Council Meets, Confirms Borough Manager Job Eliminated In Colwyn
By Todd Quinones
COLWYN, Pa., (CBS) – The manager of Colwyn Borough in Delaware County was voted out of a job again during a council meeting.
Accusations are flying, emotions have boiled over -- this comes as the District Attorney is investigating the borough's finances.
The screaming and shouting outside Borough Hall grew so intense the Pennsylvania State Police were called in to back up the Colwyn Police Department.
The controversy surrounds Paula Brown, the now former borough manager and treasurer who is out of a job.
"This is such a shame for the Colwyn taxpayers because there is no order in this town. There is no control over the financial matters," said former Colwyn Borough Manager Paula Brown.
During an executive session Monday evening council confirmed the vote to eliminate Brown's position and also nominate Councilman Fred Lesher to board President during a contentious meeting Thursday night was legitimate.
"The issue tonight was we eliminated the borough manager job to cut spending," said Colwyn Council President Fred Lesher.
But Brown and her allies on council called the vote illegal because they say the meeting had been adjourned.
"I don't like it, but what can I do, I'm only one vote, I'm only one councilperson," said Colwyn Councilman Paul Meuser.
Brown locked herself in her office Thursday night saying she needed to protect documents and evidence of financial discrepancies, some of which she says are now in the hands of detectives as part of an ongoing investigation.
The borough currently is in a $1.1 million financial hole.
Monday night the locks on Borough Hall were changed so Brown could not go back in.
Brown says the choice to eliminate her job was political, she considers herself a whistle blower. Her opponents say that isn't true.
