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Appointment sparks fury

LONDON GROVE — An appointment to the township's planning commission has drawn criticism from political opponents of the majority on the board of supervisors. In a split vote, the board's Democratic supervisors appointed resident Heather Rose to fill a four-year seat on the commission, at the same time dismissing Republican Duane Eastburn, a 19-year veteran township planner.

The decision was met with questions from a few members of the general public who were in attendance, and a denunciation by Eastburn of the way the appointment came about as cowardly.

The vote marked the latest in a series of clashes between supporters of past regimes and those of the current board's membership, which features three Democrats in a township where Republican voters hold a 3-to-1 registration edge.

Opponents charge that supervisors Tim Nelson and Edward Bordas, along with supervisors' Chairman Tom Houghton, have used their majority to advance the causes of special interests within the municipality at the detriment of persons and institutions — such as the local mushroom industry — that are considered to be political enemies of the current regime.

Nelson, Bordas and Houghton voted in favor of Rose's appointment; Supervisor Donald "Buster" Needham voted against it, questioning Rose's credentials to serve on the commission. Supervisor Richard Scott-Harper was absent.

Houghton rejected the charges that he is fundamentally opposed to Republicans or the mushroom community. He said the decision had more to do with his desire to put Rose on the commission rather than denying another term to Eastburn.

"I believe that she will take no guff from developers," said Houghton. "Heather is concerned about preserving natural features."

At the Feb. 2 supervisors' meeting, during which the appointment took place, township Tax Collector Charlotte Nicotera and local businessman Robert Abernethy pointed to the decision to not reappoint Eastburn as an example of hostility.

"I've known Duane all my life," said Abernethy. "To kick him off the (commission) is inexcusable. It is a total disgrace for supervisors on this board and a slap in the face to Duane."

Eastburn, a retired teacher who worked for 30 years in the Avon Grove School District, has been active in township political service for at least 19 years, including five as a supervisor.

Recently, Eastburn was one of two Republicans on the planning commission with terms that expired at the end of 2004. Beyond the two incumbents, the board received letters of interest from longtime resident Cary Lambert and Rose, an active community volunteer and environmental advocate.

Both Houghton and Bordas assert that all planning commission members are appointed at the pleasure of the board in accordance with township policy.

At the meeting, Houghton said he favored Rose because he felt the township needed another female to serve on the commission, as well as her belief that development plans should be tightly scrutinized based on township ordinances.

Both Houghton and Bordas recognized her relative lack of experience in comparison to Eastburn; they said that it was an excellent opportunity to offer a younger resident a way to get her feet wet in township service.

Rose describes herself as an idealist with a strong passion for protecting the natural surroundings and rural character of the community. After completing a basic course in community planning for planning commissions offered by the county, Rose thinks that she would a wonderful addition to the board.

"I think I bring a fresh perspective," said Rose. "I think I'm qualified."

Current planning commission chairwoman Megan Lalli said she saw the benefits of having a newer member, but noted that the body would miss Eastburn's experience.

"We said that we would try to get a cross-section of the community," said Lalli. "It was sad that we had to trade off Eastburn and his experience."

As for the preference to not reappoint Eastburn, Houghton said during the meeting that Eastburn's support for four-lane bypasses for Route 41 and his vote to vacate and later sell Dingee Road as a supervisor were signs that his views run counter to the future direction of the township.

Nicotera, the tax collector, said in a phone interview after the meeting that she thought Houghton favored Rose over Eastburn because she might be a "yes" person for Houghton. But Houghton also dismissed that claim.

Reached by phone, Eastburn said he has "no sour grapes" about the decision, but was unhappy with the way the board handled the situation.

"I'm not upset with the fact that I'm not on it but how they handled it," said Eastburn. "They didn't have enough guts to tell me face to face. They did me a favor."