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Council brings Messina back to PC
Borough Council last evening voted 5-1-1 to appoint former Council President John Messina to the Planning Commission seat now held by Michael Hott, when Hott’s term expires in March.
The decision follows Council’s previous reappointment of George Martynick, whose term also expires in March, to the Commission.
The action did not appear as an agenda item for Tuesday’s meeting, but was made on motion from Richard Mark Kirkner (D-North), a motion resisted by Mike Speck (D-East) and opposed by Kendrick Buckwalter (R-West).
Buckwalter stressed Hott’s experience on the Commission, serving there since January 2003, and his strengths, especially “his key role in integrating GIS mapping capabilities into the Borough’s planning process.”
While agreeing that both Hott and Messina held strong qualifications for the position, Speck objected to the revision of Council’s earlier intentions to interview candidates, including paralegal Michelle Beaver, prior to its committees meetings on February 25. He voted “present,” arguing that “a citizen who applied was not given the opportunity to be heard before Council.”
Council President Henry Wagner (D-Middle) said that the planned interviews would have been preferable, but “faced not with that preferred situation, I will not oppose [this] and will vote for John. I could have just as well voted for Mike Hott. I agree that John is a very qualified planner, and thankfully he’s willing to serve.”
Messina was a member of the Commission for twelve years, and its chair for seven, until his resignation in February 2007. He cited then as his reasons for resignation the apparent conflict of interest in his dual positions as Commission chair and Council president that had made, he said, “my tenure on the Planning Commission a political football.”
Messina lost his reelection bid for his North Ward Council seat in the November 2007 municipal elections.
Posted by
G.E. “Skip” Lawrence
The decision follows Council’s previous reappointment of George Martynick, whose term also expires in March, to the Commission.
The action did not appear as an agenda item for Tuesday’s meeting, but was made on motion from Richard Mark Kirkner (D-North), a motion resisted by Mike Speck (D-East) and opposed by Kendrick Buckwalter (R-West).
Buckwalter stressed Hott’s experience on the Commission, serving there since January 2003, and his strengths, especially “his key role in integrating GIS mapping capabilities into the Borough’s planning process.”
While agreeing that both Hott and Messina held strong qualifications for the position, Speck objected to the revision of Council’s earlier intentions to interview candidates, including paralegal Michelle Beaver, prior to its committees meetings on February 25. He voted “present,” arguing that “a citizen who applied was not given the opportunity to be heard before Council.”
Council President Henry Wagner (D-Middle) said that the planned interviews would have been preferable, but “faced not with that preferred situation, I will not oppose [this] and will vote for John. I could have just as well voted for Mike Hott. I agree that John is a very qualified planner, and thankfully he’s willing to serve.”
Messina was a member of the Commission for twelve years, and its chair for seven, until his resignation in February 2007. He cited then as his reasons for resignation the apparent conflict of interest in his dual positions as Commission chair and Council president that had made, he said, “my tenure on the Planning Commission a political football.”
Messina lost his reelection bid for his North Ward Council seat in the November 2007 municipal elections.
Posted by
G.E. “Skip” Lawrence
posted by The Phoenix Files at
1:26 PM
22 Comments:
How many more backroom deals can this Boro afford for this arrogant idiot get us into? Why would a fresh council of idiots let him back on to the PC?
More of the same old grind with Council. I also hear that there is a document that has Messina promising the PPG idiots something he could not deliver. Where is the paper on this issue? Did he or didn't he? Someone has to be telling the truth. Where is the paper, where is the reporter that covers the Borough. If this indeed a community paper, why are you not screaming from the roof tops of your building calling for or doing your own investigation? Why do I pay for a paper that fails to deliver on these promises as well as those to actually drop a paper on our doorsteps? If you are this incompetent, close the doors now and let us save that $2.75 a week for the tax increases that these village idiots continue to pass on the undeserving residents!
This post has been removed by the author.
Anonymous 2/13/2008 6:13
The document you are questioning can be found by cutting and pasting the following link: http://watchingphoenixville
.blogspot.com/2008/02/
ok-skip-we-would-like-to-ask-
following.html
I have comments for Skippy. Where are your balls you damn gelding! For the last 2 years you, yes you personally, covered this Borough for our community paper. You heralded the coming of the Great Ant. You spit shined the Bullcrap that council fed us and with your own personal agenda, said it was the right thing to do. Stories abound of Ant the Great and King John running amok over Council and the voters of the Borough and yet you publish none. You remain calm. We need to read partisan blogs to find real info, yet your paper has no clue as to what is out there. What is the color of the sky in your world down there on Bridge St? Keep not reporting the stuff that these privileged few village idiots are doing to this borough and there will not be anything left.
Wow. A councilman reading this local rag. While I admire your looking for information here on this site, please rest assured you will not find it here. There is nothing of substantive value on this blog. I will reserve my comments on the council meeting until after it airs on our $60k tv station that only runs council meetings at times when most people work.
Sad. The paper and the story. I am sure that we will be reading in the column on Monday that this is like a shedding cat and that in order for the coat to be full an shiny some hairs have to fall out. (only because the onion peel analogy was used last week. The real problem is that the author of these articles tries to analyze the positives of the subtleties when the glaringly obvious is so bad. He thinks every issue is a deep one but the fact is that they are all so shallow. These back room deals that Messina was cutting was wrong, pure and simple. The judge even said he had no authority to do it. Maybe the next analogy should be about the skunk because this issue really stinks.
For the love of God please find an experienced political reporter to cover council.
Re-hire Karin Williams or beg Bill Retew to come back.
I miss Bill Rettew also. He may have looked like a bafoon but he was one of the best reporters this town has ever had.
How about getting back the best of them all from the 80's. If I remember correctly his name was Bill Feeney or something like that. Remember his takes on Kovach, Brewer, Johns, August, New, X, and the others?
If Speck was as honorable as the rest of the Marine Corps in which he prominently displays their call, Semper Fidelis – meaning always faithful in his writings. The question is to whom was Mr. Speck being faithful? If it were his constituents, he would, as I like to quote from one of my favorite movies, 'would have lit a flame thrower to that place.' - Al Pacino, Scent of a Woman, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqsf0XynGz8&feature=related). The members of Council need to show CHARACTERR! Stop the injustices that either party perpetrates. Stand up for something and be counted or do nothing and not be counted on at all. If the later is true, you have violated the trust and confidence that the members of this community have bestowed upon you. I also ask where was the Mayor and his ‘fatherly wisdom’ that he likes to bestow upon members of council? I am glad that we can count on him when the times are tough. Thanks Mr. Mayor.
WWWWWWWWhhhhhhhhooooooaaaaaaa! Tigro is back!It's about time. The people can have a voice again. Robert you have my vote, run for something!
You know I cannot imagine Bill Rettew coming back. Talk about a guy with a conspiracy theory, he was the worst. The problem is the many do not understand Skip. Skip is a smart guy who communicates on a different level. If you don't understand it he can't help that. Sit back relax your crack and if you don’t like the blog don’t write anything. By writing that the blog is bad in the blog you are saying that your opinion is null but maybe not void.
COME ONNNNN! Here is a new opportunity for Council to make a difference and what do we get? Same old backroom BS. How soon after Messina will he find a place for Anthony? Phoenixville is SCREAMING for new blood- it looks like this includes the 'new and improved' Council! What BS!
I know you believe you think you understood what you thought Skip wrote, but I am not sure you realize that what you read is not what he meant.
Skip can sure cook up some REAL GOOD CACCIATORE. Not like some sarcastic chicken that some sad little men like to cook. Keep on cookng Skip!
Why wasn't there any outrage when George Martynick was appointed in January by a 7-0 vote without any public interviews? (By the way, I agreed with the appointment.)
To Anonymous Feb 17 7:11 AM:
If you are attempting to draw a parallel between the appointment process of George Martynick and the appointment process of John Messina, let me indicate some relevant points of difference:
1. When the motion was made to reappoint George, Council was in receipt of 1 letter; his. There were no other candidates who expressed interest.
2. Council voted not to send George's reappointment into Committee, multiple members citing no need to do so based on his effectiveness as a Planning Commission member from multiple sources.
3. Council voted for George's reappointment unanimously.
4. Council did not pull the rug out from under anyone in George's appointment process by first publicly advertising for interested parties, and then without regard for those applicants, appointing someone else.
Firstly, I have to pause and chuckle at Jeff's comment... Yes council "pulled the rug out" in a couple of ways...
Secondly, the problem is not that Calculating Kirkner and Co. screwed 2 applicants, it's that they screwed the public picking the best candiate for the job via interviews etc. That is truely some weak work by council. So transparently cheesie that its almost sickening.
Hey 11:44, don't give council credit for things they didn't do. It was the North Side voters who pulled the rug out! Good riddance, I say!
Good evening Mr. and Mrs. America and ships across the sea...Phoenixville Boro Council reports that Ant the Great has been hired as a Consultant for all contruction projects that will take place in the Boro. In a press release he can work closely with the newly appointed John Messina, who will no doubtedly make his way back to that committees chair and liason to the failed PPG Project. Together it is thought that they can find common ground with the developer for the financial development.
Mr. De-Speck-able;
The General Orders for Marines are as follows:
1)To take charge of this post and all government property in view.
2)To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
3)To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
4)To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.
5)To quit my post only when properly relieved.
6)To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, and Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the guard only.
7)To talk to no one except in the line of duty.
8)To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
9)To call the Corporal of the Guard in any case not covered by instructions.
10)To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.
11)To be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
I can think of a couple that you have already not completed in your short tenure. Hopefully they can relieve you from duty soon.
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