. After the result was announced, Mrs. Gill was administered the oath of office and joined the meeting already in progress as a voting member.

What this means for residents

The appointment restores Council to its full complement of seven, so the body again has every seat filled as it works through the budget season and the year ahead. Residents who want to follow Council’s work, see who represents them, or find meeting dates can do so on the Borough’s Council page; Council meets the second Monday of each month at the Borough Office, 1100 Logan Avenue.

On record: the appointment of Bridgette Gill and her oath of office are part of the public meeting record at the Borough Office, 1100 Logan Avenue. The role and terms of Council members are set out in Article III of the Tyrone Borough Home Rule Charter, online at ecode360.com/TY1357.