Bellevue still short 2

&emsp;&emsp;Bellevue Council has started the year two members short, as incumbent Jillian Edmondson, who won re-election in November, declined to accept the office.&emsp;&emsp;Edmondson was not present for the last three council meetings in December, and recently deleted her social media council account. Continuing council president Jodi Cerminara stated at Tuesday's reorganization meeting that council is now accepting applications for a two-year seat in the third ward along with the two-year vacancy that resulted from a lack of candidates in the second ward. Committee meetings for January were canceled until the vacancies could be filled, which Cerminara said hopefully could occur at the pre-council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 9. &emsp;&emsp;Applicants for either of the positions should send a letter of interest to the borough listing their qualifications. &emsp;&emsp;Five newly elected and re-elected members took the oath of office administered by District Judge Tara Smith at Tuesday's meeting: Cerminara, Amanda Sloane, Alicia Templeton, Joanne Mule and Russell Ellis. Cerminara was unanimously elected for another term as council president, and Sloane as vice president. Jennie Denton was elected president pro-tem.&emsp;&emsp;Jane Braunlich was sworn in for a six-year term as auditor. She had been in the middle of a four-year term as auditor, a position she resigned in order to accept the six-year seat to which she was elected in November.&emsp;&emsp;Although Cindy Bahn's resignation as director of administrative services was effective Jan. 1, she appeared in that position at Tuesday's meeting. Officials reported she will be helping out part time until a new DAS is hired.