Latrobe City Council voted 4-2 Monday to appoint Charles Dominick to the council seat vacated by the May 12 resignation of Neal Fenton.
Dominick, 56, a registered Democrat and 35-year city resident, previously served on council from 1994 to 1997.
Back then, he was one of 12 members on the board, whereas today he is one of seven with changes made after the borough adopted a home rule charter in 1995.
"City business looks to be much more manageable now with less members on council, and I look forward to contributing to that," said Dominick, a St. Vincent graduate and longtime human resources director at the Westmoreland County Courthouse.
Fenton -- who had served on council since 2002 -- resigned for undisclosed vocational and personal reasons.
Three letters of interest were submitted last month regarding the vacant post from Dominick, Eric Cosby and a third unidentified person deemed unqualified by council yesterday.
Voting for Dominick were council members Fabian Giovannagelo, Richard Jim, Rosie Wolford and Ken Baldonieri. Voting for Cosby were Mayor Tom Marflak and Councilman Ron McElhaney.
After council's vote, Dominick was sworn in by city Solicitor James E. Kelley and took his seat. His term expires Dec. 31, 2009.
Council voted 6-0 to adopt a 10-year pact with Allegheny Power to provide the city 780 high-pressure sodium street and parking lot lights to replace mercury vapor lights. The changes, which have no timetable yet, will eventually provide the city with roughly $400 in savings per month in usage fees, or about $4,900 per year, and will allow for a 17 percent increase in light output, said city Manager Rick Stadler.
"Power companies aren't going to be allowed to use mercury vapor lights anymore, so this was a change that was expected," Stadler said.
In other business, council voted to approve the awarding of a $37,920 contract to Delmont-based Danmar Contracting for the Laveen Street reconstruction project. The county provided the city a $35,000 Community Block Development Grant to finance the project. The board voted unanimously to approve the purchase of roughly $4,000 worth of computer equipment for use by city police in conjunction with the Westmoreland County Task Force.
Marflak encouraged residents to spruce up their properties in preparation for the American Eagle Outfitters-sponsored Tour of Pennsylvania bicycle race, which will run through the city June 27.
"This is a world-class, nationally televised event, so we want to look our best," Marflak said.
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