COAL TOWNSHIP - The Coal Township Board of Commissioners welcomed its newest member and appointed a new president during its reorganization meeting Tuesday night.
Newcomer Bernie Rumberger lined up alongside incumbents Gene Welsh, Gerard Waugh III and George Zalar, placing their right hands together atop a Bible, their left hands raised, as Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III swore them into office as a group.
All four won terms in November's General Election.
The four join incumbent Craig Fetterman, who was not up for re-election.
Fetterman was appointed by the board to serve as president, his first shot at leading the commissioners since he took office in 2006. The position has rotated in recent years among the board's more tenured members.
He replaces Welsh, who was appointed as vice president, a position he has held in the past.
Rob Slaby, Vince Rovito and Paul H. Lee of Larson Design Group were retained as township secretary, solicitor and engineer, respectively.
Stephen Minker was retained as chairman of the vacancy board.
The following committee appointments were made to represent the township departments: Fetterman, budget and finance; Rumberger, fire/emergency management and police; Waugh, recreation, administration and building maintenance; Welsh, street; Zalar, planning, building and zoning, sewer and sanitation, community and economic development and code enforcement.