Sharpsburg Councilmembers sworn in; leadership selected

Sharpsburg Council welcomed a few new faces and appointed familiar leaders at its reorganization meeting Jan. 2.

Mayor Brittany Reno swore in newcomers Kacie Cope and Corey Egwrube Ochai as well as incumbents Sarah Ishman, Adrianne Laing and Jonathan Jaso to their new seats.

Cope, Ishman and Jaso won four-year terms while Ochai and Laing each won two-year terms.

Laing was reappointed as president, and Kayla Portis was appointed vice president.

“I’m very excited about being nominated president and look forward to working with council,” Laing said via email after the meeting.

Laing was appointed to council in 2017 and 2019. She was elected in 2020 to a four-year term.

Portis is in her second term on council. This will be her first year as vice president.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Portis said. “(I want) to continue doing what I’m doing in a larger capacity, which is helping elevate our community and the people in it. It’s an exciting day.

“I’m looking forward to working with everybody. Everybody brings something different to the table. It’s a really exciting time for Sharpsburg right now.”

Cope echoed Portis’ comments.

“I’m excited and honored to serve Sharpsburg,” she said. “I love this community. I’m a fourth-generation Sharpsburg resident. I really want to listen and learn. I know there’s a lot of other council members who have served for a long time. (I want) to really learn from them (and) listen to community members and hear what folks want.”

Ochai said he is ready to serve his community and be a student of local government.

“I’m honored,” he said mingling with other residents after the meeting. “Once I sat (in my new seat), it felt like I was ready for it.

“The first thing I want to do is learn. I’m putting my student cap on, and I want to learn as much as possible so I can add value to any decision. My biggest goal is to add value to the team. The better the team, the better decisions you make, the better the community is.”

All motions at the reorganization meeting passed unanimously.

Christine DeRunk was reappointed as borough manager.

Carleen Kusar was named treasurer. She replaces Roxane Magnelli, who retired late last year after 20 years of service.

Witherell Kalina Law Group was retained as borough solicitor.

Lennon Smith Souleret Engineering was retained as borough engineer.

Northwest Bank was reappointed as the borough’s bank.

Former Councilman Peter Adams was appointed to the planning commission.

Megan Mooney was removed from the parks and recreation commission.

DeRunk declined to discuss Mooney’s removal.

Council workshops are the second Thursday of the month, and voting sessions are the fourth Thursday of the month. Both are at 6:30 p.m. at the borough building, 1611 Main St.