Credit: Amanda Kuehnle/LevittownNow.com
The two Penndel Borough council members that announced resignations last week have since changed their minds.
The earlier resignations by council members Beverly Wolfe and Barbara Heffelfinger, came after Democrat Arlene Harms was ousted 4-3 last week from her role as president.
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Harms, a longtime figure-head of the borough, was ousted last week by LoPiccolo, now President Kali Sodano, Anne Marie Kinsey and Sean Weckerly, a democrat. According to LoPiccolo, who initiated the motion, Harms hid an insurance claim payout from council, appointed friend Heffelfinger to oversee seven of the council’s subcommittees, and trusted Heffelfinger with negotiating a shady deal with the borough police department, which LoPiccolo noted was without the use of trusted attorney Mike Savona.
The motion, which took the democrats out of the voting majority, infuriated Heffelfinger who abandoned the meeting altogether. Wolfe announced following the meeting that she too would resign.
“The blame game and such have been played in this town for many years by all parties and will not disappear overnight,” said Wolfe. “I am looking forward to resuming representing the things my constituents have indicated are their concerns and priorities. The ideas for having a more cohesive council will come from the new president, I’m sure.
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Wolfe, who claimed she felt defeated after the July 27 work session, said in a statement she reacted to the news of LoPiccolo’s motion “poorly” and will apologize. “I can assure you I have worked every single day for the residents of this borough during my two years in office and I will never lose my cool like that again,” she said.
Wolfe, who noted in her statement that she was born in Penndel, said she does not like what’s occurring in her hometown and that is the reason she decided to take the office to begin with. “Penndel will never be the way it was when I grew up here, but we can restore the sense of community like it used to be,” she said. Unfortunately it is also my belief, supported by actions, that many have their own personal agendas, convenience first and foremost that drive much of what they do.”
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Heffelfinger and Wolfe, who announced their resignations before council could formally accept them, have since rescinded, and no further action is required.
Penndel Borough council is expected to meet Monday evening for a regularly scheduled meeting.
