Bill Scandone elected president of New Hope Borough Council; Alison Kingsley to serve as V.P.

New Hope Borough Council at a Monday “reorganization meeting” unanimously elected member Bill Scandone president of the governing body, and chose Alison Kingsley to be vice-president.

Scandone has been a member of Borough Council since 2009, a board member and treasurer of the New Hope Chamber of Commerce, and was an organizer of the 2010-13 New Hope-Lambertville Friday Night Fireworks program. He succeeds Council President Claire Shaw, who remains a member of the group.

Council presidents and vice-presidents are elected to a two-year term of office on the first Monday of the New Year at a special “reorganization meeting.”

Said Scandone, “I opened my remarks by thanking the borough residents for providing me the opportunity to serve them in the capacity of president of Council. I closed the meeting thanking John Burke for his extraordinary commitment to the borough, and that I look forward to working closely and openly with all stakeholders in the borough.”

Kingsley, one of three newly-installed members of council, has served as a New Hope-Solebury teacher, local Democratic Party leader, and outspoken school board member. She was not immediately available for comment.

Council also elected Laurie McHugh president pro tempore at the Monday meeting.

New Hope has an elected seven-member Borough Council which serves a key role in local government. Council members are elected to four-year terms, with either three or four members up for election every two years.