Poggi, Cleary take seats on council

SUSSEX BOROUGH — Mario Poggi and Walter Cleary were sworn in for three-year terms on the Sussex Borough Council at the reorganizational meeting.
Poggi and Cleary won the Republican nominations for their seats in the June primary and then ran unopposed in the general election.
“I believe we should aggressively seek grants to repair and rebuild our infrastructure, including our water and sewer system, and our secondary roads," said Cleary, a 22-year borough resident. "
Also maintain ownership of our vital resources, our water and sewer system, and seek additional customers to help lower the cost of our water and sewer.”
Poggi returns to the council after serving the remainder of a term in 2015. He unsuccessfully ran for a three-year term that year before earning a three-year term in 2016.
"When I was Councilman in 2015, I saw far too many decisions made using emotions and not facts," Poggi said. "Facts were pushed aside for what some people wanted to believe and not vetting the information they had for risks or incorrect data. I will make my decisions based on facts and figures and will always have the welfare, budget and quality of life of our residents in the forefront."
Poggi also said that drugs and drug dealers are plaguing the borough and said he plans to work with citizens to form a neighborhood watch. He also said he wants to fill the empty storefronts with new businesses.
"The Route 23 Realignment must be leveraged to attract new businesses that could exploit Route 23 South frontage and the healthy flow of potential customers driving along it," he said.