Why did New Hope Borough Council President Scandone Resign, Then Change His Mind?

Why did President Bill Scandone resign from New Hope Borough Council Jan. 6, only to reverse course and “rescind” his resignation on Jan. 18?

Borough Council at a Jan. 17 meeting had given him the latitude to withdraw his resignation by voting in a split decision not to “accept” it. Scandone was absent from that regularly scheduled meeting, but explained in a statement read aloud on his behalf that he was quitting the group due to “familial obligations.”

When he reversed his resignation the next day on Jan. 18, he reportedly said he was “thrilled” to remain president. So why did he offer to resign in the first place, and why is he unwilling to explain the general nature of the “familial obligation” that was significant enough for him to resign, then wasn’t?

Scandone isn’t saying. He hasn’t responded to repeated requests for information about his on-again, off-again resignation.

Documents obtained by the Free Press show that Scandone at first referred to “personal matters” in a Jan. 6 letter to New Hope Borough Manager Cathryn Thomas informing her of his “resignation from the New Hope Borough Council effective immediately.” Thomas also did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Scandone went on to explain in his letter, “These matters will take greater priority in 2017. I intend to focus on familial responsibilities.”

Documents also reveal that one day earlier, on Jan. 5, Scandone canceled a meeting with Larry Panzica, owner of Moo Hope Ice Cream at 22 S. Main St., and new owner of the former Cryer’s Hardware building at 20 S. Main St. Also apparently invited to attend were Thomas, Zoning Officer Jim Ennis, and Council Member Ken Maisel (who serves on New Hope’s Universal Construction Code Committee, or “UCC”).

Scandone nixed the meeting “as a first step in addressing your concerns,” referring to a stern note sent a day earlier by Council and UCC Member Claire Shaw describing a “suspected agenda” that included discussion of “Larry Panzica’s experience/complaints with the UCC process.”
“I would like to know what you view our purpose as a committee to be,” asked Shaw in her Jan. 4 letter to Scandone. “If it is to trouble shoot and resolve UCC issues, then why have you circumvented the committee’s jurisdiction?”

The letter goes on to assert, “You have kept information from this council for the last 12 months to promote your own agenda and you have continually failed to include members of council on important issues, choosing non-council, non-residents as your confidants.”

Additional documents and interviews with multiple sources over several months reveal a pattern by Scandone of intervening directly in controversial issues and projects under the jurisdiction of council and its sub-committees, often in private meetings with Council Member and former Revitalization Committee Chair Joseph Franlin at his side. Franlin‘s influence has risen along with that of the Revitalization Committee, which last year promoted the doubling of parking meter rates in downtown New Hope, along with the proposed “Cannon Square” project.

Did Shaw’s Jan. 4 criticism of Scandone’s actions lead him to resign from borough council on Jan. 6? Scandone won’t comment. But new information continues to emerge, and it’s painting a portrait of dysfunction at the highest level of New Hope’s municipal leadership.

Who is Bill Scandone and Why is He Running for New Hope PA Borough Council?

Last week, Bill Scandone left a flyer in my mailbox asking for my vote in the upcoming New Hope PA Borough Council election. Four seats are up for grabs this November, and for the first time in quite a while, it appears the Republicans have a full slate and are going to give the four Democratic incumbents a run for their money. Bill's one of the Republican upstarts this year, not that "Republican" or "Democrat" mean that much in a small town like New Hope.

The thing that caught my eye about Bill's flyer was that he listed his email address and phone number on it. Now, it's not unusual for smarter candidates to campaign door to door in the closing weeks of local elections, and to claim they want to "listen" to constituents' views, but they don't usually leave a personal calling card: billscandone@comcast.net or 215-595-6304.

So I emailed him, and he agreed to meet and talk about the campaign. I had seen "Scandone" signs around town, and had also heard there might be actual competitive races in the upcoming elections. Rumors have also abounded that a couple of high-ranking local politicos are promoting a candidate to depose one or more incumbents, partially motivated by last spring's bloodless coup in Borough Hall.

There's two things I learned about Scandone fairly quickly: he is actually listening to people, and he is running a serious campaign. When I met him, he'd already spent the morning at a local diner shaking hands by the front door.

A former head of International Compensation and Benefits for Pfizer, Scandone, 62, lives on Kiltie Drive, likes dogs, goes bicycling, knows lots about fixing the bike path that runs along the Delaware Canal. Bill had been President of the New Hope-Solebury Education Fund, where he helped raise money for worthwhile local teaching initiatives.

I asked whether he's aligned with any group or individuals involved in the Borough's opposing factions and alliances, and he said he's running because "I wanted to do more, to give back to the community."

"After speaking with those involved in Borough Council and the New Hope-Solebury School Board," says Scandone, "I felt I could be more impactful on Borough Council. I believe in the concept of social responsibility," he added. "I intend to be a public servant to this community, and I don't know if that's happening now."

One key element of Scandone's plank seems to be a concern for "revitalizing the downtown."

Says Bill, "There's many stores and galleries closed, and when they close, there's a snippet of the identity of New Hope that is lost."

I asked him why he felt residents should theoretically be concerned about the welfare of local shops and businesses. Replied Scandone, "As a resident I feel I have a vested interest [in the business community]. There has to be a balance. At the end of the day what you don't want vacant shops."

Scandone is not opposed to franchised businesses, as long as their identity meshes with that of New Hope, and he is especially interested in seeing more restaurants and galleries. Admittedly, his economic proposals do not appear overburdened with specificity at this point, but his basic approach is clear enough: he has lots of experience in negotiating and consensus building and believes he can bring the right people together to start "spreading the good word about New Hope."

"New Hope is at a crossroads and could be eclipsed by other places, and New Hope could financially lose out," he continued.

"I've got the time. I've got the experience. I really am committed to this."

Sure does seem to be the case. The weeks ahead will certainly hold unexpected twists and turns, but this much is for sure: Bill Scandone seems like a serious contender.