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2020 reorganization: Jim Thorpe council

A familiar face will lead Jim Thorpe Borough Council in 2020, while a newcomer was tapped to serve as second in command.

Greg Strubinger was unanimously re-elected as president during Monday’s reorganization meeting and freshman council member Mike Yeastedt will succeed Jay Miller, who ran for council but was defeated in November’s general election, as vice president. The vote to appoint Yeastedt was also unanimous.

Yeastedt and Robert Schaninger were welcomed as newcomers to council, joining returning members Strubinger, Thomas Highland, Kyle Sheckler, Joanne Klitsch and Edith Lukasevich.

“We have a great group with a lot of years of community service,” said Strubinger. “I think we have a great opportunity to get things done for the borough.”

Strubinger spoke of two upcoming building projects, one that will see the current maintenance garage demolished and a new one built near the water plant on West Broadway and another that will involve moving the borough office to a portion of the top floor of Memorial Hall and the police department to the basement.

“I think it will enhance the services the borough can provide and also make the necessary improvements to the hall that will allow it to be used for more community events,” he said.

Council on Monday also approved contracts with Borough Manager Maureen Sterner, Police Chief Joe Schatz and Public Services Manager Vince Yaich, who will all remain in their current capacity.

In other action during the reorganization meeting, the borough appointed William Solomon to a one-year term on the vacancy board, Alex Walbert to a one-year term on the Lehigh Canal Recreation Board, Schaninger to a five-year term on the Shade Tree Commission, Maureen Sterner as the Federal Emergency Management agent for Jim Thorpe, Chris Lukasevich as the Dimmick Memorial Library Board representative, William Diehm as the fire department trust fund representative, Jay Miller as the Council of Governments representative, Maria Sebelin as the Carbon County Tax Collection Committee delegate and borough treasurer, Louise McClafferty as borough secretary, Dwayne Sterner as water department supervisor, Ed Gula as sewer department supervisor, James Trainer as public service supervisor, Lyle Augustine as health inspector and Gary Heydt as building/grounds keeper.

Vince Yaich and William Diehm were reappointed as Jim Thorpe Municipal Fire Company chief and deputy chief respectively.

William Brier was appointed as the borough’s sewage enforcement officer.

Council voted to retain James Nanovic as its solicitor and Entech Inc. as its engineer on an as-needed basis.

Council tabled the following appointments; two four-year planning commission terms, a zoning hearing board five-year term, zoning official, property maintenance code official, nuisance official, building code official, stormwater management official, and plumbing inspector.

Jim Thorpe Borough Council held its annual reorganization meeting on Monday night with Greg Strubinger retaining the presidency and newcomer Michael Yeastedt unanimously elected vice president. Front row, from left, are Michael Sofranko, mayor; Thomas Highland, councilman; Joanne Klitsch, councilwoman; Edith Lukasevich, councilwoman; and Strubinger, council president. Back row: Yeastedt, council vice president; Robert Schaninger councilman; Kyle Sheckler, councilman; and Connor Rodgers, junior councilman. JARRAD HEDES/TIMES NEWS