New Hope Invites Citizens to Apply for Open Borough Council Slot

New Hope Borough announced Tuesday that it is seeking an eligible individual to fill the vacancy caused by Cliff Montgomery’s resignation from Borough Council. The vacancy is effective Oct. 1, 2016, and borough council will have until Oct. 31 to fill the spot.

Borough Council voted unanimously on June 21 to accept the resignation of member Montgomery, effective Sept. 30, 2016. Montgomery and wife Karen will be leaving the area, creating a vacancy that will be filled by Borough Council. Montgomery was voted into office in November 2013.

The full appointment process for council vacancies is rather vague, leading to speculation by some that a former council member or two were under consideration, but this latest move to advertise and invite applications will be viewed as a welcome step toward greater transparency.

It is anticipated that Council will vote to fill the vacancy at its public meeting on Oct. 18.

“Applicants need to complete and submit, no later than July 31, 2016, a letter of interest and a résumé to the Borough Manager at 123 New Street, New Hope, PA 18938,” read the position announcement.

“Applicants must be registered electors of the Borough who have resided one year continuously prior to the date of appointment,” according to the borough.

“A school director or a trustee of a charter school may not be elected to an elective borough office. No individual may hold more than one elective borough office at the same time. Members are expected to attend regular monthly meetings of Council, which are held on the third Tuesday of each month, as well as special public meetings as required.

“The individual selected to fill this vacancy shall hold office until the first Monday in January after the first municipal election occurring more than sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs, at which election an eligible person shall be elected to the office. The next municipal election will be held in November 2017. The term of the individual selected to fill this vacancy shall expire on the first Monday in January 2018.”

Okay. Who’s in?