Plum welcomes 4 new council members, prepares to make interim manager permanent

Plum has four new council members and might soon have a permanent borough manager with a familiar face.

Newly elected Councilmen Dave Majernik, Jerry Purcell and Steve Schlauch were sworn in to office by District Judge Mike Doyle during council’s reorganization Tuesday.

Doyle, previously council president, resigned from council in December after winning election to the district court office serving Plum and Oakmont.

Council chose Vicky Roessler to replace Doyle on council. She will hold the seat until it goes up for election next year.

Roessler was chosen from eight applicants who were interviewed, said Paul Dern, who was named council president. Councilman David Seitz is vice president.

Roessler, 55, a Plum resident for 32 years, served one term on the Plum School Board from 2015-19. She was board vice president when Schlauch was president.

Roessler said she did not seek reelection in 2019 to “take a break from the stress.”

“During my time on the school board, my colleagues and I faced challenging circumstances and made difficult decisions to benefit the school district, which took its toll,” she said.

Roessler said she applied for the council seat because she believes her experience and contributions during her previous tenure can be valuable.

“The community has faced numerous challenges, and I am committed to working with my fellow members of council to support safety, growth and development,” she said.

Roessler said she left the employment staffing industry in 2019 to dedicate more time to taking care of her parents and spending time with her family. She and her husband have two adult children who graduated from Plum High School.

Roessler is a state committee member of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. In addition to the school board, she was previously a member of the borough’s planning commission and president of the Plum Mustang Foundation.

Soboslay expected to become manager

Council also voted to retain David Soboslay as interim borough manager, and members are expected to make him the new manager during their voting meeting Monday, Dern said.

Soboslay had been the borough’s assistant manager to Michael Thomas. Thomas was one of six people killed in the Aug. 12 house explosion in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood.

Soboslay said he submitted an employment proposal and contract to council, which he said it will consider in an executive session before the vote Monday.