Feldman argues process was rushed, secretive
Correction: vote of Nick Winkler was ‘yes.’
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Phil Dague, who lost election to Ann Feldman by one vote in 2013, was appointed Wednesday night to an open Dowingtown East Ward Borough Council seat.
DOWNINGTOWN — This time, Phil Dague won by two votes.
Moments after formally accepting the resignation of Borough Council member Cara DeStefano, Dague was appointed to council for the remainder of DeStefano’s term by a 4-1 vote, taking many, including the newest council member, by surprise, Wednesday night.
While Dague, who lost in 2013 to Ann Feldman by one vote in 2013 elections, was surprised but happy, Feldman was most assuredly not amused by events.
Although she made it clear that she had no specific issue with Daque — and made a point to congratulate him following the meeting — she objected as what appeared to be a multi-week process initially, become a done deal in a matter of minutes.
As the conversation about replacing DeStefano evolved, it initially appeared that members of council would submit lists of possible candidates — Feldman specifically said she had someone in mind but that she wanted to speak to the individual in question before putting their name up. There was also discussion about reaching out to the public on the opening. The Council had until April 23 to name an East Ward replacement for DeStefano, who resigned March 24.
But events appeared to suddenly gain a momentum of their own, and Council member Pat McGlone placed Dague’s name in nomination with Alex Rakoff’s second, after Council President Anthony Gazzerro noted that he had spoken with Dague and that he remained interested in serving on council.
With a motion on the table, the council was compelled to vote – and Feldman said she thought that a deal had been worked out in advance without her — or that of colleague Nick Winkler — knowledge.
“I object to this,” she said. “I think this was done behind the scenes.”
That led to verbal sparring with Mayor Josh Maxwell, who suggested Feldman’s tone was inappropriate.
“That’s very accusatory,” he said.
She disagreed.
“It appears to me that this was done ahead of time,” she said. “I don’t think we should be voting tonight.”
With that, the council voted, with McGlone, Rakoff, Winkler and Gazzerro as yes votes for Dague. He will formally take his seat April 16.
Dague, who said he was surprised by the timing, said his primary mission would be to foster economic development in the borough. He currently is a board member for the Downingtown Main Street Association — although he speculated that he’d probably need to resign that post now.
“I really want to help foster economic development,” he said, following the council meeting, acknowledging the challenges the borough faces, ranging from infrastructure to the local tax base.
Still, he says he sees a bright future for the borough, between the residents — he’s lived in the borough virtually all of his life — a tightly knit business community and a lot of local assets. He said he thinks the borough can overcome its challenges in the coming years.
“I still believe in Downingtown,” he said.
