Vicites criticized for not supporting Zimmerlink appoinment
Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites came under fire Wednesday from Ralph and Geraldine T. “Jerry” Mazza for his reluctance to commit to reappointing Angela M. Zimmerlink to the Fayette County Housing Authority. “If the other board members did their jobs half as good as Angela Zimmerlink, there wouldn’t be any waves out there,” said Jerry Mazza. “I think she should be commended for what she’s trying to do out there. She’s looking out for the taxpayers.”
However, Vicites said he wouldn’t be pressured into deviating from his standard operating procedure, which calls for a methodical review that in this case includes his desire to speak to Zimmerlink personally.
“I will make the right decision the 27th of December,” said Vicites of the projected date for filling Zimmerlink’s housing board spot.
In a related move, Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh said that while he thinks FCHA board member the Rev. Howard E. Dantzler Sr. is a “good man” and dynamic speaker, he doesn’t intend to vote to reappoint him at year’s end because of his reluctance to vote nay.
“Rev. Dantzler has voted yes for everything that’s ever been proposed (at the housing authority),” said Cavanagh, who added that he wants someone who won’t ascribe to the rubber stamp approach.
After the meeting, Cavanagh said he believes he’s found the perfect candidate to replace Dantzler and complement Zimmerlink: South Union Township resident Myron Hoskins, an African-American who holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s degree from Ohio State University, and who works for Columbia Gas.
“I’ve got one of the most intelligent people in Fayette County (to nominate). He’s notified all the commissioners (of his desire to serve). He’s told me that he’s not a rubber stamp for anybody. He’s a good guy, a good human being, and I have the utmost respect for him,” said Cavanagh.
The Mazzas, who generally support Cavanagh, said during the meeting that Zimmerlink deserves reappointment to another five-year term and noted that they can’t understand why Vicites and Commissioner Ronald M. Nehls need more time to decide her fate.
Ralph Mazza said he was perplexed at Vicites’ desire to re-interview Zimmerlink for a position she’s held for the past five years. “I can’t understand why she has to be re-interviewed,” said Ralph Mazza, who noted that the biggest problem Zimmerlink and FCHA board member Beverly Beal have faced in the past is that they’ve been treated like “second-class citizens” at the authority.
Nehls, who doesn’t favor reappointing Zimmerlink, said that while he respects her for being a “watchdog,” he doesn’t particularly care for her methods. Nehls said he’d like to see someone who focuses more on developing solutions instead of only exposing problems.
“My methods are different than Angela Zimmerlink’s. I like to be a builder, not a wrecker,” said Nehls, who stressed the importance of finding solutions. “I’m looking at it from that angle.”
Ralph Mazza said that it’s unrealistic for Nehls to expect Zimmerlink to develop solutions when she’s essentially a minority board member who’s often shunned by the majority. “She’s ignored. How can she ‘build’ if she’s ignored?” said Ralph Mazza. “I feel that she’s doing the job and should be reappointed.”
Cavanagh commended Zimmerlink for “stirring the pot” at the housing authority, and likened her to civil rights activist Rosa Parks from the point of standing up against the status quo when it counts.
“There is a fallacy (in the county) that controversy is bad … controversy is good because it brings issues to the forefront,” said Cavanagh. “If Angela Zimmerlink does not get reappointed, it would be a travesty. Do I want harmony at these authorities? Absolutely not … God bless Angela Zimmerlink for what she’s doing out there.”
Vicites said he’s busy soliciting public input into the housing authority board positions, a process he finds enlightening and beneficial. He said he values peoples’ opinions and stressed that it would be wrong for anyone to assume that he’s against Zimmerlink just because he’s not yet ready to vote on the matter.
Vicites also offered support for some of the positions Zimmerlink has taken.
“I don’t think she should ever be condemned for bringing something out that she thought wasn’t right,” said Vicites. “Every board member should be entitled to every piece of information that’s available at that authority.”
Cavanagh said that the housing authority once “tried to do me in” back when he was its leading critic, and noted that now they’re trying to do Zimmerlink in using similar tactics. He said that’s why he “came out swinging” for her early on.
“I know what a good, old-fashioned railroad job is when I see it,” said Cavanagh.
When Ralph Mazza pressed the issue, Vicites said that he doesn’t really want to re-interview Zimmerlink so much as have a “discussion” with her regarding her desire for reappointment.
“I was told by another person that she wants to talk with me,” said Vicites.
However, Zimmerlink, contacted at her job after the meeting, said she never put that word out.
“Who would I put the word out to?” asked Zimmerlink. “I put a letter out to all three commissioners, telling them that I was interested (in reappointment) and if they wanted to talk to me, give me a call. That’s all I’ve done.”