Feicht said his resignation was due to “a strong undercurrent of negativity” that he blamed on Isaacs “and others who resist change that diminishes the influence of the mayor and his ability to control events in the village.”
“Council is too often pre-occupied with concern over what the mayor may do next to promote his personal agenda and this detracts from open dialogue and meaningful progress on a wide-range of issues,” Feicht said. “Finding myself extremely frustrated working in the environment, I decided I can no longer serve effectively.”
Isaacs blamed Feicht’s departure on his unwillingness to communicate with him.
“Mr. Feicht talks to everyone in town but me,” Isaacs said. “It doesn’t hurt my feelings if he doesn’t want to talk to me, but things would be a lot clearer if there were better communication between council and the mayor.”
Feicht’s departure underlines a growing schism between two factions on council based on philosophical differences in views on the role of mayor versus that of the village manager in this small village.
Isaacs and councilman Gary Pelkey favor a more powerful mayor while the rest of council appears to want the mayor position to be a “first among equals” position and cede more day-to-day operations of the village to the village manager.
The actual argument stemmed from an e-mail Feicht sent regarding ways to implement suggestions made by the charter review commission. While voters rejected these proposed changes in November — chiefly a proposition to change how the mayor was elected — Feicht felt some procedural suggestions — particularly ways of communications and handling emergency legislation — should still be examined by council.
“I wasn’t trying to start anything, but I felt it was wrong to be talking about charter changes at this point,” Isaacs said.
Warren Sheehan said he and Feicht had discussed the changes prior to Feicht’s fateful e-mail.
“The changes were just of a procedural nature that I think the citizens would have approved of if they had been given the opportunity to hear them out,” Sheehan said.
Feicht is a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He served on council for three years. He was defeated in a bid for re-election in 2009, but was appointed to council when another official could not serve. Several of Feicht’s allies on council said they regretted his departure.
“The loss of Mr. Feicht is a loss for all the folks in this village,” said councilman Jim Martin. “I am very disappointed to see him resign, particularly under the circumstances in which he did so.”
Council had 45 days to replace Feicht through an appointment. Interested parties are invited to send an application to Waynesville Town Building, 1400 Lytle Road, Waynesville.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.
About the Author