COPLAY BOROUGH GOVERNMENT
THE GRAY PERIOD
We had reported previously that, in our opinion, Coplay Borough Government experienced a "Gray Period" of almost a decade. As we perceived it, a certain individual, Bill Leiner, Jr. gathered some people around him and attempted to run the community to the tune of his, and their flutes, ala Pied Piper. When that individual first sought elective office, there were those of us that helped him achieve that goal. At first we thought things would move forward in the community. We found out eventually that the individual had a different agenda. Everything he did was just another stepping stone to the next level. There were those abandoned by the roadside after it became apparent, that unless you followed him blindly, the message received was "My Way or The Highway". He was elected to Borough Council and after only two years, abandoned that post and ran for Mayor. He served in that capacity for several terms but resigned after running during mid-term (again) for Lehigh County County Commissioner. After being elected, the same old story unfolded again when he resigned as County Commissioner after leaving his employment at a local hospital and going out of state for employment, first in Texas and now, we have been informed, in the State of Florida. We have mentioned a Gray Period. It seemed that local government, instead of searching for positive avenues to be pursued to move the community forward, tended to use their time and perceived power in office to look for negative issues concerning organizations and leaders thereof. I clearly recall Council President at that time, Beverly Miller, having a face off at a council meeting with Coplay Sports and their representative that night, Mr. Charlie Sodl. Unless I am mistaken, Mr. Sodl was involved with Coplay Sports for 25 years or more. The council Chambers were packed with members of Coplay Sports, looking for assistance in the amount of $600.00 towards the cost of having the grass cut for the season. I can recall Mr. Sodl pacing back and forth in front of council while presenting the issue. Mrs. Miller told him that he would have to stand in front of the podium to continue. Mr. Sodl then sat down in front of the Dias (council's desk) and stated that he had a bad back and can't stand still for any length of time. After a full and lengthy session, Council President B. Miller was ready to rap the gavel and adjourn the meeting with the issue unresolved. But, an individual in the audience spoke up with a personal alternative solution. After a couple of committee chairpersons came up with some donations from their budgets, the finance Chairman, Dennis Wehr, came up with the funds necessary to accommodate Coplay Sports. That ended the session. But the problem was deeper than that. Mrs. Miller had sat in our living room, during a better time period, and complained to me and my wife about a group that ran the Beer concession at Coplay Community Days. She stated that she counted the number of empty beer barrels and allegedly it did not match the reported funds that were generated. She pointed a finger at Coplay Sports. Nuff Said!!
Let us go on. In 2003, I ran for council and was elected. I was assigned the Chairmanship of the Sanitation Department as well as other positions which I readily accepted, including serving on the finance committee with Mrs. KimAnn Meyers as Chairman and the streets committee with Chairman Joe Bundra. I balked at the appointment as liaison to the Coplay Public Library, stating that I had a relative working there part time and that might create a conflict of interest.The public response by Mrs. Miller was the following. "That's good because they are having problems there and now we will have someone on the inside to provide us with information". My response was: "The Dickman Family does not operate that way".
Several months later I became the Liaison, but at the first meeting of the Library Board, I made them aware of what transpired earlier that year at council. Nuff Said!!
And now to continue. While sitting in the audience at previous council meetings, and also after being elected, I heard numerous times about the need for a borough comprehensive plan. As a councilman, I submitted a comprehensive plan proposal on at least two occasions, acknowledging the fact that it would have to be visited and tweaked before it could be possibly adopted. As I stated, it was a start. I submitted a plan for consideration for the last time at the borough workshop on Monday April 11, 2005. I read it off and after Council President B. Miller did not bring it up for consideration by council, as a last order of business I submitted a simple note of "Resignation without comment". It had become quite obvious my suggestions would not be made a part of the borough agenda. Again, Nuff Said!!!
Please continue to the next posting for more of the story.
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