City council to fill vacancy

SHARON, Pa. -- City council will take up the task of finding a successor for Councilman Lou Rotunno, who died before he could begin his new term of office in January.
Rotunno was re-elected to a four-year post Nov. 4, but he died Nov. 14.
His new term officially becomes vacant Jan. 5 on the annual council reorganization date. Beginning at that time, council will accept letters of application from any city resident who has lived in Sharon for at least one year.
Rotunno was a Democrat, and normally the appointee would have to be a Democrat as well. Because Rotunno didn't live to take his oath of office, however, the seat is technically not filled, and members of any or no political party can apply, said Fred Hoffman, council president.
Councilwoman Chris Outrakis, chairman of the Sharon Democrat Committee, said the committee will have a meeting to pick a nominee for the post and submit that name to council, although council won't be bound by that recommendation.
Anyone interested in the job should submit a letter to the city clerk before 5 p.m. Jan. 13. Council expects to make the appointment at a meeting Jan. 22.
The appointee won't get to serve the entire four years of Rotunno's term, however. The appointment can only be until the next municipal election, which makes it a two-year seat.