Councilman Charles R.W. Stout, Jr. was found dead in his home about March 19th. It took 4 months to appoint a replacement and fill the vacant seat.
The discovery of Mr. Stout’s body was made by Councilman Tom Nodoline, as the story was relayed to me. Nobody had seen him for about two weeks and when a window was looked through, it was necessary to call the state police. I’m told Mr. Stout may have been deceased for that entire two weeks he didn’t appear in public.
And nobody noticed.
State police notified Mayor Gross. The Mayor, I can only assume, would have notified the Council President, even if Nodoline hadn’t done so already.
That appears to be where the notifications stopped. Council Pres. Kelly Gross and Tom Nodoline keeping secrets.
It is more than disturbing that the vacant seat was kept quiet and Mr. Stout wasn’t given recognition for his community service. It’s disgraceful.
I didn’t see in any council minutes in the last 4 months, an announcement that Charlie Stout, Jr. had died.
A few months back, I recall a resident asking somebody on the council where Charlie Stout was. The response was that he would not be able to make the meeting that evening. And every Council Meeting that followed saw his name plaque placed where he should have been seated – if he wasn’t dead.
The council made no mention of his passing until they found a willing volunteer to fill the seat.
That took them 4 months and only after a member in the public audience informed those asking where Charlie was, by saying, “Charlie? Charlie died.”
Well beyond what I’m reading as 30 days, the requirement to fill a vacant seat, with an additional 15 days possible under some circumstances. Beyond that, a petition to the Court of Common Pleas is supposed to be made, asking for an appointment.
Admittedly, I didn’t notice the death of Mr. Stout. I’m not one for reading obituaries, or I would have started asking questions around the 60 day mark. Questions like, “Why isn’t that vacant seat filled yet?”
That appointment just happened on Monday.
Mr. Ronald Nixon, former resident and councilman from Wilson Borough was appointed to the West Easton Council and will serve out Mr. Stout’s remaining term.
I’m assuming Mr. Nixon has met the required residency, considering he had an extra 4 months, if he was short.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
