Ethan Mooney

ZELIENOPLE — For Ethan Mooney, serving in his local municipal government is “educational.”

The 18-year-old senior from Seneca Valley Senior High School is serving as the junior council member for the borough as part of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs' junior council person program.

“It really teaches you a lot about how government is run in addition to giving you opportunities to partake in as many different aspects as possible,” Mooney said. “They (council members) appreciate my input on anything.”

Mooney is the fourth junior council member the borough has had in the past several years through the program. He previously served as student council president for Seneca Valley.

As a junior council member, Mooney attends council meetings and is able to take part in discussions. He also conducts research for borough projects, such as the revitalization efforts. However, he is unable to vote on items or attend executive sessions.

He said participating in the program has helped with his organizational and communication skills.

“I have taken a lot of information from this, including how government is run in town and I've had the opportunity to sit in on meetings discussing upcoming plans for Main Street and the new 911 system,” he said.

While all junior council members in the borough have been Seneca Valley students, borough manager Don Pepe said any high school student from the region can become a member. He also called the program “vastly successful.”

“They're able to participate in discussion, so there is a point of view from the young students that we listen to,” Pepe said. “We don't dismiss them and if there are good suggestions, they may be incorporated.”

“It (program) fosters a type of education that currently they're not getting in civics, the process of representing people,” he said. “It's a great program.”

Association secretary Leslie Suhr said the program, formed in 2000, “allows for boroughs to engage youth at the local level and have a voice in their community” through providing guidelines and supporting tools to help the programs be successful and learn about meeting management, public engagement, debate and other skills.

“The great thing is each borough can tailor the program as they see it best working in their community,” Suhr said. “Over the years some junior council persons have gone on to hold elected office.”

Suhr said Zelienople and Saxonburg are the only boroughs in Butler County shown in the association's records to have this program. The latter however has not had a junior council member in several years, Saxonburg secretary Linda Kovacik said.

The program was brought to council's attention by Mayor Tom Oliverio, who is also a member of the boroughs association.

“They (junior members) get an idea of how local government works,” Oliverio said. “We're fortunate to have a good council that gets along.”

While Mooney has not decided which college he will attend or what he will major in, he recommends the program for students. His term in the junior council person program ends this summer after he graduates from high school.

“I don't know if I see myself holding a government position in the future, but it (program) has given me a lot of information about the system and how communities are run,” he said. “Hopefully they (borough) continue to let youth members serve.”