Sean Strub Answers Lookout Questions About His Time as Milford Borough Mayor and Reasons for Stepping Down
Strub resigned early from the position this month. Below is also his resignation letter that recounts his Milford Borough successes and hopes for its future.
Sean Strub (far left), who was then mayor, worked on a group effort to reduce Milford polarization. Unity in the Community was the result of that effort. Photo by Jessica Cohen
Sean Strub, who recently resigned as Milford Borough mayor, came to Milford in 1996, after years of political activism for people affected by LGBTQ, HIV and other civil rights issues, which he continues. He had published health rights magazines, including POZ, which addresses HIV and AIDS, and other magazines, focused on breast cancer and African-American health.
In Milford, he became involved in various commercial real estate projects, most visibly The Fauchere, which he and Richard Snyder bought and renovated after many years of disuse and neglect, making it an elegant hotel, restaurant and cultural hub.
Meanwhile, he was active in a civic group, the Milford Enhancement Committee, that met regularly and pursued grants to “enhance” Milford Borough with lighting, landscaping, trees with decorative lights and sidewalks, among other projects. The borough that had once been a somewhat rustic locale with many bars became a more polished place, with its abundance of historic houses and other buildings highlighted and maintained at the behest of the Architectural Review Board.
In the early 2020’s, as the U.S. became more politically polarized, Strub became the incumbent candidate for mayor after initially being appointed in 2016 to complete Bo Fean’s term. In Milford the polarization became rancorous around the mayoral race between him and Lisa Emery, a Republican. After the attack-ridden lawn signs and facebook posts, Strub won by many votes. Then he worked with Emery to form a conciliatory group they called Unity in the Community, which held picnics and parties.
More recently Strub produced a film, “Burying the Hatchet: The Tom Quick Story,” about his work with other locals to rectify Milford’s relationships with three Lenape tribes who had lived in the Milford area for hundreds of years. Their land had been taken by the U.S. government under false pretenses, and many in their tribes had been murdered by people in Milford, particularly Tom Quick, ancestor of Don Quick, now living in Milford.
Below, Strub answers questions about his life in Milford, past and present. His letter of resignation from his mayoral role elaborates.
Sean Strub, left, with Delaware Nation Hereditary Chief, Daniel Strongwalker, center, and Don Quick, right, in “Burying the Hatchet.”
Tristate Lookout: When did you come to Milford, and what brought you?
Fall of 1996 I came to look at an old hunting camp on Log Tavern Road, which Javier and I eventually bought. We didn't come here for Milford; in fact, until we were here for a while, we thought Harford Street was the only commercial street in the village!
- What kinds of changes have you noticed in the Milford community since you arrived?
Population growth, of course, but also a real sense of cultural vitality. We have become a community that embraces and welcomes the arts, which is a good thing. Also over the past 25 or 30 years, we've vastly improved the hardscapes in Milford borough--sidewalks, curbs, lighting, etc.--and we've protected the historic built environment through the establishment of a National Historic District, creation of a Historic Preservation Trust and passage of the Architectural Review Board ordinance. But beyond what we see and the festivals, I think Pike County has started to come into its own with a more diverse population that is starting to be reflected in elected officials and leadership positions in the community. While it is still Republica dominant, we now have a vibrant and active Democratic minority, and I think, in general, there is more attention paid to our local governance, which is important.
- What kinds of changes have you pursued since you becam mayor in 2016?
We did a lot of modernization with the police department, which is important but not necessarily very visible. Otherwise, I covered this pretty thoroughly in my resignation letter to the Council (below).
- With what do you feel you succeeded?
Again, covered in the letter, but one thing I am particularly proud of is all the new people we have gotten involved in civic activities in Milford Borough. Fresh ideas and fresh faces are really good for democracy!
- What was pivotal in those successes?
Getting more of a long-term vision has been important, thinking through unintended consequences and issues and challenges that are around the corner, but not yet here. Planning is powerful, when it is used correctly.
- What resulted from those successes?
I remain concerned about the increased truck traffic over the Route 209 Sawkill Bridge. I wish we could have done something about that already, but no such luck.
- To what do you attribute that?
It is going to require leadership from our County Commissioners and state legislators, maybe even our representative in Congress because it involves the federal Department of Transportation.
- What are your plans for yourself now?
I'm working on distribution of the Lenape film, writing and consulting a bit.
- Will you leave Milford? If so, why? Where might you go?
No, my life is here, I have two sisters who live here, and I own property in Milford. it is my home.
- What experiences as mayor stay most vividly in your mind?
There are several, but some of the fun ones are when I was a marriage officiant for about 35 couples over 8.5 years and when I've been in my "mayor role" when dealing with young people. Recruiting folks to run for office or serve on boards or commissions has been satisfying.
But overall, the most satisfying has been my work with the three federally-recognized Lenape tribes. It has been fascinating for me personally and I think good for our community that we've addressed an ugly chapter in our history in a responsible and sensitive manner that has been appreciated by the tribes.
Sean Strub’s Mayoral Resignation Letter:
To the Milford Borough Council,
In May of 2016, the Milford Borough Council appointed me to complete former Mayor Bo Fean's unexpired term as Mayor. I was subsequently elected to two four-year terms, in 2017 and 2021. My current term is up at the end of 2025, but this letter is official notice to the Council than I am stepping down as of December 22, 2024.
My decision is primarily driven by the fact that Javier and I will not be in Milford most of the winter, which makes it difficult to provide the necessary oversight to effectively manage the Milford Police Department or to meaningfully participate in Council meetings.
I urge the Council to appoint a person to complete my term who will consider running for the position next year. That will provide Borough voters—and the Council—the chance to see how a newly-appointed mayor handles the job prior to the election next fall.
I am proud to leave the borough with a stabilized and independent police department. Chief Matt McCormack and I have worked together to steadily improve the department over the past eight ½ years. It would be disappointing to see the progress MPD has made during my tenure, and the momentum we have today, dissipate, backslide or get abandoned under the limitations of temporary lame-duck leadership.
In reviewing some of what Chief McCormack and I have accomplished in the last few years, I made the following list:
Created performance metrics, including a monthly public report
Comprehensive Update (for the first time since 1992) MPD’s Standard Operating Procedures and Policies Manual
Implemented pedestrian patrols, bicycle patrols, night-time door-checks at commercial properties and other “community policing” practices
Oversaw the move into a new police headquarters in the old jail (with the Chief and several officers donating their labor for renovations)
Improved officer retention significantly
Secured body cameras and other necessary equipment
Removed dark window tint in squad cars to eliminate a barrier between the public and the police
Increased diversity in our police force
Organized “Ask the Police Chief” Zoom sessions for the community
Hired a part-time officer with specialized training in truck enforcement issues
Hired a third full-time officer
Inaugurated a Civil Service Commission
Created a civilian complaint procedure with a form accessible to the public on the Borough website
Eliminated “on call time” and other unnecessary expenses
Increased average rate of pay for Milford police officers by more than 50%
Established a systemic stationary enforcement program responsive to residents’ requests for targeted enforcement
Installed speed signs at all four entrances to the borough, as well as on 7th Street
Instituted an aggressive crosswalk enforcement campaign
Dramatically increased the number of traffic enforcement stops, warnings and citations. “CMV” refers to Commercial Motor Vehicles.
(A police traffic statistics table was omitted here.)
Other than managing the police department, the Mayor’s only statutory obligation is to break tie votes on the Council. The Mayor also can (and I almost always did), participate in Council meetings and discussions, including executive sessions, to make sure diverse community perspectives are heard, flagging potential unintended consequences of actions under consideration and provide historical context when appropriate.
Stopping Bad Ideas and Promoting Good Ones
When some on the Council considered tearing down the old Borough Office building (next to Borough Hall on West Catharine Street) to create a parking lot, I was opposed and helped mobilize support in favor of an alternative plan. Under Councilmember Pete Cooney’s leadership, the result was a lease to a private citizen that keeps the 19th century house standing and generates rental revenue for the Borough.
When a telecom company offered the Borough $15,000/year to let them build a cell tower for 5G transmission, there was initially quite a bit of support as it seemed like a “free” $15,000 for the Borough. I helped raise various concerns (aesthetic, impact on property values, health and safety) and with the help of a community group that formed in opposition, the plan was defeated.
When the mega-warehouse was first proposed on a site on top of the aquifer providing Milford’s drinking water, grassroots opposition grew quickly but political leaders were slow to speak out. I was unequivocal in stating my opposition, believing the warehouse would have been a disaster for the town. The “Water Not Warehouse” campaign was launched, citizen groups formed and the community became better-informed as to what was at stake.
The warehouse project has been stopped, for now, but our water supply won’t be safe until that property is owned by the Milford Water Authority or another governmental agency obligated to protect the aquifer. This remains an ongoing risk.
The Mayor can also take a longer-term view and help efforts such as our participation in the 2020 National Census count, which affects our eligibility for various federal programs. I was glad to help Barbara Tarquinio, who led this effort. Her team helped produce what might be the most accurate Milford Borough census report in decades.
Sometimes the Mayor can help Council members advance important ideas for new or revised ordinances or zoning changes. Two in particular, the prohibition on any further drive-through businesses and the smoke shop ordinance, are extremely important to protect our historic character and pedestrian-oriented central business district.
Drive-throughs
Current drive-throughs—Wayne Bank, Citizens Bank, Wells Fargo and Walgreen’s—are grandfathered in, but because of the new ordinance, no new drive-throughs can be approved. Prohibiting drive throughs is the first line of defense against an onslaught of fast-food restaurants, as most major chains would want a drive-through window to open an outlet in Milford.
Drive-throughs discourage folks from parking and walking through Milford’s central commercial district. Drive-throughs are more suitable for suburban areas or commercial strips—like the three-lane—than in the center of a pedestrian-oriented village.
Smoke Shops
The large differential in tobacco taxes between New York’s $5.35/pack vs. Pennsylvania’s $2.60, has created a powerful incentive for smoke shops to open in Pennsylvania. While New Jersey’s tax is only slightly more than Pennsylvania’s right now, there are proposals to increase it something comparable to New York’s rate. If that happens, Milford will be at heightened risk of an influx of smoke shops, similar to what Matamoras has experienced. The Council was wise to strictly limit where such smoke shops could be placed.
Central Sewage
The lack of a sewer system is one of the, if not the, most important impediments to investment in Milford’s commercial district. Many health care facilities, for example, will not even consider in-ground septic systems. The growth or expansion of several of our existing businesses is limited by lack of central sewage disposal. Central sewage is the right thing to do for the environment as well as for the continued vitality of our commercial district and I have been proud to support this effort.
Improvements in Our Parks
I am proud that the utilization of Milford’s parks has increased so significantly over the last few years and that Borough residents have welcomed residents from other parts of the county to use our parks and ballfield.
I am especially proud to have helped Annette Haar and others create the new Ethel Barckley Park at the end of Ann Street overlooking the river and to have found donors to pay for the MEC-style pedestrian lighting in the Ann Street Park.
Political Outreach
As Mayor, I prioritized creating strong relationships with governmental partners in Harrisburg and Washington. Hosting events, often in my own home, for Governors Rendell and Shapiro, Senators Casey and Fetterman, Congressman Cartwright, former Congressman Sherwood, as well as state legislators, strengthened the Borough’s relationships with important elected officials and their staffs. It keeps Milford “top of mind” for them when relevant opportunities arise and gives us entrée to their offices when we need help.
Whether it is funding for a significant capital improvement, such as Congressman Cartwright’s “members item” bringing over $3 million to upgrade Milford’s stormwater system, or even as minor as a bit of good PR, such as when Governor Shapiro gave Milford a great shout out on national television, it all helps Milford.
When we have had challenges with PennDOT over the years concerning Milford Enhancement Committee improvements, Senator Lisa Baker was our reliable ally in Harrisburg to bring PennDOT to the table.
The Mayor can also help facilitate relationships with dignitaries and experts not directly connected to the Borough, as I did when hosting lunches for civic leaders with the German Consul General stationed in New York or with a nationally recognized urban planning expert.
No matter what party the next Mayor is affiliated with, if any, I urge them to continue to build these political relationships—across the aisle—because they benefit our community.
Milford Enhancement Committee
For 25 years, until stepping down last year, I was intimately involved with the Milford Enhancement Committee, which has invested more than $8 million to make Milford’s streetscapes safer, more attractive and pedestrian friendly. The MEC also produces the annual “Welcome Party” that has brought scores of new volunteers into our civic and community life.
These activities are not officially part of mayoral duties. However, the MEC has always worked closely with the Borough and I hope future mayors will continue the relationship. Most recently, during the time I was mayor as well as chairman of the MEC, we made several significant improvements. These include sidewalk and streetscape improvements at the corner of East Harford and Fourth Street and the streetscape, sidewalk and pedestrian light project from Sixth to Ninth streets on the south side of West Harford (expertly managed by Yana Thatcher).
When the Borough offices moved from West Catharine Street into the Old Jail, Jim McClain stepped up as a MEC volunteer to coordinate replacement of historic shutters and hardware, and overseeing tuck pointing, painting and repairing the building’s rotting sills. I was pleased that Borough resident and wrought iron artist Dan Macleod offered to make the iron bracket for the carved-wood and gilt Milford Borough Office and Police Department sign.
We also launched, under the leadership of Eileen Smith (now the MEC chairperson) an annual Community Cleanup Day each April (with the first event honoring Bill Kiger), where 150 to 250 volunteers—including “teams” from local businesses, Scout groups and others—spread out all over the Borough, cleaning up litter, gutter debris, cigarette butts and more. An outgrowth of that effort, was the design and fabrication (by Milford’s Architectural Iron Company) of attractive litter receptacles placed throughout town. The volume of litter we pick up each year has decreased since those trash bins were installed.
Perhaps most important for the future, over the last several years, the MEC established an endowment at the Greater Pike Community Foundation—now exceeding $70,000—the income from which will pay for ongoing landscaping and other maintenance of MEC-installed improvements.
Covid
When the Covid pandemic hit, I took decisive action to protect our community, based on the information available, without imposing mandatory measures from the Borough. When I declared a state of emergency—an action ratified by the Council—we were the first municipality in Pennsylvania to do so, recommending that people reduce their risk of exposure by limiting travel, staying home as much as possible, and taking mitigation efforts (wearing masks, for example).
But that wasn’t all. Javier Morales and others coordinated volunteers who made thousands of masks and distributed them to nursing homes, businesses and elsewhere. Bernadette Schilling arranged for Kolmar to donate 5-gallon buckets of hand sanitizer, which Henrik and Olivia Van Tassell bottled and distributed all over the Borough.
Dr. Doug Manion, an infectious disease specialist who also serves as a member of the Borough Council, and I were on BoldGold radio with our Community Health Updates once or twice a week for a year, to provide the latest and most reliable Covid information available. Dr. Manion, Dr. Tucker Woods and Dr. Wendy Ziechek also hosted “Ask the Dr.” Zoom calls for Borough residents.
Annette Haar, Joe Dooley, Frank Tarquinio, Luke Turano and I created the Milford Covid Relief Fund. We raised more than $70,000, most of which, in partnership with the Milford United Methodist Church’s Community Outreach Program, was distributed in direct assistance to people who live or work in Milford Borough to help pay for basic necessities, such as fuel, rent, food (via food vouchers from local restaurants and stores), diapers, etc.
We also supported local businesses by providing free hand sanitizer, masks and wipes to any business or organization in town that needed them. When we shut down the Covid Relief Fund, we donated the remaining funds (~$5,000) to the Milford Community House as a donation toward the outdoor pavilion now under construction.
And when Payroll Protection Program was launched, Luke Turano, Jennifer Liu and I reached out to local businesses to help them determine eligibility and find assistance in completing applications.
Community Cheerleader
While the mayor’s responsibilities by statute are limited to running the police department and breaking tie votes on the Council, the role as a cheerleader for the community, serving as the most visible individual representative of Milford Borough government, is an important one.
I’ve used that bully pulpit to help recruit new people to getting involved in community life, whether it is serving on the board of a festival, running for the Council, volunteering for an event or a myriad of other opportunities. When new people move to Milford, it is important that their neighbors and others in the community invite and welcome them to participate, in whatever ways are appropriate for them.
I’ve also worked hard to attract new investment to Milford and try to personally welcome every new business, offering resources and guidance. Encouragement and support from the mayor, including advice on navigating confusing licensing and permitting procedures, sometimes is the difference between an entrepreneur opening their business in Milford vs. somewhere else.
The importance of the success of our commercial district cannot be overstated. Without vibrant small shops and restaurants, particularly those locally owned and operated, Milford would feel like a very different community.
When I look at community volunteers, members of boards of directors at non-profits and local elected and appointed officials, I see many who were “recruited” through the Milford Enhancement Committee’s annual Welcome Party. Helping build this type of social capital is important and I hope the next mayor will continue to prioritize bringing new people—including new residents—into the Borough’s community life.
It is also important that these efforts not be partisan. After my 2021 race for Mayor, my opponent, Lisa Emery, agreed to join me at meetings that led to the Unity in the Community group, which brings together people of all political beliefs who shared a concern about polarization in the community and strategize how to combat it. There has never been a Borough resident—of any political affiliation—who contacted me by phone, text, email or letter and did not get an expeditious response.
As Mayor, I also tried to be helpful and respond to requests from community organizations. Whether it is the Garden Club, the Ecumenical Food Pantry, Pike County Arts & Crafts Council, Green Trees, the Milford United Methodist Church’s Community Outreach Program, the Pooch Parade benefitting the Pike County Humane Society, Safe Haven (now VIP), Milford Fire Department, Pike County Historical Society, Pike County Historic Preservation Trust, Greater Pike Community Foundation, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Milford Presents, Black Bear Film Festival, Pike Opera, Milford Readers and Writers Festival, Milford Music Festival and so many others, I provided what help I could.
Tom Quick and the Lenape
When I became Mayor, in addition to the immediate tasks at hand with the police department and Council, I also wanted to undertake an effort that would transcend my mayoralty and address an issue that has festered in our community for 275 years: the erection of a monument honoring Tom Quick, Jr., in the late 19th century.
Tom Quick, Jr., was known for having, in the 18th century, murdered an indeterminate number of Lenape/Delaware Indians (he claimed 99), which made some people, at the time, consider him a hero.
Over the past eight years, I built relationships with representatives from the three federally recognized Lenape tribes who call our area, their homeland, Lenapehoking. Lori Strelecki (representing the Pike County Historical Society), Don Quick (representing 35 Quick family descendants) and the Milford Borough Council also generously participated in this effort which has resulted, so far, in:
An exhibit at the Pike County Historical Society’s Columns Museum created in partnership with Lenape historians (and featuring the Tom Quick monument as an artifact illustrating part of the exhibit);
A literal “burying the hatchet” proclamation ceremony between the Quick family and Delaware Nation at the site on Sarah Street where the monument was once displayed;
A gift of braided sweetgrass, symbolizing reconciliation and friendship, from the Delaware Tribe of Indians to the Quick family;
A land giveback from the Pinchot family;
A documentary film: Burying the Hatchet: The Tom Quick Story which premiered at the Black Bear Film Festival a few weeks ago.
One can’t change history, but we can understand history through a contemporary lens and learn more about why Tom Quick, Sr., was killed, about the opposition to the Tom Quick monument at the time it was erected (and subsequent opposition that arose in the 1920s and 1990s), and importantly, the vibrant legacy and endeavors of the Lenape tribes today.
The film will be broadcast on public television and entered in film festivals next year and it is available to view (for $9.95) at buryingthehatchet.com. But for a limited time, Milford Borough residents can watch it for free at: https://tinyurl.com/burymov2
The Future
While I am stepping down as mayor, I remain as committed to Milford as ever. There are several civic projects I have been involved in that I hope one day might come to fruition, including:
Creating a safe pedestrian access via steps from the ballfield down the bluff to the Borough’s piece of riverfront property. The MEC has had the project designed and renderings created; geologic and soil testing on the bluff has also already been completed.
Implementing an attractive wayfinding signage program to provide clear signage directing visitors to key destinations in Milford Borough and Pike County. Development and sign of the project was funded by the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau with Pike County Room Tax funds. The signage design scheme is completed; only funds for fabrication and installation are needed.
Completion of a pedestrian walking/biking “loop”, comprising a rectangle running from the corner of East Catharine and Third Street, North on Third to High, then West on High to Fifth and South on Fifth to West Catharine and then East back to Third. The initial design work for this project has been completed by Simone Collins Landscape Architecture, through a grant Milford Borough applied for jointly with Lehman Township.
I would like to see the Borough encourage property owners with original, but largely invisible, bluestone curbing to have it reset. In many cases, road surfaces have risen or the curb has sunk to make them crooked or invisible. When restored, they are extremely handsome (take a look at the recently restored curbs in front of 203 and 205 West Catharine Street).
At some point, I hope the Borough pursues the prospect of acquiring more of the privately owned river frontage that is within the Borough’s town limits. We are a river town, yet we have little access to the river. A riverfront park would be an excellent amenity and reconnect the Borough to the river.
In terms of threats to Milford Borough and our quality of life, I remain most concerned about increasing truck traffic. We do not know how much it will increase when the Route 209 bridge over the Sawkill is repaired and the weight limit is raised to the maximum 40-ton limit, as is the current plan. That will allow for fully-loaded 18-wheel tractor trailers to short-cut through Milford from I-84 down Routes 206 and 15 in New Jersey to I-80.
The increased traffic might not be as much as it was decades ago, when Milford’s “truck problem” hit the front page of the New York Times. Yet there has been no study conducted or projections created, at least not shared publicly, as to how great of an increase in trucks—especially 18-wheelers—we are likely to see.
Serving as mayor has been a singular honor. Occasionally, someone refers to it as a "thankless job," but that hasn't been my experience. There are certainly occasions when people (usually those who do not live in Milford Borough) are difficult, ugly or obnoxious, but that is more the rare exception than the rule.
Far more often, residents of the Borough express gratitude to me—and other elected and appointed officials in the Borough—for the time, passion and commitment we've expended on behalf of Milford Borough.
I mention this because we are a tiny borough, with a population of only about 950 adults. The universe of eligible candidates for elected and appointed positions in the borough is small. Folks with long commutes or who are raising young children tend not to be available for evening meetings. Some residents are only in Milford part-time, already committed to other volunteer activities or simply don't have the interest.
Yet the quality of our borough governance—and by extension, the quality of life for borough residents and the success of our commercial district—is highly dependent on the participation of competent, committed and collaborative individuals who will work together for the good of us all.
I wish the next Mayor—whomever he or she might be—the very best of luck.
With gratitude,
Sean Strub
Mayor
Milford Borough
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