2-Term Councilman Appointed To Fill Board Vacancy In Yardley Borough

YARDLEY, PA —The new Yardley Borough Council member is actually an old Yardley Borough Council member.

After interviewing six candidates for about 90 minutes Tuesday night, the Borough Council unanimously voted to approve the appointment of Uri Feiner to fill the seat of Councilman Matt Ross, who resigned at the end of 2022, on the seven-member board.

Feiner's term will end on Dec. 31.

Borough Council members took turns interviewing the six candidates for the seat. Among them were Feiner, Zachary Bark, Lyle Hough Jr., Michelle Sharer, Dawn Perlmutter, and Earl Markey.

Markey and Perlmutter had interviewed unsuccessfully in September to fill two vacant council openings.

Feiner told the council during his interview that he never intended on joining the council again. But he just couldn't help it.

"I tried to stay away," he said. "But after two terms on council, I found myself watching the meetings so I think I just love Yardley. I just want to help."

In early September, Councilmen David Appelbaum and Don Carlson filled the vacancies of David Bria and Chris Campellone, who resigned because they were moving out of town.

Both asked Feiner questions during the interview process.

Councilman Matt Curtin made the motion for Feiner's appointment.

"We had a great slate of candidates," Curtin said. "We had a diverse set of people to consider. With the term being for a relatively short time, Uri's experience as a two-time council member would make him an ideal candidate to fill out the remaining 11 months of the term with his expertise and experience with public works."

Appelbaum seconded the motion.

"I love your spirit and your can-do attitude," Appelbaum said. "You're one of the people I respect greatly. You've done it and you've been through this before."

Councilman Don Carlson called Feiner's appointment the "ultimate plug and play."

"I think it's important that we have someone who can hit the ground running," he said.

"He's really engaged and offered a lot of good insights," Councilman John McCann said about Feiner's interview.

Council President Caroline Thompson hoped that the other candidates would consider filling vacancies on other borough boards and commissions.

"We hope to see a lot of candidates on the ballot who are eager to serve the borough," she said in regard to the upcoming election season.