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Council interviews multiple candidates for planning and transportation advisory panels
Summary
Council held extended interviews with candidates for the planning commission and transportation advisory committee, hearing from college graduates, engineers, builders and residents about affordable housing, connectivity, accessibility and construction expertise; appointments were deferred to the next meeting.
Westchester Borough Council conducted interviews on July 15 with several candidates seeking appointments to the planning commission and the transportation advisory committee. Applicants who spoke included Quentin Burrell, a recent Temple University graduate in community development; Brandon Emmig, an architecturally trained heavy-civil contractor; Janine Ramagana Howder (identified in the record as Janine Halder), a construction estimator with 30 years' experience; and Dr. Thomas Jagas, a civil-engineering graduate and residential contractor.
Candidates outlined relevant experience and priorities. Quentin Burrell emphasized local planning, parks, and housing and said, "I really developed interests mainly in...community planning, especially after interning for the county planning commission last summer." Brandon Emmig focused on regional connectivity and transit access, discussing rail, trail, and electric-vehicle charging sites and telling council that ADA access and trail connections should be priorities. Janine Halder highlighted construction estimating, blueprint reading and cost analysis, saying she could support review of project impacts such as noise, HVAC placement, and pedestrian circulation. Dr. Jagas pointed to preservation of the borough’s character, his civil-engineering background and recent work restoring a neglected home in town.
Councilors pressed candidates on specific technical skills — AutoCAD and GIS experience came up repeatedly — and on how applicants would prepare to be effective quickly if appointed. Several council members encouraged candidates to consider alternate commissions when appropriate; multiple applicants said they would accept either the planning commission or the transportation advisory committee if asked. The council did not make appointments at the meeting and said it would consider and likely act on the candidates at the next council meeting.
