SLIPPERY ROCK — Borough council swore in newly elected members and heard from four candidates for an open two-year seat on council at its first meeting of the year Tuesday, Jan. 2.

After submitting letters of interest to the borough, the four candidates were each given a turn to share their experience in the Slippery Rock community and explain why they want to be on borough council. The council will vote a candidate into office in open session at its Jan. 16 meeting. Council members make $88 per month.

Candidate Paul Lueken built his home in Slippery Rock in 1994 after moving to become the Slippery Rock University athletic director. He retired in January 2021. He has raised two children in the borough, and both graduated from Slippery Rock Area High School and one graduated from Slippery Rock University. The other graduated from Grove City College.

Leuken is SRU’s longest-tenured athletic director and helped local businesses while in the role by bringing youth sports and high school camps, clinics and competitions to SRU while students were away from campus.

Leuken also served as treasurer of Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau for six years and has experience balancing budgets and working with strategic plans from his time at SRU.

“I believe in family,” he said, “and that’s how I built the athletic program at SRU … I carry that with me as I make decisions.”

Jonathan Faust said he wants to bring the will of the people to the council with his connections.

Faust said between his jobs in the area and his social circle, he has seen the benefits of having large amounts of public contributions at meetings and wants to see more, especially from younger residents. Faust said he has missed two borough council meetings in the last two years.

“I hope it’s been demonstrated that I have a level of commitment to the borough,” he said.

Eugene Allison, the third candidate, has lived in the borough since 1965 and has served on the Slippery Rock Borough Council periodically since 1984. Allison wants to give back to the community by serving on council again.

“I’ve been involved in many aspects serving the town and organizations for the town,” he said, “and I strongly believe in our town’s growth and attractions and hope to be part of it again by serving on council.”

Allison’s family also operated a business downtown for about 26 years, he said.

Russell Karl, another candidate who has previously served on council, submitted his letter of interest because of his ties to the community. His children graduated from both Slippery Rock Area High School and Slippery Rock University.

Karl previously served Butler County as an assistant district attorney for 16 years before retiring. He ran for district judge in 2021 and now serves as Butler County’s juvenile court hearing officer about three days per week, he said.

“I’ve been working with juveniles and kids in the community for 40 years now …Community has been a very strong point for me,” Karl said.

Karl also explained his experience working on budgets and what he has learned about borough budgets. He said borough budgets are different because council members must balance what community members want with the town’s infrastructure needs and find a way to bridge the two.

“I feel very blessed,” said Jeff Campbell, council president. “We have four very qualified people.”

The Slippery Rock Borough Council also reelected Campbell as council president and newly elected John Hicks as vice president. The incumbents elected were Lauren Christmann, Jennifer Ravert, Ron Steele and Hicks, who was elected to a four-year term.

The council also reappointed Rebecca Black of Lutz Pawk & Black as borough solicitor, Ryan Hanchosky as the borough’s emergency management coordinator, Gateway Engineering as the borough’s engineer and Professional Code Services, Inc. for new residential and commercial inspection services.

Council also provided updates on the borough’s contract with Serafine Hauling LLC. The waste management company will pay the borough $35,941.50 in overdue administrative fees next week, according to Campbell.

Campbell said the waste management company breached their contract with the borough twice. The contract included both administrative fees and collection fees.

“What had happened was they were collecting both the administrative and the collection fees but were not reimbursing two quarters last year,” he said. “They did not submit those to the borough.”

The second breach involved Serafine selling the borough’s contract to Aiken Refuse, a waste management company based in Ellwood City, without permission from the borough.

The $35,941.50 was included with the 2023 budget but not in the account since the borough had not collected the administrative fees, so the funds will be added back to the 2023 budget when they are received next week. The borough council also approved the contract sale at the previous meeting.

Borough council authorized advertisements for a fourth full-time borough police officer. The position was left open after one officer moved from a full-time position to a part-time position. The borough also approved for a full-time street department laborer to be advertised for and hired.

Borough council is also looking to appoint a Slippery Rock Area High School junior as a junior council member. The student would not get a vote but would sit on council and give remarks.

“We’re hoping that they’ll be able to share with us what’s really on the minds of younger people in our community who are going to be adults within a very short time,” Tuten said.

Tuten said there was a position like this where she used to live in Maryland that gave students additional service to add to their college application or resume.

Interested students should send a letter of interest to borough manager Christian Laskey at Christian.Laskey@slipperyrockboroughpa.gov by Jan. 16 to be considered.

Black and Laskey were both absent from the meeting.