Caroline Thompson was unanimously selected as Yardley Borough Council president during a brief reorganization at the April 19 meeting.
Thompson is stepping up from the vice president position to replace David Bria as president. He said he is remaining on council but stepping away from being president after two years in that role.
“With all of the things going on in my personal and professional life, I’m finding the time commitment of being president a little hard to keep up with,” Bria said. “So, this is in the best interests of both me and the borough.”
He added that he’s leaving the president’s duties in very capable hands, and Thompson in turn had words of praise for Bria.
“I want to offer David a heartfelt thanks for all he has done for the town,” Thompson said.
Kim Segal-Morris was unanimously selected to replace Thompson as vice president. She and Thompson in their new positions will serve until the 2024 reorganization following the next municipal election in 2023.
In other actions from the meeting, council member Matt Curtin announced that the borough is looking to fill the office of tax collector.
Cheryl Lowe-Cler had been tax collector for 20 years before deciding to retire last year. However, she stepped in to fill the position again after Melissa Wayne, elected to a four-year term in November, resigned in March barely two months into the job.
Lowe-Cler has informed borough officials that she would like to be replaced as soon as possible. Borough Manager Paula Johnson said applications will be accepted until May 23. Those interested can email her at pjohnson@yardleyboro.com or fill out an application online by visiting yardleyboro.com.
Whoever is appointed would serve through 2023 but would have to run and win in that year’s election to retain the job beyond 2023.
The job entails collecting borough, Bucks County and Pennsbury School District property and other taxes from Yardley residents. The borough tax collector is paid $10,547 a year by the county, $5,000 a year by the school district and 3.25 percent of total collections by the borough.
Council also voted to officially establish a Board of Appeals that will hear appeals from requirements of the Uniform Construction Code, spend a total of $9,750 for two electronic ticketing devices for the police, and spend $6,313 for a mobile in car radio for the police.
The Board of Appeals will give residents and others an avenue of possible relief if they object to a UCC requirement for their projects. Serving on the three-person board will be a certified electrician and two residential contractors, all borough residents.
They will not serve set terms but “at the pleasure of council,” borough Solicitor Ernest “Bucky” Closser said.
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