Plum names 2 incoming high school seniors as junior council members

Plum Council will gain a younger perspective when its two newest members join in September.

Mercy Newell and Adam Smith, both 17, have been named as junior council members. They will be seniors this fall at Plum High School.

Their tenure will run with the school year, from September through June. They will be able to attend council’s work sessions and voting meetings but will not vote or attend executive sessions that are closed to the public.

Council President Paul Dern said he wanted to give youths with an interest in politics, the law or similar subjects an opportunity to get involved in borough government, which he said could pique their interest in related careers.

While they will get an inside look at how local government works and how decisions are made, the borough also will benefit from their younger perspective, he said.

“We range in age from probably 35 up to the 60s,” Dern said of the seven-member council. “It would be nice to get a perspective from a younger person of what the younger generation looks at, and what they’re thinking when they see something.”

Newell and Smith said they hope to bring the insights of a younger generation to council. Newell also hopes to bring some diversity, as Vicky Roessler is council’s only female member. Roessler was not present Monday night when council voted to name the junior council members.

The daughter of Lance and Amy Newell of Plum’s Ramparts neighborhood, Newell said she applied for the post because she has an interest in going into law or politics.

“I thought this would be a good start and a good learning opportunity,” she said. “I’m just excited to start and see what all I can learn.”

Smith, one of Andrew and Molly Smith’s five children, also lives in the Ramparts neighborhood. He applied for junior council member after not being selected as the student representative to the Plum School Board.

Smith said he plans to be an officer in the military and is applying to the Air Force and Naval academies and West Point. He hopes serving on council will help.

“Getting experience is a big thing,” he said, adding he wants to meet new people and become familiar with government issues.

Having younger members will help the council, he said.

“They can’t really relate to what kids are thinking,” he said. “Having a younger person on the council for sure will help get better understanding of what the whole community wants and not just one specific age group.”

Dern said he plans on inviting Newell and Smith to the borough building soon for a tour and introductions. He said officials will work on further developing the program and how it works through their tenure this first year.

“I’m hoping this is just the beginning of it and that we get someone every year,” he said.