A longtime leader has left the center seat and left a lasting mark on Lansdale.
Borough officials sent off Councilman Denton Burnell last week, with reflections on a decade-plus tenure that transformed the town.
"We challenged each other and worked to find common ground. Change can certainly be hard. We’ve had a lot of it in Lansdale over the past 12 years, but I think on the whole mostly for the better. I’m proud of that. Usually, I’m quietly proud,” he said.
An IT specialist by day, Burnell first drew public attention as treasurer for the bipartisan "Citizens for a Better Lansdale” group that won five council seats in 2009, then chaired the town’s communications commission as it began revamping the town’s online presence and profiles.
In 2011 he won by a margin of just three votes in a primary race against fellow Democrat Leon Angelichio, who would later win his council seat, then Burnell was elected to council that fall alongside fellow Democrat Steve Malagari, who has represented the borough in Harrisburg since 2019.
During Burnell’s final council meeting on Wednesday night, Malagari recalled a conversation at the former Molly Maguire’s pub on Main Street with then-council President Matt West, who sought to build on the 2009 victory in 2011 with two new candidates: Malagari and Burnell.
"Matt West said, ‘We need to get this man elected to council.’ Here we are, 12 years later, and President Burnell is finishing up his final meeting here in Lansdale,” he said.
As he spoke, Malagari recalled the time the two spent responding to resident complaints, touring borough public works and electric facilities, taking part in events like the annual Oktoberfest, parades and Founders Day, cleanups of the town freight station, and larger undertakings that left their mark on the town.
"Some of the largest accomplishments: we built a new borough hall and police station, that we’re in today. Completion of the Wood-Vine Connector project, including a ribbon cutting and a classic car parade. The Madison Lot redevelopment, East Main Street streetscape soon to begin,” Malagari said, and Burnell added — "Finally,” — before Malagari continued: "Lots of wastewater treatment plant upgrades, with more to come. LED conversion of streetlights, and upgrades to the electric system including electric charging stations for cars.”
Behind-the-scenes initiatives included a borough branding initiative, website redesign and upgrades, and a map-based GIS system that residents and staff can use to report and track problems online — all meant to bring the town into the 21st century and beyond, despite hard work at times.
"What’s most important, though, is that you did the work. Work that many would never consider, or wish to be a part of, but relied on. So thanks for being someone that we could rely on. Thank you, Denton, for your many years of friendship, and for your 12 years of service to Lansdale Borough,” Malagari said.
He then presented proclamations from the state house honoring Burnell’s tenure, and a similar proclamation from the state Senate on behalf of the town’s Senator Maria Collett, D-12th. Mayor Garry Herbert then read a similar proclamation from himself, outlining his tenure and declaring Burnell’s "knowledge, guidance and understanding will be missed by all.”
"He is somebody that has a steady hand, that knows how to guide people when they are perhaps letting their emotions get the better of them. He is someone who you can rely upon to really listen, and hear what you’re trying to say, even if you’re not articulating it the best. I know, because I’ve been that person a few times…more than a few times,” Herbert said.
The two grew closer through the years of the pandemic that started in early 2020, the mayor added, as the two signed emergency declarations and proclamations, then worked to guide staff and council into, then back out of, a virtual world of safe distancing, streaming meetings, and isolation: "It takes a really good friend, and a great teacher, and a good mentor.”
Borough Manager John Ernst thanked Burnell, saying he had "demonstrated the dedication and unique ability to cut through the noise and focus on the heart of the matter,” Ernst said.
"Your ability to see past distractions allowed us to address challenges with clarity and purpose, and your logical point of view has been a source of inspiration for many, myself included. You have not only set a standard for leadership, but also fostered an environment where challenges are met with solutions, rather than obstacles,” Ernst said.
Electric Superintendent Andy Krauss added a series of gifts from the town’s department heads: a tan parks and recreation t-shirt to wear while helping out at parks and pools, an orange public works one to wear while inspecting projects, an electric department cap sporting the L-shaped logo Burnell helped design, and a photo collage showing electric crews at work, and a copy of an electric bill from the 1920s from the same street where Burnell lives now.
"It’s from 1928, and the total usage from that month was $2.56. But below is the back, that shows you the rates, 10 cents a kilowatt-hour. Residential electricity is now at 16 cents a kilowatt-hour,” Krauss said, as Burnell read the address on the bill: "That’s my block!”
Council Vice President Mary Fuller then took the podium, saying when she arrived on the council, the parting gifts used to be gold rings or clocks, then handed him something more fitting: a black fleece pullover, also sporting the L-logo, given on behalf of staff in recognition of his years leading the administration and finance committee through the town’s annual budget process: "He always has been a good steward of the borough dollar, and has served admin and finance well,” Fuller said.
Each councilmember then shared memories of their colleague, each noting what they had learned from him. Councilman Mark Ladley recalled the two meetings in 2013, and said he drew inspiration from Burnell’s stoicism and guidance, while thanking Burnell’s wife Mary for letting him "put up with all of us, over the years.”
Councilman BJ Breish joked that both had less grey hair when they first joined the council and noted "your calmness, your resolve, and your steady approach to things. The fact that everybody’s saying that, has me a little bit concerned about the next four years if you won’t be here…but somehow, we’ll make it through.”
Councilwoman Meg Currie Teoh added "it cannot be said too many times: you have set the bar for leadership,” and said he was a resource as she gained her footing on council: "You’ve just been a guide and a leader for all of us.” Councilwoman Carrie Hawkins added "a word that hasn’t been used yet: peacemaker — that’s definitely Denton,” then joked the pair would always be "West Ward forever.” Rich DiGregorio, the longest-tenured councilman, said "the residents will miss you up here too,” to which Burnell joked, "some of them won’t,” before councilman Andrew Carroll recalled seeing a Facebook post in February 2020 about a vacancy on the council.
"I called my friend Denton, who was involved in that stuff. I invited him over to the brewery for a beer, and after…probably longer than we anticipated, after a really insightful and honest conversation with you, I decided to make a go of this,” and became the town’s first councilman appointed virtually.
Councilwoman Rachael Bollens added thanks for his "mentorship, and patience, and friendship, and encouragement,” and said in consulting work outside of council she works with many municipalities, with leadership both good and bad.
"The president really does set the tone, for coalescing the whole vibe of the council. I’ve seen some really crazy councils,” she said, and Burnell joked, "We’ve had them here too,” before she added: "Your level-headedness has just spread out to all of us.”
Fuller drew laughs as she recalled the eight years the two spent as president and vice president: "Good cop, bad cop — just in case you’re wondering, he was the good cop…usually.” Through that time, "I’ve taken for granted all of your wisdom, and intelligence, and patience, and calming nature,” she said, and noted something the rest of the council all had in common: "all of us have been able to rely on you for however many years we have served with you.”
Burnell closed the comments by adding some hard numbers: he served in three different council meeting rooms alongside 20 other councilmembers, two mayors, two police chiefs, three borough managers, and 15 department heads, all dedicated as he was to making the town better.
"I feel reasonably confident in saying, in partnership with all of those aforementioned individuals, that we were able to make Lansdale a little bit better than the way I found her,” he said.
When Burnell was first reelected in 2015, his first term had seen three other council presidents in four years and a series of spats over town management, the new borough hall, and more, all of which he worked to smooth over, and Burnell quoted his own speech from eight years prior to reflect on his accomplishments in that span.
"I have found my speech from that night: I said at that time ‘I intend to work hard to gain and keep the trust of each of you as long as I sit in the president’s chair. I will insist that we treat each other with respect in all things we do here. For me, that isn’t simply about how we relate or speak to one another, but also how we conduct our business,'” he said.
"I’ve tried in earnest to remember and live by those words and ensure that we as a group did as well. I hope to have been, in some small measure, successful. For me, it always comes down to mutual respect,” Burnell said.
And yes, despite that last-day-of-school spirit he’s displayed recently, he’ll miss being in the middle of the action — if not the middle seat in council chambers.
"Despite the permanent smile I’ve had for the last six months, I will miss this. I will miss the work, and the debates, and the long meetings, and knowing that, thank goodness, each committee approved their minutes,” he said. "Mostly, I will miss the people.”
He then singled out two women for thanks, both named Mary: Fuller, as his "constant confidante” over the past eight years in leadership and 12 overall, and his wife, for her support the entire time.
"When I started campaigning for this gig, our children were 9 and 6. They are now 22 and almost 19. She sacrificed hundreds of evenings and thousands of hours, so I could be here doing this,” he said.
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