Verona Council appoints newest member to fill a 2-year seat

Verona Council has selected a borough property manager to be its newest member.

John Gemellas was sworn in Jan. 23 by Mayor David Ricupero to fill a two-year seat.

The vacancy was created when Nancy Carpenter, who ran unopposed for the two-year term, but earned enough votes to win a four-year seat in November, accepted the latter position.

Gemellas, 52, graduated from Riverview High School in 1989. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1995.

He works as a project sourcing specialist for Verona-based Avalotis Corp. and manages four Verona properties with his brother, Steve.

“I saw the vacancy and was contemplating doing a council run at some point,” Gemellas said. “Why would I want to get into the circus? I feel now is the time to jump in. I can serve my community better when I’m active and using my voice and using my actions rather than just sitting around complaining about things.

“(I want to) show them I can actually get active and involved in decision-making and policies of our borough. It’s pretty exciting. I’m looking forward to working with everyone. I want to be able to be an open book. Transparency is going to be very big with me.”

Gemellas said he plans to learn all he can about local government in order to “come up with realistic and commonsense solutions to the problems that affect our borough.”

Gemellas was appointed via 4-2 vote.

Carpenter and Councilwoman Sylvia Provenza voted for the other candidate, Angela Occhipinti. She is a zoning hearing board member and former Verona Garden Club president.

“I know both of these people and I highly respect both of them,” Provenza said shortly before voting.

Other council members followed suit, explaining how tough a call it was selecting between the two.

“I’m grateful we’re in a position where we have such a hard time deciding between two very qualified candidates who both bring very unique things to Verona,” council Vice President Trish Hredzak-Showalter said.

She said Gemellas’ political science education and experience as a landlord helped edge out Occhipinti for the seat.

Gemellas and Occhipinti both live along Center Avenue and pledged to help the borough regardless of who was selected to council.