The rule of law ...

These resolutions were passed by large (one vote lacking from unanimous) margins by members of the Chestnut Hill community on February 25, 2009, at a general meeting held at the Chestnut Hill Library, 8711 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia. They will be introduced at the Chestnut Hill Community Association board meeting on February, 26, 2009, at that same library at the 7:30 PM board meeting as scheduled and noted in the Chestnut Hill Local. All interested community members are urged to attend and discuss these items.

Motion 1:

That Dina Hitchcock, CHCA Vice President of Operations resign from the CHCA board of directors, effective immediately.

Cause:
1. That she ordered the sequestering of all ballots in the 2008 CHCA board of directors election, in violation of the CHCA by-laws. She admitted this act at a board meeting, and in the Local.

2. That she ordered the destruction of the same ballots, in violation of the CHCA by-laws. She admitted this act at a board meeting and in the Local.

3. That she moved a vote to fire Pete Mazzacaro, Editor of the Local, at an Executive Session of the CHCA board, without prior discussion at an open board meeting, notification of the membership, or the community.

Conclusion: For the CHCA to re-establish credibility and respect in the community, and to re-establish a secure and proper work environment for its' employees, the individual responsible for these acts must resign.

Motion 2:

That Tolis Vardakis, President of the CHCA resign, effective immediately.

Cause:
1. That he failed to exercise authority over Ms Hitchcock in the matter of her admitted election violations.

2. That he called an Executive session without proper prior public notification, a violation of the by-laws.

3. That he authorized three evaluations of Pete Mazzacaro, Editor of the Local, in three months, in violation of the by-laws that stipulates annual evaluations.

4. That he authorized a letter, entitled "Final Warning" that overrides the annual evaluation rule, without discussion or vote of the full board.

5. That he called an Executive Session for the sole and express purpose of firing Pete Mazzacaro, Editor of the Local.

6. That he ignored objections of board members to this vote. That he violated the CHCA memberships' and the communities' trust in allowing the vote to proceed in secret.

7. That he refused to inform board members of the issues to be discussed at an Executive session, which is their right.

Conclusion: To re-establish a secure and proper workplace environment for the employees of the Local, and for the CHCA to re-establish respect and credibility in the community, the individual responsible for these acts must resign.

The motions above were approved by an overwhelming majority, with one dissenting vote, by more than eighty concerned citizens at a public meeting held on February 25th, 2009.

Motion 3:

That the CHCA board, its executive committee, and its members refrain from evaluations, votes on termination of Local employees, or any other disciplinary action concerning the Local without full public notification and discussion for a period of one year. That employee evaluations are annual, as stipulated in the by-laws, we are asking the board to abide by its own rules.

This motion was unanimously agreed to by over eighty concerned citizens at a
public meeting held on February 25th, 2009.

Vote of confidence
A vote of confidence for Pete Mazzaccaro was unanimously approved at this public meeting on February 25th, 2009.

This transcript written and provided by Ed Feldman.