Council Introduces New Member, New Positions

Norristown Municipal Council held a special reorganization meeting prior to conducting it's regularly scheduled business in order to swear in new and returning council members, make appointments and select a new president and vice president.

After bidding farewell to departing Councilman-at Large William "Bill" Procyson, council invited newly-elected and sworn in Court of Common Pleas Judge Cheryl Austin to do the honors of swearing in returning council members William Caldwell and Gary Simpson and newly-elected . [See Royster's swearing in in our video section.]

After taking their oaths, council set upon the task of selecting a new president and vice-president for the coming year. Simpson, Councilman for the 4th District, was sworn in as president while Caldwell, Councilman for the 2nd District, was sworn in as vice president.

After being sworn in as president, Simpson took the opportunity to speak with those in attendance about the work current council has done for Norristown and his vision for Norristown's future.

"Over the past six years... we have actually been able to reduce our debt by between $7 and $9 million," Simpson reminded those in attendance.

Simpson also touted council's hand in bringing to Norristown, the municipality's new micro-loan program to encourage small business growth and its close work with the Einstein Healthcare System regarding the move of 's operations to the .

Simspon closed by sharing a story from his pastor about a donkey that had fallen down a well. According to the story, the farmer who owned the donkey couldn't figure out how to save it so he decided to bury it in the well. As the farmer shoveled dirt into the well, filling it up, the donkey climbed up each new pile until it emerged from the well, shaking the dirt from its shoulders. [Hear Simpson tell the full story in our video section.]

"Norristown is that donkey that everyone continues to throw dirt on," said Simpson. "But all we do is continue to shake our shoulders and step forward."