For the first time in several years there is a new face on the Summit Hill Water Authority as Summit Hill resident Louis "Chip" Alexander took his seat on the board after having been appointed earlier in the week by the borough council.

The seat was vacant since January when the borough council refused to reappoint former member John Michalik to the board and later tied in their vote to appoint Summit Hill resident Jim Yusella. When Mayor Paul McArdle refused to break the tie, the vote returned to council who in the meantime received letters of interest from other residents, Alexander's being one of them. Alexander was eventually appointed on a 5-2 vote last Monday.Vice Chairman Robert Collevechio, who ran the meeting in the absence of Chairman Pat Kane, first thanked former water authority head Michalik for his years of service. "Chet did so much for this borough and the authority in his tenure here as a member of the authority. He helped us get the equipment modernized, led the intiative to automate meter reading and computerizing the billing system and his last project was working toward getting this solar project going. Speaking for the members of the board we are grateful to him for all the work he has done and wish him well."Alexander joins the board with a background in managing water and waste water treatment plants. "I've worked in this field for years and also served for four years as a member of the Coaldale, Lansford, Summit Hill Sewer Authority," he said after the meeting.He is a strong supporter of the authority's current project to build a solar field near the physical plant in White Bear. "I think it's a very good thing for the community. You have to think about these things as to how they benefit not only the authority but the community as well."Alexander said he wants to see the authority continue to move forward and supports doing everything they can to keep rates reasonable for consumers. "I'm glad to be able to serve the borough in an area of my expertise."Alexander is a former borough councilman and current candidate for the office. He is a lifelong resident of the community where he resides with his wife Stephanie.