East Wash council accepts resignation
East Washington Council remained stable since “mass resignations” gutted the board in July, but the seven-member board is again down to six.
The board approved the resignation of Councilman Robert Dickson during its Monday meeting. Neither Dickson nor his daughter Kelley, who also serves on council, was in attendance.
Reached by phone Tuesday, Dickson said his decision was because of health concerns. He said he served on council on and off for about 14 years and also worked as the code enforcement officer for about six years.
“He’s one of the best ones I’ve seen so far,” Mayor Michael Gomber said of Dickson’s work as a councilman.
Council President Guy Tucci said he was talking to Matt Boyce, an East Washington resident and music teacher at Quaker Valley School District, about potentially stepping in to fill the vacancy. He said Boyce has not yet agreed, but the board changed the meeting time to accommodate Boyce’s schedule.
Beginning in May, meetings will be held at 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month, or on the first Tuesday if it falls on a holiday.
Tucci was optimistic about finding a replacement and alluded to previous council members who “didn’t last very long.” Three council members abruptly resigned last summer due to a “fundamental split” in leadership. It came during a time when council was considering a proposal to cut several part-time police officer positions.
Nearly a year later, council appears to be heading in a different direction. Gomber said seven candidates for police chief will be interviewed this week, and he said council may decide to hire one or two additional officers.
Gomber said he wants to narrow the application pool to three candidates and introduce them to the entire police department to allow other officers to have input.
“That way it’s a group effort,” he said. “It’s not just council.”
The borough has not had a police chief since former Chief Robert Caldwell resigned in December just two months after he was promoted within the department. Officer Ronald Miles has been serving as officer-in-charge during the interim period.
Gomber said a police officer also suggested setting up an annual fundraiser and scholarship to award to a student in the community who plans to attend college.