A seat on Coatesville's powerful Redevelopment Authority is again vacant after Al Baxter, a city minister, resigned one week after being appointed because he failed to meet a city residency requirement.

Baxter, a pastor at the Holy Trinity Church in Christ at Fifth Avenue and Chestnut Street in Coatesville, was appointed by council at its Sept. 22 meeting to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Ernie Campos. But by the following Monday, Sept 29, Baxter had submitted his resignation, explaining that he lived in South Coatesville. His resignation letter was read by Council Member Patsy Ray. Baxter, said Ray, believed that his having a business in Coatesville, would qualify him for the seat.

What then followed was almost a repeat of the Sept. 22 meeting. John Burkholder and John Kasitv were both renominated. Burkholder, the husband of council President Karen Jorgenson, was nominated by Council Member Kurt Schenk and Kasitv was nominated by Council Member Marty Eggleston.

However, both men failed to obtain a majority because Council Member Kareem Johnson and left the council chambers just prior to the vote and didn't return until ended, and Ray abstained, making the vote for each nominee 3 to 3. City Solicitor Andrew Lehr had earlier said that Ray's abstention counted as a negative vote.

Ray said she abstained because she felt something might be wrong with the procedure. Earlier, Lehr informed council there was not conflict of interest with Jorgenson voting on her husband's nomination.

Baxter's nomination from the beginning was clouded in controversy. Council Member Ed Simpson and Eggleston both complained that they were unaware that Baxter was interested in serving on the RDA until a few hours before the Sept. 22 meeting. Eggleston added to his concerns at the Sept. 29 meeting, saying that council voted Baxter with no information. "Without any resume; without any information whatsoever," he said.

Eggleston said he has known Baxter almost all his adult life and has great respect for him. "I would tell him that if he were here tonight," said Eggleston.

Eggleston said, however, that it is negligent for council to appoint any individual into a city position without background information.

Baxter never attempted to conceal that he lived in Coatesville. Immediately after his appointment to the RDA, Baxter said he lived in South Coatesville when questioned when questioned by the ChesterCountyReporter.com

Q: You live in York, don't you?

A: No, my wife has an apartment in York. I live on Modena Road.

Q: That's in South Coatesville?

A: Yes.

"I just want to help the city," said Baxter, who said he does have a business in the city.