Lower Burrell eyes Ron Welker to fill council vacancy

Ron Welker might be starting his tenure on Lower Burrell Council a bit earlier than anticipated.

Council will consider appointing Welker at its meeting Monday, to fill a vacant council seat left by Rosina Albanese, who resigned in June.

Albanese was sworn onto council in 2020. She cited work commitments in her resignation letter, which was accepted by council Monday. Her term expires at the end of this year, and she did not seek reelection.

Welker and Mike Stanoski are running uncontested for council seats this fall. Both won nominations in May, effectively placing them on the council come next year.

Councilman Chris Fabry said it only made sense to council to appoint either Welker or Stanoski to council for the next six months, because they both ran uncontested for council seats and won nominations for the November election.

The plan, Fabry said, is for Welker to take over Fabry’s position as finance director — Fabry is running unopposed for mayor — and Stanoski will oversee parks to fill Albanese’s old role.

Newly elected council members don’t typically take the finance position, but appointing Welker would give the ability for him to learn from longtime treasurer and tax collector Brian Eshbaugh, who is stepping down at the end of the year.

“So, the idea of giving Ron the opportunity to fully participate in that budget process — to get his hands on and get going with it early and get moving — it does, to me, make a little bit more sense,” Fabry said.

Addressing council, Welker said he has been in finance and banking for about 25 years. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University.

“I work with small businesses, I know financials and tax returns — frankly, I can get really geeked-up and excited about tax returns and financials, so this is really exciting,” said Welker, 52.

Welker, who works at First Commonwealth Bank, moved to the city in 2010 and said he enjoys being part of the Alle-Kiski Valley.

He told the Tribune-Review that his goals on council are to keep Lower Burrell on its positive trajectory, use his financial expertise to help the city and attract small businesses.

“I want to make sure I can do my part that Lower Burrell continues on a positive trend,” he said.

Welker said he is active in the city, having coached basketball, baseball and soccer, and is a board member for Tri-City Soccer playing out of Kotecki Park. Being on council has been a desire of his, he said, and his banking job has opened up the flexibility and opportunity to do so.

Fabry recommended Welker be appointed to the position at the July 10 meeting, and council members agreed.

“If we have an opportunity to allow Ron to come in and learn everything in advance and participate in … budget season that’s coming up, I think that we should do that. That makes perfect sense,” Councilwoman Brandy Grieff said. “Let him get his feet planted, learn the ropes and really get into exactly what he will be doing.”

Welker is looking forward to the uniquely timed opportunity to work with interim Manager Jason Dailey. Also on July 10, council will vote to appoint a new manager, Allegheny Township Manager Greg Primm, who would start Sept. 1.

Council still will include Stanoski on everything it can, Fabry said.

“Whoever isn’t chosen, I assure to you all that we will have them participate in everything that they legally can possibly participate in,” Fabry said. “So, whichever one comes (on) board and gets a little bit of a head start, great, but the other one’s just as important a part of the team.”