Pleasant Hills council reorganizes with familiar faces
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Pleasant Hills council reappointed a familiar face as its leader and newer one as its second in command.
Cheryl Freedman and Andrew Codelka were named president and vice president, respectively.
It was a unanimous vote Monday night with no other nominations to the positions.
This will be Freedman’s second year as president and sixth year on council.
Codelka is in his second year on council and first as vice president. Greg Smith was vice president last year.
Freedman thanked her colleagues for their support.
“These guys are a pleasure to work with,” Freedman said. “Everybody’s been a help. They’ve all been there together. We agree on a lot of things. We have very good conversations about issues, and I’m privileged to work with everybody.”
Codelka echoed Freedman’s sentiments and lauded her leadership.
“I’m honored to be considered,” Codelka said. “Our council works great together, and it’s nice to be appointed by your peers. I think Cheryl did a fantastic job helping lead us (last year).”
Most communities appoint their council leaders and other borough officials at reorganization meetings usually within the first week of a new year.
Freedman said Pleasant Hills waited until this month’s regular meeting because last year was an off year for municipal elections.
Council also made various reappointments Monday, including Kelly Jean Theiss as borough manager, Brian Finnerty as police chief, Sean Greene as deputy police chief and attorney Fred Jug Jr. of Brandt, Milnes & Rea as borough solicitor.
Codelka also was named to the library board along with Councilwoman Nicole Lechenby. Councilwoman Eileen Solinas was named to the Baldwin EMS board. Jug Jr. was reappointed as delinquent tax collector.
Authority board retirement
Richard Nieman received a round of applause and other commendations for his many years of service to the borough. He recently retired after 26 years on the Pleasant Hills Authority board.
Mayor William Trimbath said Nieman showed impeccable leadership, specifically years ago with the multi-million dollar expansion of the sewer treatment plant.
Nieman said he learned a lot since being appointed to the authority board in January 1995.
“I had no knowledge of the authority, of waste water treatment or the role of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,” he said. “Twenty-six years later, I think that I’ve acquired some knowledge in all of those areas.
“The most pleasant (and) most gratifying piece of my work (was) having to deal with different people that routinely interfaced with the authority; the representatives of the different contracted boroughs, the outside engineers, the solicitors, the regulators and of course the operating personnel themselves.
“I think it drove me. I hope I made some small contribution … I think I’m a better person for this interaction. I want to thank everybody for this opportunity and thank you particularly for these kind words.”
There is a vacancy on the authority board as a result of Nieman’s retirement.
Interested residents can contact the borough office at 412-655-5048 for more information.