City Council Delays Vote on Filling Vacancy

LOCK HAVEN – City Council, with four of its six sitting members in attendance Monday night, decided to postpone for two weeks a decision on filling a council vacancy.

City manager Greg Wilson said the law dictates that a successful council applicant must receive a majority of council votes, in this case four out of six. Given the absences of council members Doug Byerly and Joel Long, the rest of council decided to postpone a vote until its June 4 meeting.

The city manager said four Lock Haven residents submitted letters of interest and three of them showed up Monday: regular council attendees Bill Mincer and Richard Morris and newcomer Merle Harnish, a Water Street resident.

Council acknowledged their familiarity with Mincer and Morris, both of whom had previously run for city council. Harnish, at the request of Mayor Bill Baney, talked briefly about himself. He moved to the area two years ago from the Hagerstown, MD area because of a family matter. Harnish said he retired as a CEO from an agricultural cooperative three years ago and has a background in accounting, finance and business. He told council he could bring his business experience to city operations. Harnish also said he was active in civic affairs, including portraying Santa Claus at Christmas time.

All three candidates are Democrats. The successful applicant will replace a fellow Democrat, the late Jonathan Bravard who passed away in April. His unexpired term will run through Jan. 5, 2020.