At its yearly reorganization meeting Monday, Lower Saucon Township Council selected a new president and vice president, and mourned the loss of a former leader.
A moment of silence was observed for longtime councilman Glenn Kern, who resigned his seat on council in November and passed away at age 62 surrounded by his family at home Dec. 30, according to his obituary.
Glenn Kern (FILE PHOTO)
Kern served on council for a total of 17 years and was president for eight years, until he was afflicted with a debilitating illness that affected both his hearing and speech about five years ago.
A memorial service for Kern is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 19 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Durham Springs (the former Cascade Lodge), 5065 Lehnenberg Road, Kintnersville, according to his obituary.
At Monday’s meeting council elected to appoint councilwoman Priscilla deLeon–who served on council alongside Kern throughout his tenure–as its new president.
The other nominees were councilwoman Donna Louder and incumbent council president Sandra Yerger, who declined a nomination to remain president made by deLeon.
DeLeon had been the incumbent vice president.
Council members were given paper ballots for the election process.
Lower Saucon Township Council President Priscilla deLeon (FILE PHOTO)
The votes ended in ties three times before deLeon was announced as the winner after the fourth ballot count.
A Democrat from Steel City, she has served on township council since 1988 and has served as council president in the past.
Council also elected councilman Ryan Stauffer as vice president.
Council members are elected to four-year terms and elections for president and vice president of council are held at council’s first meeting in January, as part of its annual reorganization.
Township council also decided to keep its same meeting time, place and meeting days for 2019.
Council meetings will continue to be held on the first and third Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7 p.m., at Lower Saucon Town Hall, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem. As in previous years, there will only be one meeting each in July and August. Those will be held on July 17 and Aug. 21.
Meetings are open to the public, and the next township council meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 16. Agendas can be viewed online prior to each meeting on the Lower Saucon Township website.
