Continuity in Avalon as Mayor, Two Return to Council

AVALON – Borough Council of Avalon held its annual reorganization meeting July 1.
The meeting witnessed the administration of the oaths of office to Mayor Martin Pagliughi, and council members Richard Dean and Charles Covington. Each had won new four-year terms in the May election.
Borough council, which has a tradition of annually rotating its officers, unanimously elected Dean as president for a one-year term and Dr. Nancy Hudanich as vice president.
By resolutions, the council also ratified the administrative appointments put forth by Pagliughi:
Scott Wahl was reappointed to serve a four-year term as business administrator. Wahl also serves as public information officer. Wahl had just completed a year of service as business administrator having taken over the position when Andrew Bednarek retired in 2014. Wahl was also separately confirmed as Director of the Department of Administration.
Other reappointments approved by council:
Pagliughi, director of Public Safety, James Craft, director of Revenue and Finance, William Macomber, director of Public Works, and Stephen Barse, director of the Department of Law.
The three elected officials sworn at the meeting have a combined 75 years of continuous service in their respective roles in Avalon. Pagliughi was first elected mayor in 1991 and is beginning his seventh term. Dean was first elected in 1987. Covington joined Dean on council in 1991. All three have served continuously since those elections.
In the recent election, Pagliughi ran unopposed while Dean and Covington faced a challenge from local businessman James Lutz. It was the first time Avalon had seen a contest for council since 2007. “Team Avalon,” the term used by Pagliughi, Dean and Covington, during the elections is back in place in familiar roles.
Pagliughi received 495 votes, Covington received 421 votes and Dean received 360 votes. James Lutz received 210 votes.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.