“He brought experience and expertise to council that will be sorely missed,” Tyrone Mayor Patricia Stoner told The Daily Herald regarding the departure of 20 year council veteran Jim Beckwith.
Last night was Beckwith’s last regularly scheduled council meeting. He took the opportunity to express his thoughts in a prepared statement to council and became emotional while reading it. He then handed the statement to fellow member Jennifer Bryan who completed the statement.
“I want to thank the council for their hard work and urge them to stay on track and everything will work out,” Beckwith told The Daily Herald.
Beckwith especially wanted to thank Mayor Stoner and the borough solicitor Larry Clapper. The attorney was not present at last night’s meeting, but Beckwith pointed out he felt Clapper always had “the best interest of the borough at heart.” Beckwith went on to say the public did not always see this and Clapper’s expertise came through in executive sessions and behind the scene matters.
Mayor Stoner was visibly touched by Beckwith’s comments.
She then proceeded to present him with two separate awards. Not only is Beckwith leaving his council seat, he’s also decided to retire at the end of the month as fire chief.
Following are the words printed on an award presented by the Mayor to Beckwith from Cary Simpson and radio station WTRN:
“Radio station WTRN is pleased to present the Outstanding Citizen Award for November 2003 to Jim Beckwith.
“In a short time, Jim will be retiring after nearly thirty years as Tyrone’s fire chief. But, this will not end his volunteer service to our area. Just as his beloved father, “Pap” Beckwith, remained concerned and active in the fire department after “retiring,” Jim will also.
“A fire chief has to know the ways to deal with many different types of fires and organizes battle plans, just as generals do in the military, to deploy equipment and personnel to save lives and minimize property damage. Jim has made good use of his knowledge and skills in these responsibilities.
“He’s proud that a third generation, his son Mike, continues to serve as a firefighter.”
Jim also will be retiring as a longtime member of Tyrone Borough Council. Here again, his experience and judgment have been important.
Rarely has one individual devoted so much personal time to volunteer activities as Jim Beckwith.
He has had a significant impact on this place we call home.”
Mayor Stoner also presented Beckwith with a plaque from the borough for his years of service, it reads:
“With sincere gratitude and deepest appreciation to James R. Beckwith, friend, colleague and public servant for your 28 years of dedication to the well-being of the Borough of Tyrone, as a member of Borough Council from 1983-2003 and as Borough Fire Chief from 1975-2003.
“The expertise you brought to council, your spirit of cooperation, the courage to always stand strong in your convictions, and your total commitment to the safety of our resident, will not only be your legacy, but will be missed by those of us who were privileged to serve with you on Borough Council.
“The Borough of Tyrone is a richer place because of your contributions, Jim Beckwith, God speed! Tyrone Borough Council, Dec. 8, 2003.”
“Someone is going to have big shoes to fill,” said Stoner. “We called upon him many times from an historical standpoint when we need to talk about this that happened in the past. We will miss that valuable resource.”
Those shoes the mayor referred to will be filled by councilman-elect Bill Fink.
Beckwith urged Fink to “work with borough” when he takes his seat on council next month.
According to the Tyrone Borough Charter, council is expected to hold a reorganization meeting on the first Monday in January. It’s expected Fink will be sworn-in at that time although Tyrone Borough has released no official statement regarding the matter. The Borough Charter Code states the reorganization meeting will occur at 8 p.m. on the first Monday in January. Regular borough council meetings are held the first and second Monday of the month at 7 p.m.
After the awards presentation, members of council and other borough employees rose in a rare standing ovation for a public servant. After the meeting adjourned, a brief party on Mr. Beckwith’s behalf was held in a room adjoining the main council chambers on the second floor of the 87-year old Tyrone Borough Building. A building where Mr. Beckwith attended an estimated 2,000 council meetings during those 20 years as a council member.
