Sewickley Council is under new management
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Sewickley Council has a new president, vice president and several new members.
Borough elected officials picked their leaders at a reorganization meeting Jan. 3.
Cynthia Mullins and Julie Barnes were named council president and vice president, respectively. Tom Rostek was named president pro tempore.
Sworn in were newly-elected members Brian Bozzo, Bridgett Bates, Todd Hamer, Donna Korczyk and Anne Willoughby, and re-elected councilman Todd Renner. Mayor George Shannon and tax collector Josh Munn also were sworn to new terms.
“I started serving on council in 2018 and had no idea at that time I would be taking on the leadership position,” Mullins said. “I’m excited to get started. My goal is to make this a very productive and fulfilling time to serve on council.”
Mullins served on the business district advisory committee, the Shade Tree Commission and chaired the parking authority board.
“Over the past three years, council has done some great work getting our financial house in order,” Mullins said. “That means we have built reserves needed to tackle some big projects including steep slopes, blighted properties, getting the wastewater treatment plan across the finish line and rebuilding borough staff.”
Barnes has been on council since 2020 and also served on several committees. She was the secretary of the parking authority board and recently spearheaded the borough’s Light Up Night celebration.
“(I) am honored that council has entrusted me with a leadership role,” Barnes said. “Cindy, Tom and I have strong working relationships, and I’m excited to help set a tone of productivity and cooperation with the new council.
“With so many new members, both elected and appointed, we have the opportunity to form a strong team and generate new ideas and enthusiasm for both the ordinary borough work, like fixing roads and infrastructure, as well as more exciting work like community-building and developing the borough’s resiliency to climate change.”
Willoughby said she is excited to work with her colleagues on increasing transparency and communication with the community. One of the ways she hopes to do that is through technology.
“Livestreaming meetings and posting recorded proceedings is simple and will do a lot toward engaging the community and keeping people more informed,” she said. “It’s the message I ran my campaign on and I’m thrilled that the current council is equally determined to get it done. We’ve got a great mix of community-minded people that I’m eager to get to know better and learn from.”
New police chief, too
Sewickley also enters the new year with a new police chief.
David Mazza of Reserve Township was named top cop a few weeks ago. Mazza, 50, has been with the department since 1996 serving as a dispatcher, patrolman, sergeant and assistant chief.
Mazza took over for Richard Manko, who retired from the Sewickley force in December after serving 40 years, including a little more than the last four as chief.
Borough manager Donna Kaib has just several months under her belt as administrative head. The former Reserve Township manager was hired in August to fill the shoes of Marla Marcinko, who was let go in May.
Mullins said having some new leaders and familiar faces “brings a lot of energy and new ideas to the table.”
“We are thankful for the efforts of our former members and staff over the years, she said. “It’s our responsibility to build on their successes.”