Electrician Appointed to Fill Vacancy on Borough Planning Commission

A local electrician was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Hellertown Planning Commission Tuesday by a 4-2 vote.

Don Werkheiser had the best qualifications of the three individuals who applied to fill the vacancy, councilman Mike McKenna said.

The other two applicants were Tina Olson-Wilkins, who owns a social media marketing business, and Colleen Albright, whose professional background is in human resources management.

Two councilmen–Earl Hill and Herb Payung–advocated for Albright to be appointed to the planning seat, but they were outnumbered when a roll call vote was taken.

Albright was given a consolation prize of sorts. Subject to the passage of a resolution, she was unanimously appointed to be an alternate member of the borough’s zoning hearing board through the end of the year, filling a vacancy that has existed for about two years.

“I just want to thank all the candidates (for the planning seat),” council president Tom Rieger said. “It was a hard decision for the first time in a long time.”

Council member James Hill was absent.

The planning commission typically meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., unless otherwise posted.