City Council members sparred earlier this month over an appointment to the board of directors at Pottsville Housing Authority, with one calling the final decision “clearly political” and another saying it was “crazy.”
Ultimately, Jake Weaver was selected to replace Vince Wychunas on the Housing Authority board as Republican members of council flexed their majority muscle to get their nominee appointed. Wychunas’ term on the board expires on April 7. Weaver’s term will end on April 7, 2031.
The vote to appoint Weaver to the seat was approved along party lines, with each of the three Republican council members voting for him and against Wychunas in a previous vote, which was prompted by motions from Democrats Dottie Botto and Andy Wollyung.
In nominating Wychunas to continue as a Housing Authority board member, Botto said he “has the certifications for the Housing Authority” and has “been on (the board) for numerous years.” She added that his role as a board member on the Schuylkill County Redevelopment Authority could beneft the city’s Redevelopment Authority.
After getting a motion and a second to nominate Wychunas for the position, Mayor Tom Smith – who eventually said yes on appointing Weaver – asked Solicitor Gretchen Sterns if the vote could be tabled pending further discussion. Before Sterns could answer, Wollyung abruptly said, “No.”
He said the Democrats on council have approved a number of board appointments brought forward by the Republicans since they assumed control of City Hall in January.
“I would like for us to vote on this,” Wollyung said. “I think it’s important that we continue to move this. We’ve accepted a lot of the other board members here. He’s a good candidate. He’s a very good professional. He serves our community well. I think he should be on this board.”
The vote to appoint Wychunas, however, failed. Councilman Scott Price followed that with a nomination for Weaver and said it’s time for “some change” on city boards and authorities.
Botto challenged Price’s nomination, asking him if he could base Weaver’s nod “on some of his experience.”
Price said Weaver and his father, Bob, have built a large business in the city and owns multiple properties in Pottsville.
“He has real estate experience and business management experience,” Price said. “Going into public housing and understanding the needs of public housing and understanding what it takes to run that financially is going to be beneficial for that authority.”
Botto asked Price if Weaver has “certifications in housing” to which the councilman asked for the specific certifications she was referring.
“There’s certifications to get in housing for placement, qualifications for placement, things like that. I don’t have them in front of me but they are required,” Botto said.
Price said he is confident that Weaver could get whatever certifications he might need to serve.
Wollyung expressed concern that previous discussions in December, during the transition period between administrations, the council as it was was asked to hold off on making certain appointments to boards and authorities.
“We said there were certain people we would like to see move forward and now every time it’s been too long. It’s been this, it’s been that,” Wollyung said. “It was that way with the towing. It was that way with this. We need to work together here. This one is a crazy one. It’s nothing against Mr. Weaver but I wish you guys would have listened to us on this one. We’re losing out big time.”
Botto added that her support for Wychunas is nothing against Weaver but she believes her nominee was more qualified.
“This seems to be clearly a political move,” she said. “This is politics and this is clearly not the best candidate put in this position.”
Smith countered and asked Botto if any board in “the last regime” had someone from the other party on it. The mayor said it was his goal “to bring new blood in” to serve on these boards and authorities.
As he was saying that, Botto listed three people who were Republicans and served on City boards. They were Matt DiRenzo on the Redevelopment Authority and Joe Drasdis and Jim Humphrey on the Parking Authority.
“All we did was flip that script,” Wollyung said to Smith. “That’s the problem. Let’s not B-S each other about this stuff.”
As Price attempted to interject with the name of at least one Democrat that’s been appointed since the beginning of the year, Botto and Wollyung attempted to shut off the conversation and asked to move foward with the vote they knew they were going to lose.
“We gave you guys Barry DeWitt. We’re not going all Republican,” he said.
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