Tarentum could appoint interim mayor in October to serve out rest of year

Tarentum is without a mayor, at least until next month.

Council on Tuesday formally accepted the resignation of Eric Carter, who submitted a letter in August saying that he was stepping down as mayor because of scheduling conflicts.

Carter’s term had been scheduled to end on Dec. 31.

“As of right now, the mayor’s office is vacant,” council President Scott Dadowski said. “Anything that would normally go to the mayor would now come to council as a whole.”

Council has 30 days to name an interim replacement. The next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5.

If an appointment is made, that person would serve the remaining three months of the year.

Council already has someone seeking the appointment — former borough police Officer Robert Lang, who lost the Democratic primary in May to current Councilwoman Carrie Fox, but won the Republican nomination as a write-in.

Lang submitted a letter to council that was read during Tuesday’s meeting.

“I would like to be considered to be appointed to the position as temporary mayor by council until it can be permanently filled in November,” Lang wrote.

Lang was one of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the spring primary’s mayoral race, along with Carter and Fox.

Fox said she will not be submitting her name for the temporary position.

“I feel that we are both candidates running for the job,” Fox said. “Therefore, I feel the constituents of Tarentum Borough should make that choice at the upcoming election in November between myself and Mr. Lang.”

If council fails to agree on an appointee in October, the decision would go the vacancy board, which would have 15 days to make a decision.

“I don’t anticipate that happening,” Dadowski said.