President, board clash
in Northwood

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Guests at last week’s Northwood Civic Association meeting knew they were in for a combative evening when the reading of the previous meeting’s minutes — usually a routine matter — turned contentious.
On one side are civic association president Joe Menkevich and Len Williams, one of the members of the board of directors.
On the other side are vice president Gina Panchella, secretary Kathleen Fitzpatrick and board members Lou Kubik, Michael Bane, Renee Hudson and Barry Howell.
The June 19 meeting didn’t include any talk about current neighborhood issues.
Instead, the anti-Menkevich contingent tried to change the organization’s bylaws to allow for the impeachment and removal of an officer or member of the board.
Bane, who is leading the insurgency, declined to say if he and his allies have anyone in mind that they’d like to remove.
But it’s the worst-kept secret in Northwood that they would like to oust Menkevich and perhaps Williams.
In general, they want to change the way the group operates and unify the community, perhaps merging with a splinter group, the Northwood Neighbors Association.
"We’d like to bring order to these meetings," Panchella said.
Hudson said, "Northwood deserves a whole lot better."
Added Fitzpatrick: "Nobody respects anybody else."
Menkevich, who succeeded Jim Howarth as president in January 2005, said he has worked to uphold the tradition of the association, which has fought adverse land use issues since 1954. He has tried to build the group’s treasury with personal contributions and donations from Northwood Academy Charter School, Realtor Mike Galdi, attorney Flora Becker and Debbie Klak, head of the Frankford Historical Society.
Along with Williams, he has spent countless hours examining zoning issues. The president and his one ally believe the other board members lack the knowledge to defend the neighborhood on zoning matters.
Menkevich wanted a vote last week on whether to appeal a zoning variance to allow J’s Mini Market to remain open at 4601 Horrocks St. He opposes the retail use because the property is zoned residential.
However, at the start of last week’s meeting, which attracted about 75 people, it was clear the majority of the board wants to move in another direction. They voted to take control of the meeting.
"The board of directors voted for you to sit down," Howell told Menkevich.
The embattled president loudly responded, "This meeting’s illegal."
Menkevich threw the paper ballots on the variance question on the floor. He later picked them up and handed them to people at their tables. Store co-owners Jose and Jasmin Martinez threw a few of them back on the floor. One woman suggested the opposition to Martinez, who is Hispanic, was based on race.
The meeting was held at St. James Lutheran Church, and the Rev. Paul Andell, the church pastor, was in attendance.
In addition, Menkevich hired a videographer to record the meeting.
Sgt. Scott Drissel, of the 15th Police District, did a good job acting as peacemaker between the warring factions.
Back when the two sides got along a little better, Menkevich appointed Howell to audit the group’s bank accounts. Both sides dispute who has control over the funds, with Menkevich and Williams saying treasurer Bill Rodebaugh has had sole authority.
Howell believes Menkevich had a conflict of interest when the association accepted $2,120 from Brien Gardiner, head of the local charter school, at a time when the school wanted the civic group’s approval to expand.
"We have to stop compromising ourselves," Howell said.
Walter Mellbourne, a member of the group, offered to pay for an outside auditor to look at the finances, and the audience erupted in applause.
Mellbourne also figured in the dispute over the proposed changes to the bylaws. He was among a majority of people who opposed a vote on the proposal last week, saying they didn’t have enough time to think about it. He promised to make copies of the existing bylaws for every member of the group.
There were other reservations about the proposed changes.
For instance, an officer removed would never be allowed to return to the group, even if the allegations against him or her were later proved to be false.
Also, Liz McCollum-Nazario said the board is setting a bad precedent, that a member can be removed for holding an unpopular position.
In addition, some argued that it is illegal to remove a member for actions committed before the bylaws were amended.
"This is an ex post facto change," Williams said.
Becker, a former congressional candidate and wife of the late federal Judge Edward Becker, asked the dissidents to wait until after the civic group’s election in November before making whatever changes they wanted.
Bane rejected that.
"Drastic changes have to be made immediately," he said.
Even though the group traditionally does not meet in July and August, Bane and his allies set the next meeting for July 10.
"We can’t wait till September," he said.
Menkevich’s allies were taken aback at the board majority’s actions.
"This is a dictatorship," Klak said before walking out of the meeting.
Menkevich, who will likely resign before an impeachment attempt, invited his supporters back to his Castor Avenue home for tequila, beer and scotch. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com