Macungie Borough Council found a new council member Sept. 16.

In accordance with borough code requirements Marvin Moyer was duly appointed to the position of interim council member following the resignation of Linn Walker just 13 days prior.

The interviews for council member were conducted in public immediately before the usual meeting but no residents took the opportunity to comment on the candidates or their interviews.

Roseann Schleicher was Moyer's only opponent.

In his closing statement before the council's decision, Moyer remarked, "You all know me, I speak my piece….The betterment of the borough, that's all I'm concerned about is the borough."

Moyer has been a regular at council meetings for years and often submits his opinion to council on matters both pertaining and unrelated to the agenda.

Council member Debra Cope raised the motion for Schleicher first, based, she said, on upcoming issues council would face with budget, zoning and traffic signals before the end of the year. The motion died without a second. Council's decision was 4-1, with Cope dissenting; Jean Nagle was not present. The motion for Moyer came from David Boyko, seconded by Joe Sikorski.

Walker's term was due to expire Dec. 31; Moyer will fill the position until then and, as of now, does not appear on the ballot for the seat. Schleicher, however, has been in the running on the Republican ticket, recently gaining enough write-ins to run on the Democratic ticket as well.

Schleicher, a 38-year resident of Macungie, says she will not be put off by the loss. She was asked by some others she did not name to apply for the interim position and stated her reason for running as "wanting to give back something" after years of not being able to due to working full-time in various management positions.

Including Moyer's, there are four council seats opening this year for election: Sikorski, Nagle, and Boyko comprise the remaining three, with Boyko running for his seat again in November.

With a voting member and a mayor now replaced within a couple months of each other, council faces a series of major decisions in the remainder of the year. Top among discussions during Monday night's interviews and the subsequent meeting is a traffic light at Church and Main streets. The item is listed for formal discussion at council's meeting Oct. 21.

Moyer is against the light, which PennDOT also deemed unnecessary based on the results of a recent traffic study. Schleicher says the light would be "a huge help" at an intersection she considers a probable accident hazard.

Council will also be entering budget season soon and facing the annual decision of raising taxes. Moyer stated he was opposed to a tax increase.