Coaldale has a new council member, mayor, secretary/treasurer and zoning officer.

Council members made the appointments during a special meeting Tuesday.Frank Hutta takes the seat of Linda Miller, who passed away Nov. 16.Francisco "Frank" Rodriguez is the new mayor, replacing Richard Kellner, who resigned Dec. 1.Anissa Nunemacher will be part-time secretary/treasurer, replacing Andrea Davis, who quit Dec. 1.Bertram Berk Jr. will be the zoning officer, replacing Pete Sachon, who resigned in October.The special meeting began with an executive session.When the meeting reconvened, during public comment, Frank Hutta's wife, Cindy, said that Brenda Hosler should not vote regarding his pending council appointment.Cindy Hutta said that she and her husband, a contractor, had done work for Hosler and had not been paid, creating a conflict of interest.She read a section of the handbook for conduct of Coaldale council members, which she said she printed from the borough's website.A member of council should not vote "where an individual member has a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest," she read.Hosler said that the work was done on a home owned by her mother, and that the repair bill was to be paid by her mother.Residents argued the validity and timing of the issue, with Police Chief Tim Delaney, who is out on disability, saying to Cindy Hutta, "She (Hosler) voted against your husband and now you tried to pull this."Council had deadlocked on nominating Hutta at a previous meeting, with Hosler, Harry Hontz and President Angela Krapf voting against him.After Delaney's remarks, former councilman Dave Yelito said that he'd witnessed a council member trying to intimidate Councilwoman Yvonne Stoffey. Stoffey said she didn't recall the incident.Some residents said the rift on council stemmed from the issue with the police department.The former council had furloughed the full-time police officers, and instead provided police coverage using part-time officers.The current council had returned the officers to their full-time positions."I've lived here 69 years and I've never seen a council act like this," said Ann Marie Stoffey. "The police situation is over; it's done, forget it."Another resident, Ruth Weiss, spoke in favor of the police."We know why this is going on, to get enough votes to get rid of the police department," she said. "Most people in town want a police department."After that discussion, councilman Mike Doerr nominated Joel Johnson to serve as mayor, seconded by Thomas Keerans.But council deadlocked, with Hontz, Hosler and Krapf voting against the appointment; and Keerans, Doerr and Stoffey voting in favor.Council President Angela Krapf said, "Something's got to give here.""We can't get done what we need to get done," she said. "Not while these positions are empty."Solicitor Mike Greek then addressed the "conflict of interest" issue that had been raised by Cindy Hutta.According to the state ethics board, a conflict of interest exists if the council member has a "direct pecuniary interest."Speaking generally, it may be improper or illegal for Hosler to vote if she has a personal interest, he added."If that's so, it would void your vote," Greek said. "But I can't advise you to vote or not to vote; that decision is yours."Councilman Harry Hontz then nominated Vincent "Skip" Miller, who is the husband of the late Linda Miller, for the council seat but the motion died without a second.Thomas Keerans then nominated Hutta, which was seconded by Mike Doerr. On the roll call vote, Hosler said, "I'm not voting."Keerans, Doerr and Stoffey voted for Hutta, with Hontz and Krapf voting no.Council members then nominated Miller to serve on the vacancy board, and the vote was unanimous.They recessed their special meeting and convened the vacancy board. Hosler then nominated Rodriguez to serve as mayor, seconded by Hontz.Hosler, Hontz, Krapf and Miller voted in favor of the appointment, with Doerr, Stoffey and Keerans voting against.The votes to appoint Berk as zoning officer and Nunemacher as secretary/treasurer were unanimous.