Derry planning commission member joins council

Sept. 17--Thomas Lipinski, an Air Force veteran who recently moved back to the area where he grew up, is the newest member of Derry council.

Lipinski was appointed to fill a seat vacated by Joe Morton, who resigned in August.

Lipinski, who serves on the borough planning commission, cited his 20 years' of military service as part of the experience he will bring to the role of councilman.

"I spent over 18 years of my life outside of the United States in military service," he said, reading from his letter of application for the council post. "This enables me to understand, cooperate and be empathetic to various cultures and points of view."

A 1974 Derry Area High School graduate, Lipinski is a native of adjacent Derry Township, where his father, William, operated Lipinski Memorials. Retired as a master sergeant with the Air Force, Lipinski returned to the area about a year ago and works at the Fueland convenience store in Bradenville.

Lipinski said he would like to see Derry develop a tourism industry based on its past as a major maintenance stop along the Pennsylvania Railroad.

He recommended that the town expand upon its annual Railroad Days Festival, slated for Saturday and Sunday, to instill a year-round draw for railroading fans. He suggested a railroad museum and railroad-themed restaurant as potential attractions in the borough.

"I think Derry is a fine place to raise a family and to conduct business," he said. "The borough is a diamond in the rough. I would like the opportunity to help polish this diamond so she may shine as she's meant to."

Council received letters from Kevin Gross expressing interest in the council vacancy and in the role of emergency management director, which is occupied.

Gross noted he has resided in the borough for about a decade, served in the Army and the Marine Corps and has experience as a firefighter and emergency medical technician.

Council President Chad Fabian thanked Gross for applying for the council slot and suggested he may want to consider applying for the open position of vacancy board chairman.

Following an executive session for personnel matters, council voted to terminate part-time policeman Richard Champion, who was hired about a month ago.

Mayor David Bolen, while declining to be more specific about factors motivating the firing, said Champion was dismissed under a clause in the borough police contract that allows the borough to dismiss an officer for any reason within an initial one-year probationary period.

Bolen said, with Champion's dismissal, he is looking to fill two part-time slots on the police roster.

Fabian said borough representatives plan to attend the Sept. 25 agenda planning session of the Derry Area School Board to broach the subject of a possible reorganization of the disbanded Derry Area Recreation Board.

In addition to the school district, that body originally included representation from Derry and New Alexandria boroughs and Derry Township.

Fabian said he would like operation of the Derry community swimming pool to be considered among the programs of a reactivated recreation board.

The borough has been operating the pool with its own staff.

Jeff Himler is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-459-6100, ext. 2910 or jhimler@tribweb.com.

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