Vaughn to step down from nonprofit post

by MICHAEL J. MISHAK

Under pressure from a group of community activists, Steven Vaughn, the former City Council aide who pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges last month, said last week he would not seek reelection as president of the Central Germantown Council.

The announcement came two weeks after the activist group, comprised of local business owners and area residents, delivered a 325-signature petition to the council, asking its board to vote on Vaughn's immediate removal. At the time, the board tabled a motion to oust their president in an 11-2 vote, but promised to consider the petition at a special meeting in the near future.

Last Friday, the board of the Central Germantown Council convened a special executive, or closed, session at historic Vernon House in Vernon Park, but did not vote on that measure, deciding instead to receive nominations for new officers at the group's June 15 annual meeting.

According to a terse statement released to reporters, the board "unanimously decided" on the action as prescribed in its bylaws. Vaughn, who has served as the group's president since 1997, told the board he would not seek another term, the statement said.

The two-paragraph message, printed on council letterhead, concluded: "The board expressed its appreciation to Steven Vaughn for his exemplary service as President of the Central Germantown Council and his commitment to the central Germantown community."

After the meeting, Vaughn emerged in the doorway to distribute the statement but did not respond to reporters' questions.

Asked if he would leave the board completely, Vaughn said the petition had asked for his resignation as president but declined further comment. "The board made a decision today," he said. "I will respond to any question at a later time."

In its statement to the Central Germantown Council at an April 29 meeting, the group of activists called on the organization's directors to remove Vaughn both from the board and any affiliated groups. The petition also noted that "any further ties" to the community development corporation, which is set to receive $186,000 in city monies this year, would be "inappropriate."

Vaughn's critics, including two board members on the council, contend he has violated a provision in the group's bylaws that requires members be "in good standing in their communities."

At issue is the former Council aide's admitted involvement in a racketeering enterprise that defrauded the city out of more than $60,000. Imam Shamsud-din Ali, who allegedly headed that criminal enterprise, is currently standing trial in federal court.

For the group of petitioners, further corruption allegations against Vaughn fueled the fire last week.

Testifying in the Ali trial, FBI agent Jesse Coleman said the feds investigated a claim that Vaughn, who was then-chief of staff to Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, had attempted to extort a $100,000 campaign contribution from La Salle University in return for getting the city to close a section of 20th Street that runs through the campus. The information was gleaned from wiretaps placed on Ali's phones. No charges resulted from the probe.

In a repeat of the April 29 protest, a small group of petitioners and alternate board members were met with resistance last Friday morning.

Activists Jim Foster and Tim Donovan sought to defend their petition before the board. Jim Bishop, of the Penn-Knox Neighbors, and Jeff Smith, of West Central Germantown Neighbors, hoped to serve in place of board members Tina LeCoff and David Plante, the two who first introduced and pushed the motion to oust Vaughn. All were denied admission.

"We don't want to have just anybody," said the Rev. LeRoi Simmons, executive director of the Central Germantown Council, standing at the doorway to Vernon House. "This is not something to play with. We're talking about the character of our board, the character of one of our members."

He characterized the activists' petition as "hostile" and criticized the group for its efforts to attend the special meeting. "This hasn't helped the issue," he said. "It's only delayed it."

Pressed on the issue, Simmons declined to admit the two alternates. "For all I know, you're vigilantes," he told the group just before slamming the door.

Later, reporters, with petitioners and alternates in tow, clashed with council members after a maintenance worker mistakenly opened the door and allowed the group inside.

David Simpson, a board member, shouted at the group to leave as Butch Cottman, another board member, manhandled Mark McDonald, of the Philadelphia Daily News, shoving the reporter toward the door. Simmons joined the fray, forcefully ushering a Local reporter from the building.

"This is thug behavior," said Bernard Wilson, president of West Central Germantown Neighbors. "I'm embarrassed these are the people that represent the community. They have no respect for anybody."

Police arrived later after someone in the meeting called to report the disturbance.

The scuffle startled board member Kathy Paulmier, who temporarily left the meeting. "There has to be another way," she said of the incident. "We should be beyond that."

According to Paulmier, the board had been discussing the voting eligibility of members prior to the incident. Between 15 and 20 members attended the meeting, she said.

In a phone interview last Friday, Betty Turner, the Central Germantown Council officer who chaired the special meeting, declined to discuss specific details. Though she said the board agreed to keep the content of the meeting confidential, it did take action "relative to the petition."

Asked why alternate board members were denied entry, Turner first declined comment, but then said, "For members who couldn't attend the meeting, they should have notified the president or somebody about that."

In an interview on May 9, Turner told the Local that board members unable to attend the meeting could send alternates. At the time, she said it was unclear whether alternates would be eligible to vote. Also, in that interview, Turner said she would ask the board to vote on whether to allow petitioners into the special meeting.

Councilwoman Miller did not return calls at press time, but told the Daily News last Friday that she assumed Vaughn would leave the board altogether. Asked by that newspaper about the propriety of an admitted felon running a nonprofit, Miller said, "Why is this such a newsworthy thing? Because these people are after me. It's based on hate and all kinds of issues."

"It's a step in the right direction, but it's not conclusive based on what the petition asked for," said Jim Foster, a business owner and one of the leading petitioners.

Foster said his group would continue to monitor Vaughn's status with the Central Germantown Council after his term as president expires in June.

Still, most left the scene last Friday shocked and embarrassed over what Foster called the "bouncer at the taproom" tactics of the council members.

"Philadelphia is on the hot seat," said Wilson, referring to the wide-ranging City Hall corruption probe. "And instead of doing the right thing and asking [Vaughn] to resign, they resort to this."