Two new members were sworn in to borough council during the years’ first meeting Jan. 6.

Existing members Douglas Trotter Jr. and Annamarie Jordan recommitted to the oath of office while Jamie Johnson and Wilbert Rufe began their first term. Introducing themselves to the handful of resident witnesses, Johnson said she is originally from the borough and upon returning in 2013 moved into the house next door to her childhood home. Rufe has lived in the borough since 1994 and said he wished to be a conduit for the things his fellow residents want to get done on behalf of the borough.

Johnson will chair the recreation committee, while Rufe takes over house and ordinances.

Council then voted unanimously to retain Leo Atkinson as president with Jordan as vice president.

In borough affairs, Mayor Carolee Gifford suggested establishing a single public meeting each October held on a Saturday. She said she wished it to act as a sort of state of the borough event to allow more residents to attend and participate. Board members agreed it was a good idea and promised to discuss it later.

Atkinson continued the theme, however, announcing that one of his primary objectives for the year is increasing transparency and communications with the public, especially by updating the borough website. Other goals include investing in and saving more for longstanding capital infrastructure projects and creating a community development fund. One use for the latter may be to match local business grants, and said residents are welcome to make suggestions for additional applications of this in a sort of community brainstorm.

Also announced was the borough will soon offer online bill pay for resident convenience, which will save the borough thousands of dollars and cost a $3 per $100 spent processing fee for use.

Lastly, resident Mike Spencer, an advocate of government transparency, told council he was displeased with what he says amounted to recent Sunshine Act violations (such as discussion of the budget by a quorum behind closed doors) but appreciates Atkinson’s promise for greater openness.

Councilwoman Helen Halleman thanked him for all his efforts in educating board members in fiscal matters and making years of official data available publicly on his own Google Drive. “Everyone at this table should appreciate the work you do because before we were elected officials, we were taxpayers.”

Gifford agreed, saying his research has helped her understand the importance of the details in numbers.