In a dramatic shift of leadership, Archbald Borough Council has undergone significant changes since the start of the year, revealing a community at a crossroads with its governance and future decisions.
On Wednesday, Madonna Munley was chosen to occupy the seat left by Tom Aniska, who resigned on March 27 after opposing a permit for a data center project. However, as Munley began her tenure, council members Marie Andreoli, Dave Moran, and Richard Guman submitted their resignations, further altering the council’s composition.
In their absence, Larry West and Lisa Osborne, who had also sought Aniska’s position, were appointed to fill the vacancies, leaving council members Erin Owen and Louis Rapoch as the only elected officials amidst what should be a seven-member board. Joseph Altier had already joined the council earlier in the year, filling a vacancy left by John Shnipes III.
Recent Changes in Leadership
The resignations of Andreoli, Moran, and Guman come after they were part of a majority that approved a contentious data center zoning overlay last November, despite public calls for more deliberation. Their leadership roles were also revoked in March, with Moran, Guman, and Andreoli losing their respective positions as president, vice president, and president pro tem.
A petition demanding the removal of Moran, along with Solicitor James O’Connor and borough manager Dan Markey, has been circulating among residents, highlighting the tensions within the community.
Motivations Behind Resignations
Moran’s resignation letter mentioned threats against officials and heightened concern for his family’s safety. He expressed that social media is “proving to be the downfall of good government.”
Andreoli, on the other hand, stated that her decision was influenced by the “current direction of borough governance” and the limited opportunities to impact council decisions, which she felt were increasingly made without comprehensive input. She also cited potential legal risks as a concern.
Guman, in his farewell letter, appreciated the borough staff and lamented how a single issue had overshadowed the council’s operations.
‘Where can I do the most good?’
Initially hesitant to join the council, Munley was active with the Stop Data Centers in Archbald Group. She recognized the challenges faced by younger residents balancing work and family, realizing that her involvement could make a meaningful difference.
“I’m with the people who say, let’s give the young people a chance. But as time went on, you just realized that people in their 30s and 40s, they’re raising their families. They’re working at least 40 hours a week,” Munley remarked.
With six data center campuses proposed in Archbald, Munley was drawn to council meetings, where she encountered numerous local issues that required attention. She emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing data center zoning applications thoroughly to ensure diligence.
Moreover, Munley is advocating for greater transparency among borough officials and aims to harness the community’s spirit, fostered by the opposition to the data centers, to maintain the town’s character.
“This has been a unifying movement and such enthusiasm and all because they really want to keep the town as it is, so we can’t waste that enthusiasm and that support that we have from the community right now,” she stated.
