Governor Wolf Appoints Council President to Advisory Committee

Ellwood City Council President Judith Dici was recently appointed to Governor Wolf’s Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC).

The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) provides municipalities, legislators and the business community an opportunity to have an open dialogue to discuss the impact legislation is having on local governments as well as creates a forum to communicate and converse about the needs and challenges facing local governments throughout Pennsylvania.

Dici will represent Ellwood City and 957 other boroughs until 2023.

Out of a handful of borough officials, Dici was chosen by Wolf to serve on the committee.

The Local Government Advisory Committee consists of the Lieutenant Governor, who serves as chairperson and 14 additional members.  Five of the members of the committee are elected officials of local government appointed by the Governor, representing one of each: the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs; the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors; the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania; the Pennsylvania Municipal League and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners.

Four members of the committee are appointed by the Governor and are representatives of persons or entities having an interest in the local affairs of the Commonwealth (i.e. non-profit organization or members of the general public).

One member of the committee is a representative of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association who is appointed by the Governor and the four remaining members are appointed, one each, by the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

“I am completely overwhelmed and honored that out of all the boroughs and borough council members, I was the one chosen,” Dici said.

One of her peers who was not surprised with her appointment was Mayor Anthony Court.

Court offered praise for Dici’s recognition as well as her work on council.

“This honor is well deserved,” Court said. “Jude works extremely hard. When you work hard, good things come your way.”

Getting Involved

Dici, the first female to serve as president of Ellwood City Council, is no stranger to borough matters. In total, Dici has served 8 years on council.

She originally got involved with borough government because she was certain she could make a difference.

“I believed that I had things to contribute,” she said. “New Ideas and ways to make lives better.”

Dici, a former English and Spanish teacher at Lincoln High School, moved away from the area for a while. Upon her return, she said she wasn’t satisfied with the direction in which her hometown was headed.

“I was confident that I could be part of changing that,” Dici said.

The best part of being on a state-wide committee according to Dici is the knowledge that she can bring back and use locally.

“I gain perspective from working with different organizations, engaging in open dialogue, seeing the impact of legislation in other towns, and learning about the needs and challenges of those towns,” Dici said. “I believe in getting completely involved in order to expand my knowledge of how good government works.”

Dici’s Other Honors

Dici was awarded the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) distinguished Service Award, which honors service to the community in 2018.

And in 2017, Dici earned a Certificate of Achievement making her a Certified Borough Official. The certification is awarded upon completion of the Certified Borough Officials Program a voluntary professional development leadership course.

Dici said as long as she is serving the public, she will never stop seeking new opportunities to network and learn.

“When I get involved, I really get involved,” she said.

Dici’s Borough Work

Some of Dici’s most treasured work with the borough and residents of Ellwood City include a variety of actions that had an impact for families and youth.

One of her first moves was to work with the board to come to an agreement on a new borough manager. Until David Allen was named to that position Dici stood in as manager during which time she partnered with the Homes Project securing $500,000 to help low income families rehabilitate their homes.

Another accomplishment that Dici remembers fondly involves fellow councilwoman Marilyn Mancini. Dici said that she and Mancini fought for six years to get a sand volleyball court and new bocci courts in Ewing Park.

“The sand volleyball courts were used by the girls team for practice,” Dici said. “The coach said that sand court was vital to the strengthening of the team’s legs and led to a winning season. I am proud of that.”

Once a Teacher, Always a Teacher

Dici feels a great respect for the youth in the borough. She spent four Saturdays during her first term in office working with a group of seniors working to rehabilitate Rolling Hills, Rosanna, and West End Playgrounds.

“I saw the joy and pride in their faces,” she said. “They were doing something for their town. It shows our young people are willing to step up and do what is asked of them when they are treated with mutual respect.

The Future of Ellwood City

Dici is no stranger to media. She was featured on the Borough Association’s “Inside Pennsylvania Boroughs” TV Show in an effort to promote Ellwood City.

“I take any opportunity to spread the word about Ellwood City and all it has to offer,” she said.

Dici looks forward to not only her term on the LGAC but also to continue to serve Ellwood City.

“I am proud to say that I am part of all this,” Dici said. “I am seeing taxpayer money being spent more wisely, I am seeing the borough moving forward, I am proud to see Ellwood City making a comeback.”