HOLLIDAYSBURG — Hollidaysburg Borough Council’s meeting Thursday was uncharacteristically bittersweet, as local officials recounted fond memories of two well-respected borough employees who tendered their retirements earlier this month.

Hollidaysburg Police Chief Christopher Storm started his career in law enforcement as a patrolman in the borough police department in the 1990s, eventually leaving to serve with the Pennsylvania State Police, where he retired with the rank of major after 28 years.

Storm returned to the borough in 2022 to serve as police chief.

Mayor Chad Repko commended Storm’s professionalism leading the eight-office agency, where he served as the first line of defense against crime in the borough.

Repko said that “not one person in the borough had anything not positive to say about (Storm),” noting the broad acclaim he earned during his tenure.

Borough Manager Ethan Imhoff praised Storm’s commitment to public safety, saying that the “current excellence of the police department is due in large part to the leadership of (Storm).”

Storm said returning to the borough after retiring from PSP has been a “great experience to end my career where I started.”

Hollidaysburg Police Sgt. Richard Oldham was named acting chief of police to succeed Storm.

Borough secretary Patricia Duron began her career in the borough as a part-time clerk in 1998, rising through the ranks to become borough secretary in 2012.

Duron also served as interim borough manager prior to the appointment of Imhoff in 2024, and has earned recognition for her work by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs.

“(Duron) has been with the borough for almost 30 years, and many of those years she has been right by my side,” Imhoff said. “I’m going to miss her. (Duron) is the epitome of hard work and dedication.”

Imhoff said that Duron is best known for her caring nature, and that the borough is going to miss her in retirement.

“I’ve worked with (Duron) longer than anyone in my professional career, and she’s certainly helped me become the person I am today,” he said, while getting emotional.

Council Vice President Brady Leahy thanked Duron for her kindness and support when he was a newly elected council member.

Duron said she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, who retired in 2013.

“He misses me.” Duron said.

Sara Williams will succeed Duron as the new borough secretary.

Repko recognized Storm and Duron with a pair of mayoral proclamations in honor of their last day of service to the residents of Hollidaysburg, naming Dec. 11 and Dec. 22 as Storm and Duron day, respectively.

Mirror Staff Writer Conner Goetz is at 814-946-7535.