Northwood Civic’s existence
becomes a two-ring circus

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Who is president of the Northwood Civic Association?
A majority of the board of directors began making plans for a change at the top during the group’s June 19 meeting.
The board unsuccessfully tried to change the bylaws to allow the group to impeach and remove an officer, including the president. While declining to say whether they had anyone in mind, board members clearly are targeting president Joe Menkevich.
In general, the board believes Menkevich runs disorganized meetings and says and does things that hurt the group’s image.
At the June 19 meeting, board members say they heard Menkevich announce that he was resigning. So, at a June 26 board meeting, they passed a resolution accepting the resignation and another resolution installing vice president Gina Panchella as acting president.
"As far as we’re concerned, Gina is the president," said board member Michael Bane.
Menkevich, who did not attend last week’s board meeting, begs to differ. He argues that he said he was "considering" resigning.
The board majority will try to pass the bylaw changes at a special meeting it called for Tuesday. Menkevich plans to write a letter to members canceling the meeting.
"We’ll see them in September," he said.
Menkevich, who succeeded Jim Howarth as president in January 2005, has only one board ally, Len Williams.
The opposition consists of Panchella, Bane, secretary Kathleen Fitzpatrick, treasurer Bill Rodebaugh and board members Lou Kubik, Renee Hudson and Barry Howell.
Menkevich contends he has been an effective president, upholding the group’s 53-year-old tradition of fighting adverse land-use issues. He and Williams doggedly research zoning matters.
But others see him as a loud autocrat. Bane, in private, and Howell, at board meetings, tried to rein him in. Bane also tried to get Williams to convince him to change his ways.
By May 29, the board believed it needed to act. In a letter to Menkevich, it accused him of engaging in verbal abuse, profanities, racism, name-calling and personal attacks; monopolizing meetings with discussions of local history that have little to do with the group; interrupting people at meetings; allowing himself to be controlled by Williams; and accepting what it called a "questionable" donation from Northwood Academy Charter School.
The board said Williams writes letters for Menkevich. As further proof, it recalled him telling the president at a meeting, "Come on Joe, we’re leaving," after a disagreement with Howell.
"Leonard is unduly influencing Joe," Bane said.
The board questions a $2,120 donation from Brien Gardiner, head of the local charter school, that was to be used at the president’s discretion. At about the same time, the charter school was looking for the group’s support to expand.
"At the very least, there’s the appearance of a conflict of interest," Bane said.
The letter asked Menkevich to resign and turn over all materials related to the group. It ended, "It is our hope that, for your own sake, you will spare yourself the embarrassment of leaving your office in an unfavorable light."
Menkevich ignored the letter and served as president at the June meeting. He dismisses his critics as "vindictive" people who’ve assassinated the character of the association.
"I consider them a group of rogues," he said.
Menkevich said he has not written a letter of resignation and won’t even consider doing so until he receives a written apology.
Besides, he said, he can’t resign at a time when bank account issues remain unresolved. If Menkevich goes, he will ask that the money he donated to the group be returned. So will his allies — Gardiner, Realtor Mike Galdi, attorney Flora Becker and Debbie Klak, president of the Historical Society of Frankford.
The civic leader also said there’s no reason for him to resign.
"Joe Menkevich hasn’t done anything improper," he said.
Menkevich defended himself against specific accusations, noting that the charter school could have expanded without civic association approval and that nobody opposed the school’s request.
In addition, he denied being unduly influenced by Williams.
"Slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment. Nobody controls anyone," he said.
Williams pointed out that Menkevich used to receive guidance from federal Judge Edward Becker, who died last year. Williams added that he merely advises the president as a board member.
"I was honored that the mantle was passed to me," Williams said.
Menkevich is eager to publicly defend himself against specific accusations, and the board will be ready with its evidence of e-mails and posts on phillyblog.com
"We can absolutely prove everything in the letter," Bane said.
Bane said he hopes Menkevich does not get out of hand at future meetings, adding that the group will be ready to call 911.
The board wants Menkevich to accept what it recalls as a verbal resignation. If he doesn’t, members plan to change the bylaws, impeach him and have the general membership vote on his removal.
"He’s done either way," Bane said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com