Council Meeting

President John Butterfield called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM with the following Councilors present: Mr. Michael Birkner, Mrs. Susan Naugle, Mrs. Claire Lewis, Mr. Graham Weaver, Mr. Jacob Schindel, Ms. Rebecca Brown, Mr. Kyle Leinbach and Mr. Charles Teague. Staff present included Mayor William Troxell, Solicitor Harold Eastman Manager Florence Ford and Borough Secretary Sara Stull. 

Others present included: Council Candidates-Susan Cipperly, Philip Goble, Wesley Heyser, Scot Pitzer and Charles Teague; Holly Giles, 45 Chambersburg Street; Gareth and Shirley Biser, 316 Barlow Street; Paul Kallina, 312 North Stratton Street; Nick Wagaman, 217 East Middle Street; Mike Gladfelter, 404 Baltimore Street; Kathy Glahn, 256 Hospital Road; Judie Butterfield, 999 Sunset Avenue; Stan Clark 915 Fairview Avenue; Christine Heyser, 226 North Stratton Street and George Escalera, owner Raphael Inn, 32 East Lincoln Avenue.

Representing the press were Mark Walters of the Gettysburg Times, and Tim Prudente representing the Evening Sun

President Butterfield opened the meeting and welcomed everyone to the special Council meeting for the purpose of filling the vacancy in the First Ward.

Public Comment: 

Paul Kallina, 312 North Stratton Street, spoke in favor of his neighbor Susan Cipperli and would support her appointment to Council. He noted her involvement in the community and also her work with the hazel Alley Group.

Kathy Glahn, 256 Hospital Road, expressed her support for Scot Pitzer. She is impressed with his knowledge of the community and would be a compliment to the Borough.

Holly Giles, 45 Chambersburg Street, said all five candidates are good choices and all had a chance to run for Council during the election. She pointed out Scot was the only candidate to run for office and historically Council would give that person precedence over the other candidates.

Nick Wagaman, 217 E. Middle Street, expressed his support for Scot Pitzer. He was an experienced Gettysburg Times reported and knows the community.

Mike Gladfelter, owner Mr. G’s Ice Cream, 404 Baltimore Street, has known Scot Pitzer for many years and supports him. He pointed out Scot received approximately 150 votes during the election last year. 

Gareth Biser, 316 Barlow Street, also supports Scot Pitzer noting many in the First Ward voted for him last year. He has the best interest of the residents and the Borough at heart.

George Escalera, Raphael Inn, 32 East Lincoln Avenue, expressed his support for Susan Cipperly. He said he met her at the County Planning office and she was very helpful to him when he was opening his business. She would be an asset to Borough Council.

At this time Mr. Butterfield reviewed the Council candidate interview procedure. The five candidates were asked to draw a number to indicate the order in which the candidates would speak. The order is as follows: Charles Teague, Scot Pitzer, Susan Cipperly, Wesley Heyser and Philip Goble.

Each of the candidates will have five minutes to speak. All candidates are registered voters and have lived in the First Ward for approximately two years to thirteen years. 

At this time Mr. Butterfield reviewed the Council candidate polling procedures. 

Moved Mr. Birkner, seconded Mr. Schindel to approve the polling procedure whereby each Council member has a single selection during each round of polling and that the candidate or candidates (in case of a tie vote) with the least number of votes be excluded from further consideration during polling. Motion carried unanimously.

At this time there was some discussion regarding a tie vote and the proper procedures. Solicitor Eastman said ultimately when Council cannot make a decision the Mayor would break the tie vote. 

A roll call vote was taken at this time: Mr. Birkner-Charles Teague; Ms. Brown-Charles Teague; Mr. Leinbach-Scot Pitzer; Ms. Lewis-Wesley Heyser; Ms. Naugle-Susan Cipperly; Mr. Schindel-Scot Pitzer; Mr. Weaver-Charles Teague; Mr. Butterfield- Philip Goble. Mr. Teague received 3 votes; Mr. Pitzer received 2 votes and Ms. Cipperly, Mr. Goble and Mr. Heyser were eliminated each receiving 1 vote.

A second roll call vote was taken at this time for Charles Teague and Scot Pitzer: Mr. Birkner-Charles Teague; Ms. Brown-Charles Teague; Mr. Leinbach-Scot Pitzer; Ms. Lewis-Charles Teague; Ms. Naugle-Charles Teague; Mr. Schindel-Scot Pitzer; Mr. Weaver-Charles Teague; Mr. Butterfield- Charles Teague. Mr. Teague received 6 votes and Mr. Pitzer received 2 votes.

Moved Mr. Weaver, seconded Ms. Lewis to adopt a resolution to appoint Charles Teague as a member of the Gettysburg Borough Council representing the First Ward to fill the vacancy until January 6, 2014. A roll call vote was taken. YEA: Mr. Birkner, Ms. Brown, Ms. Lewis, Ms. Naugle, Mr. Schindel, Mr. Weaver and Mr. Butterfield. NAY: Mr. Leinbach. The motion passed 7-1.

At this time Mayor William Troxell administered the Oath of Office to Charles Teague.

With no further business to come before council moved Mr. Birkner, seconded Mr. Leinbach to adjourn the meeting at 6:25 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Sara L. Stull

Borough Secretary