New Freedom leaders sworn in; council approves officers and committee rosters

Kim Butcher was sworn in as mayor of the Borough of New Freedom at the borough's January 2026 organizational meeting and administered oaths to newly elected council members.

Butcher opened the meeting by urging council members to "serve the public interest with integrity, transparency, accountability, and respect for the law," and then administered the oath of office. Council members Ginny Neugebauer, Erica Riarek and Michael Wharton took the oath during the meeting; Mayor Butcher noted that council member Dave Reisdorf had previously taken his oath for medical reasons.

The council moved next to elect its officers for the year. Nominations yielded Andrew (Andy) Bobby for president, Ryan Ross for vice president and Ginny (Virginia) Neugebauer for president pro tem. A council member moved to accept the slate of nominations; the motion was seconded by Dave Brycedorf and approved by voice vote with ayes recorded and no opposition. After the vote, President Andrew Bobby thanked the mayor and described the role as a volunteer position, saying, "I wanna echo Mayor Butcher's words. They were good words."

Council then addressed committee rosters and borough appointments. The council approved a personnel committee slate (keeping Ryan Ross as chair and adding Virginia Neugebauer), public health and safety committee appointments (with Mayor Butcher as chair and Ryan Ross added), and infrastructure committee membership, where Dennis Sarpin was asked to serve in a consultant role and Michael Wearden was invited to join the committee. The EMS and fire funding committee roster remained unchanged. The Business Development committee membership was also updated and approved.

Council reviewed and approved borough organizational appointments, including manager, secretary, assistant treasurer, pension officer, building code official, floodplain administrator, solicitor, and engineer for subdivision and land development. The council named Andrew Schaeffer to a managerial role and Tara Callaghan as treasurer/assistant secretary; Wade Portner was named building code official and floodplain administrator; Walter Tilly of Saxon and Stump was listed as solicitor; an engineering firm was named for general services, subdivision and land development; and representatives were designated to the police commission, York Adams Tax Bureau and PSAB.

There was no public comment during the allotted period, and council members indicated there was no desire to open the 2026 budget at this meeting. After completing the organizational business and a brief clarification about spelling of a council member's name, a motion to adjourn passed on voice vote and the meeting ended.

The borough's organizational meeting concluded with routine confirmations of officers, committees and appointments; no budget decisions were taken and the council adjourned.