LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Members of Lock Haven City Council, from left, are Barbara Masorti, Tami Brannan, Vice President Heather Alexander, Mayor Joel Long, Rick Conklin and Jeff Brinker. Council member Micah Clausen attended the meeting virtually.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS
Lock Haven Mayor Joel Long, center, swears in incumbent council members Barbara Masorti, left, and Rick Conklin, right, during council’s reorganization meeting on Monday night.

LOCK HAVEN — At its first meeting of 2026, Lock Haven City Council took care of its reorganization, including appointing a new vice president.

Following the swearing in of recently elected incumbent members Rick Conklin and Barbara Masorti by Mayor Joel Long, council considered nominations for vice president. The position was long held by former council member Steve Stevenson who did not retain his seat after not seeking re-election in 2025.

Council member Jeff Brinker nominated Heather Alexander, which was seconded by Micah Clausen.

Conklin was also nominated for the position by Council member Barbara Masorti, which was seconded by Tami Brannan.

Long noted duel nominations were his first during his time in office and asked City Manager Gregory Wilson what steps should be taken.

Wilson said, per Robert’s Rules of Order, members could hold a ballot vote. After agreement amongst its members, he handed out slips for council to fill out and then tallied the votes. Clausen’s vote was recorded by Community Life Director Kasey Dumm, as he was attending the meeting virtually.

Ultimately, Alexander won the appointment in a 4-3 vote.

Following this, council set its meeting dates for 2026 and discussed appointments of residents and its members to various authorities, boards and commissions.

Appointments were approved for the following:

— Board of Health: Dr. Louis Widman, five-year term.

— Central Clinton County Water Filtration Authority: Brannan, five-year term.

— City Employees Retirement Fund: Conklin and Masorti, four-year term

— City Redevelopment Authority: Lenny Long, five-year term.

— Civil Service Commission: Wilson Riccardo, four-year term.

— Commercial Loan Committee: Alexander, Megan Wheeler, two year term; Rick Schulz, Kim Stiles, three-year term.

— Flood Protection Authority: Clausen, five-year term.

— Historic District Advisory Committee: Sarah Grimes, Patty Davis, Conklin, three-year term.

— Planning Commission: Jack Bottorf, four-year term.

— Police Pension Fund Board: Masorti and Conklin, four-year term.

— Ross Library Board: Faith Ronk and Christopher Stanonis, three-year term.

— Summer Concert Committee: Conklin, Long, Brannan, two-year term.

— Watershed Management Committee: Masorti, four-year term.

Liaison appointments were made for the following:

— Clinton County Solid Waste Authority (recycling): Brinker, two-year term.

— City Redevelopment Authority: Long, Clausen, two-year term; Masorit, four-year term.

— Clinton County Council of Governments: Brinker, Clausen, 1-year term.

— Clinton County Economic Partnership: Brinker, two-year term.

— Downtown Lock Haven, Inc.: Conklin; Alexander, alternate.

— Lock Haven City Authority: Long, two-year term; Masorti, four-year term.

— Planning Commission: Brannan, two-year term.

— Ross Library Board: Brannan, two-year term.

— Zoning Hearing Board: Masorti, two-year term.

Council members were appointed to the following subcommittees, all for two years:

— Police Relations: Alexander, Brannan, Brinker.

— AFSCME Negotiations: Masorti, Conklin, Brannan.

— Airport Advisory: Clausen, Masorti, Brinker.

— LH Police Officers Association Negotiations: Masorti, Conklin, Long.

— Water: Conklin, Masorti, Brannan.

Following its reorganization, council held its first regular meeting of the year.

During this meeting, Wilson told council its first time agenda items related to the Youngdale Wellfield and Pressure Reducing Valve Replacement projects were information and will be brought for consideration at a later meeting.

The first would be the awarding of bids for these projects including:

— Transmission Main installation to Harger Utility for $2,863,645

— Mechanical work to C&R Directional at $2,363,000

— PRV Vault and CCCWFA Interconnection to Appellation Construction for $826,085

Wilson said, though these were all the lowest bids provided, they still put the project nearly $1.7 million over the PennVEST loan which will be used to pay for the services.

He told council city staff would be meeting with PennVEST representatives this week to work on a request to increase its loan to accommodate the costs.

In other business, council:

— Awarded the following bids for agricultural leases on city-owned property in Greene Township: Reuben Esh, six acres for $60; Schrack Farms, 118 acres for $8,570; Dan Eggler, 27 acres for $475; John Esh, 21 acres for $525; Noah Hershberger, 14 acres for $420. Wilson noted all the acreage has now been leased, bringing in $10,050 in revenue to the city and cutting down on maintenance costs. He added last year’s total revenue was about $6,000 in comparison.

— Accepted the resignation of Justin Ripka from the Safety Committee and appointed Gio Tarantella in his place.

Council’s next meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 19, in council chambers and streamed on the city’s YouTube page.