Alburtis Borough Council appointed Sherryann Oels and David Lehr as councilpersons Nov. 29 to fill vacancies created when Kyle Bower and Kathleen Palmer, now mayor, resigned their positions.

Council adopted Resolutions No. 2012-6 approving Oels' appointment to replace Bower and No. 2012-7 approving Lehr's appointment to replace Palmer.

Palmer administered the Oaths of Office and Oels and Lehr immediately assumed their places on council.

Oels, married with children, is a lifetime resident and has been an active 20-year volunteer at Alburtis Area Community Center, and with the Alburtis Business Revitalization Program and Camp Fire Girls.

"This is something I thought about for a long time and I talked about it with Bob [former mayor Robert Mader] before he passed," Oels said. "I just wish he were here to serve with me. He would be sitting by me. This is just another part of getting involved in the community. I always loved Alburtis and am proud to live in Alburtis and want to keep it that way. I just want to keep it a nice place for my family to grow up in."

Lehr, married with three grown daughters, has been a resident of Alburtis since 2008. He said he chose to move to Chestnut Street in Alburtis because it was like a step back in time.

Retired from a career as a child abuse investigator, he was involved in and is now a volunteer with Child Project in Lehigh County. Born in Allentown and raised and educated in Allentown School District, Lehr graduated from William Allen High School and attended Moravian College majoring in psychology with a minor in physics. Lehr said in 1970, Lehigh County was the first county in the state to have people do investigations only in child abuse. In 1971, he was the only investigator and in 1974 he was the leader of the first team of child abuse investigators in Lehigh County.

"Now retired, I was looking for a new experience and opportunity to give back to the community. I have a lot of experience in leadership," Lehr said.

Council approved appointing Councilperson Kathleen Raines as second vice president of council; Councilperson Peg McCormack was appointed as chairman of the personnel committee.

In other business, council approved the annual donation of $1,000 to Lehigh County to help cover the cost of a child abuse investigator in the borough.

Palmer reported she went to a Rotary breakfast with Councilperson John Alesczyk and was told the borough will be receiving $1,000 check for the hockey court.

Maintenance reported they blacktopped around the new water valve on the south side and if the weather warms up they will repave the north side. They put mulch on the needed areas on the playground and repaired the riser on West Stone Alley. They met with Keystone about the sewers to be relined. The Christmas flags are up and the tree is decorated and ready for the tree lighting. The computer and camera have been removed and taken for installation in the new police car.

Council tabled the issues of the curb and sidewalk on Church Street and the garage at 128 W. 2nd St. was tabled until the next council meeting Dec. 12.