Oakmont Council has a new member, John Arnold

Oakmont council has tapped a retired engineer and advocate for stricter oil and gas well regulations to be its newest member.

John Arnold, a resident of the borough for 13 years and part of Citizens to Protect Oakmont, was appointed Jan. 21 to fill the seat vacated by Carrie Lewis DelRosso, who was recently sworn in to her seat as state representative for the 33rd House District.

“I was very interested in its work,” Arnold said about being on council. “This was an opportunity to become a member. I have quite an interest in serving Oakmont.”

DelRosso’s council term expires at the end of December. Arnold told council he has no interest in running in the upcoming municipal election to keep the seat beyond this year.

Arnold, 76, was among many residents who spoke before council in 2018 while the borough was working on its oil and gas well ordinance. He advocated for larger setbacks.

Arnold is the secretary of the Oakmont Commons Homeowner’s Association and coordinator for FairDistrictsPa, a statewide nonpartisan organization seeking to revise Pennsylvania’s redistricting procedures to eliminate partisan gerrymandering.

Arnold has electrical engineering degrees from Tufts University and Catholic University of America, and has 40 years of practice in that field.

He said infrastructure and stormwater management are two key issues he’d like to address while on council.

The Commons was one of the hardest hit parts of the borough during the July 2019 storms that devastated several Allegheny County communities.

Borough officials had applied for a $500,000 state grant to fund possible flooding solutions, and are awaiting a response from Harrisburg.

Arnold pledged to explore flood mitigation efforts throughout the community and not just in his housing plan.

“It certainly affects more than just the Commons,” he said.

Arnold was among eight out of nine candidates who were interviewed at for the vacancy. The ninth person did not show.

Other candidates included a middle school teacher from Burrell School District, another engineer, a human resources executive and a world-renowned cartoonist.

“I thought there were a number of qualified candidates, a couple of whom I would have voted for,” said Arnold, who participated online in this month’s council sessions.

Council took a couple of days to consider its options before narrowing the pool to two finalists.

Council President Patricia Friday said selecting their new member from such a diverse crowd was a tough call because of “the talent and the skills and the experiences that all these people brought.”

Arnold was appointed via 5-1 vote. Councilwoman Lindsay Osterhout was in favor of resident Anne Bauer, a tax attorney and former law professor.

Other council members said Arnold’s experience made him stand out from the pack.

“He ended up being my first selection,” Councilwoman Nancy Ride said. “I think his background and interest in infrastructure is a good addition to our group, and his activism. He has real interest in local government, and that to me was positive.”

Arnold will be sworn in to his new role Feb. 2.

Other appointments

Council also filled vacancies on other borough boards earlier this year.

• Anthony Rossi was appointed to the planning commission for a term ending Dec. 31, 2023.

• Matt Blackburn was appointed to the planning commission for a term ending Dec. 31, 2024.

• Ann Galm was appointed to the Oakmont Carnegie Library board for a term ending Dec. 31, 2025.