Verona has a new councilman.

Joseph Warren, 41, was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Michael Forbeck, who resigned earlier this month to take a job in state government.

Forbeck was little more than one-and-a-half years into his first four-year term. His resignation letter was submitted July 5.

Council formally accepted it at its July 13 meeting and later appointed his replacement via unanimously vote at the same session.

“With this appointment, I look forward to serving my community and representing the borough in our 150th year to the benefit of everybody in Verona.”

Warren said he is “very familiar with walking into a (council) seat as an appointed member” having been appointed to Aspinwall council in September 2011 and later elected to a four-year term the following year.

“I look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with Verona council on our community’s priorities.”

Warren will serve through the end of the year. The position will be on the November ballot as a two-year seat, according to Allegheny County Elections Division Manager David Voye.

Councilman Ray Suchevich had nominated long-time resident and borough recreation board Treasurer Timothy Long for the seat, but he did not receive enough votes to move forward.

Warren has been in Verona since 2018.

He was appointed to Aspinwall council in September 2011 to fill the unexpired term of the late Sharon Leech, who died of breast cancer a month before. She was 60.

Warren was later elected and served until January 2016. He lived in that town for 11 years and was a founding member of its neighborhood watch program.

Verona council Vice President Dave Matlin said only two people applied for the vacancy, and he felt Warren’s experience was enough to edge out Long.

“I think he’s going to be a nice addition to council,” Matlin said. “I think he brings a fresh perspective and I think some good experience. He was on Aspinwall council. Given that it’s a short term appointment and an immediate vacancy to fill, I think it’s nice to have someone who has that experience already being on a council before.”

Warren works as the director of cause marketing at UMPC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation.

He declined to say whether he will pursue election in November.

Warren thanked Forbeck and Long for their services to the borough and wished his predecessor well in his new state job.

People can watch the entire council meeting on Matlin’s YouTube page.

This was the second council appointment following a resignation this year.

Trish Hredzak-Showalter was unanimously appointed to borough council in late January to fill a vacancy made by former council President Pat McCarthy’s resignation due to health reasons.

The next major borough appointment may come at its Aug. 10 meeting.

Council members plan to hire a new borough secretary.

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