Reading committee tables appointment of Ernie Schlegel Jr. to zoning hearing board alternate

The Reading Nominations and Appointments Committee on Feb. 3 tabled consideration of Ernie Schlegel Jr.’s nomination as an alternate to the city’s Zoning Hearing Board while members review concerns about Schlegel’s previous board service.

Ernie Schlegel Jr., the applicant, told the committee that the Zoning Hearing Board “exists to hold hearings on variances and conditional use permits,” and described a variance as “a relief from the strict application of the zoning code” while conditional-use permits allow uses that meet specific requirements. He also explained the appeals process, saying applicants may appeal the board’s decision to common pleas court “within 30 days of the determination of the zoning hearing board.”

The committee debated whether to decide immediately after the interview. Councilor Chris Miller (District 6) said members should review a past issue involving one of the boards on which Schlegel served and asked for time for members to “educate themselves” before voting. Miller moved to table the nomination, saying, “I move that we table this decision until the future when everybody feels they’re prepared to move forward.” The record does not show a roll-call vote; the committee agreed to revisit the nomination and to make a decision next Monday.

Councilor Vanessa Campos (District 1) asked Schlegel to expand on his qualifications; Schlegel cited long experience on municipal boards, including the library board, the water authority, and the Reading Redevelopment Authority, and said he served as president of the Reading Redevelopment Authority from February 2020 to February 2022. Councilor Wesley Butler (District 4) asked whether Schlegel could regularly attend hearings, noting the Zoning Hearing Board “meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 05:30 p.m.” Schlegel replied that in his past city service he had “only been absent from one meeting” over about 16 years and confirmed he could attend.

Staff told the committee that if the body wished to elevate an alternate on another board, “the committee should choose one of them to become a full member and then council does a resolution switching their status from an alternate to a full member.” Committee staff also said they would follow up with the applicant after the committee’s review.

The committee’s agenda also included updates on pending applications: one applicant for the Citizens Initiative Commission is in background review; a reappointment for a redevelopment authority applicant is on the Committee of the Whole agenda for next Monday; and one youth commission applicant has turned 18 and is completing background clearances. Committee members discussed differences between the general boards-and-authorities application and a separate youth commission form tailored to students, and staff agreed to circulate the youth application to high school contacts.

Next steps: committee members will review the prior-board issue cited by Miller; staff will follow up with Schlegel and notify committee members of the scheduled decision on the nomination the following Monday.