HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County commissioners have appointed four people to fill vacant seats on the Blair County Planning Commission, thereby putting that board in a position to have at least a quorum to convene meetings.

Commissioners, who in February asked for resignations from four planning commission members and got three, voted Thursday to appoint Sheree Ott, Jessica Sheets and Peter Folen. They will fill the seats held by Herbert Shelow Sr., James Dixon and Nick Ardizzone, who resigned at the commissioners’ request.

Commissioners also named Donald Delozier to fill a vacant seat on the planning commission.

The commission’s inability to convene meetings for lack of a quorum surfaced Monday during a hearing where commission member Todd Lewis challenged the commissioners’ request for his resignation. While the planning commission is an independent operation created by the county’s municipalities, it relies on the county commissioners to appoint its members.

During Monday’s appeal hearing, commissioners revealed what they consider to be the county’s vulnerability for lack of having an updated hazardous mitigation plan. That responsibility rests with the planning commission, and the county’s last hazardous mitigation plan was valid through February 2025.

Lewis, who has been on the planning commission for about a year, told commissioners he didn’t learn about the outdated plan until late August. When he referenced commissioners having known since the spring of 2025 about the outdated plan, commissioners spoke of unsuccessful efforts to get the plan updated and the responsibilities that rest with the planning commission board and its officers.

While efforts to update the plan have lagged, Planning Commission Director Dave McFarland told the Mirror after Monday’s hearing that the proposed plan should be ready to submit to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency during the week of March 16.

Lewis also pointed out during Monday’s hearing that the commission, prior to the commissioners asking for resignations, was having difficulty getting a quorum to convene meetings because the commissioners weren’t filling vacant seats.

Commissioners said Thursday after their weekly meeting that, following Monday’s hearing, they reviewed talent bank applications and identified the four appointees. They also indicated that another appointment will be on the March 19 agenda.

In light of Monday’s hearing, solicitor Christopher Furman is expected to issue a written letter to Lewis about his future service on the planning commission. Appointees to the planning commission serve voluntarily and receive no pay.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.