Lower Burrell ready to hit the ground running with new council

When Lower Burrell Council meets and reorganizes Wednesday evening, almost everyone behind the dais will have spent fewer than five years in their current roles.

But that’s not a cause for concern, says incoming Mayor Chris Fabry.

“Thanks to my relationship with (outgoing Mayor John Andrejcik), this administration is going to hit the ground running,” Fabry said. “I didn’t have to wait until Jan. 4 to start, so the engine is already heated. Now, we just have to throw it into drive.”

After nine years as a councilman, Fabry will become mayor.

Council includes David Stoltz and Brandy Grieff, who will be going into their third year serving on council.

Ron Welker was appointed to fill a vacancy in July. Former Harrison Commissioner Mike Stanoski was elected to the fifth seat in November, his first-term as a Lower Burrell councilman.

Former Councilman Frank Trozzi will start his first stint as the city’s treasurer in January, replacing Brian Eshbaugh, who served in the role for 16 years. Andrejcik will become the city’s new controller, replacing Tony Farina, who held the role for 16 years.

The city’s appointed officials also have seen their fair share of recent turnover.

City Manager Greg Primm joined Lower Burrell in July but has years of experience from stints at Allegheny Township, Penn Township (in Butler County) and Falls Creek Borough.

John Marhefka was named the city’s police chief in February 2020, after about 24 years with the city’s police force. Zoning officer Mark Marmo and Public Works Director Michelle Hatbob will have been in their respective roles for a little under two years.

But this new group of officials already has started work to keep the ball rolling, Fabry said.

Fabry, Eshbaugh, Welker, Trozzi and Primm held a finance “transition meeting” to review the responsibilities, day-to-day operations and goals of that department, Fabry said.

That led to Welker, Trozzi and Primm setting up a standing monthly meeting to discuss finances.

Those meetings are in addition to standing monthly meetings Fabry has with Marhefka and school district officials, biweekly meetings with Primm and Stoltz’s biweekly meetings with Hatbob and Primm.

“I’m ready to take Lower Burrell forward,” Fabry said. “We’re on the right path, but we need to build on our recent successes … and at a much faster pace.”

During his last meeting as mayor, Andrejcik said the city’s momentum will continue, even with the personnel shifts.

“I’ve been asked many times recently why I was not running for mayor again,” he said. “My answer has been consistent: If I thought for one minute that Lower Burrell was going to get less than 125% from the next mayor, I may have tried to do another four years. But I am extremely confident that the good people of Lower Burrell are in good hands.”

It’s safe to say Fabry agrees.

“We have the opportunity to not just succeed but become the standard that others look to,” Fabry said. “I want to seize that opportunity.”