May 26, 2010 By Rebekah Sungala 3 min read

MASONTOWN – Former Councilwoman Carole Daniels sat on the opposite side of the council table from where she’s used to sitting, speaking as a borough resident and not as a member of council at Tuesday’s meeting. Daniels, who served on council for almost 15 years, resigned May 11 because she is marrying and moving to Morgantown, W.Va.

“I’m certainly going to miss Masontown. I’ll miss my home,” she said.

Daniels thanked borough residents for their support throughout the years and individually thanked borough employees, council members and Mayor Toni Petrus for their friendship and dedication to Masontown.

“I’m going to miss all of you. I love you all,” she said.

Council Vice President Frank McLaughlin presented Daniels with a plaque commemorating her service to the borough.

Daniels served on council from January 1996 to May 2010, holding the position as council president from 2002 to 2005.

In addition, Daniels served as council vice president from 1999 to 2001, and has chaired several committees over the years, including the finance, sewage and water committees.

McLaughlin stood in for council President Harry Lee, who was not able to attend Tuesday’s meeting because he is waiting to undergo a quadruple bypass heart surgery at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va.

Lee’s absence is the first time he has missed a borough meeting in 17 years, according to council.

Lee publicly thanked Daniels for her almost 15 years of service when council accepted her resignation at the May 11 borough meeting.

Council has until June 10 to appoint a person to fill Daniel’s vacancy on the board.

The borough received three letters of interest from people requesting the appointment. Letters were received from Mike Washko, Betsy Kopalko and Kim Essig, according to the meeting agenda.

McLaughlin said council will wait until its June 8 meeting to appoint a new councilmember so that Lee can first review the letters of interest.

In other business, McLaughlin and council members Bob Brown, Edward Gulino, Kay Rendina and Joseph Stillwagon voted to appoint Tina Lowller to the borough’s recreation board.

Lowller will fill a vacancy created when council voted to remove Elliot Metro from the board at the May 11 borough meeting.

Council also accepted a letter of resignation from George Vargo from the recreation board at Tuesday’s meeting and said anyone wishing to fill Vargo’s empty seat should send a letter to the borough building at 2 Court Ave., Masontown, Pa., 15461.

A vacancy on the borough’s civil service board also exists and needs to be filled. Anyone wishing to serve on the civil service board is asked to send a letter of interest to the borough.

As for other matters, council voted 5-0 to have a deed search conducted to determine if the borough owns the mineral rights to a section of borough property. The search will cost between $500 and $1,000.

Council also announced water will be shut off June 3 to any residences that have outstanding and delinquent water bills of two months or more.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 8.