06/03/2002 New Park Commission Elects President (Ed Goppelt)

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06/03/2002 New Park Commission Elects President (Ed Goppelt)

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Robert N.C. Nix III, New President of the Fairmount Park Commission
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Robert N.C. Nix III, New President of the Fairmount Park Commission
2002/06/03 City Solicitor Nelson Diaz swears in Robert N.C. Nix III as President of the Fairmount Park Commission. Nix was elected unanimously by his peers.

As President, Nix will work for nothing: although prestigious, Fairmount Park President pays the same as Commissioner, namely nothing. To make ends meet, Nix works as Secretary of Philadelphia's BRT, the city agency reponsible for administering the property tax.

Friends of Philadelphia Parks Watches, Gets Roughed Up
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Friends of Philadelphia Parks Watches, Gets Roughed Up
2002/06/03

From left to right: Lauren Bornfriend, Executive Director, Nancy Longstreth, Boardmember, Beth Ounsworth, Board President of Friends of Philadelphia Parks, Doris Gwaltney, President Carroll Park Neighbors.

Two Commissioners had sharp words for Friends of Philadelphia Parks' leaders. Commissioners. Commissioners Roseanne Pauciello and James Bloom objected to the letter writing campaign co-sponsored by the Friends and Hallwatch.

Following growing public conviction about about the need for better park leadership, in May the Board of Judges replaced 6 out of the ten elected members of the Board.

Both Pauciello and Blum appeared angered that the Friends had not endorsed them. Friends Executive Director Bornfriend explained that the Friends chose to remain silent on the question of whether to retain sitting commissioners.

Memorial Hall: Park Headquarters and Troubled Jewel of the Park System
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Memorial Hall: Park Headquarters and Troubled Jewel of the Park System
2002/06/03 Commissioners met in two public meeting rooms adjacent to this vast and empty space. Park Commission offices were down the hallway, but signs politely advise that the public is not welcome. I looked, but was unable to find a single bathroom set aside for the public's convenience in this vast building. A week after memorial day, Kelly Pool, a beautiful public swimming pool remains empty and unavailable for use by the public.

Newly Elected Boardmembers Take Oath of Office
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Newly Elected Boardmembers Take Oath of Office
2002/06/03

Counterclockwise from right: Commissioners Binswanger, Wolf Goldstein, Bloom, Smith, Pauciello, Tucker, Price. At the extreme left of the frame Mary Mason holds up her arm to take the oath of office despite the fact that she was not reelected to her post. Mason attended the meeting as Council President Verna's representative. I assume Mason was unaware that only elected members are sworn in.

Wolf Goldstein Agrees to Delay Her Candidacy
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Wolf Goldstein Agrees to Delay Her Candidacy
2002/06/03 Because of concerns raised by Mary Mason and others, the Commission only elected a President, leaving the other executive positions of Vice President and Treasurer vacant. At one point City Solicitor Nelson Diaz joked that Board President Robert N.C. Nix III would have to meet with himself as the Board had not been able to agree on any of the other executive positions. Despite no longer sitting on the board in her own right, Mason argued that newly elected members shouldn't occupy executive positions--until the Board got to know them better.

Mason's Sour Grapes?
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Mason's Sour Grapes?
2002/06/03 Mary Mason opposed newcomer Debra Wolf Goldstein's bid to become Vice President. Mason, who did not win reelection to the Board, didn't think newly elected board members should serve as Vice President, Treasurer because "we don't know you."

Should newcomers serve in executive capacities?
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Should newcomers serve in executive capacities?
2002/06/03 Newly elected member Debra Wolf Goldstein and reelected Boardmember James Bloom vote yes.

Earni Young
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Earni Young
2002/06/03 Young is a staff writer for the Daily News.

Mary Mason Confers with Marcia Makadon
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Mary Mason Confers with Marcia Makadon
2002/06/03 Mayoral Representative Makadon supported Mason's successful effort to block the election of newly elected board members to executive positions.

Mason, a former board member in her own right, is sitting in for Council President Verna; Makadon for Mayor Street.

Josh D'Ancona, Unknown, Marianne Kreiter, Pat Henkels
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Josh D'Ancona, Unknown, Marianne Kreiter, Pat Henkels
2002/06/03 D'Ancona is Program Manager for Friends of Philadelphia Parks. Kreiter and Henkels are parks' volunteers.

Nelson Diaz and Sandra Shea Share a Light Moment
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Nelson Diaz and Sandra Shea Share a Light Moment
2002/06/03 Shea is Associate Editor of the Daily News' Editorial Page; Diaz City Solicitor. In its ongoing series Acres of Neglect, The Daily News Editorial Board has written eloquently about the sorry state of our parks and argued passionately about the need for change at the Fairmount Park Commission.