Monday, March 23, 2009

How Many Times?

"How many times must the piper be paid..........." (Mickey Newberry, R.I.P, obscure country singer).

In the beginning, an e-mail to CHCA board candidate Jim Foster:
Jim,
I am writing to you in connection with your interest in running for the CHCA board. It has come to the attention of the election committee that questions have been raised concerning potential conflict of interest in light of your role as publisher of publications vying for advertising dollars among NW philadelphia businesses.

Questions have also been raised about the propriety of you having access to the Local's financials in this regard. If you submit a nomination the elction committee will need to bring this to the attention of the board for a decision. When we do so I want to include your rational as to why you believe there is no conflict of interest. I am on the train to NY but I will be back later today. I am copying Jane so that in the meantime she can poll the election committee so there is a committee opinion available to the board. In the meantime, if you are going to submit a nomination it will be among those drawn for a ballot position. But it can't be put on the ballot until the board has had a chance to weigh in on the conflict question. We can talk later today if you like.
Thanks. Pat
Back to the present:

Considering the freak show that is the CHCA Board of Directors, (don't make me name names), there is a fascinating exercise of democratic process in the upcoming April 2009 election.

*******************************************************************
CHCA ELECTION RULES 2009
2. Only individual members of the Chestnut Hill Community Association can run for election to the Board. (chestnuthill.org)
******************************************************************

Not a word, so far, about residency requirements, income, education, or membership in a mainstream church or coven. There's no limit on talking shit in the self-penned "biographies" submitted by the candidates.....nor any fact checker either. No vetting, no background checks, no inky finger prints.

Only these two: CHCA dues paid, and four members willing to sign upon the dotted line(s).

So in the passive/aggressive/passive voice language a la the late Bush administration, Jim Foster had learned that he needed a Special Election before his name could be put on the ballot for the Election Election.

Except for that brazen hussy Ann McNally who forgot that rule about deep cover, no names were named. No quotes quoted or attributed to living (sic) persons.

As it turns out, "meetings were held." "conference calls" were dialed up, and private email lists were activated.

Questions had been raised.

These meetings, surveys, random street polls were to be followed by more meetings.......public meetings attended by designated membership who would be producing a COMMITTEE OPINION to guide those with the power of The Last Word but without an opinion of their own.

Buck up, Jim.

Recent history one turns up one similar case of double dipping. That was in 2005 when yours truly, riding on the not-quite-sufficient coattails of Lou Aiello and Maryann Ross Cowper, came in first of the losers. "Fear not," my mentors said. "Somebody always quits and you're next."

All it took was a decision from The Decider Stewart Graham and the.....um....... unfortunate failure of Dick Becker to actually run in the election.

So I also had to "run again" facing off against a row of unpleasant old women led by the Missus who voted AGAINST my assuming my seat on the Board. It wasn't important enough for me to make a note of the for/against but it appears that the ayes had it.

Many of us always figured Stewart Graham as the back room boyo - the bush league Machiavelli with a finger in every plot.

My money's on The Real Mac, Jane Piotrowski. Who else has served on the executive committee regardless of the ruling party the last five years? Who can even hope to match her contacts considering that she has been on every committee ever listed in the CHCA office. In spite of Sanjiv's obvious deep pockets, she was the one who publicly donated hours, days, weeks of free labor to boost his business. For what? To be his confidant and BFF in the same way she herself described her friendship with R. Snowden.

Every coffee klatch in Maxine's kitchen, every "work session with Cosmopolitans" -- Pastorius Park, the Gala, the seriously offensive house tours -- she was there. It's impossible to clock those hours spent on the phone or cranking out those emails. Her service as CHCA Secretary served as the best little cover-up ever and her bad grammar and elaborate (yet senseless) *minutes* for the meetings will stand alone in their brilliance as psy-ops known only to MI-6.

Is she the Manchurian Candidate or the Wizardress of Oz?

Post script: Rumor has it that Foster has somehow been found worthy and the crisis averted. I don't care. It's still a great and unforgettable story. And I've got the records, as usual, to prove it.

Martha Haley

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16 Comments:

Blogger german township said...

Martha and Jim,

As you know, a lot of time was spent in the past year revamping the election rules so that they serve the assocation better than then did in the 2008 election. We looked at challenges to ballot, challenges to an entire election, but when the question about conflict of interest came up re Jim's new role as the publisher of two new newspapers in the northwest, we realized that for all our work, we had not convered rules around a challenge to a nomination. As the chair, I could not just ignore the question, but brought it to Jim's attention as soon as possble. Polling the committee first seemed a good way to go in the absence of process. There was also no rule to follow to the contrary. As it turns out, with one exception, the committee felt that a conflict had not emerged and there was no reason to bring this to the board. To that end I communicated to Jim later the same day. Here is the text of that email since it was not included in this posting:

Jim, I left you a voice mail to say that I have not yet heard from everyone, but I believe the consensus at this point is that we should not address the question of conflict of issue. I don't think anyone wants to begin the next year with an issue as everyone is sick of controversy and this doesn't appear to merit concern at this time. Certainly if you are elected there may be some things you will need to recuse yourself from, but that all remains to be seen.

I will send you an email when we hear back from everyone but for now I think is a non-issue.

Pat

As it turns out I did not hear back from everyone on the committee, but there was enough comment to support my second communication to Jim. Since your posting suggests that the decision not to challenge the nomination is unclear, I will email Jim to confirm that there is no challenge to his nomination.

Pat Moran

Mon Mar 23, 10:45:00 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Go away Martha Haley. You are the biggest blowhard. Chestnut Hill does not need your commentary. Say goodbye. Please.

Mon Mar 23, 04:39:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Jeremiade said...

Good response by Pat Moran. And some classless nonsense by Petee. Thanks, Martha, for the info and insight.

Mon Mar 23, 06:26:00 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Please keep updating this often! I just discovered Northwest Notebook (Google search, of course) as a way to get the latest scoop on Hill shennanigans from Thursdays to Wednesdays, when the Local comes out!

Tue Mar 24, 10:42:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Ed Feldman said...

Petee- Your name seems to indicate a certain lack of size in a particular anatomical department. The perfect indicator for someone who refuses to identify themselves after voicing so strong an opinion. Why don't you identify yourself so we can all get a look at your equipment?
Ed(Sooo tired of Cowards) Feldman

Tue Mar 24, 04:45:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Ed Feldman said...

And another thing-I love Martha -and I bet even at 105lbs-Am I close babe?-she could beat Petee's ass- that's why he didn't sign his real name. Marthas' mentioning of Stewie Graham gives me an idea-I will commence to write profiles of Hill personalities-those still showing their faces. First up: 19118's Karl Rove-the above mentioned head of the trenchcoat Mafia-
Li'l Eddie Feldman

Tue Mar 24, 06:32:00 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ed, Ed, Ed, You are and will always be an overburdened under-endowed street performer. If you spent some time in the showers with your eyes open you'd be better able to judge pecker from poker. You too can go away, just as fast as you can waddle. Please.

Petee, Pete or Peter; take your pick. Just don't call me packer.

PS. Weather is warming up now so take a shower before you assault the Avenue.

Tue Mar 24, 11:04:00 PM EDT  
Blogger reverend chris said...

I have said it before and I will say it again: Jane P rocks. I'd vote her for any office that will appreciate all she does.

Petee seems to want to be assulted only by those who smell lemony-fresh. Well that just ain't cricket and is, quite honestly, a moronic insult towards Ed.

Martha's talent for writing engaging essays is wasted criticizing people who, if they behaved like decent, accountable people, shouldn't be criticized. (I do love reading them though.)

The Local is a newspaper (nothing more... nothing less).

Fran O'Donnell is a saint who provided my wife and I with a job and a home after Hurricane Katrina destroyed our lives and we were forced to move to Chestnut Hill. We lost everything and he offered half of all he had to us. He's not perfect but who is? (Especially those who post anything anywhere...)

Being from New Orleans, I like my politics like I like my rice... DIRTY so this is quite a ride. More people should, like Ed, step out from behind the computer every once in a while so we know where to throw the tomatoes.

Tue Mar 24, 11:46:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Ed Feldman said...

Petee, I need your soft hands to wash me down. I'll be clean for you Petee. Please wash my sins away. I want to be good, I do. I can't do it alone Petee. Reveal yourself to me and together I know we will find true cleanliness in the purity of essence of our precious bodily fluids.

General J.D. Ripper
Strategic Air Command
Burpleson A.F.B.

Wed Mar 25, 12:49:00 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Porcine Ed,
Call Jimmy J, he's looking for work. You can get pictures too.

PS. Pay your bills, fraud boy.

Pete

Wed Mar 25, 09:01:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Ed Feldman said...

Pete-I will leave you where I find you. And I will find you. Apologize now or your fate is sealed.

Wed Mar 25, 10:10:00 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

push off, pork boy.
threaten somebody else.

Wed Mar 25, 10:40:00 AM EDT  
Blogger reverend chris said...

Watch out, Ed... I think Patee is lonely and is looking for a buddy to spoon him to sleep.

Once he's out we can ring his doorbell and run.

Wed Mar 25, 01:14:00 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Petee needs to walk around Barnaget Light and then send some e-mails to relatives on the Javelin account.

Those aren't lace curtains, by the way.

Thu Mar 26, 05:56:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Ed Feldman said...

I will now conduct a short analysis followed by the setting of odds concerning Petee's identity.

While we cannot assume that the name given is any indication of identity or sex, the homophobia indicates a male.
The virulent scapegoating indicates "victim syndrome" wherein the subject's real oppressor cannot be confronted.
The pre-adolescent taunting indicates a lack of education. This may be a ruse by a more sophisticated individual attempting to cover his true intellectual level.
However, the brevity of his postings indicate an insecurity in long form writing.When he does attempt more "sophisticated" imagery, his words are incorrectly used (ie: the use of "overburdened" before "underendowed", and "poker" after "pecker"-meaningless as description or as jokes- he wants to use two words for emphasis but only one of the words apply)
Therefore, I deduce an actual lack in the educational area.
But the subject IS an adult.
The subjects' first posting followed Martha's piece that mentioned Anne McNally, Dick Becker, Stew Graham, and Sanjiv Jain. This is the piece that set him off.
He called Martha a "blowhard"(more on that in the odds section).
He travels the Avenue. (The "street performer" comment)

And now for the odds:(followed by "clues"):

At 5 to 3-Joe Pie-Anne McNally's husband-upset at the "brazen hussy" line of Martha's- Well known Local bully-yet he backed down after I challenged him following a rude comment he made in front of my daughter-Badly schooled-yet tried to give professional writers advice-And of course, the insecurity of one who is financially subordinate to ones' spouse.

At 5 to 2 Rob Remus- Like Joe, minimally educated-enjoys bullying those who he feels threaten/reject him-whether intellectually or sexually.But flees from those who DO threaten him-like me.Sanjiv's office mate-Bonus clue- Rob called me a "blowhard" at Killians last Saturday-he also saw me and Jimmy filming on the street.

At 5 to 1- Someone I don't know-I guess I should be flattered

At 8 to 1 Tappan Patel -This is a stretch but the P and the T can't be discounted. Sanjiv employee.

At 15 to 1-Carol Cope -because the mind is our last truly unexplored realm and the wonders that dwell therein are infinite

20 to 1- Dina Hitchcock-See above

So kids -you can play too- What's a blog without a game? Who is Petee?

Fri Mar 27, 02:17:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Jeremiade said...

Hmmm...with the Barnegat Light (close to McNally?)and Chestnut Hill connection...it's probably Joe Pie. Add the classless language and the disdain for Martha and you get Joe Pie.

Carol Cope just doesn't talk like that...not that she isn't able...but she would have let you have it in ONE blast.

Fri Mar 27, 01:06:00 PM EDT  

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