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Longtime Donora mayor resigns

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DONORA – John “Chummy” Lignelli, who was among the oldest mayors in Pennsylvania, has stepped down from the office in Donora after relocating to an assisted-living center in a neighboring municipality.

Lignelli, 93, submitted his letter of “retirement” Thursday, nearly a month after he missed his first borough council meeting because of health issues.

He stated in his letter to council it “was an extremely difficult decision” to vacate the mayor’s office in a town where he was an elected official for nearly four decades.

“However, I realize that, from a time and energy standpoint, I can no longer fulfill my responsibilities to the community,” he wrote.

Lignelli, who was re-elected to his sixth term as mayor in 2013, was considered a champion in Donora, where he worked diligently on behalf of its residents, said Karen Polkabla, president of Donora council. She will fill the duties of the office of mayor until council appoints a temporary replacement for Lignelli at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 2.

“It’s a big loss. He’s going to be difficult to replace,” Polkabla said Friday.

A former Donora steelworker, Lignelli entered local politics at a time when the borough was broke and its only police cruiser was broken down. He responded by selling raffle tickets to purchase a new police cruiser, and helped since to raise money for local causes, including the construction of a new library.

Until recently, Lignelli volunteered for Meals on Wheels and drove a small bus transporting those with special needs from Donora to their services in nearby Charleroi.

“We’re going to miss him,” Polkabla said.

The Washington County Housing Authority replaced Lignelli as its chairman with former Donora councilman Tony Menendez. Lignelli was still on its board and due to attend its Wednesday meeting, an authority spokeswoman said.

The person Donora council appoints to the mayor’s office will serve through Jan. 1, 2017, after voters elect a new mayor in November 2016, said Larry Spahr, director of the Washington County elections office. Spahr said the new mayor will serve the remaining two years of Lignelli’s term.

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