Newly Democratic Rose Valley Council pledges bipartisanship

ROSE VALLEY » Two of the three Democrats elected to borough council in November took the oath of office as part of the recent reorganization. Mayor Tim Plummer, who was sworn by borough Solicitor G. Guy Smith, performed the duty for firsttime members Debra DeMasi and Vippy Yee.

DeMasi, Yee and Judy Voet, who was unable to attend the meeting, were part of last fall’s wave that elected two Democrats to Delaware County Council and captured the three row offices. The at-large seats were previously held by Republicans Bob Giorgianni and Penny Sass and a special election to fill the spot of former councilman Al Meyer. With fellow Democrat Dave Firn, the party now holds the majority on borough council.

Party affiliation, however, has never been important on council, said Plummer, who served as president for 10 years and mayor for the last eight. In that time, he noted there has never has been a vote along party lines.

“Council members work together to achieve consensus, then vote to do what is best for our residents,” he added. “I couldn’t tell you our members’ party affiliations because they were not important and we look forward to working with our new members in the same spirit.”

Plummer also administered the oath to returning Republican councilmen Bill Hale and Bob Siwicki and Controller John Neilson. Tax Collector Paula Healy was sworn prior to the meeting.

The body voted to reappoint Hale and Firn as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Hale has served on council since 2004, Firn since 2010, and both are beginning their seventh years in the posts. Council also reappointed Smith and Healy, the borough manager, and Hale named each member’s committee assignments.

The regular council meeting was highlighted by the mayor’s state of the borough address. The 14page report, submitted for inclusion in the minutes and posted on the borough website, www.rosevalleyborough.org, chronicles the goings-on of the past year and objectives for the new one.