CHCA approves new interim editor

RIGHT: The staff of Local welcomed Carole Boynton, interim editor, and Shawn Hart, associate editor, aboard.

Carole Boynton answers Board members’ questions and wins their approval

by MEREDITH SONDERSKOV

“Past is prologue,” wrote Shakespeare. Recent past occurrences at the Chestnut Hill Local, both authenticated and alleged, were discussed with intensity at the monthly meeting of the Chestnut Hill Community Association in the Hiram Lodge on Thursday evening, November 17. In addition to 29 board members (out of a possible 50), some members of The Local staff and a dozen or so other concerned citizens were present.

The first item on the agenda was to approve the hiring of an interim editor for The Local. The By Laws of the CHCA indicate that the editor is to be hired by the Board of Directors and the editor then hires his/her staff. The Publishers’ Committee had interviewed various candidates and at the last Executive Board meeting they presented their recommendation that Carole Boynton be appointed to the position of interim editor.

Christopher Kemezis, chair of the Operations Committee, introduced Boynton who has an extensive career in journalism, most recently as editor of the Conshohocken Recorder. Boynton acknowledged that the position of editor of The Local is her “dream job” and she looks forward to working with the staff and continuing to produce a high quality independent newspaper.” However, she was concerned about the proposal made at the Executive Meeting that the interim editor would not be considered for the position as permanent editor. “This proposal was brought to my attention only within the past few hours,” stated Boynton, “and it does put a different spin on my willingness to accept this interim position.”

A heated discussion ensued between some staff members and several members of the Publishers’ Committee that concluded when the Board member who had made the proposal withdrew it and the Publishers’ Committee member who had spoken to Boynton and the staff about the proposal apologized for the manner in which they were informed. “I misspoke,” he said.

Several questions were directed at Boynton by members of the Board:

“Will you be reluctant to cover the disagreeable happenings in the community and the CHCA?” (Lawrence Walsh)

“I will report the news. The Local is a prestigious newspaper. Facts are what are important, not personalities.” (Carole Boynton)

“Are you clear that the editor has complete control over the editorial content? That The Local is a business as well as an open forum? Will you read the last six months’ editions of the paper so you have some idea of what is happening in the community? (Mary Anna Ross-Cowper)

“Yes, I understand. However, I do want something in writing that I will be considered for the permanent editor’s job.”(Carole Boynton)

After some further discussion a motion was made by Kemezis to approve Boynton as interim editor with the option to hire her as permanent editor. The motion was unanimously approved.

Later in the meeting when committee reports were made, Joe Pié gave a lengthy and detailed rendition of the recent meetings of the Publishers’ Committee, who attended and why others chose not to. He also reported on his analysis of the security systems at The Local, in particular insufficient security on computers and servers. At some point several systems crashed. On Sunday, Nov. 13 all circulation data was unavailable. (Local staff has corroborated this.)

Pié stated that he felt the staff was “taking direction from persons outside The Local – some Board members, some community association members. There is a lack of command…true leadership is lacking. Editorial and business policy need to be made clear. We need to discuss the near future needs, such as writers. Things are in chaos.”

At this point, several Local staffers were recognized and disputed Pie’s actions and analysis. They indicated that they felt bullied by Pie’s presence in the office when they were trying to get the paper out. Board member Ron Recko asked Pié who gave him authority to go into The Local office and set up new passwords, etc?

Pié replied that he thought he had authority from the CHCA.

Ross-Cowper commented that “…the Publishers’ Committee is wrongly named.

The CHCA is the publisher.” She noted that she had wanted to attend the Publishers’ Committee meetings but was not allowed to. “The Publishers’ Committee has appointed a search committee for the permanent editor, it is very important to have good balance on that committee.”

Kemezis then read out the names of the members of the search committee: Lou Aiello, Tom Ivory, Tom Kessler, Virginia Mallery, Cecille Mihalich, Mary Jane Shelly, and Walter Sullivan.

Mallery made a final comment, “We have lost many valuable and knowledgeable staff members now, under Carole Boynton’s leadership and with the complete support of the Board and staff, we must move on.”