Council committee recommends Dan Ostrowski to planning commission and begins interviews to fill council vacancy

The personnel committee recommended that Millersville Borough Council appoint Dan Ostrowski to a vacancy on the planning commission, and the committee began interviews to fill a separate council vacancy created by the resignation of council member Darlene Egger.

Committee members moved and seconded a recommendation that Dan Ostrowski be forwarded to council for appointment to the planning commission; committee members signaled their approval by voice vote and the recommendation will be considered by the full council on July 22.

Personnel committee members then interviewed two candidates for the council vacancy. Dan Ostrowski, who said he previously served eight years on borough council and two years as council president, described his municipal experience and his continued personal and professional ties to Millersville. He said he has experience with contract negotiations and borough operations, and he told council he would recuse himself if a direct financial conflict arose.

Candidate Mike Miklos described long-term residency and community involvement, including work with early-childhood education and statewide training programs for teachers; he said his background in program leadership and listening skills would help him serve the borough.

Council explained the borough’s vacancy process on the record: council has 30 days to fill a vacancy by resolution; the appointee would hold office until the first Monday in January after the November municipal election; if council does not fill the vacancy in 30 days, the vacancy board has 15 additional days to act (the vacancy board consists of council and the vacancy-board chair, Dan Sigler). The third candidate, John Michener, was not able to attend and will be interviewed on July 22, when council expects to discuss and select an appointee.

Why it matters: Appointments to the planning commission and to council shape municipal decision-making on zoning, development and borough operations. The committee emphasized choosing an applicant who can serve the borough’s interests and comply with conflict-of-interest standards.

Next steps: The planning-commission recommendation will be forwarded to full council for formal appointment. The council-vacancy interviews will conclude on July 22 and the council expects to make an appointment at that meeting or the vacancy board will be convened if council fails to act within the statutory period.