Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Stefano chosen as council member
Borough Council appoints teacher Michael Stefano to fill seat left vacant by Mayor Jordan Norley
WEST CHESTER >> Borough Council chose teacher Michael Stefano to serve as a member of council.
He will replace Jordan Norley who resigned to take the job as mayor.
Two other candidates, Rachel Widmayer and Sue Bayne, were also interviewed but unsuccessfully sought to fill the Ward 4 seat, at Tuesday’s work session.
All three interviewees are Democrats. Ward 4 is located in the southeast part of the borough. The ward is predominately composed of Democratic voters. As an appointee, Stafano will serve until January. The new councilman said he will seek to then fill the remaining two years of Norley’s term which runs through December 2019, in the November election.
Stefano said the major issues he will face include: parking issues, relations with the university and communication with borough members.
Although the university is not part to the ward, many students live in Ward 4.
“Safety is not the biggest concern with me with college students,” Stefano said. “I never feel unsafe.”
Councilman Bill Scott, Ward 1, asked about student housing.
“How big of a problem is it?” Stefano asked. “Is it overrun with students? I think there is a prob-
lem, but I would not use the word overrun.”
When Councilman Michael Galey, Ward 3, asked whether the newest councilman would be able to serve the required amount of time, Stefano said he is prepared to attend four or five meetings per month and also put aside enough time to study the issues.
Council members do not choose their committee assignments. When Councilwoman Denise Polk, Ward 7, asked which committee assignments he would prefer, Stefano said he would like to serve on the finance or parking committees.
Stefano is a teacher in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District.
Council voted 6-0 to appoint Stefano. Galey nominated Stefano and Scott seconded the nomination. No other candidates were nominated.
Bayne served two terms on council. She talked about her experience.
“I can step in with very little disruption,” she said. “I have the knowledge of how things are done.”
President Diane LeBold told Bayne that she would be getting into the job “with your eyes open.”
Volunteer and mother Widmayer is a 20-year resident of Ward 4. She is raising a family in the borough.
Widmayer volunteers as a cheerleading coach, with the PTO, works with a fire company and helps with the annual chili cook off.
“Now that my kids are older, I have the ability to reach out a little bit more,” she said. “Residents are neighbors to me. I’d love to keep West Chester the way it is.”
If each party decides to participate, the Republican and Democratic parties will choose which candidates are placed on the ballot. Voters will choose who ultimately fills in for the remainder of Norley’s term.