Germantown nonprofit group to consider Vaughn ouster

by MICHAEL J. MISHAK

The Central Germantown Council will vote this week on whether to oust Steven Vaughn from his post as the group's president. A special executive, or closed, meeting is set for May 13.

The meeting comes two weeks after a group of activists delivered a 325-signature petition to the council, asking its board to vote on Vaughn's removal during the April 29 meeting. Though a motion to oust Vaughn was introduced, it was ultimately tabled in an 11-2 vote.

At issue is Vaughn's admitted involvement in a racketeering enterprise that defrauded the city out of more than $60,000. Vaughn, the former chief of staff to Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, pleaded guilty last month to mail fraud and conspiracy charges in U.S. District Court. His sentencing hearing is set for July.

The Central Germantown Council, an area nonprofit community development corporation, is set to receive $186,000 in city monies this year.

Tina LeCoff, a board member who introduced the motion to oust Vaughn, said the board had a right to question their president's fitness because he was "no longer in good standing in their communities," a violation of the group's bylaws.

Last Friday, LeCoff and David Plante, another board member who seconded the original motion to dismiss Vaughn, sought a postponement for the special hearing. In a letter dated May 6, both told the board they would be out of town this Friday.

"The Board must ensure that there will be no appearance of lack of representation that could seem suspicious to the community," the letter reads.

In an interview last Friday, LeCoff said she was concerned the special meeting would be stacked with Vaughn allies.

A list of the council's 2003-2005 executive committee, which LeCoff said she received along with the notice of this week's meeting, claims 30 members, some of whom, she said, have missed more than four consecutive meetings, stripping them of their status as voting board members.

In their letter, LeCoff and Plante call for a reconstituted board list in the name of "equal representation."

Citing the contentious atmosphere of last month's meeting, where petitioners and board members argued face-to-face, the two requested a mediator to moderate the discussions at the special meeting.

In an interview on Monday, Betty Turner, treasurer of the Central Germantown Council, said the meeting would proceed as scheduled.

"Unless something world-changing comes up, we'll be having the meeting," said Turner, who will chair the executive session.

In accordance with the group's bylaws, Turner said she gave the board at least five days' notice. Also, the two-week gap between meetings shows the board's commitment to addressing the petitioners' request in a timely manner, she said.

Turner said board members who are unable to attend should send alternates. It remains unclear whether alternate members are eligible to vote.

"If it's that important they'll have to find some way to get there," she said. "I gathered from the last meeting that it was of the highest importance."

Still, Turner said all views would be heard and considered.