Town Council elects Slapikas chairman

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Jeffrey Slapikas

PROSPECT — For the first time in a decade, the Town Council has a new chairman.

On Nov. 19, the Town Council unanimously elected Republican Jeff Slapikas as chairman.

“I feel privileged that they instilled their confidence in me to run the council and to make sure we look forward and keep the taxpayers first in our minds,” Slapikas said.

Slapikas said his goal as chairman for the next two years is to ensure the municipal budget does not have any unnecessary increases.

“My goal as chair is to make sure we keep the budget tight. We are looking for no increases,” Slapikas said.

Republican Tom Galvin served as council chairman for the past ten years. He didn’t run for re-election in November.

Republicans hold a 5-4 majority on the council, but one Republican was missing when the council met Nov. 17 to elect a chairman. That resulted in a stalemate with the council deadlocking at 4-4 on the vote for chairman.

The council recessed until Nov. 19.

Even though only four Republicans were once again present on Nov. 19, the council unanimously backed Slapikas, 8-0. However, the council was not as united in the vote for the vice chairman.

Republicans nominated Stan Pilat and Democrats nominated Theresa Graveline. The council again deadlocked at 4-4, but Slapikas used his position as chairman to cast the tie-breaking vote for Pilat, who was elected vice chairman.