Oaths Made and Promises Pending in Pottstown

Photos by Evan Brandt

Newly elected Third Ward Councilman Donald J. Lebedynsky, left, takes the oath of office Tuesday night, as dictated by newly elected Mayor Stephanie Henrick, while newly installed Interim Borough Manager Justin Keller holds the Bible.

When council closed out its business for the year last month, it had adopted a budget that hikes taxes 12 percent with a promise.

Council promised it would revisit the budget in 2018 and try to bring the tax hike down.

That didn't happen Tuesday night.

It may happen Monday night when newly appointed Council President Dan Weand is scheduled to appoint an "oversight committee" to do that work on the budget.

But Councilman Joe Kirkland wasn't happy. He said he had hoped the appointments would be done last night so work could begin right away.

Council has a legal deadline of Feb. 15 to adjust the budget.

"Waiting until Monday means we lose a week," said Kirkland. "We don't have much time."

Kirkland said he had already emailed a number of suggestions and scenarios to Interim Borough Manager Justin Keller, but Councilwoman Rita Paez, who last month argued council needed more time to work on the budget, said she did not think the appointments needed to be made Tuesday night.

"When Feb. 15 rolls around and time is tight, remember this delay," Kirkland warned.

District Judge Scott Palladino, center, administers the

oath of office to Mayor Stephanie Henrick. Justin Keller

held the Bible.

"OK," replied Weand.

Incumbents Kirkland, Weand, and Ryan Procsal were sworn into new terms before the official meeting got started and new members Donald Lebedynsky and Mayor Stephanie Henrick took their first oaths.

Also on the agenda for Monday's meeting is a vote on a proposal to revamp how and how much Pottstown charges for parking, as well as some new signs.

Here are the Tweets from last night's meeting.