New Doylestown Borough Councilman Connor O'Hanlon is sworn in Monday night at Doylestown Borough Council's session. (YouTube screenshot)
Doylestown Borough Council on Monday night said goodbye to one long-time councilor and welcomed a new one as his replacement to fill out his term.
At the top of the meeting, borough council held a plaque ceremony for Joseph Frederick, who resigned after 11 years with Doylestown Borough Council.
“First of all, I can say you will probably be the only councilperson who knows more about what happens in Doylestown by 7 a.m. in the morning than any other councilperson. Then, at 7:30, Public Works, (Borough Manager) John (Davis), zoning, and police phones start ringing. Then again at 10, and 12, and then a little bit longer,” said Doylestown Borough Mayor Noni West. “Your dedication to the borough will live on long after you leave borough council.”
West presented Frederick with a plaque featuring the borough seal and dedication: “In appreciation for your dedicated service as a Doylestown Borough Councilperson representing Ward 3, 2014-2025.”
Frederick thanked the council and administration for the honor.
“John (Davis) said I would get a vacation. He promised me a vacation,” joked Frederick. “So much for promises.”
Frederick got serious and thanked the borough, telling everyone he had a great time in his tenure. He then read a quote from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
“It’s a quote I’d like to say, and this is for everybody on council and everybody here: ‘Tyranny requires fear, silence and compliance; democracy requires courage.’ And that’s it, thank you,” Frederick said.
The plaque presented to Joseph Frederick by Doylestown Borough Council. (Credit: Doylestown Borough)According to a resolution passed unanimously on Monday to fill a vacancy on council, resident and CPA Connor O’Hanlon was selected to fulfill Frederick’s remaining term, expiring Jan. 1, 2026.
O’Hanlon is the author of “Building A Greater Society: A Guide to Political Revolution for Millennials and Generation Z.” and hosts the podcast “The Greater Society Podcast.”
He unsuccessfully ran for Doylestown Council in 2019 and ran for a legislative seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 29th District in 2021.
Per the resolution. Frederick announced he would resign from his seat, effective Jan. 30. His resignation was accepted Jan. 27.
The borough Personnel Committee met on Feb. 13 to interview candidates to fill the vacancy.
Doylestown Democratic Committee Chairman O’Hanlon, 29, was the choice and sworn in by Mayor West.
Ward 2 Councilman Robert Kinney said eight candidates were interviewed for the vacancy.
“It was really a pleasure to interview all the candidates. It was a difficult choice for us to make,” Kinney said. “Everyone brought something to the table that was worthwhile and valuable. The citizens in Ward 3 should be real excited about the number of people that came from Ward 3 that were interested in serving on council. It’s a real testament to the involvement in our community and it is appreciated.”
O’Hanlon has served on multiple non-profit and governmental boards, including the NAMI Bucks County Board and the Bucks County Housing Group Board.
According to his website, O’Hanlon, a musician, guitarist and comic book collector of everything Thor, has also served as Director of Candidate Development for the Bucks County Democratic Committee. He was educated at the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
O'Hanlon has lived in Doylestown since 2007, and graduated from the Central Bucks School District.
