MacDonald Voted New Council President and New Members Sworn In

George Celli, Judi Dici and Marilyn Mancini were sworn in at the Ellwood City Borough Council reorganization meeting yesterday.

Celli and Dici were elected after serving on council in previous terms and losing elections in 2013. They replace Ralph Chiappetta and John Todorich, who ran unsuccessfully for re-election. Incumbent Mancini won re-election, so the new council is more-or-less an old council.

Mayor Anthony J. Court administered the Oath of Office and proceeded over the opening ceremonies until a new president could be elected.

Both the president and vice-president elections were contested. David DeCaria nominated Connie MacDonald and Michelle Lamenza nominated former president Brad Ovial. MacDonald subsequently won in a 5-2 vote. Ovial, who cast the last vote, ceded by voting for MacDonald.

MacDonald subsequently assumed the president’s seat and proceeded over the election of the vice-president. Ovial nominated DeCaria and Mancini nominated Dici. DeCaria won 4-3.

MacDonald was approved as the Lawrence County Delegate, as he already held the position, and Ovial was selected as the alternative. Ovial and DeCaria were appointed to the Ellwood City Revitalization Board.

Council will meet at 5 p.m. next Monday, Jan. 11 to create committee appointments.

Council also approved meeting dates, which are the same as last year. Agenda meetings will be at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of every month and regular meetings at 6 p.m. on the third Monday, except for January’s meeting which will be Tuesday, Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Council was also scheduled to approve a two year extension to the current agreement for Borough Manager Bob Villella. However, Dici pointed out that she shouldn’t vote for an agreement which she is not familiar with.

Borough Solicitor Ed Leymarie said it is possible to extend the agreement on a monthly basis and two years is merely the maximum. Council withdrew the motion to discuss it once all members are familiar with the Manager’s terms and conditions.

“I think we’re all here for one reason: the betterment of Ellwood City,” MacDonald said when he took the president’s chair. “I urge us all to work together.”

President Vote Breakdown
MacDonald
Celli
DeCaria
Dici
MacDonald
Ovial

Ovial
Lamenza
Mancini

Vice-President Vote Breakdown
DeCaria
DeCaria
Lamenza
MacDonald
Ovial

Dici
Celli
Dici
Mancini

Front: Judi Dici, Mayor Anthony J. Court Rear: Vice-President David DeCaria, Michelle Lamenza, Brad Ovial, Marilyn Mancini, George Celli and President Connie MacDonald.