DUBOIS: A new era in local governance officially began Monday afternoon as the consolidated City of DuBois held its first organizational meeting, formally bringing together the former City of DuBois and Sandy Township into a single municipality.

The meeting took place at the Reitz Theater on the effective date of consolidation and included the swearing-in of elected officials, department heads, and public safety personnel, along with the adoption of legal measures required to transfer governance authority to the newly formed city.

Opening the session, Co-Manager Ben Kafferlin noted the significance of the moment.

“Municipal governments across Pennsylvania are reorganizing today,” Kafferlin said. “This is the only one doing so because of consolidation, and that makes today truly historic.”

Ceremony Emphasizes Unity And Shared Purpose

The organizational meeting began with an invocation offered by Msgr. Richard Seifer, who called on city leaders and residents to approach the transition with cooperation, humility, and a commitment to the common good.

Seifer urged unity as the new council embarks on governing a combined community, emphasizing progress rooted in collaboration rather than division.

Following the national anthem, Rick Vilello, deputy secretary with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, addressed the council on behalf of Gov. Josh Shapiro. Drawing on his own experience as a former mayor and council president, Vilello framed the occasion as a rare opportunity in municipal leadership.

“You have the honor of being the first,” Vilello said, likening the moment to a modern-day founding of local government.

Vilello encouraged council members to focus on shared priorities, particularly as political polarization increasingly reaches the local level.

“Basic services aren’t partisan,” he said. “Work on what you agree on first — then tackle the rest.”

Officials Sworn In As New City Takes Shape

Clearfield County President Judge Paul E. Cherry, sworn in earlier that same morning, administered the oaths of office to the inaugural leadership of the City of DuBois.

Sworn in as city council members were Shirley Dahrouge, Samuel Mollica III, Mark Sullivan, J. Barry Abbott, William Beers Jr., Richard Whitaker, and Michael Piccirillo.

Additional officials sworn in included David Volpe as city controller, David Rupprecht as city treasurer, Zachary Lawhead and Tom Nowak as zoning and code enforcement officers, Kris Kruzelak as chief of police, Dustin Roy as assistant chief, the city’s full police force, and Joe Mitchell as fire chief.

Judge Cherry, a DuBois native, expressed confidence in the newly sworn officials, noting their longstanding ties to the community and commitment to public service.

Council Takes Immediate Organizational Action

Following the ceremony, council adopted Rosenberg’s Rules of Order as its parliamentary framework and appointed Kafferlin and Lisa Hagberg of Kafferlin Strategies LLC as interim co-managers to guide the transition.

Council also approved a series of resolutions required by state law to take effect on the day of consolidation. These actions transferred assets, liabilities, municipal authorities, and financial obligations from the former city and township to the new municipality, including authorization to advertise the amended consolidation agreement as the city’s first ordinance.

Some measures, attorneys explained, were time-sensitive and required same-day approval to comply with lender and regulatory requirements.

Years In The Making

The consolidation followed years of study, public engagement, and formal review under Pennsylvania’s municipal consolidation process. Officials examined finances, service delivery models, and governance structures before advancing the proposal to voters.

Residents approved the merger in a November 2, 2021, referendum. DuBois City voters supported consolidation by a wide margin, while Sandy Township residents approved it only narrowly (by just 33 votes). The successful referendum followed three earlier failed consolidation attempts dating back more than 30 years.

With the organizational meeting complete, the City of DuBois officially began operating as a unified municipality, concluding years of planning and coordination.

“This is about the next generation,” Vilello said. “They’re counting on you.”