Former Mayor Appointed To Open Newtown Borough Council Seat

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The borough council on Tuesday night voted unanimously to appoint former mayor and Independent Dennis O’Brien to fill a 14 month long vacant seat on borough council.

O’Brien, along with former council presidents Kevin McDermott and Julia Woldorf had stepped forward to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Sue Turner.

The four council members - Bob Szwajkos, Tara Grunde-McLaughlin, Emily Heinz and Amy Lustig - voted unanimously for the appointment. The council delayed the meeting briefly while they tried unsuccessfully to patch Councilor Maryellen Raymond into the meeting.

Prior to the vote, acting council president Tara Grunde-McLaughlin, said the decision was a difficult one to make with three exceptional candidates stepping forward to fill the vacancy.

“All three of our candidates have shown dedication and service to Newtown Borough. I have enjoyed working with two of them on council and the third has served as mayor and in many other capacities over the years,” said Grunde-McLaughlin. “I would be glad to have any of you join us,
unfortunately only one will. For the two of you who do not, please know you are very qualified and very valuable.”

Following his appointment, O’Brien was sworn in by District Judge Mick Petrucci and took his seat at the council table.

The first order of business for the new council was to select new leadership. Council unanimously elected Grunde-McLaughlin as president and Heinz as vice president.

In other business at the meeting, council unanimously approved the purchase of a new police car using $78,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the federal government.

Council also waived the parking time limit restrictions in the business district from Thursdays to Sundays from Black Friday through Dec. 31. The waiver does not apply to the 30 minute parking spaces.

Council also granted permits for the following events:

• The annual Jewish holiday street dance sponsored by Lubavitch of Bucks County on Monday, Oct. 17 from 7:45 to 9 p.m. on North State Street.
• The Halloween-themed Movies In The Park featuring the original “Hocus Pocus” sponsored by the recreation board on Friday, Oct. 21 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Linton Park. There is no rain date.