Musical chairs at the SEPTA board

Members change seats, but no one comes or goes.

In a bizarre maneuver, two SEPTA board members switched terms this week. SPETA Chairman Pat Deon will begin a new five year term in the seat held by Bucks County Commissioner Charley Martin, and Martin will serve out the remaining three years of Deon’s term.

The move came during SEPTA’s board meeting. Deon officially had to resign before another board member could nominate him to Martin’s seat, which had just expired. At the same time, another member nominated Martin to replace Deon in his seat. The musical chairs effectively gave Deon an additional two years on the board. He’s been there for twelve.

SEPTA Spokesman Richard Maloney says Martin prompted the move.

“He was not sure whether he would want to fulfill another full term. Basically, as the chairman has explained to me, the commissioners in Bucks County wanted continuity in their representation on the SEPTA board.”

The maneuvers don’t change Deon’s role as chair of SEPTA’s board. Both Deon and Martin were appointed by the Bucks County Commissioners. Martin himself serves as a commissioner.