Mount Pleasant council president resigns
MOUNT PLEASANT — Borough Council President Paul Wagner has resigned his position.
At this week’s council meeting, Borough Manager Jeff Landy read the letter of resignation, which stated Wagner resigned because he had a differing vision for the borough than the other members of council.
“I am apprehensive that my philosophy and vision for both this organization and our borough at large are not in line with the thinking of the majority of the board,” Wagner wrote. “As such, I believe it is in the necessary best interest of both the borough and myself that I step down from my obligations as an active member of council at this time.”
“It has been a very enlightening and exciting experience for me to serve on council for the past three years,” Wagner added in the letter.
Landy said he respected Wagner.
“Paul (Wagner) and I were not on the same page, but I think I understood him as a leader,” Landy said. “He did what he thought was best, and unless you’re sitting in this chair, I don’t think you understand the pressure put on the council president, and I don’t think any less of Paul (Wagner) for making this decision.
Contacted after the meeting, Wagner said frustration, moreso than being burned out by the rigors of public service, prompted his decision to resign.
“There were several areas where I didn’t agree with the majority, like Medic 10, the different projects and budgeting,” Wagner said. “I’m not saying I didn’t make mistakes, but really mistakes are only mistakes if left unattended and not corrected.
“I think the only time you won’t make mistakes is if you’re not taking chances or trying something new,” he added.
Wagner said, but did not elaborate further, that he had differences of opinion with some officials about who to put into key positions as a way to better the borough.
“I made the decision to resign when I looked back over 2016 and asked if we were better now than we were in 2015 and I had to honestly answer no,” he said. “Not that we didn’t have successes or accomplishments, but there were a lot of frustrations and failures.”
Wagner wished the best to council as they continue to try and move the borough forward.
“I did enjoy my time on council, but my vision was on a different level, and I don’t feel I was able to be successful or effective,” he said.
At the meeting Monday where Wagner’s resignation was announced, Landy said some of the pressure needs to be taken off the council president position, maybe having the vice president of council stepping up to take on some of the responsibilities.
He added that council should continue to learn from past decisions when making decisions for the future.
“I think we should respect each other and be a team and continue to be positive,” Landy said. “Remember, this is a business and we should have a passion for seeing it succeed. You should be creative and think outside the box and never overlook the details.”
Landy also encouraged council to interview any candidates who are seeking a position on a board in the borough.
“What direction do you want this town to head in and which candidate will best help to get you there?” he asked. “We have a burden to keep the high standards we’ve created over the last 12 to 15 years, but that burden must be shared by those sitting in this room and by our employees.”
Councilmen John H. Caruso Jr. and John Rogacki voted against the motion to accept Wagner’s resignation.
Caruso was sworn in as the new president of council, and the borough will advertise for applications for a new member of council.