With four vacant seats and one member out sick, the Freeport Borough Council meeting Monday was about as long as a commercial break in Monday night’s Steelers game.

With the lack of a quorum preventing an official meeting to be held, the only business conducted was appointing a president and vice president. Mayor James Swartz Jr., council President Clint Warnock and councilman Josh James reelected Warnock as president and Stephanie Vantine as vice president. Vantine was ill and unable to attend the meeting.

Solicitor Matt Kolena — who was also ill and unable to attend the meeting — advised Swartz by phone that all council could do was satisfy the requirement that a president and vice president be selected on the first Monday of the new year.

The next council meeting will be on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Officials hope to fill three of the four council vacancies that evening and have the new members sworn in.

Councilwoman Mary Bowlin, appointed last year, was elected to a full, four-year term in November, but announced in early December that she would resign, citing disputes with Swartz. But the resignation couldn’t be approved at a late December meeting because council didn’t have a quorum.

Swartz said that Bowlin’s resignation can’t take effect until 10 days after the reorganization, so Bowlin’s resignation won’t be official until Jan. 13.

Thus far, three letters of interest have been received from prospective candidates. One, however, is from a resident who has lived in the borough less than a year and is ineligible. Warnock hopes another candidate will emerge before the Jan. 11 meeting.

Residents interested in becoming a council member should contact the borough office at 724-295-2251.

Assuming a quorum is present on Jan. 11, additional appointments can be made for borough positions such as secretary, solicitor, public works superintendent, members of zoning and planning commissions, and other positions.

Also on the agenda is a discussion regarding a look into forming a regional police force with neighboring municipalities. Even with the discussion, the borough will also look at hiring new police officers.

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