Leader-Herald |
Vincent McCallum takes the oath of office Thursday for Johnstown City Council. McCallum was elected in November and owns Toying Around on West Main Street.
Amy Praught took the oath of office Thursday to begin her second term as Johnstown’s mayor. So did Maxwell Spritzer for a new term on common council. And Vincent McCallum as a new council member from the 2nd Ward.
But not Scott Jeffers, the council member-at-large. He was not at the organizational meeting.
He has not attended a city council meeting since he was charged Dec. 11 with one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. Jeffers, a teacher and coach at Johnstown High School, was accused of having inappropriate communications with a student younger than 17. The messages were “at times sexual in nature and discussed drug use and physical violence,” state police said.
The oath of office administered to Johnstown city officials Thursday was merely ceremonial, Praught said. The real oath is a signed document, but Jeffers has not signed it, yet.
“He has 30 days to sign it and be sworn in,” Praught said before the meeting. “This is a decision I’m assuming he’s making for himself and his family.”
However, she added: “He’s accountable to the people.”
Council members cannot vote if they do not attend city meetings.
At the moment, the absence doesn’t present a crimp to the city, Praught said, nodding to the four council members in the chambers. “Right now, I have a quorum.”
Jeffers could not be reached Thursday for comment.
Praught thanked the other council members. “We look forward to a very successful four years,” she said, including the addition of McCallum, who took 122 votes without opposition in November.
“He’s an anchor in the city of Johnstown,” Praught said of the owner of Toying Around on West Main Street. “He’s going to serve the city well.”
McCallum said he wants to increase transparency between the city and its businesses, and increase the number of events and activities in the city, particularly a June block party.
“And on a personal level, being more aware of the entire city,” McCallum said.
The meeting itself lasted less than 15 minutes, as the mayor and council member took their oaths and council unanimously adopted seven resolutions setting landfill fees, declaring official newspapers, adopting council’s rules and regulations and making eight appointments:
Johnstown Mayor Amy Praught takes the oath of office Thursday administered by City Court Judge Brett Preston as her husband, Johnstown Supervisor John Praught holds a Bible.
Former state Supreme........