Fox Chapel councilman stepping down to become next mayor; vacancy pending

Fox Chapel Council soon will have a vacancy as one of its members is stepping down to become the borough’s next mayor.

In the spirit of passing the torch, Mayor Alex Scott III passed a green hat with a fox on it to Councilman Jonathan Colton on Nov. 17.

Colton, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Robert Marsh in a race to succeed Scott in the November election.

Colton’s colleagues on council accepted his resignation effective Jan. 4.

He and other elected borough leaders will be sworn in at Fox Chapel’s reorganization meeting Jan. 5.

“I feel incredibly humbled and honored that our residents would trust me with this office,” Colton said. “I enjoyed my time on council and would have continued (as a member), having not seen the need for the right person to serve as our next mayor.

“I will miss my time on council, but at the same time, I look forward to the new opportunities that will present themselves as mayor.”

Colton, 50, is in the second year of his first term on council. His term expires at the end of 2027.

Colton has lived in the borough for at least 14 years. The former Joshua M. Bloom & Associates attorney recently joined Edgar Snyder & Associates.

Colton said his focus will be on public safety and getting to know more residents.

He hopes whoever fills his council seat is someone who really wants to get involved and work for the betterment of the borough and will make parks a priority.

Council plans to interview candidates at its reorganization meeting and likely will appoint someone that night.

Whoever is appointed is expected to serve out the remaining two years of Colton’s term and would have to run in the next municipal election to keep the seat.

Mayoral retirement

Scott, 78, has lived in the borough for 72 years. He graduated from Fox Chapel Area High School in 1965.

The semi-retired real estate business developer decided to not run for reelection to spend more time with family.

Specifically, he plans to do more traveling with his wife, Cris. They have been married for 55 years.

Scott also plans to do more in the family businesses: Center Associates, which builds retail spaces, and Scott Brothers, a real estate management company.

The outgoing mayor believes someone in his position must devote a lot of time and attention to residents and their concerns, and his future plans would limit that availability.

“I thought it would be appropriate for me to step down,” Scott said Nov. 18.

He has served the borough in one post or another for about 30 years.

Scott, a Republican, has been mayor since March 2012 after the retirement of Harry McLaughlin, also a Republican, as mayor.

Scott finished McLaughlin’s term and was elected three times. He also served on council from January 1998 until his mayoral appointment and was part of the environmental advisory committee prior to council.

Looking back on the career, Scott said some of his proudest moments include the opening of the Cooper-Siegel Community Library in 2011 and relocation of Foxwall EMS to its current station along Hemlock Hollow Road.

Another milestone was connecting the trail from Scott Park all the way to Riding Meadow Park through Shady Side Academy and the Pittsburgh Field Club, which linked Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve across town to the O’Hara border.

Scott said he learned a lot from McLaughlin, including the importance of keeping a close relationship with the police and first responders.

“We had a number of meetings about the transition and what he was doing and what I was going to do,” Scott said. “He had a great relationship with the police. I tried to maintain that. I think I did OK with that, and a great relationship with the volunteer fire department. I felt like I was a contact with the borough and the fire department for many years.

“I liked that role, and just being available. Trying to be a problem-solver when people had questions.”

Scott said he has had similar conversations with Colton and believes he is leaving the borough in good hands.

“I think he’ll be fine,” Scott said. “I think he’ll do a good job.”

Scott also serves as Fox Chapel Parks Conservancy president and plans to continue with that volunteer effort.

Colton served on the borough manager search committee and as an alternate on the committee dealing with the latest trash collection contract while on council.

He said Scott’s advice has been invaluable and pledged to keep borough history and its parks a high priority.

“I hope to build on the legacy of our prior mayors, namely by connecting our parks and our library to our residents’ neighborhoods with walkable pathways and connections,” Colton said. “I also hope and see as a priority simply getting to know more Fox Chapel residents better.

“Our residents know Alex as an extremely kind and generous ambassador for Fox Chapel who has a deep understanding of and appreciation for Fox Chapel’s history.”

One of Colton’s final acts on council was voting Monday night on next year’s budget, which does not have a real estate tax increase.

Council approved a resolution Monday night honoring Scott for his many years of public service.

A reception took place after the meeting at the fire hall in the lower level of the borough building.

Officials that evening also thanked Councilwoman Sarah Hanna for her service. She concludes her first term on council at the end of this year. She did not run for reelection.

Newcomer Barry Schaitkin will take her place. He and council President Andrew Bennett, Vice President Harrison Lauer and Councilman Bradley Harrison all ran in a race for four seats in this year’s election.

Another spot to fill

The pending council vacancy will not be the only spot borough officials hope to fill early in 2026.

Fox Chapel Police Department leadership is expected to be solidified in the coming months.

Former Sgt. Craig Sorg is serving as interim chief following the retirement of Chief Michael Stevens.

The borough partnered with Dailey Operation Consulting to conduct a nationwide search at a cost of $8,500.

The deadline for resumes had been extended to Dec. 1.

Jason Dailey, owner of the consulting firm, said they received 22 applicants for the position and started the first round of interviews. He does not expect a recommendation to be ready by the Jan. 5 reorganization meeting.

Sorg said at least two of the applicants were from the department.