Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Town hall fee waiver up for vote
PHOENIXVILLE >> The Phoenixville Area School Board will decide on Thursday whether to waive the fees for a group that used the high school auditorium for a controversial town hall meeting Feb. 25. U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6, who could not attend, called the event “a political stunt.”
Organizers from the Concerned Citizens Action Group District 6, which includes the wife of school board vice president Ken Butera, asked for the fees to be waived. The board tabled the decision last month after conflicting information arose regarding just how apolitical the event would actually be.
Butera previously said that his wife, Alissa, is not the leader of the group and is involved in a number of different groups. She previously said she did not tell her husband she was the group member who applied to use the high school. Other group members were trying to find a space to host the event, and she used her experience as a former home and school representative to apply for the school.
Last Thursday the board’s finance committee recommended that while the $480 custodial fee should be charged, the $600 fee to rent the auditorium should be waived — a move Costello’s office has warned would be using taxpayer money for a political purpose.
Vincent Galko, senior adviser to Costello, said in a statement Monday Costello is committed to working in a bipartisan manner to
“There is overwhelming evidence that this was a partisan political event, which was held at the expense of Phoenixville area taxpayers and that certain people chose to promote their own political agenda using the school district’s facilities.” — Vincent Galko, senior adviser to U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6
tackle the nation’s problems. He remains accessible to his constituents, having never turned down a request to meet.
“Congressman Costello fully supports everyone’s right to assemble and protest,” Galko said. “There is overwhelming evidence that this was a partisan political event, which was held at the expense of Phoenixville area taxpayers and that certain people chose to promote their own political agenda using the school district’s facilities.”
School board member Eric Daugherty said last Thursday the portion of the town hall he attended was “peaceful and informative.”
Digital First Media asked readers on Facebook to weigh in on the situation and most seemed to agree the board should not to waive the fees. Some even
“Pay the fee, our taxes are going up so that should dictate how the (Phoenixville Area School Board) reacts.” — reader Melissa Persaud
had their own unique suggestions about how to handle the situation.
“If I am Costello, I am offering to pay the fees,” said reader Jim McGuinness. “I would also announce that I would be attending a second town hall meeting at the same location.”
“The facility is often used for community events, and the fee waived,” said reader Claire Witzleben, who identified herself as one of the town hall organizers. “Groups sometimes even get the janitorial fees waived. In this case, the janitorial expense is not being waived. Taxpayers actually built the school, and community use is appropriate.”
“An event still occurred, regardless if they got the guest they wanted, or if they ‘Eastwooded’ a picture of Mr. Costello on the stage,” said reader Brenton Moore. “Either way, want to not pay for it? Cancel it when your invitation gets denied.”
“Why should he go?” said reader Joe DeNicola. “All they want to do is shout him down, stomp their feet, and throw their temper tantrum because they lost. They don’t want a forum, they want an echo chamber.”
“Pay the fee, our taxes are going up so that should dictate how the (Phoenixville Area School Board) reacts,” said reader Melissa Persaud. “We can’t afford to keep saying ‘yes’ to all costbearing items.”