He offered to serve as interim leader as the city faces multiple job vacancies
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Another chapter in Coatesville’s turbulent history repeated itself last night when former Chester County District Attorney Joseph W.
Former Chester County District Attorney Joseph W. Carroll addresses Coatesville City Council at last night’s meeting.
Carroll offered his assistance to the city.
Carroll appeared before City Council to congratulate the group on a successful Celebrate Coatesville event on July 1 and to offer his temporary services to bridge the leadership gap in the city.
In recent weeks, the city, which lost a handful of police officers to early retirement, has experienced two homicides, and yesterday investigators said a July 6 garage fire that displaced 29 group-home residents was deliberately set.
Gary Rawlings, the former city manager, was fired on June 11 – Kirby Hudson, the assistant city manager, has been filling in – and Police Chief Julius M. Canale, one of six officers who took an early-retirement option, has been working on a day-to-day contract. He has not attended a City Council meeting for weeks.
In addition, at least five police officers are suing the city for discrimination, and the state Attorney General’s Office is now investigating a sex scandal that spawned allegations of evidence-tampering. Last week, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan expressed concern that the police department “lacks sufficient officers right now” to provide the kind of patrol presence needed to keep residents safe.
Carroll said he was willing to serve as public safety director – a civilian who would have the responsibilities of police chief – and as city manager for less than the nearly six-figure salary the city paid Rawlings alone. He said he would assist short- or long-term, depending on the city’s needs.
He said Celebrate Coatesville – “a wonderful event” – reminded him of the city’s potential and brought him in contact with many old friends who are eager to make the city a better place to live. “I’m one of those people,” he said. He pointed out that he believed his experience in law-enforcement would help the city improve public safety and his legal background could assist with pending litigation.
Only Councilwoman Ingrid Jones addressed Carroll’s offer publicly during the meeting. “ I want to thank Joe Carroll for his generous offer,” she said. “We need you.”
After the meeting, Council President Ed Simpson said he would distribute the written proposal Carroll turned in last night to all of his colleagues. “I’m sure we’ll discuss it at the next executive session,” he said.
Carroll, a property owner in Coatesville who once ran a pizza shop there, intervened in the city’s behalf before when he was the county’s top law-enforcement officer. In 2006, he created the Coatesville Murder Task Force to try and curb escalating violence. In 2009, concern about an understaffed police force prompted him to pen a strongly-worded letter to the city’s approximate 13,100 residents, urging them to overhaul their dysfunctional government.
At the time, the city had lost Dominic P. Bellizie, a respected police chief who quit after hearing repeated rumors that he was about to be fired. The city replaced him with William P. Matthews, who failed to obtain state certification, making him unable to carry a gun or arrest a suspect.
A month after Carroll’s plea, the city found itself in the midst of an arson scourge that generated national headlines. In April 2009, Matthews resigned and was replaced by Canale, a longtime member of the department who had been deemed unqualified for the job two years earlier. City Council opted to forgo the residency and academic requirements that a search committee had previously recommended.
In other business last night, City Council engaged in some contentious debate before approving the first reading of an ordinance to make Harmony Street one way eastbound from First to Third Avenue, an initiative that would create about 45 angled parking spaces.
Proponents of the plan say it will help the city accommodate the increase in traffic expected when Lincoln University opens a satellite campus. Opponents argue that better parking options exist. Moreover, they contend that the one-way configuration will disrupt traffic flow and that the narrowing of the street will impede business deliveries.
Chester County Fire Marshal Harrison W. Holt said yesterday that the July 6 fire that destroyed a garage in the rear of 583 E. Chestnut St. was intentionally set. He said it appeared that trash next to the garage was ignited.
