Richard “Bucky” Szulborski, who served on Bethlehem City Council for 12 years before voluntarily stepping down in 1995, is now Northampton County’s controller. He was appointed Feb. 15 in a 6-2-1 vote by council. Steve Barron resigned in January after being confirmed as Fiscal Affairs Director.

Voting for Szuloborski were Ken Kraft, Ron Heckman, Tara Zrinski, Bill McGee, Lori Vargo Heffner and Peg Ferraro. Voting no were John Cusick and Bob Werner. Matt Dietz abstained.

Cusick, a Republican had urged council to vote for Hayden Phillips. But other than Matt Dietz, he was unable to attract any support. Cusick, Dietz and Phillips are all Republicans.

Szulborski is a Democrat.

Dietz abstained in the vote for Szulborski, primarily because he said he would have liked to have heard from all three candidates. One of those candidates was at the meeting and asked to speak, but he made his request after courtesy of the floor was over.

Though Werner never explained his no vote, it may be the result of an apparent Sunshine Act violation on Jan. 31, when the Personnel Committee met to review the applications without advertising. Council President Ken Kraft took responsibility for this error at the Feb. 14 Personnel Committee, where the applications were reviewed again in public, and the public was afforded two opportunities to speak.

Szulborski has an extensive record of community service to various organizations, including Camelot for Children, the Catholic Youth Organization, the Sun Inn Preservation Association, the Bethlehem Recreation Commission, the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission and the Bethlehem Area Public Library Board.

Szulborski told council that he does engage in real estate sales on a part-time basis evenings and weekends. He said he has no interest in running for the job when his term expires in two years.