In a brief special meeting Thursday evening, Harrisville Council picked a new president and vice president to replace the board officers who quit earlier this week.

April Anschutz, who joined the council just Monday after being motivated to intervene by its recent infighting, is the new president, and Mary Ann Hughes is the new vice president. Hughes’ husband, Gary Hughes, is Harrisville’s mayor. One of the departing council members, Russell Stemmerich, implied that Hughes motivated his leaving.

Stemmerich, the former vice president, Robert Hovis, the former president, and Jim Fischer all left the council after a closed executive session Monday.

None involved will say what occurred during the session. Stemmerich implied concern over the borough’s finances, and Hovis called the Eagle Thursday to say that senior citizens should closely monitor the council’s further actions, and that he’s “heard rumors of a tax increase.” He would not say why he resigned.

In a phone interview Friday, Anschutz said a tax increase isn’t necessarily off the table if the council thinks it’s needed, but isn’t on the table for discussion at present.

“I’ve lived here for 10 years and we haven’t had a tax increase in those 10 years,” Anschutz said. “If that’s needed in the future, we will have to make that decision as a council.”

Anschutz said she went into the borough’s office Thursday to examine the borough’s budget and found no sense of impending crisis or improper spending.

Her goal for the community, she said, is growth. She wants to bring more people to the community and more attractions to its park system.

Thursday’s meeting lasted just seven minutes. The council accepted the three men’s resignations, then unanimously voted for Anschutz and Hughes to take their new roles.

Gary Hughes, as mayor, does not vote in borough meetings.

The council needs three more people to return to its regular seven-person size. Anschutz said a few people were present after the meeting to inquire about joining. The council can either appoint replacements, or wait and let a judge appoint them.