Boris appointed to borough council
Southside man to finish late councilwoman Burke’s term
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Joe Boris, right, is sworn in by Mayor Andrew Szczyglak at Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022's Shenandoah Borough Council meeting.
SHENANDOAH – The borough has a full council again, as a southside man was appointed to fill the remainder of the late Eileen Burke’s seat.
Joseph R. Boris, of the 600 block of West Cherry Street was sworn in Thursday night by Mayor Andrew Szczyglak at a special meeting of council.
Councilwoman Diane Korenda nominated Boris, with Councilman William Selbi seconded. Council voted 6-0 to appoint Boris.
“I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” Boris told the Sentinel after the meeting. “I come in with an open mind to work with all of them and hopefully we can move the borough forward.”
“I bring a lot to the table,” Boris added, speaking of his experience as a corporate engineer and facility manager for Elbeco, Inc., in Reading, as a union rep, a financial secretary for the Knights of Columbus in town, and as a property owner and manager in the borough. He has also served the borough on the planning commission.
Four people submitted letters of intent to be considered for the appointment: Boris, former mayor Michael Whitecavage, Michael Uholik, and Michelle Gulden.
Borough Council had one month from Burke’s Nov. 25 passing to appoint a replacement, per Pennsylvania Borough Code. Had the deadline passed, the matter would have moved to the vacancy board or the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.
Burke won a four-year seat on council in 2019 and had one year remaining on the term.
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