Dawson fails to find mayor
DAWSON – Council was unable to appoint a new mayor Monday, even though they had three people who submitted letters of interest in the position. Former Mayor Pat Trimble, councilwoman Barbara Wilhelm and Laughlin Street resident Michael Sohonhee all turned in letters and were at Monday’s meeting. Trimble said, “As a past mayor of Dawson, I was able to get grants for the community and was able to answer late-night calls from residents.”
Sohonhee told council that he is as qualified as anyone else in town to be mayor.
“I think Dawson needs somebody who ain’t looking out for themselves,” said Sohonhee. “The people on my end of town need some things done, too.”
Wilhelm said she thinks that the duties of the mayor should include handling complaints at all hours of the day and night.
“You have to be here for the people of the community, and that means here to take complaints, even if they are in the middle of the night,” said Wilhelm.
Solicitor Richard Husband told council that they should first accept nominations, which they did. Trimble was nominated by Emerson Long and a second to the motion was placed on the record by Trimble’s wife, councilwoman Cathy Trimble.
Trimble lost his bid by a 4-2 vote. Those voting in favor of the motion were Long and Trimble. Those voting against the measure were Donna Martin (acting council president), Phyllis Newill, Wilhelm and John Nudo.
Council President Patty Lint was asked by Husband to relinquish her duties as council president since under the borough code she had assumed the duties of mayor until someone is named.
Wilhelm was nominated for the position by her niece, Councilwoman Newill. Martin seconded the motion. Those voting in favor of the motion were Newill, Martin and Nudo. Those voting against the measure were Long and Trimble. Wilhelm abstained from voting.
Although it seemed like Wilhelm won the seat, Husband said she did not because under the borough code she needed a majority of four votes.
Since council said they did not want to take another vote, Husband said the decision as to who will be mayor will now fall in the hands of the Vacancy Board. The Vacancy Board, chaired by James Rearick Sr., also includes all council members.
Council agreed to hold a Vacancy Board meeting on Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in order to take nominations for the mayor’s post. Husband said the Vacancy Board has 15 days to make the decision and after that the matter will be turned over to the courts.
In other unrelated matters, council:
– Agreed to have police officer Roger Adams attend the Nov. 11 meeting. Adams, who told the Herald-Standard last month that he intended to resign from the borough, has not sent in a letter of resignation.
Council agreed that they need to talk to Adams in order to find out what his true intentions are. Newill said, “We need Roger or someone here to help us out.” Lint said she spoke to three other police officers, but they refused to use their cars to patrol the borough.
– Agreed to give borough worker Mike Swickey a $1 per hour raise beginning Dec. 1. Martin said Swickey would jump from $7 an hour to $8 an hour. Council also agreed to give secretary Mary Jane Winterhalter a $50 a month raise as of Dec. 1.