Residents discuss CHCA
by DREW LAZOR
Chestnut Hill residents convened at the Free Library on Monday, March
20, to discuss topics relevant to the Chestnut Hill Community Association,
as well as to the community at large.
The primary body facilitating the town hall meeting was the Second Opinion
Caucus (SOC), 15 current and former CHCA board members with differing
opinions on various issues. Three SOC members sat on a panel to take question:
Jim Foster, former board member Ed Feldman and current board member Ron
Recko. A former CHCA president, George Spaeth, moderated.
The SOC is relatively new to the community scene.
“The nucleus was formed by some board members and by some breakaway
board members who resigned in frustration,” Foster said. “We’re
going to run [for CHCA board positions] as an opposition party, similar
to a political party.” The group “generally subscribes to
an alternate position,” said Foster, adding that it is recruiting
members. “The more people that participate, the more the balance
can be altered and some new ideas can be talked about.”
The SOC’s views clash with those of the board majority, a contingent
headed by CHCA President Maxine Dornemann. Two audience members represented
that side of the debate: at-large board member Thomas Hemphill and Christine
Sullivan, wife of board member Walter Sullivan.
Recko said that he had extended invitations to several members of the
CHCA Executive Committee to facilitate a balanced discussion. The individuals
included past President Stewart Graham, Tia Burke and Social Division
Vice President Dina Hitchcock. Both Graham and Burke declined; Hitchcock
stated that she would not participate unless another Executive Committee
member attended as well. Recko suggested Jeremy Heep, but he is out of
the country.
In his opening statement, longtime Hill resident Recko characterized
what he believes is weak leadership within the CHCA.
“My involvement became intensified when I noticed that the president
of the CHCA was constantly misrepresenting [board members],” said
Recko, who also sits on the Budget Finance Committee and the Nominating
Committee. “I feel that it’s necessary for people to get involved,
ask questions and figure out how we can move forward.”
Early in the meeting, several people questioned the abrupt departure
of Carole Boynton, who had served as the interim Local editor since James
Sturdivant and Associate Editor Michael Mishak stepped down late last
year. Boynton, who suffered a heart attack in late February, is reportedly
recovering and in good condition. Feldman confirmed that the appointment
of new Editor Lea Sitton Stanley, previously with the Philadelphia Inquirer,
was in the works before Boynton’s illness.
There was very little talk of the Sturdivant/Mishak controversy, the
most stratifying issue in Chestnut Hill since the staffers resigned in
October. If anything, it was used as a springboard to discuss the confusion
surrounding CHCA bylaws. Questions regarding the authority of the Local’s
Publisher’s Committee led Recko to offer a brief history of the
battle.
“The bylaws always stated that editor had editorial control and
the Publisher’s Committee had authority over the rest of the paper’s
operations,” he said. “[With Sturdivant], that line was stricken.
His ability to determine what was printed was given to a newly created
committee, who then had the right to strike anything they wanted from
the paper. When that influence started creeping into day-to-day operations,
Sturdivant started resisting this oversight.”
Some attendees expressed concern regarding Stanley’s appointment,
questioning if the Publisher’s Committee would compromise her editorial
privilege in a manner similar to the implications surrounding Sturdivant’s
departure. Hemphill stated that he would resign if any board member interfered
with Stanley’s editorial privilege.
Another topic brought up was the CHCA board election, which will be decided
next month. This year, there are 24 seats available: 12 three-year positions
and 12 one-year positions.
The board comprises 36 at-large seats; the remaining seats are occupied
by institutional representatives. On April 6, the Local will print pictures
and biographies of the candidates, along with brief statements from each.
The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Thursday, March 23. Ballots will
also be printed in that issue.
Recko said one of the major planks in the SOC platform is the elimination
of the Publisher’s Committee. “[It] has to be reconstituted,
but what we’re trying to do is just get rid of it because it serves
no function,” he said.
Attendees also examined the prospect of a restaurant moving into the
former location of the Yankee Candle Company, 8528 Germantown Ave. The
property is owned by developer Sanjiv Jain, who sits on the Executive
Committee and also serves as vice president of the Physical Division.
Some people expressed concern that Jain, who approached the board’s
Land Use Planning and Zoning committee, is seeking to have the final say
on what goes into the building. Traditionally, it is potential tenants,
not owners, who seek LUPZ support.
Recko said Jain’s move was an attempt to silence silences input
from the surrounding community. “The community wants to control
what kind of business moves in there,” Recko said.
The last major point of discussion was the Commerce Bank issue. Construction,
which began at 8600 Germantown Ave. in the fall, was halted when the city’s
Department of Licenses and Inspections learned of aesthetic violations
at the site. Many were concerned that Commerce tried to demolish the existing
structure in favor of its own specifications. Three requests to continue
the project have been rejected by L&I.
“This is a typical savvy developer two-step,” said Foster,
who researched the issue. “The committees that met with the bank
set out what was to be done there. [There were] very specific regulatory
applications to stick within zoning … but within hours of breaking
ground, they immediately violated the agreements.”
Foster said that, generally, the meeting was a success.
“There were good questions from interested people,” he said.
“It was exactly how we hoped it would be. One of the issues that
wasn’t covered was the finances [of the CHCA], but hopefully we
can discuss that next time.”
Feldman said that a similar meeting will be held in April.
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