MOUNT CARMEL - Borough council unanimously accepted the resignation of Councilman Ronald Tanney at its monthly meeting Thursday night.
"We'll miss the guy; he was certainly for the public," said Councilman Robert Barrett.
Tanney wrote in a letter of resignation submitted Monday that he regretted his inability to continue his obligations as a member of the council, but would resign due to personal reasons.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to work with all of you and serve the people of Mount Carmel," he wrote.
Tanney was in his last year of a four-year term and chose not to run for re-election. He also served a term in the 1990s. He has been involved in the Celebration of Special Athletes and food pantries in the borough.
Councilmen Clem Plisiewicz and Barrett made and seconded the motion to accept his resignation. It passed unanimously 6-0.
Council has 30 days to fill the vacancy. If it is not filled within that time period, the decision rests with the vacancy board, which is comprised of the six members of council plus a vacancy board member. The vacancy board has an additional 15 days to fill the position. If the seven-member board does not appoint a new member in that time, a county judge can appoint someone.
At this point, said President Tony Matulewicz, there have been no formal interest in the position except for the individuals running for council in the
primary election. Non-incumbents running are Heather Artman, Joseph Lapotsky and Vincent Ulceski.
Matulewicz said he is hesitant to appoint anyone running for council because he didn't want it to appear as if council was stacking the deck ahead of the election.
Easement frustration
In other news, council is still waiting for an land easement issue to be settled with Reading Anthracite Co; it is the last property needed before the Shamokin Creek flood control project can begin along Water Street. Reading Anthracite is one of 67 entities that needed to sign off on the project.
Once an agreement is reached, council can bid the project within 60 days. Construction of the project is expected to take two years.
There is $120,000 worth of CBDG money being allocated toward the project, which involves the construction of flood walls to keep the water from rising into the streets and flooding homes. Council is also seeking grants.
Mayor J. Kevin Jones expressed frustration with the situation.
"As the national government crashes, we are worried about our money. We've hit roadblock after roadblock and our own citizens have held this up," he said.