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Muncy Borough fills vacant seat, questions absences

Muncy Borough Council appointed a former municipal employee to fill a vacancy on its board during its most recent meeting.

Tara Ashby was selected from among three candidates interested in the council seat.

She fills the vacancy created with the resignation of Steve Shank.

Ashby, employed as the human relations director with West Branch Regional Authority, formerly worked as Muncy’s borough secretary from 2011 to 2016.

The vote to appoint her was 5-0.

Scott Delany, Thad Martin, Richard Sutton, Ryan Scruggs, and George Henry each voted yes.

Bill Scott was absent.

The two other candidates for the seat were Pharron Banghart and Ed Brockman.

“She (Ashby) is fulfilling the end of a four-year term,” Borough Secretary Charles Hall said.

Hall said that the terms of three other council seats will expire at the end of the year.

He noted Scott, while still on council, has not appeared for a borough meeting since January 2024.

“I’m tired of people asking me where this council member is,” he said.

Hall also noted that Mayor Jonathan Ort has not attended a meeting since October.

He said the public deserves an answer regarding their absences.

“I take public service very seriously,” Hall said.

In other matters, council approved LIVIC Civil to provide engineering services for the Carpenter Street Bridge rehabilitation project.

Hall reported to council that the removal and cleanup of the municipal building at 14 N. Washington St. is under way.

The next step is to begin shredding various unnecessary documents from the building.

Borough officials are looking to relocate municipal operations to another site.

Muncy’s municipal building is not handicapped accessible and does not adhere to American Disabilities Act standards.

One option being considered is the construction of a building on property at New and S. Washington streets acquired by the borough through a land swap deal with the community library.

Council meetings have been held in the Muncy High School Library for the past year.

The next council meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4.

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