Matthew Doebler’s New Year’s resolutions include increasing transparency in Glen Osborne government.
The borough native has a strong chance of reaching that goal as the town’s third mayor in a year.
Doebler, 47, was sworn into his four-year term as mayor by District Judge Giuseppe Rosselli on Jan. 5.
The magistrate also administered the oath of office to council members Jim Cohen, Anne Fruehauf, John Orndorff, Greg Curran and Gary Schurman and elected tax collector Richard Diemert. Borough tax collection is handled by Jordan Tax Service.
“I was born in Osborne, (and) I love Osborne,” Doebler said shortly after the meeting. “I’m just so excited.”
Livestreaming meetings, generating a recap of workshops and voting sessions and other possibilities are on the table as some of the mayoral initiatives.
“We’re definitely going to do something that radically changes transparency,” Doebler said. “It’s going to be a different world for (Glen) Osborne residents. There’s no doubt about it. … I want residents to know what’s going on in their local government.”
Doebler’s track record
Doebler, a 1996 Sewickley Academy graduate, is registered as a member of the Osborne is Beautiful party.
He is not a registered Republican or Democrat. He ran as an independent and was able to name his party in three words or less. He said the name captures the sentiment he was going for while running for the position.
Doebler, an attorney for the Pittsburgh-based law firm Matzus Law, was an Aleppo Township commissioner from 2014 to 2019 before moving back to his hometown.
During his time in Aleppo, he created its “meeting digest” system, which provides a recap of commissioners’ meetings, including links to meeting videos on YouTube.
He also streamed school board meetings for about the past three years and provided an online digest through Sewickley Stream, a free service via a substack.com subscription.
Doebler announced to his streaming subscribers at the start of this year that he would no longer be able to provide the same coverage due to mayoral responsibilities. Previous meeting videos will remain accessible.
He said he is working with a group of middle school students to develop a new version of Sewickley Stream to give the young learners experience with local journalism.
Doebler has not ruled out creating a version of the stream for Glen Osborne meetings.
He said it’s important for people to have access to information in order to make educated decisions.
“It should be as seamless and as effortless as possible,” he said.
In a related effort, officials are working on revamping the borough website and posting email addresses for elected officials and department heads. The goal is to make it more user friendly and launch the new look in the spring.
The newly elected mayor was joined by his wife, Kati, and their daughter Libby, 16, a Quaker Valley High School junior, after his swearing-in.
Kati Doebler is on the Quaker Valley School Board, representing Region III.
The mayor said it was a family moment he will cherish forever.
“Public service is important to both Kati and myself,” Doebler said. “It’s important for our kids to see that and for us to be able to model that and for them to respond to that. It felt nice to have (them) there.”
Previous mayors
Barbara Carrier, a Democrat, served as mayor since January 2014. She also served on council from 2000 to 2013.
She stepped down in May because she moved to Sewickley.
Carrier at the time said it was time to downsize and the new condo has an elevator, making things easier for her husband, Richard, and their 3-year-old golden doodle, Wallace.
Carrier succeeded William Boswell, who was mayor from 1998 to 2014.
Former council president Tom Huddleston was appointed in June to fill Carrier’s unexpired term.
Huddleston, a Republican, was on council from 2010 through the end of 2024. His term was set to expire at the end of 2026.
Huddleston resigned in late December 2024, citing work commitments. He said at the time that his expanding role in the financial services sector no longer allows him a lot of time to devote to the borough.
Huddleston had served on council for 14 years, including several as president.
Council appointed Fruehauf, a registered independent, to fill Huddleston’s shoes.
Orndorff ascended from council vice president to president as part of the January 2025 reorganization.
Borough reorganized
Orndorff was reappointed council president and Bill Monski, who was absent, was reappointed vice president. Both votes were unanimous by the attending members.
Schurman, a philanthropist and retired surgical neurophysiologist, won a write-in campaign and succeeds Mary Scalercio, who passed away in November. Scalercio was battling health issues and did not seek reelection.
Schurman was appointed to the public services committee at the reorganization meeting, a spot Scalercio held for years.
Cohen also won a write-in campaign. Orndorff and Curran were unopposed for four-year seats on the November ballot. Fruehauf was unopposed for a two-year seat.
The rest of borough operations remained unchanged from last year.
Diane Vierling was reappointed borough secretary/treasurer and also open records officer.
Monski was reappointed as borough emergency manager. Clint Riley of NIRA Consulting Engineer remains borough zoning officer and engineer. Attorney Anna Jeward of Babst Calland was named borough solicitor.
Council tabled action on appointing someone to the vacancy board and the planning commission.
Letters of interest for those volunteer positions may be emailed to dvierling@sewickleyborough.org.
Orndorff, a retired Woodland Hills School District teacher, said he is hopeful with everyone in place.
“I feel very positive about all of our members of borough council and our supportive staff,” he said. “That includes our secretary/treasurer, our solicitor. … I think that we’re going to have a very good year. I don’t foresee any major blocks to getting our borough into fine shape. I’m looking forward to it.”