McCandless Council now has a Democrat-led majority as three new members were sworn in during a reorganization meeting Jan. 5 at Town Hall.
Laureen Alt of Ward 2, Jack Hickerson of Ward 4 and Nathan Babich of Ward 6 won the seats against incumbent Republicans Jack Casey, Don Hart and Jason Singer.
They join sitting Democratic council members Trish Cloonan of Ward 7 and Nick Giorgetti of Ward 3 and Republicans Joe Wall of Ward 5 and Doug Arlow of Ward 1.
Cloonan was elected council president and Giorgetti was named vice president, both unanimously.
Arlow, Cloonan, Giorgetti and Wall all have terms expiring in January 2028.
District Judge Matthew Brungo conducted the swearing-in ceremonies.
The council also presented liaison appointments to various committees, and Cloonan reminded council members about the important role.
“Our committees are very well-established, very well-educated, thoughtful, well-qualified people that serve on these committees,” she said. “Our role is to act as liaison to these committees as a council.”
She noted all are welcome and encouraged to attend any committee meetings.
The liaison appointments are as follows, with the first name as the primary representative followed by the alternate:
Planning Commission is Alt, then Hickerson; Zoning Hearing Board is Wall, then Arlow; McCandless Township Sanitary Authority is Arlow, then Babich; McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority is Giorgetti, then Alt; Northland Public Library Authority is Babich, then Hickerson; North Hills Council of Governments is Giorgetti, then Hickerson; McCandless Industrial Development Authority is Hickerson, then Giorgetti; Volunteer Fire Fighters Steering Committee is Cloonan, then Babich; Environmental Advisory Committee is Hickerson, then Arlow; Financial Development and Promotional Committee is Alt, then Giorgetti; Personnel Board is Giorgetti, then Wall; and the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce is Wall, then Giorgetti.
Other committees not listed on the agenda but also appointed include Babich and alternate Cloonan for the Ad Hoc Stormwater Management Committee and Babich and Wall for the Code of Appeals Committee.
Events in McCandless, such as the 175th planning, annual community day and Winterfest, will have council representation of Cloonan and Alt as alternate.
Council meetings take place on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at Town Hall, 9955 Grubbs Road. The meetings now will be at 7 p.m. Previously, they were held at 7:30 p.m.
For additional details about McCandless Council, including how to reach the elected officials and links to agendas and videos of meetings, visit townofmccandless.org/281/Town-Council.
