Milford Borough Mayor Bo Fean resigns

By Frances Ruth Harris
MILFORD — Bo Fean says his heart is broken.
The Milford Borough mayor resigned unexpectedly this week. He said he knew it was time to leave when no one was hearing what he had to say anymore.
A second resignation, from borough council member Joe Casmus, came at the same time.
When The Courier met with Fean, he hadn’t slept for 48 hours and had eaten only a little bit of dinner. Tears came to his eyes as he talked about the borough. People had been calling and sending emails and making comments on Facebook all day. Some called to ask if he would change his mind.
Fean, who spent 11 years as a council member and seven years as mayor, said he didn’t tell anyone ahead of time because he didn’t want to be talked out of it. He said he's okay with his decision and isn’t looking back.
He knew in November, when only two original council members remained after five write-in candidates won seats, that one or both would resign within six months. He wasn’t surprised when Casmus, who didn't come to the meeting this week, submitted his resignation. He sent President Patrick Beck an email saying he needed to spend more time with his family. A letter with his signature was in the borough office the next day.

Fean said he couldn't effect change on some of his priorities, like getting GPS for street department vehicles, working toward better time management, and creating job descriptions. His suggestions were ignored.
Instead, he said, many small, belabored enforcement problems got bigger than they needed to be. Managing garbage, for instance, got out of control, to the point where people were suggesting putting stickers on cans.
Fean said he thought he had the votes to give a raise to equalize the pay of all borough workers, but it didn’t work out. It's not right to have such a wide gap between what the police are paid and what other workers get, he said. Never in the history of the borough were some employees paid so much more than others, he said. He thought he had everything in line to re-open the budget and give the police their due — but it never happened.
He said he has a good relationship with the borough police, and that some officers have gone on to better positions.
Fean said there has to be team work on the council, and he didn’t see harmony on the horizon.
Fean did heavy highway construction work with Local 17 out of Newburgh, N.Y., for 33 years. He would leave at 5:30 every morning and return nearly 14 hours later. He made a good living, he said, and now looks forward to spending time with his family. He wants to slow down and enjoy life.
He's also served on the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) for four years under Gov. Corbett and then under Gov. Wolf. PA Senator Lisa Baker was his sponsor.
Ray Orben was mayor when Fean first joined the council and broke a tied vote to bring Fean on. Later, Fean was mentored by Mayor Merritt Quinn. But he hasn't yet mentored his own replacement.
Fean suggested that the council accept letters from applicants as it begins to look for a new mayor.
“I don’t know who they’re going to get," he said.
He’s going on a trip with his wife and, upon his return, will add his thoughts about a replacement, depending on the direction the council takes.
“If I don’t like something, I’ll speak my piece," he said.
Reflecting for a moment, he added, "I wasn't being heard. I gave my heart and soul for the borough. When I do something, I go all the way."