Freeport Councilwoman Mary Bowlin resigns, citing clashes with mayor

Freeport Councilwoman Mary Bowlin has resigned.

Her former colleagues were expected to accept her resignation at Monday night’s council meeting but the meeting was canceled due to a lack of a quorum.

One council member was in quarantine because of covid. One was on vacation, and another was working.

The meeting was rescheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 20, when council is expected to make the vacancy official and adopt its 2022 budget. A new councilperson might be appointed in January.

Bowlin, 61, was appointed to council in March and elected in November to a four-year seat.

“It’s not in my nature to start something and not finish it, but it has come to the point it just got to be too much,” Bowlin said Monday.

She cited disputes with Mayor James Swartz Jr., who also is president of the Freeport Volunteer Fire Department, as major reasons for her decision. Bowlin is on the personnel committee and said she and the mayor butted heads on police department matters.

“I find the mayor to be uncooperative to work with,” she said. “He is the reason I’m leaving. I don’t want people to think I up and quit.”

Swartz said Monday night he was surprised that Bowlin resigned and recalled a dispute over job applications in filing cabinets in council chambers.

The mayor said he sent out an email that resulted in an argument over organization of files as well as people interested in working for the borough and volunteering for the association.

Swartz said Bowlin was involved with police candidate interviews and could not recall any quarrels about potential hires.

“She does a good job for the Renaissance (Association), and I like Mary,” Swartz said. “It’s not the first argument we’ve had. If that’s all it took to get her to quit, a little argument like that. I’m not going to sit there and go back and forth with her.”

Bowlin said she plans to devote more time to her jobs as well as events through the Freeport Renaissance Association (FRA).

“That’s what I love the most, so it will all be good,” Bowlin said about remaining involved in the borough.

She works as an outreach supervisor for the Alle-Kiski HOPE Center and emergency shelter in Tarentum, as well as a part-time marketer for MJ Cares in Harrison’s Natrona Heights section.

Councilman Josh James commended Bowlin’s work with the FRA and believes she will continue to make an impact off council.

“Mary still plays a big role in the borough and works side by side with council, numerous organizations, churches and makes sure things go off without a hitch,” James said.

James, a firefighter captain, said the mayor has done a lot for the borough and was unaware of any animosity between council members and the mayor.

“I don’t see anything that has any kind of ill will or chip on their shoulder on council or how anyone feels about him,” James said. “He’s always made sure the ship was staying the course and making sure cooler heads prevail (in the fire department).”