Beaver County commissioners on Jan. 3 proclaimed Odette Lambert for her decades of historical research and community service in New Brighton and approved routine county business including meeting minutes, payment of bills, a personnel report and a set of resolutions.

Solicitor Fidelis read the proclamation recognizing Lambert’s work documenting local history, her publications and her efforts to identify Underground Railroad sites in the community. "Now therefore be proclaimed by the board of commissioners of the county of Beaver, a fourth class county in the laws of Pennsylvania, that they honor and recognize dedicated research in the preservation of history in New Brighton and Beaver County made by Odette Lambert," the proclamation stated.

The board moved and approved the proclamation by voice vote. Odette Lambert spoke afterward, thanking family and community members who assisted her research. "I did not do this all alone," she said, adding that family and friends supported her efforts and expressing appreciation for the county’s recognition.

In addition to the proclamation, the board approved routine procedural items by voice vote: the Dec. 18, 2025 public meeting minutes; the Dec. 17, 2025 work session minutes; payment of county bills presented by Controller Wagner; and the human resources personnel report (attachment A). Solicitor Fidelis also reported that resolutions numbered 010826-01 through 010826-24 had been reviewed by the law department and recommended approval; the board approved those resolutions as presented.

Announcements at the meeting included observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and scheduling the next public meeting for Jan. 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the commissioners' public meeting room. The meeting concluded with informal photographs and closing remarks.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records voice approvals for the proclamation, minutes, bills, personnel report and the package of resolutions; the board indicated approval by saying 'Aye' at each roll-call; the transcript does not record a numeric roll-call tally.