Photo by Becky Polaski From left, District Judge Donald Wilhelm swore in City Councilman Dick Dornisch, Mayor Sally Geyer along with City Councilmen Dan Hepner and Bob Roberts prior to Monday night’s city council meeting.

By Becky Polaski

Staff Writer

Members of city council held their reorganizational meeting on Monday evening at 7 p.m. in the council room of City Hall. Prior to the meeting Mayor Sally Geyer and Councilman Dick Dornisch were sworn in to begin their second terms while Bob Roberts and Dan Hepner were sworn in for their first terms as members of council. All were sworn in by District Judge Donald Wilhelm. 

Several other appointments were also made during the meeting, including the reappointment of Councilman Denny Nero as deputy mayor.

Mark Jacob had applied to continue serving as the city’s solicitor along with Tony Alfieri from Smethport. Jacob was unanimously voted to be reappointed to the position by members of council.

Hepner volunteered to fill the position vacated by former city councilman Sean Gabler on the Police Pension Board while Roberts agreed to fill former city councilman Tom Farley’s position on the Tax Board.

Though he is no longer serving on city council, Sean Gabler expressed interested in serving on the Vacancy Board and was unanimously voted to be appointed Vacancy Board Chairman.

Council members also voted to continue to hold their meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Council Room of City Hall.

Other topics from the meeting included:

• Reappointments and appointments were made to the city’s other boards, authorities and commissions.

• Dornisch proposed allowing individuals to only serve to consecutive terms on any board, authority, or commission before requiring them to sit out a term.

• Solicitor Mark Jacob discussed how Hepner and Roberts’ serving on city council will impact other positions they currently hold on the city’s boards and authorities.

• Council members approved publishing Ordinance No. 255 regarding refinancing the $5,500,000 general obligation note for the parking garage.

• Citizens also commented on the parking garage project.