Glen Osborne residents looking to make an impact on their community have a chance to do so on council after one of its members stepped down.
Councilwoman Anne Fruehauf has resigned from her elected post and moved to Edgeworth. Council accepted her resignation Jan. 20.
Council has 30 days from then to appoint someone to fill the unexpired two-year term.
If no replacement is found, the matter goes before a vacancy board. That board has 15 days to appoint someone before a registered voting resident can petition the Allegheny County Courts to appoint someone.
Whomever is appointed would have to run in the next municipal election if that person wished to keep the seat.
Fruehauf was chair of the finance committee. Council Vice President Bill Monski was appointed its new chairman.
Diane Vierling, the borough secretary and treasurer, said Fruehauf was one of the driving forces behind the revision of the borough’s zoning ordinance and subdivision and land development ordinance.
“She’s been one of our most valuable council members,” Vierling said Jan. 21. “When you no longer live in the municipality, you can no longer serve on council there.”
Council President John Orndorff also commended Fruehauf’s leadership in the ordinance updates.
“That was a big job,” he said Jan. 23. “One that every municipality has to do periodically. It was good for her to take that responsibility and do such a good job of it.”
Orndorff said Fruehauf also worked very well on the finance committee and with Vierling on borough budgets.
Residents may email letters of interest and resumes for the vacancy to Vierling at dvierling@sewickleyborough.org.
Orndorff said at least one person has expressed interest in serving, and council plans to make an appointment Feb. 17.
“It’s generally been a challenge to get replacements since our borough is so small,” Orndorff said about people getting involved in local government.
“I don’t anticipate any other volunteers, but we will certainly take them and give them an opportunity to present themselves to council.”
Recent council history
Fruehauf and Greg Curran were both appointed to council Dec. 17.
They filled in for departing council President Tom Huddleston and Councilwoman Holly Merriman, who both resigned effective Dec. 31.
Fruehauf, a former senior paralegal for Fiffik Law Group, previously served on council from June 2022 through December 2023 when she filled in for the late Robert Ryan.
She has an extensive legal background, having worked for Amato, Start & Associates and for McDermott, Will & Emery LLP.
Fruehauf ran unopposed in last year’s election for a two-year seat via the Get Stuff Done party, according to Allegheny County election records.
Fruehauf is not a registered Republican or Democrat. She ran as an independent and was able to name her party, similar to Matthew Doebler who ran a successful mayoral campaign as a member of the Osborne Is Beautiful party.
