Thursday, December 25, 2008

Budget Comparisons

Budgets

Reading Budget about $68,800,000 spending about $860 per resident
Reading population about 80,000

Fleetwood Budget less than $2,000,000 spending about $500 per resident
Fleetwood Population about 4,000

Kutztown Budget about $21,000,000 spending about $4,200 per resident
Kutztown population about 5,000

Will someone please verify my figures and comment on them. This is not algebra or mathematics this is arithmetic. Do you think we have wild spending in the Borough? Mayor Green, the Borough Council, and other responsible Borough Officials are obligated to explain why the spending per resident is very much higher in our Borough which is almost 5 times as much per resident in Reading, and more than 8 times as much per resident in Fleetwood. Maybe they should consult with the retired High School teacher who lives in the Borough and praises Hometown Utilicom and the Borough finances at Council Meetings.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Borough Finance Confusion

Borough Finance Confusion

The Reading Eagle of December 18, 2008 states there will be a .25 mil increase in the Fire Tax, which is a Real Estate Tax. The headline in The Patriot of the same date reads, “No Tax Increase in Kutztown”. Is the Borough confused and giving the local papers the wrong information?

The Patriot sub title also states, “Utility funds needed to offset general fund deficit”. Borough Finance Director and Assistant Treasurer Russ Samilo, Mayor Green, the Borough Council, Borough Manager Khalife, Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney, Auditors Long & Barrell and responsible Borough employees should know this a violation of the Borough Code. According to the Borough Code the only utility that funds can be moved from and into the General Fund is the Electric Department. The West Chester Case also states that funds received for a certain use can only be spent for that use. The Borough has been violating the Borough Code for at least the past 14 years. Most of the funds moved into the General Fund end up paying for the losses of Hometown Utilicom.

The Reading Eagle article states that the Borough Council voted to spend $185,000 for a new utility software program. Council President states that this new program will replace a custom-made software program built in the 1980’s. President Eidle is mistaken this program will replace the New World System which was bought by former Borough Manager Vettraino for $225,000 and was unable to complete the utility billing. Mr. Eidle is deliberately misleading the public. Don’t forget New World System is located in Vettraino’s hometown Morton Michigan. Aren’t there any capable computer firms in Pennsylvania?

Councilman Schlegel stated water and sewer bills will be due monthly rather than quarterly because they can be hefty quarterly. They became hefty because he voted for the rate increases.

The Apex deal with HU is a disaster for the Borough. ITD Caruso states it is not a loss and I think he should explain the situation to the Borough residents.

The Borough should publicize its actions at the Borough Hall, on the Borough website and in the Kutztonian. Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Monday, December 22, 2008

HU &CCG Consulting Report

Hometown Utilicom and CCG Consulting Report

CCG Consulting was paid $20,000 to conclude and state what the Borough Council and Mayor Sandy Green wanted to hear, that Hometown Utilicom is viable. Nothing is further from the truth. No Business Plan or Marketing Plan was presented by Mr. Dawson as was agreed upon at the February Council Meeting by Mayor Green and the Borough Council. Mr. Dawson’s report was based on falsified budgets and fraudulent financial reports that he received from the Borough. The only revenue of HU should be the revenue from the subscribers and not include the funds the Borough is moving into HU through so called rentals, services, subsidies and transfers. Mr. Dawson neglected to state that funds moved into HU were included as revenue.
HU has never produced one financial report and Mr. Dawson stated it was well run. He stated the Electric Fund would help finance HU, but he neglected to say residents pay double the rate for electricity than the surrounding area.
It is strange that all my blogger (www.marinoreport.com) comments and supporters of Hometown Utilicom are nameless and do not include any statistics or financial information to support their comments. It is also strange that the Borough Council, Mayor Green, Borough Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney, Auditor Long and Barrell and other Borough employees do not dispute or respond to my statements and comments.
The Borough has not published or included any information on the Borough website of the details and vote of this Special Hometown Utilicom Council Meeting of December 3, 2008.
It is a known fact that the HU Internet System is outdated, over loaded and can not compete with our competitors. The sweetheart deal with Apex has been broken and the Borough should shut down the Hometown Operation immediately. The last time I looked HU was losing about $1 million a year.
I think it is time for the Borough to defend their actions and explain to the Borough Residents the financial status of HU.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

HU Meeting of December 3, 2008

Hometown Utilicom Report of December 3. 2008

At the February 26, 2008 Council Meeting Mayor Sandy Green agreed to sign legislation approving a loan of $1.3 million with the concession from the Council that they would not spend $1 million of it without a Business or Marketing Plan. There were many other questions and facts raised about HU such as the funds borrowed, future marketing, equipment condition and many others as shown on P. 17426 of the meeting minutes that were also noted to be explained.

After almost 10 months the Borough Council called a Special Council Meeting to explain the Business Plan and the Marketing Plan to the public. CCG Consulting was paid $20,000 for their report which did not produce any statistics, profit or loss statements, funds transferred into HU that were called loans, transfers, subsidies, rentals etc. The only loan repayment (debt service) mentioned at the meeting was $170,000 a year to repay the bond issued that was originally borrowed by HU. The report does not mention almost $14 million which was given to HU in one way or another by the Borough that was never made public. The public asked many pertinent questions about HU and none of them were answered by Mr. Dawson. Mr. Dawson also stated “the Borough owned-and-operated television and internet services nearly broke even this year and is expected to break even next year, covering expenses and covering debt”. I challenge Mr. Dawson to produce an amount and Borough records to confirm this.

The Borough has never made public any financial report on HU since its inception and CCG Consulting reproduced the limited information that was given to them by the Borough. The Borough also groups HU finances with Borough Finances and the Electric Fund to further mask the finances of HU, yet Mr. Dawson states” there is a true separation between the borough and Utilicom”.

The Borough Council voted to continue to foolishly spend another $1 million on HU based on a presentation made by Mr. Dawson which did not produce any statistics, projections or financial records.

Mayor Green what happened to the agreement you made with the Borough Council regarding the Business and Marketing Plan which you based your signing for the loan approval? Mr. Dawson did not produce anything new. Rumor, before the meeting, had it that the Council was going to vote to continue HU no matter what the report stated.

In my humble opinion, without financial records and statistics, the report read like a $20,000 novel for 3rd graders. G.M. Professional Engineer

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Hometown Utilicom Meeting of December 3, 2008

Hometown Utilicom Council Meeting December 3, 2008

To my knowledge there have been no details of the special 12-3-08 HU meeting made public by the Borough. It would be nice if anyone who comments on my blog to fill us in as to what transpired at the meeting. CCG Consulting received $20,000 to produce a Business Plan and Marketing Plan that would allow HU to spend the $1.3 million loan which was approved at the March 2008 Council Meeting. I know some of you that comment were present at the meeting. I would appreciate information from anyone. Thank you. Jerry

Monday, December 1, 2008

Blogs of November 26 and December 1, 2008

Blogs of November 26, 2008 and December 1, 2008

My Blog of November 26, 2008 was made up of 3 questions and my December 1, 2008 Blog was made up of 5 questions. The only statement I made in the 2 Blogs was in the December Blog in which I state the Borough Council approved increasing CCG Consulting’s fee to $20,000 from $16,500 by unanimous vote. This statement is true because it can be seen in the Borough Council Meeting Minutes on page 17495.
DR (Day Room is usually a very large empty room) happens to be an appointed Borough Official who attacks me personally but does not have the courage to answer the questions. My attending the December 3, meeting will not change anything. Dayroom, do you remember when I was Mayor the Borough Council would not allow me to speak at the Council Meetings and they even took me to the Court of Common Pleas 3 times and censured me. Don’t forget the Borough Solicitor told all the Borough Officials not to answer any of my letters or Blogs. Is that why you will not state your name? Remember everything I write has my name on it.
Gennaro A, Marino P.E.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Questions of the Day December 1, 2008

Questions of the Day Dec 1, 2008

At the July 15, 2008 Council Meeting the Council voted unanimously to increase CCG Consulting’s proposal from $16,500 to $20,000, which I assume is for the HU Business Plan.
1) Why did it take 4 months to complete the Plan?
2) The Borough has NEVER published a financial report on Hometown Utilicom. Did the Borough provide a financial report on HU to CCG consulting? Why didn’t the Borough make public the information provided to CCG Consulting?
3) At the special December 3, 2008 will Borough Officials act surprised at the findings of CCG Consulting?
4) Will the Business Plan be available to the public at the meeting?
5) Was this report deliberately delayed because of the internet problem at the Apex Student Housing?

Questions of the Day November 26, 2008

Questions of the Day of November 26, 2008

1) Why did it take 8 months to produce a Business Plan for HU?
2) Why haven’t any financial records or statistics of HU been published for 8 months?
3) Is the Borough paying interest on the $1.3 million loan?

$1.3 MILLION HU LOAN HU BUSINESS PLAN

Question of November 25, 2008

WHERE IS THE $1.3 MILLION HU LOAN AND HU BUSINESS PLAN VOTED ON AND SIGNED BY MAYOR SANDY GREEN AT THE MARCH 2008 BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING?

Perkasie and Kutztown Comparison

Comparing Boroughs Kutztown vs. Perkasie

Population Kutztown 5,000 residents (includes about 2,000 students)
Perkasie 8,000 residents

Budget Kutztown $19 million $19 million/5,000 = $3,800 per resident
Perkasie $5 million $ 5 million/8,000 = $625 per resident

Debt Service Kutztown $ 1.1 million $1.1 muillion/5,000 = $220 per resident
Perkasie $ 2,750 $2,750/8,000 = 34 cents per resident

Electric Rate Kutztown 21 cents per KWH not posted anywhere
Perkasie 11 cents per KWH posted on borough website

Budget Available Kutztown Unavailable
Budget available Perkasie Available on Borough website

Note:
Both Boroughs sell electricity
Kutztown has a university adjacent to the Borough
Kutztown owns a Business Venture, Hometown Utilicom that loses about $1 million a year
Kutztown’s debt service does not include any payment for the $19 million borrowed
from the Borough by Hometown Utilicom which would be an additional debt service of $1.5 million


Comment:
Borough Officials will attribute all of these embarrassing figures to the fact that Kutztown University is adjacent to the Borough. I attribute it to wild spending by the Borough Council and a lack of leadership by the elected and appointed officials of the Borough and the poor advice from Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney and independent Auditor Long & Barrell Ltd.
All figures have been rounded off to simplify the comparisons

Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Jerry

Blooger Advice

October 14, 2008
Blogger Message from Former Mayor Jerry

All any one needs to have a website and be heard is honesty, courage, a computer and an IDENTITY. Thank you.

Attorney General Corbett Letter

October 3, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Websitew www.marinoreport.com
610-683-7977
Attorney General Tom Corbett
Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, Pa 17120
Honorable Attorney General,
I am making a serious charge of deceit and corruption by the Borough of Kutztown. The Borough, doing business as Hometown Utilicom (a Business Venture), signed an agreement (contract dated June 21, 2005) with 4 members of the Grande family to provide Services, television, internet and telephone at a development known as “University Village Apartments” in Maxatawny Township in Berks County, Pennsylvania. This property was purchased for about $440,000 and after the Borough of Kutztown agreed to provide sewer and water to the project and the Township of Maxatawny approved student housing, the property was sold for about $3.2 million. The new owner Apex of Kutztown agreed to accept the contract even though the value of the installment could not be determined.
In return the Borough received many very generous concessions from the developer to benefit the Business Venture, Hometown Utilicom. Attached please find a copy of the contract.
Page 2, paragraph 4 states that the OWNER at its expense shall install the network facilities external to the buildings. (External Network) When complete the OWNER shall transfer ownership of the External Network to HU in consideration of HU’s agreement to provide services hereunder and otherwise maintain the External Network.
Page 2, paragraph 5 states that the OWNER at its expense construct and install the inside wiring and facilities within the buildings. (Internal Network Facilities)
At the time this contract was agreed upon, June 21, 2005, there were no plans or specifications to base this agreement on. It is impossible to determine the value of the commitment of the contract which means this is payment to the Borough of Kutztown for providing water and sewer to the development. The profit is so tremendous that the developer, Apex of Kutztown, agreed to any type of installation, at any cost, for the Borough’s business venture which loses about $1 million a year. Paragraph 7, page 3 states the owner will also provide electricity to the system, again an undetermined cost.
Paragraph 25a. states proprietary information will not be disclosed to third parties. Are Borough residents third parties? Municipalities can not be a party to secret deals or agreements.
Along with these illegalities the Borough has not published any statistics or finances about HU for about a year and one half except at the August Council Meeting Council President Eidle stated, as per the minutes,” Mr. Eidle welcomed Apex village as a new HU customer, providing for an estimated potential of 545 new customers”. I think this contract also intends to eliminate other service providers from competing with HU.
I think this contract is a sweetheart deal for the Borough of Kutztown, doing business as Hometown Utilicom, in payment for the Borough agreeing to provide water and sewers to the project. This development would not be possible without Kutztown providing water and sewer. I think your office has good reason to look into this matter and question the Borough, the Grandes and Apex of Kutztown. Thank you.
Sincerely,


Gennaro A. Marino P.E.-

Monday, October 13, 2008

Hometown Utilicom Failure

October 8, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
http://www.marinoreport.com/
Kutztown Borough Officials
It is a known fact that the Borough, doing business as Hometown Utilicom, can not provide internet services as advertised. The Hometown Utilicom website is now advertising upload and download speeds at 3 mb for $80 a month. Not long ago HU was advertising 10mb for half the price. The Service Electric website advertises 7mb for $39.95 per month and the Verizon website advertises 3mb for $29.99 per month.
Information Technology Director Frank Caruso, who heads HU, has told customers that the Borough can not provide higher speeds because Mayor Green, Councilmen Kevin Snyder and Brendan Strasser want to destroy HU for personal reasons. As usual Mr. Caruso does not state the true story. The true story is at the March ’08 Council Meeting Councilmen Snyder and Strasser voted against the loan but Mayor Green signed the Ordinance for the $1.3 million loan for HU with the stipulation that the Borough would obtain a Business Plan before the $1.3 million could be spent. The Mayor was right because she was looking to protect the residents. I assume the loan was to be used to pay for the HU system update. The rest of the story is that after almost 7 months ITD Caruso and the Borough still have not come up with a Business Plan. The Borough is deliberately delaying the completion of the Business Plan to buy time. Councilmen Snyder and Strasser voted against the Loan because the Borough, in one way or the other, has diverted more than $16 million into HU since its inception in 2002 and it continues to lose $1 million a year.
Council President Eidle has stated HU will be profitable next year. That statement is a figment of Mr. Eidle’s imagination since no financial records or budgets have ever been published by the Borough. Even if HU added all of the Apex tenants HU will not be profitable. Mr. Eidle should provide backup information for the Borough residents.
President Eidle also stated at the August ’08 Council Meeting that the Apex student housing has the potential of providing 545 new subscribers to HU. There are 183 units with 3 students in a unit. Mr. Eidle assumes every student will be a customer. Unless HU has a special deal at Apex, there is only one TV service in a unit and according to Service Electric’s website each internet service can provide service for up to 5 computers which means there is only potential for 183 customers.
I am in possession of the contract between HU and Apex of Kutztown and in it the developer has agreed, at its own expense, to provide and install all the interior and exterior fiber systems and equipment for the complete HU service operation. The contract also states that after completion and successful testing ownership of the exterior system will be transferred to HU. Apex has also agreed to provide electricity for the HU system. There are many more concessions made to the Borough by Apex in the contract. All these concessions were made before there were any plans or specifications for the project. It was impossible for the developer to calculate the cost of these concessions. Even with all the Apex free construction HU still can not provide competitive service. There is also evidence in the contract that attempts to exclude HU’s competitors from the project. All these concessions were made to the Borough in payment for the Borough providing water and sewer to the project that helped the original developer who bought the property for $440,000 to sell it for $3.2 million.
I think it is high time that the Borough fess up and tell the truth about HU. The whole operation is a lie and HU should cease operations immediately. To divert funds into HU the budget is falsified, reports are fraudulent, timesheets are falsified etc. To support these charges the 2006 and 2007 mandatory Annual Audits are at this time incomplete. And the Borough Solicitor is advising you to withhold Borough finances and not answer my letters or honor my Right to Know requests.
Sincerely,


Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Borough Solicitor letter

September 25, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Solicitor
Mr. T. Dietrich Esq.
Barley Snyder
Kutztown Borough Hall
45 Railroad St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Solicitor Dietrich,
It has come to my attention that you are advising the Borough Council, Mayor Green and Borough Employees not to respond to my letters which means they can not defend the Borough or address my accusations that the Borough Budget is falsified, the Borough publishes fraudulent reports and there are no Audits or Budgets available to the public. Recently the 2007 Audit was placed at the Borough desk but it is incomplete.
I think this is an admission by you that the Borough is guilty of all the accusations and charges I have stated and you are a part of it. I think you are illegally encouraging the Borough to withhold all financial books and records that are unfavorable to Hometown Utilicom which loses about $1 million a year, and then you advise Borough representatives not to respond to my letters. I think you are overstepping your responsibilities and are out of order by doing so. Your responsibility is to advise the Borough about the legalities of matters, remain neutral, and not make policies.
At the September 16, 2008 Council Meeting which you attended especially to act on my appeal of my Right to Know Request. Of course you were in favor of denying the appeal and then advising me that I can take my appeal to Court which will help line the coffers of Barley Snyder. What is your objection to making public the status of the $1.3 million loan and Business Plan for Hometown Utilicom which was voted on at the March 2008 Council Meeting which was 6 months ago? The vote stated that the loan would remain untouched until a Business Plan was completed. Again the question is where is the loan and the Business Plan after 6 months? This information should have been published periodically in the past and not have to be requested under the Right to Know Law. This is a no win situation for the Borough. If the Court rules in favor of the Borough, and the Borough is not required to produce the information, the whole world will know the Borough is withholding financial information. And if the Court forces the Borough to produce the information, again every one will know the Borough is not forthcoming with financial records of Hometown Utilicom. Either way the Borough will be embarrassed.
Why are you so afraid to produce the information on HU? And why are you afraid to have the Borough produce the Audits and Budgets for 2006 and 2007 as per the Borough Code? And why are you afraid to have any one respond to my letters?
I expect an answer to this letter and I also expect to receive information about the status of the $1.3 million loan and the status of the HU Business Plan because going to Court will be an embarrassment to the Borough.

Sincerely,


Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Council Meeting July 15, 2008

September 16, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Council President Malcolm Eidle
Council Vice President Seyler
Councilman Schlegel
Councilman Gangewere
Councilman Snyder
Councilwomen Amy Bray
Dear Council Members,
After almost 2 months the minutes of the July 15, 2008 Council Meeting were published. Page 87 states and I quote, “Under Finance, Electric and Telecommunications Committee, Council reviewed the Second Quarter Budget Summary Report. President Eidle commented that the Borough has done very well with expenses this year”.
I notice Telecommunications is conveniently grouped together with Finance and Electric to hide the fact that Telecommunications is losing money and is illegally being transferred funds from other Borough Departments. Finance and electric control the majority of the Borough’s funds and revenue. I then notice that there are no facts or figures attached to the Budget Report, again to hide the finances of Telecom. Therefore the only financial report for the public is President Eidle’s comment which was that “THE BOROUGH HAS DONE VERY WELL WITH EXPENSES THIS YEAR”. I can not believe the 5 of you sit there and accept this statement which means nothing and not one of you is curious enough to ask President Eidle to explain his statement and ask him for a Treasurer’s Report. I have never seen or heard of any legitimate regular municipality meeting or even a club meeting without a Treasurer’s Report.

Page 87 also states and I quote, “Council reviewed CCG Consulting’s proposal which exceeds the originally approved amount of $16,500. A motion was made by Ms. Bray, seconded my Mr. Schlegel, Resolved, To accept CCG Consulting’s proposal in the amount of $20,000”.
Shouldn’t the public be informed about what this proposal is for? Why was $16,500 originally approved? What was it based on? I think this proposal is for the Telecom Business Plan and again, if it is, you are hiding the finances of Telecom. If it is for the Business Plan why did it take almost 4 months to approve the proposal? And now 2 months later there are still no details about the Business Plan or the $1.3 million loan.

This letter points out just 2 incidents that prove you are all individually responsible for distorting the Borough’s finances. The $1.3 million Telecom Loan hinges on this Business Plan which you are deliberately delaying. You are all running out of time the Borough finances have to be made public sooner than later. The 2006 and 2007 Audits and Budgets are not available to the public which is a Borough Code violation. Every one of you is aware that the Borough’s finances are falsified and you can never say you did not know. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. The truth will prevail.

The Borough has a new Borough ManagerTreasurer but nothing has changed he continues to keep the books illegally as Keith Hill and Jaymes Vettraino did before him and he did not answer my letter as per your orders. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE BUSINESS PLAN AND THE $1.3 MILLION HOMETOWN UTILICOM LOAN?
Sincerely,

Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Borough9-12-08 Officials Letter

September 12, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
www.marinoreport.com
Council President Eidle
Council Vice President Seyler
Councilman Schlegel
Councilman Snyder
Councilman Gangewere
Councilwomen Bray
Dear Council Members,
I addressed all of you individually and by name because I want each and every one of you personally to know that you are all accountable for not answering the demands that I stated in my letters to Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife and Council President Eidle. You are all violating the Borough Code.
I demanded President Eidle address Mr. Remaley’s untrue and derogatory statements about me and to make the Borough’s finances available to the public as per the Borough Code.
I demanded Treasurer Khalife make all the Borough’s finances available to the public as per the Borough Code. About one month before my letter to him Mr. Khalife told me he was not aware of the situation concerning the Borough finances. I agreed being he was new as Borough Manager and Treasurer. But after more than one month there are still no financial records available to the public.
How can the 6 of you agree to order Mr. Khalife not to publish the Borough’s financial records and violate the Borough Code? You have also ordered Assistant Treasurer Samilo to violate the Borough Code. He personally refused to show me any financial records on several occasions.
You are also aware of the disgraceful behavior of David Remaley who is a member of the Zoning Hearing Board and again you all agree to ignore my accusations but you can never say you did not know of his false statements.
I know that every one of you received copies of my letters because I hand delivered them to the Borough Hall and you can never say you were not aware of the Borough Code violations.
I am in possession of the contract between Hometown Utilicom and Apex at Kutztown and offhand I think the Borough over stepped its limits with this contract. Did the Borough Solicitor review this contract before it was signed?
I am going to pursue the Remaley incident unless I hear from you. And I will continue to pursue my requests for financial records to be made available to the public. Remember you can never say you did not know the facts of this serious situation.
What happened to former Councilman Dr. Strasser’s statements about Hometown Utilicom that were published in the local newspaper? Did you disown them?
Please inform me as to when the financial records will be available at the Borough Hall and how you will handle the Remaley case. Thank you.

Sincerely,


Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Teplitz Auditor General letter

September 8, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977

Department of the Auditor General
Robert F. Teplitz Chief Counsel\Policy Director
229 Finance Building
Harrisburg, Pa 17120

Dear Sir,

I am in receipt of your letter dated August 22,2008 which does not address my complaint that the Borough of Kutztown is using Commonwealth Grant Funds for purposes other than they were issued for. You also do not address a previous statement from your office stating that the Borough did not receive any Commonwealth funds. To my knowledge it is the responsibility of the Auditor General to confirm that the funds are legally expended on projects that the grant was issued for. I have pointed out in my previous letters some violations of this provision. And being there are no Borough financial records available to the public at this time there is no way of determining how, when or where the grant funds are spent. Your office has the responsibility and the authority to follow the paper trail, if there is any, of these funds. We are talking about over $1 million since 2004.

I have attached a copy of letters to Borough Manager\Treasurer Gabriel Khalife dated August 24, 2008 and Council President Malcolm Eidle dated September 2, 2008 in which I ask to see Borough financial records and have never received a reply because the Borough will not allow the public to see any information about Borough Finances which includes the distribution of Commonwealth Grants.

Please feel free to contact me if you require any additional information.

Sincerely,


Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Right to Know Secretary Bray 9-5-08

September 5, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray
Kutztown Borough Hall
45 Railroad St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Madam Secretary,
I am in receipt of your reply to my Right to Know Law request dated
August 27, 2008 and I would like to appeal my requests Nos. 1,2 and 4 on the grounds that these documents have to exist because this information was given to the Borough Council and the Mayor for discussion and vote. Council President Eidle and Councilman Gangewere stated publicly that Hometown Utilicom will be profitable after the Borough has provided Apex with services. Under the Right to Know Law your letter states the Borough has to duplicate public records. Councilmen Eidle and Gangewere had to receive status reports on the Business Plan, the $1.3 million loan and the number of potential subscribers to HU to make such statements. In fact Mayor Green, the remaining Council Members and Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife were all given this information. It had to be in writing for distribution and all you have to do is make copies to fulfill my request. This information was voted on at the March 2008 Council meeting which was almost 6 months ago.
This information should be published monthly along with the Budget and should not have to be requested under the Right to Know Law. This is public money in a Business Venture that loses $1 million a year and the Borough residents are entitled to know what you are doing with the money.

Sincerely,


Gennaro A. Marino
Kutztown Borough Resident


cc. Council Members
Mayor Sandra Green
B.M. Khalife
Open Records Office
Many Others

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

President Eidle Answer or Resign

September 2, 2008
Gennaro A.Marino P.E.
www.marinoreport.com
Council President Eidle
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Sir,
I have not received a response to my letter to you dated August 14, 2008 in which I accuse Zoning Hearing Board Vice Chairman David Remaley of making false statements about me. In addition he has stated that I have a dishonorable discharge from the military which is slander. Being you are the leader of the Borough I am holding you responsible for his actions. Mr. Remaley is embarrassing the Borough and should be fired or asked to resign. In my letter I also ask for a retraction and an apology for his false statements and at this time I will accept both. But please don’t think that by not responding to my letters that this matter is over. It is your duty and responsibility to put a stop to this matter before it becomes a legal matter.
An anonymous comment on my blog states that I have refused to allow the Borough access to my water meter. The comment states ITD Frank Caruso gave them this information. How, when and where was this information made public? Is my business with the Borough public information? There is also other information on my website that indicates that there is other information being leaked to individuals about Borough business, namely Telecom. I think some elected and appointed borough officials are commenting on my blog anonymously with the aid and approval of you and the Borough Council.
I think it is time for you to make all the finances of Telecom public, in fact you should make all Borough finances public as per the Borough Code.. The anonymous comments on my blog also mention a contract with the Apex Development. There are also rumors that Telecom will turn a profit when Apex becomes a customer. Where did this information come from? Telecom is a loser even with Apex and you know it and that is why there are no financial reports about Telecom available to the public.
I recently wrote letter dated August 25, 2008 to Borough Manager\Treasure Khalife stating there are no financial records of any kind at the Borough desk which is a Borough Code violation. He has not replied to it or acknowledged if he received it. Recently I made you aware of this illegal situation and you have done nothing about it. If you do not or you are not capable of leading the Borough you should resign. Do your job and accept responsibility or leave.
MY WEBSITE, MY ACCUSATIONS, MY QUESTIONS AND I ARE NOT GOING AWAY. PRESIDENT EIDLE I DEMAND AN ANSWER TO THIS LETTER OR YOUR RESIGNATION.

Sincerely,

Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Friday, August 29, 2008

An Old Letter Same Old Story

More Borough Council Finances 2-5-08

Upon reviewing the structure of the Committees of the Borough I discovered that there are six committees and they are:

Community Development Committee
Public Safety Committee
Public Works committee
Personnel Committee
Water and Wastewater Committee
Finance, Electric and Telecommunications Committee

I noticed Telecommunications, a business venture that loses about $1 million a year, is conveniently tucked in between Finance and Electric in one committee. Finance is the General Fund and Electric is the Electric Fund and between them they generate and control almost all of the revenue and funds that can be transferred to all departments of the Borough without restrictions. Telecommunications (Hometown Utilicom) is grouped with Finance and Electric to allow Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino to intermingle revenue and funds of the three departments and illegally conceal the finances of Hometown Utilicom. This coupled with the item on the Consent Agenda which usually reads “move funds from any fund or agency to any other fund or agency to pay the monthly bills” allows Mr. Vettraino to transfer funds secretly without making them public. These illegal transfers and fund movements are all done under the direction and the approval of the Borough Council, Mayor Sandra Green, ITD Caruso and Borough Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney and auditors Long & Barrell.
To complete the scheme and keep the finances of Hometown Utilicom a secret, there are no 2006 and 2007 Budgets available at the Borough Hall.

Pearl Seaman 8-29-08

August 29, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Ms. Pearl Seaman,
It was an honor and a pleasure to receive a second comment from an idealistic young lady who cares about her Borough. After reading the comment from” Residents against Marino” you realize your mom was right as moms usually are. I did not acknowledge your first comment because I knew it would generate such comments. You stated you have a tendency to believe some of the things in my reports and I may be on the right track. Their comment twists your statements and has you agreeing with me which isn’t the case. I thought your comment was asking questions and for clarifications. I apologize for their comment and would like to point out it comes from someone with no name who falsely claims to represent some residents. The comment also does not address my blog and is all about distorting your comment which is typical of people with no names. Take notice that the third comment was posted by another no name and the article has nothing to do with the Kutztown situation.

In your comment you ask me to publish some of the responses to my letters that I have written to government officials. Contact me and I will gladly give you copies or show you the originals. I think if I publish them it will give my detractors more material to distort as they have done to many of my blogs.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Kessler Blog Reply

Kessler Computer Blog Reply
How did 3 lines about a computer firm on my website www.marinoreport.com strike such fear in the hearts of you no names and generate 7 immediate comments. Now that I have your attention I would like to point out that there were no threats or attempts at intimidation in the 3 lines. But you all ran for cover and joined forces, believing as all children do that there is safety in numbers. I only wanted you all to know that there are computer firms out there that can protect you. I do not need any protection because I am up front with all my statements. And by the way I do not need and do not have a website contract because my website is based on Honesty, Integrity, True Facts and Free Speech.

My website contains a short bio and even a picture of myself to let everyone know who I am and what I am. This is just the opposite of you no names hiding behind the anonymous comments. But I am very happy to provide a platform for you, the anonymous, who do not have the courage to setup a website and identify yourselves and air your views.

It is amazing that after all of your anonymous vicious and untrue comments that my website commands such attention? I am flattered I never thought I would receive so much notoriety, fame and attention. Anonymous and no names, thank you for your attention and dedication. It would be nice if you would include some facts and figures and less vulgarity and profanity in your future comments. Thanks again.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Khalife Letter 8-25-08

August 25, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Borough Manager Gabriel Khalife
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Sir,
Friday August 22, 2008 I visited the Borough Hall and asked to see the Budgets and Audits for 2006 and 2007. Finance Director\Assistant Treasurer Samilo was called by the clerk and proceeded to make excuses, but simply put there is no budget or audit for 2006 and 2007 available at the Borough Hall desk. He showed me a stack of white letter size papers and told me it was a copy of the 2006 Audit and I stated I want to see a copy of the Official Audit. He stated that was all he had. He stated he did not have the 2007 Audit because it was being finalized. I stated, as per the Borough Code, the Audit shall be completed and published within 90 after December 30, 2007, the end of the fiscal year, in a local newspaper. He could not tell me if it was published in a local newspaper or the date it was published. He also could not tell me if the 2006 Audit was published or a date when it was published. I also informed him that the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas told me they never received a copy of the 2006 Audit which is another Borough Code violation.
About one month ago I spoke to you and Mr. Samilo and made the same requests and the reply was the same which means nothing has changed. This means you, as Treasurer, have done nothing to conform to the Borough Code and make the financial reports public. He also stated the audits were on the borough website and I stated many people are not on the internet and they should be at the desk at the Borough Hall. I ask you, if they are on the website why can’t they be available at the Borough desk?
I also asked to see the budget that was published monthly which showed the revenue and expenditures for the month, totals to date and compared it to the proposed budget. These monthly reports were given to department heads to determine if they were over or under their budget. The department heads also do not receive them because Mr. Samilo said we do not do our accounting that way. How can anyone know if the Borough is over or under the budget? On the other hand that is how the Borough Officials want it, they do not want anyone to know about the Borough’s finances especially the financial status of Hometown Utilicom.
There has never been a complete financial report on Hometown Utilicom. If Borough Officials state there was one please get me a copy which I will gladly pay for.
PLAINLY PUT, PRESENTLY THERE ARE NO FINANCIAL RECORDS OR DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT THE BOROUGH HALL.
I demand that you make the Borough financial records available to the public as per the Borough Code or explain why you can not.
Sincerely,

Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Please include Borough records and documents with all answers and comments to this letter.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Right to Know Request August 22, 2008

Right to Know Law Request August 22, 2008 to the Borough of Kutztown


1) What is the status of the Business Plan for HU that was voted on at the March Borough Council Meeting?
2) What is the status of the $1.3 million loan for HU that was to be spent as per the Business Plan? This loan was also discussed at the March Council Meeting and was a condition for Mayor Green’s signing the HU $1.3 million Loan Resolution.
3) I would like to see the Contract between Hometown Utilicom and the Apex Development located in Maxatawny Township.
4) I would like to see the number of potential subscribers this contract will add to HU.

Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Telephone 610-683-7977
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
website wwwmarinoreport.com

The above request was hand delivered to the Borough Hall on Friday August 22, 2008 @ 4:10 PM. When I receive the reply I will publish it.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Computer Forensics

Kessler International
World Headquarters
45 Rockefeller Plaza Suite 2000
New York N.Y. 10111
Phone 800-932-2221

Kessler International is a Computer Firm that specializes in the field of computer forensics. Three of the many services they provide are: Tracing hostile content, internet monitoring and litigation support. Please check their website for further information.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Definition of Anonymous

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary the definition of anonymous is
1 with no known name, 2 given written etc. by one whose name is withheld or unknown
3 lacking individuality. And I agree and I add anonymous has no father or mother, never went to school, has no worldly experience, never served its country, never married or had children, never went to church, never won an award which means they are a nothing, a zero. I also take this to mean anyone who uses the name anonymous had to be a nothing to begin with. This is also confirmed by the anonymous comments on www.marinoreport.com which are ignorant, hateful, vicious and lack facts and figures to refute my accusations and claims. Not one anonymous comment has mentioned a name or provided a Borough document that disagrees with my facts and figures. The one individual who used his name has stated he will not comment any longer. He stopped making comments because he could not backup the false personal statements he made about me.

IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT ANONYMOUS DEFENDS THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS OF FALSIFYING THE BUDGET, PUBLISHING FRAUDULENT REPORTS AND WITHHOLDING BOROUGH FINANCES AND THE BOROUGH OFFICIALS DO NOT DEFEND THEMSELVES OR THEIR ACTIONS.

I would like to answer some of your comments but first I have to ask some questions. To Mary and John Anonymous I do not recall speaking to you on several occasions. Please tell me how many people I chastised and there names. I do patronize local businesses and I do it to meet the wonderful people of the Borough and tell them the news of the Borough which is also the purpose of my website. Please answer my accusations and charges with facts and figures from Borough records and documents.

As per my last electric bill I paid 21 cents per kilowatt and residents in the Borough’s surrounding areas pay 10 cents a kilowatt. Yes our bill is more than double. Mr. Kelly’s article is referring to areas that can shop for an electric Company. Kutztown residents, by law, can not shop for an electric company because we own the Electric Company and that is why the Borough can ridiculously overcharge us. Anonymous should also look at the Electric Fund Audit, if there is one, and tell the public what the Borough Council doing with this excess revenue.

My reputation is based on honesty and integrity and a handful of no names can’t change it. My website, my name and I are out there and I welcome all challenges, comments and criticisms with names or faces.

Please stop attacking my bio and reputation because I do not make Borough Policy and squander your hard earned money the Borough Officials do. Question the honesty, integrity, bio, education, agenda, motives and dedication of the borough Officials and ask them why they do not reply to my website and letters.

I also think some comments come from Borough Officials, I can’t tell which ones because the borough has many important officials. There are so many important paid officials that they can not all be seated on the dais at the council meetings. Some comments sound like they come from an old website of a borough employee.

Please answer my blogs with your names, and please some Borough facts and figures.

Friday, August 15, 2008

No Meeting Agenda Available

August 15, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Notice to the Borough
Kutztown Borough Hall

Borough Officials and Appointed Employees

Tuesday August 19, 2008 is a regular monthly Council Meeting and as of tonight Friday August 15, 2008 there is no agenda available on the Borough website. When will the elected Borough Officials review the agenda items to vote on them? And shouldn’t the agenda be available to the public to keep them informed? If the agenda was readily available more residents will attend the meetings and there will be some informative discussions before the votes. This is just another example of the Borough withholding information about Borough finances and legislation. For instance where is the $1.3 million HU loan and where is the HU business plan that was voted on at the March Council Meeting? The minutes of the July Council Meeting are not available but the June meeting was 25 minutes long and the Council voted on 26 pieces of legislation. A 25 minute council meeting in a Borough with a Budget of over $19 million just doesn’t make any sense. I am sure you will respond to this blog through your anonymous supporters.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Letter to Council President Eidle

August 14, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Council President Eidle
45 Railroad St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Mr. President,
Mr. David Remaley the Vice Chairman of the Zoning Hearing Board has attributed statements to me that are untrue and he states the statements are on Borough Council Meeting tapes. Mr. Remaley speaks for the Borough and I asked him and the Borough to produce the tapes. If the Borough and Mr. Remaley can not produce the tape or tapes he should retract his statement and apologize. Mr. Remaley has made many statements attacking me that are untrue and could be libelous. Mr. Remaley is an appointed Borough Official who represents and speaks for the Borough. All his statements were made as comments on my website www.marinoreport.com and he confirms he is responsible for the statements. I am holding you as Council President, Mr. Remaley and the Borough Council responsible for producing the tapes or retracting the false statements.
You as Council President are responsible for correcting this situation and I expect an answer from you or I will pursue this further. An appointed Borough Official can not make irresponsible statements about private citizens.

Sincerely,

cc. Mayor Green, Kutztown Borough Council, Borough Manager Khalife, Borough Solicitor, Secretary Bray and others

This letter was hand delivered to the Borough Hall today at 11 AM

Monday, August 11, 2008

The Truth Stands Tall Lies Do Not

The TRUTH stands tall. It can stand tall on its own because it never changes. A LIE can not stand on its own because it is constantly changing and that is why Mr. David B. Remaley, the Vice Chairman of the Zoning Hearing Board of Kutztown, and his anonymous associates constantly keep changing the subject. The purpose of this website is to have the Borough open all its financial books and records to the public according to the law and have an internal audit. I have stated in the past and I repeat I will stop asking questions of the Borough and will shut down this website when the Borough opens all its books and records to the public.

What does my short bio and my 4 years as Mayor have to do with the Borough falsifying the Budget, publishing fraudulent reports and not publishing the finances of the Borough? None of the unsigned comments to my blog contain one fact or figure from a Borough document that refutes what I say and not one Borough Official has ever challenged my facts and figures, therefore I know my facts and figures are correct.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Don't Read the Blog Read the Comments

I tell everyone I meet to go to the marinoreport.com and just read just the comments and they will get a lesson in futility by a group of nameless desperados. They have trouble reading, writing and spelling. A few of their names are Anonymous, Copy-Cat, Anti- Marino Reporter and Forever a Main Street Resident. I have checked many telephone books and people finders and I can not find any phone numbers or addresses for them. They really do not exist but they criticize my short bio, my ancestry and use vulgarity in their comments. I question the Borough’s finances and procedures and these same no names do not answer the questions, but blindly attack me personally because they do not have a clue as to what is going on in the finances of the Borough and in particular Hometown Utilicom. It seems strange that the Borough does not reply to my blog but allows and maybe encourages the comments. It is possible that some of the comments may come from Borough Officials.

Many of the comments come from Mr. David Remaley who is an Appointed Borough Official who sits on the Kutztown Zoning Hearing Board since 1991. He has attributed statements to me that were not true which he said were on Borough Council Meeting tapes and I have demanded that he and the Borough produce the tapes or retract the statements. These facts are explained in detail in my last few blogs and public comments. I am presently waiting for Mr. Remaley and the Borough to reply to my demand.

Note: Copy-Cat the word is narcissistic not narcistic and the biggest word in my neighborhood when I was a kid was delicatessen.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Again Remaley and the Borough Produce the Tapes

Mr. Remaley this website is not about attending Council Meetings or my personal life it is about news of Kutztown. I will attend Council Meetings when my presence is beneficial to the Borough. And I also want you to know that when I do attend it will be alone.

Again I demand that you and the Borough produce the tape or tapes of the Borough Council Meetings when I stated:

1) I stand behind every inaccurate statement I have ever made.
2) I am the most honest person I ever met.
3) I am a direct descendant of Benito Mussolini, and proud of it!

Your comment also states, and I quote, “And don’t forget that you are on taped public record from previous council meetings making statements such as” the above. These are the tapes I demand you produce and I will gladly pay for them. If you can not produce them I demand you retract the above statements and apologize publicly.

These statements are very serious, upsetting, emotional and stressful and I do not take them lightly. I expect a prompt response to this post from you and the Borough.

Extra note to subscribers: Copy Cat is old, doesn’t know how to spell and anonymous has resorted to vulgarity which makes me very happy.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Remaley produce or retract

Mr. David Remaley, the statements you claim I stated are not public record because I never made them. I am charging you and the Borough you represent with fabricating false statements and attributing them to me. And I demand you present proof that I said them or retract your statements.

Specifically I have never said:
1) I stand behind every inaccurate statement I have ever made.
2) I am the most honest person I ever met.
3) I am a direct descendent of Benito Mussolini.

Along with that I want you to know I am not a mentally challenged person, I am not related to Howdy Doody or Benito Mussolini and I do not spread half truths as you have stated in your comments. If I do spread half truths why doesn’t the Borough challenge me? In reply to your last comment many people take me seriously and I am not going away. All your supporters are faceless and nameless which means they have no pride or courage.

You and the Borough can be held libel for making false statements. Produce the tapes or retract the statements.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Boro & Remaley produce the tapes

Mr. David Remaley, in your comment dated July 10, 2008 which was in reply to my post dated July 5, 2008 you state and I quote in caps, “AND DON’T FORGET THAT YOU ARE ON TAPED PUBLIC RECORD FROM PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS MAKING STATEMENTS SUCH AS … I STAND BEHIND EVERY INACCURATE STATEMENT I HAVE EVER MADE … I AM THE MOST HONEST PERSON I HAVE EVER MET … I AM A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF BENITO MUSSOLINI, AND PROUD OF IT”!

Mr. Remaley as a Borough Official you have involved the Borough of Kutztown in your above comments by stating my statements are on previous Borough Council Meeting tapes. I demand that you and the Borough produce the tapes or state at what specific meetings I was supposed to have made these statements and I will pay for them. If you and the Borough can not produce the tapes or they do not exist, I demand you and the Borough print a retraction. You also confirm the above statement in your August 3, 2008 comment to my August 3, 2008 post.

This is serious business you can not defame a private citizen.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Reply to Mr. David Remaley

Thank you, Mr. David Remaley, for confirming that they are truly your comments on my website. I will have you know as an Official of the Borough of Kutztown all of your public statements are a reflection on the Borough, especially the statements involving Borough records such as tapes quoting me at Council Meetings. I expect a complete retraction of your comment on my website of July 10, 2008.

I would like you to know that I do not call people buffoons because they disagree with me I call them buffoons because a buffoon is one that is always clowning and trying to be funny( as per Webster’s New World Dictionary). I am very happy to see that in your comment of July 31, 2008 you align yourself with the buffoons who you now know are cowards and their comments are embarrassing to the Borough. Why don’t you and the elected officials you supported, as a member of the mob, call a Town Hall Meeting, publish financial reports and discuss all Borough Finances especially Hometown Utilicom.

Marinoreport.com is based on Honesty and Integrity and the statements in my short bio are not boasts but facts. Your attempts to dishonor me have no basis or justification. If you have any proof that my statements are not true please make them public. Don’t forget the Borough spent more than $150,000 investigating me when I was the Mayor and they came up with nothing. And also remember I was never cited by Chief Cole for Disorderly Conduct and represented in court by Attorney and Borough Councilman Carl Mantz. I never had 8 witnesses and 15 spectators in court to falsely testify for me and some of them were elected Borough and appointed officials. Speak up Mr. Remaley. There is an old proverb that states “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”.

Being you relate to the buffoons please inform them that to agree on legislation that was discussed at Committee Meetings is illegal. It is a Sunshine Law violation. How can all Council Members agree on legislation if only 2 or 3 are present at the Committee Meetings? If they do agree that would constitute a meeting which is a Sunshine Law violation.

Mr. Remaley isn’t it strange that the Mayor and the Borough Council do not respond to www.marinoreport.com?

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Response to Desperados

By the comments from my last post I see that all the buffoons have now become desperados, I love it.

Being the Vice Chairman of the Zoning Hearing Board makes Mr. David Remaley an Appointed Borough Official. Mr. Remaley should state if he is speaking as a Borough Official. He should also state if he is privy to Borough financial reports, records and documents because he states in his comment, “You want US to use facts from borough records and comments. As soon as WE do that, you say they are false.” By stating US and WE it can be assumed that he is speaking for the borough as a Borough Official and I do not think it is ethical for a Borough Official to mention my heritage and mention my ancestry.

I also notice in the 6 comments from the “Desperate Buffoons” that there are no facts, figures or references from borough documents or reports. In fact some cowards also keep sending the same meaningless comments. I am encouraged by your rapid and meaningless responses and I will continue to point out the faults of the Borough Council, the Mayor, the Borough Solicitor, the Borough Auditor and appointed Borough Officials and Appointed Borough Employees.

I am just writing abut 2 topics because I see by your comments that when I write about more than 2 topics you all become very confused.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

comments lacking facts

Isn’t it strange that of all the comments sent to this website that there is no mention of Borough finances, no mention of the HU loan of $1.3 million, no mention of a HU Business Plan, no mention of the name of the Borough Accountant or CPA, no mention of the number of subscribers or revenue of HU, no mention of the fact that HU loses about $1 million a year, no mention of the fact that the budget is falsified and reports are fraudulent.

To see the minutes of the 6-17-08 council meeting go to the Borough website and click on Council Meetings then click on 6-17-08 and then deny my statements.

I am happy that I have your undivided attention. I think some of you are Borough appointed and elected officials that do not have the courage to answer my statements. This piling on does not discourage me because my strategy is working based on your meaningless and immediate comments.

Keep the comments coming, but please start stating some facts from Borough records and documents. Thank you. Yours truly

Monday, July 28, 2008

marinoreport a forum for malcontents

It has been established that www.marinoreport.com has become a forum for many buffoons, malcontents, faceless gutless wonders and no names who pretend to represent the Borough but like the Borough will not answer my inquiries and make public the finances of the Borough and in particular Hometown Utilicom.

According to the minutes of the 6-17-08 Council Meeting the Borough hired an Apprentice\Meter Reader. Keith Hill and Frank Caruso stated in 2002 that Hometown Utilicom will have AMR (Automatic Meter Reading). Jaymes Vettraino also made the same prediction in 2003. AMR does not require a meter reader.

The Borough also hired 4 CSO’s (Community Service Officers). It seems Chief Cole can not retain the personnel he hires. Recently a Police Officer resigned and no one asked Chief Cole for the reason.

Why is the Water and Wastewater Committee paying to upgrade the SCADA System when Hometown Utilicom is paid for security services by the Water and Sewer Department? Shouldn’t HU pay for the upgrade being they provide the service?

I am positive it will be easy for one of you activists to reply and explain the above questions that all came out of the minutes of the 6-17-08 Council Meeting. Let us have the facts and not question who I am because I am visible and you know who I am. I am a taxpayer and that is enough to ask to see what the Borough is doing with public funds that belong to the public and to explain legislation they vote on.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Kutztown Borough Per Capita Tax

A few residents of the Borough have told me they pay a per capita tax of $52 annually to the Borough. Last year the Borough Council, in their desperate search for funds to help finance Hometown Utilicom, raised the tax from $10 to $52 per person. This tax is paid by everyone who works in the Borough. I think it is a disgrace that Borough residents aren’t excluded from this tax. If a resident uses their house as mailing address they will pay the $52.

I thought the Borough was in the process of inviting business firms to move into the Borough as Telecom subscribers. This tax increase was recommended by ex-Borough Manager\Treasurer Jaymes Vettraino who has left the state in a hurry to be near his family.

Friday, July 25, 2008

June 17,2008 Kutztown Boro Council Mtg.Review

The minutes of the June 17, 2008 were just published on the Borough website and present at the meeting were 17 Borough Officials, 1 University Official, 3 Boy Scouts and 1 borough resident.

No one addressed the Council and there were 26 unanimous votes with no discussions, with 4 items in the consent agenda. Many new employees were hired and some contracts awarded. The new Borough Manager\Treasurer was appointed and sworn in.

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm and was adjourned at 7:55 pm. 26 unanimous votes in 25 minutes is less than 1 minute per vote. How can Council members and the Mayor know any of the details of the items that were voted on?

This is a disgrace and an embarrassment for the Borough and points out that the only parties that can embarrass the Borough are the elected officials, the 6 Borough Council members and the Mayor.

Monday, July 21, 2008

July15,'08 Council Meeting Agenda

Why doesn’t the Borough publish the minutes of the May Council Meeting?

In reference to the July 15, 2008 Council Meeting Agenda:
What is all the fuss about the Casual Dress Code? Was there a violation by the Borough?
Why did the Borough have to retain a firm to bring the Police Pension into compliance of Federal and State Laws? Was the Borough in violation?
Was the second quarter budget summary report discussed and published at the meeting?
What was CCG Consulting’s proposal and how much was it over the budget?
How can the Council discuss hiring a Telecom Technician when Telecom does not have a Business Plan?
Is the University Interceptor Replacement Project in the Borough?

Why aren’t there more facts, figures and details about the above statements for the Council Members discuss before they vote and the public can also be informed? Again and as usual the Council does not want the taxpayers to see what they are legislating.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Why Ask About Me Personally

Why ask about me on marinoreport.com ?
Why are all the faceless, nameless and gutless buffoons who comment on this website ask and comment about me? The purpose of this website is to furnish visitors with news about Kutztown. Why ask questions about me? I do not make policy, raise taxes, raise utility rates, lie about Hometown Utilicom, borrow money, increase the annual budget to $19.1 million. I did not increase the total debt (internal and external) to about $29.3 Million. All questions should be directed at the elected Borough Officials.

The news about Kutztown is that the budget is falsified, reports are fraudulent and there are no financial reports available at the Borough Hall for the taxpayers to review. I have also written many charges and accusations about illegal activities of Borough Elected and Appointed officials and have never received any replies.

Some additional questions you can ask the Borough Officials:

1) Where is the $1.3 million loan for HU?

2) Where is the Business Plan for HU?

3) Why can’t Jaymes Vettraino’s New World Systems consolidate the utility bills and do the payroll?

4) Where is the Automatic Meter Reading program?

5) Where is the Wireless Internet program?

6) Why hasn’t the Borough had an internal audit for at least the last 14 years?

I will answer all personal questions by e-mail or USPS, so just drop me aline.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Letter to Council Pres. Eidle

Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
July 18, 2008

Kutztown Borough Council President Malcolm Eidle
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Mr. President,
Under your leadership the Borough has submitted a bid to Kutztown University to provide Cable TV and internet services. It is illegal for you and the Borough Council to put Borough funds at risk for Hometown Utilicom which is a business venture. How can you submit a sealed and secret bid to the University when all financial books and records can be reviewed by the public? How did you put together a bid when Information Technology Director Caruso was unable to draft a Business Plan for HU? How did you submit a bid when Mr. Caruso stated the Borough could not fulfill the contract? How can the University, a State Agency, legally accept a bid from a municipality then not state if they received it? Did the Borough provide a bid bond?

This demonstrates that you and the borough have no idea or plan as to what you are doing. You have not answered any of my charges or accusations. You can not deny any of the above facts because they were printed in the Reading Eagle.

By the way why wasn’t the 2006 Audit submitted to the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas? Is the Auditor finalizing the 2007 Audit that should have been published in a local newspaper by March 31,2008?

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Questions for the Borough Council & Council Supporters 7-13-08

As per the Council Meeting minutes of March 26, 2008 and the article in the Reading Eagle the Borough Council approved a $1.3 million loan for Hometown Utilicom with conditions. The conditions are that $300,000 can be spent as soon as it is available and $1,000,000 can not be spent until a “Business Plan” has been drafted. It is now 108 days (3 1\2 months) since that meeting and there has been no financial report on the $300,000 or any status report on the “Business Plan” made available to the taxpayers.

The Reading Eagle also states “HU realized an operating profit of $80,000 which was calculated after Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino moved more than $500,000 into HU from Borough Departments and Funds.

Mr. Frank Caruso who heads HU states the venture made a day to day profit 2 years ahead of schedule, he also states “but turning HU into a million-dollar profit center was not”. Frank Caruso and Former Manager Keith Hill provided many projections and predictions about HU and replacing the Electric Dept. as the big money maker was one of them. Mr. Caruso should be made to back up his statements with Borough documents.

Why not ask Mr. Caruso, Mr. Hill and Mr. Vettraino to produce all the great visions and writings they produced about HU. If they can not produce them I can.

BUT WHERE IS THE BUSINESS PLAN AND THE $1 MILLION LOAN?

For all the buffoons who personally criticize me on my website and want answers from me please ask the elected officials who are obligated to answer you because you elected them. The buffoons should also attend Council Meetings to gather information to pass on to the public and I as you did when I was Mayor (2002-2005) remember? I do.
Jerry

Thursday, July 10, 2008

I Repeat I Am HereTO Stay

I Repeat, I Am Here to Stay 7-10-08

I have bought a cemetery plot at Hope Cemetery and the tombstone reads Mayor of Kutztown 2002-2005. I love the personal remarks directed at me that have no substance or credibility, especially the one that ends up with go away. Go away the way Borough Manager\Treasurers Keith Hill and Jaymes Vettraino did after they falsely puffed up their resumes’. Or run away like Council Members Eric Ely, Jan crooker, Carl Mantz and John Schmoyer. Councilmen Archie Follweiler and Brendan Strasser spoke the truth about Hometown Utilicom, which loses about $1 million a year, and their names will never be mentioned in the Borough again.

About State Officials not answering my letters ask Borough Manager\Treasurer Gabriel Khalife and Assistant Treasurer Russell Samilo if any of my letters were answered. In fact ask Mayor Green, the Borough Council, the Borough Solicitors Mooney and Dietrich and Borough Auditors Long and Barrell if they have seen any inquiries from the Governor’s Office, Senator O’Pake’s Office or the Auditor General’s Office.

My anonymous detractors and the one with a name should tell the public when the 2006 and 2007 Budgets and Audits will be available at the Borough Hall. And Hometown Utilicom does not lose about $1 million a year. You can also show the local taxpayers that the Budget is not falsified and the Borough does not publish fraudulent reports on HU. You can also tell the Kutztown residents where the $1.3 million loan and the Business Plan for Hometown Utilicom is.

Remember I will stop asking questions and shut down my website, www.marinoreport.com, when all of the Borough’s financial books and records are made public at the Borough Hall as per the Borough Code.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

to All Anonymous Commentators, Thank you

To All Anonymous Commentators, thank you.

A message from anonymous asks if I received free cable service from Service Electric when I was the Mayor. I have never received any free service from any one ever. Because I care for the Borough I did not take the salary of the Mayor for my first year in office. The fact is I donated my salary of $3,325 to the Borough. That could have paid for 9 years of cable service from Hometown Utilicom or Service Electric. My donation is the best kept secret in the borough because it is an embarrassment to Borough Officials who spend borough funds recklessly and irresponsibly. After one year I decided to take the salary when I saw the Borough Council allow Councilman John Schmoyer create a position of Recreation Director, apply for the position, resign as Councilman and appointed to the position unanimously. Then ex-Mayor James Schwoyer was appointed to fill his position as Councilman. This entire procedure took about 12 minutes at a Borough Council Meeting and Mr. Schmoyer’s salary went from $2,500 a year to $6,000. Then Borough Manager\Treasurer Keith Hill resigned because of the hostile environment at the borough. The Borough Council begged him to stay on for another 2 weeks which he did for $12,000. After leaving the Borough he returned to his desk at the Borough Hall as an employee of Spotts, Stevens and McCoy at $84 an hour. SS&M is the Borough’s Engineering firm and Keith Hill had previously reviewed all of their contracts and approved all of their payments. At $84 an hour the hostile environment disappeared.

Some other reasons were the Borough Solicitor received about $120,000 for the year, the Budget was falsified, reports were fraudulent and the Borough was illegally funding Telecom.

You all pretend to be very well informed about Borough Business, but I do not see any disagreement with my comments, accusations, facts and figures. All of your personal comments are part of a scheme to take the attention away from the Borough not making all financial reports public.

All of my letters and notes have my name attached to them because they are all true and I stand behind them. I walk around the Borough and I make myself available to any one who would like to speak to me.

All you No Names, the Mayor, the Borough Council, the Borough Solicitor, the Borough Auditors and some Borough employees are not available to the public because some one may ask you about the Borough’s finances and legislation and you do not have any answers. One reason is you do not know and the other reason is you do not have the courage. The more you put me down with no facts the more credibility I have and the happier I am. You also see no taxpayers at the Council Meetings and the meetings only last for about 30 minutes with no discussions before the voting. This means you stand alone along with the other pretenders and every one in the Borough knows the meetings have no credibility.

Where is the $1.3 million loan for Telecom and where is the Telecom Business Plan? Don’t forget all my letters will stop and my website will shut down when you have the Borough make all our financial records public as per the Borough Code. It is as simple as that and it should be very easy for you the No Names of the Borough to get the books open. Thanks again.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Response to Detractors

Response to Detractors
In the past my detractors attended all Borough Council Meetings and approved of all of the actions of the Council. These detractors are all friendly with the Mayor and Council members and yet they question my comments and accusations. I suggest my detractors ask Mayor Green, Council members, Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife, assistant Treasurer Samilo, Borough Solicitors Mooney and Dietrich and Auditors Long and Barrell if my letters and comments are true. At this point in time I know all my statements have merit and must be true because not one Borough Official, or in fact any one, has replied to them in any way.

The only negative comments I usually receive are from anonymous but the latest negative comment comes with a name. He asks if the Borough is so good at hiding Borough Finances how do I know that Telecom is losing money. I can tell by the following:
1) My Real Estate Tax went from $120 a year to $260 a year.
2) My electric rate is double that of the surrounding areas.
3) My water and sewer rate has more than doubled in the past 6 years.
4) The Borough Council recently voted to borrow $1.3 million to finance Telecom.
5) The Audit Report in the Kutztonian states that the internal Borough is about $13 million but neglects to state that the internal debt is about $16.3 million which makes the total Borough debt $29.3 million.
6) In desperation for funds the Borough illegally bid to sell telecommunication services to Kutztown University even though Telecom Director Frank Caruso stated the Borough can not provide the services.
7) Rather than float bonds to borrow the $1.3 million for Telecom the Borough took a Bank Loan because I think the Borough no longer has a Triple A rating.
8) Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino suddenly resigned to be near his family and a very respected Borough Resident has stated that Telecom has created a house divided.
9) The Borough has no Sinking Funds or any funds in reserve.

It does not take a financial genius to determine that Telecom is losing money and the Borough is broke. Jaymes Vettraino with the votes of the Borough Council raised every service the Borough provides and resigned. In appreciation the Borough gave him a going away dinner. I don’t forget the Borough also gave Keith Hill a going away dinner.

If any one, especially my detractors, can get a copy of the Audit and the Budget I will gladly review them with you and prove all my statements and accusations are true.
Sincerely,


Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Letter to State Officials

June 20, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net 610-683-7977
website www.marinoreport.com
Mailed to:
Governor Rendell
Attorney General Corbett
Auditor General Wagner
State Senator O’Pake
State Representative Mantz on Saturday June 21, 2008



On Friday June 20, 2008 at 1:28 pm I went to the Kutztown Borough Hall and asked to see the Budgets and Audits as per the attached note dated June 20, 2008. I was told by the 2 secretaries at the desk that they did not have any of them. I asked to see someone in charge and they told me the Borough Manager was out of his office and the girl in charge of the records was on vacation. I quoted the Borough Code as per my attached letters and they said they knew nothing about the requested documents. The attached letters quoting the Borough Code were hand delivered to the Borough June 13, 2008. Two days ago Councilman Kevin Snyder told me to go to the Borough Hall and I will be able see the Budget and Audit. Even though there has been no budget or audit available for more than a year he stated there is no reason for the borough to withhold the information when he knows the borough is hiding the fact that Telecom loses about $1 million a year, Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino has resigned and left the state and a Borough Councilman has retired because of the desperate state of Telecom and the Borough’s finances.

As per Section 1113 of the Borough Code the requested documents should be available to any taxpayer at any reasonable time. The taxpayer does not have to speak to any Borough Official. The clerks or secretaries at the desk should have all the records and documents on hand to distribute to the public.

This proves that there is a well planned and calculated scheme by the Mayor, the Borough Council, some Appointed Borough Employees, the Borough Solicitor and the Independent Auditor to hide the fact that funds are being illegally moved within the Borough to divert funds into Telecom. There has not been an internal audit in the borough for at least 14 years and the Borough does not employ an accountant or retain a CPA. The Borough Debt is about $28 million and does not have any reserve funds and the Borough population is about 5,000.

It is time for you to send a representative to look into the illegal and irregular movement of taxpayer money within the Borough. Thank you.


Sincerely,


Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Message from Former Mayor Marino

Message from Former Mayor Marino

I am the FORMER MAYOR of Kutztown and I am happy to receive all comments on my website including those from anonymous. I will leave all of them on my website for all visitors to see. I would even be happier if anonymous challenged my statements rather than attack me personally.

For the record I visited the Borough Hall Friday, June 20, and today, June 23, and there are no financial books or records at the Borough Desk for taxpayers to see. This is a flagrant and arrogant violation of the Borough Code.

My letters are usually addressed to Mayor Green, the Borough Council, the Borough Manager, the Borough Solicitor, the Independent Auditor and some appointed Borough Employees and the only replies I have received are from Anonymous.

I noticed that there was only one resident at the last Borough Council Meeting and the meeting was over in 30 minutes. Why didn’t Anonymous go to the meeting and ask what is happening with the $1.3 million loan for Telecom? What is happening with the Telecom Business plan? What is happening with Automatic Meter Reading? What is happening with Wireless Internet? What is happening with combined utility billing? Why does Telecom lose about $1 million a year? All these questions and more should be answered by Information Technology Director Frank Caruso who heads Telecom.

Concerning electric rates Borough residents presently pay 20 cents a kilowatt. PPL customers currently pay 10 cents a kilowatt if PPL raises the rate 34% PPL customers will pay 13.4 cents a kilowatt which is 6.6 cents lower than Kutztown’s rate. The PPL rate increase will take place in 2010 and by that time the Borough will increase our rates at least 2 more times. Jerry

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Borough Code Audit Requirement Letter to Council

June 13, 2008
Friday the 13th
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
e- mail kmayor@ptd.net 610-683-7977
Kutztown Borough Council
Borough Manager
Assistant Treasurer Samilo
Borough Solicitors Mooney & Dietrich
Long & Barrell Accountants
Attention Please!
Attached please find a copy of an e-mail I received from Karen O’Neil, Government Specialist of the Department of Community and Economic Development. It quotes the Borough Code sections pertaining to the stringent requirements of the Mandatory Annual Audit by the Independent Auditor.
It also quotes the duties of the Independent Auditor such as:

1) To file a copy of the report with the Secretary of the Borough and to the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county and the Department of Community Affairs not later than 90 days after the close of the fiscal year, and

2) to publish within 10 days thereafter, by advertisement in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the Borough, a concise financial statement setting forth the balance in the treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year, all revenues received during the fiscal year by major classifications, all expenditures made during the fiscal year by major functions, and the current resources and liabilities of the borough at the end of the fiscal year, the gross liability and net debt of the Borough, the amount of the assessed valuation of the borough, the assets of the borough with the character and value thereof, the date of the last maturity of the respective forms of funded debt and the assets of each sinking fund.

Section 1113 states, “The fiscal records and documents and the minute book and other records and documents of every borough shall be open to the inspection of every taxpayer thereto, at any reasonable time.

You are all guilty of serious violations of the above Borough Code Sections. For one the Auditor accepts all figures and internal revenue and expenses provided by the borough without question. The mandatory Annual Audit never shows the internal debt. Auditor Mr. Long has stated at a Council Meeting that his Audit does not check internal loans or transfers of funds between borough departments.

There is no information available to taxpayers to show when and if the audits have been filed with the Court of Common Pleas, the Borough Secretary or the Department of Community Affairs.

There is no information available to taxpayers to show when and if the audits were published in any newspapers. And as far as records and documents available to taxpayers, the only information available to the taxpayer at the Borough Hall is the 2008 Budget which contains proposed figures.

If I do not receive an answer to this letter in timely fashion I will copy every State Agency because this is arrogant and deliberate attempt to conceal the falsifying of the Budget and publishing fraudulent reports.
Sincerely,




Borough Code Audit Requirement

It is no longer a requirement that municipalities file their annual budgets with DCED.

According to the Borough Code Section 1196, (a), (e) (1):

(a)The independent auditor shall annually examine, audit and settle all accounts whatsoever I which the borough is concerned and the audit shall consist of an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall include such tests of the accounting records and such other auditing procedures as he considers necessary in the circumstances

(e) It shall be the duty of the independent auditor:

(1) To file a copy of the report with the secretary of the borough and the clerk of the court of common pleas of the county and the Department of Community Affairs not later than ninety days after the close of the fiscal year, and

(2) To publish within ten days thereafter, by advertisement in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the borough, a concise financial statement setting forth the balance in the treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year, all revenues received during the fiscal year by major classifications, all expenditures made during the fiscal year by major functions, and the current resources and liabilities of the borough at the end of the fiscal year, the gross liability and net debt of the borough, the amount of the assessed valuation of the borough, the assets of the borough with the character and value thereof, the date of the last maturity of the respective forms of funded debt and the assets in each sinking fund.

Section 1113 states, “The fiscal records and documents and the minute book and other records and documents of every borough shall be open to the inspection of any taxpayer thereto, at any reasonable time.


Karen O'Neill
Government Policy Specialist
Department of Community & Economic Development
(717) 720-7395
Commonwealth Keystone Building400
North Street, 4th FloorHarrisburg, PA 17120-


From: Mayor Marino [mailto:kmayor@ptd.net] Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 9:52 PMTo: ONeill, KarenSubject: Re: NewPA.com Contact Us Inquiry


Am I to understand that it is proper to publish the 2006 Budget in June of 2008 and the 2007 is being reviewed in June of 2008. How does the DCED review the Budgets when the Borough has not had an internal Audit in at least 14 years and the Borough does not retain an accountant or a CPA? The Borough will not devulge when or in what local newspaper the 2006 and the 2007 Audits have been published as per the Borough Code which states the mandatory Annual Budget should be published 90 days after the end of the year. When does the Borough have to make the manatory Annual Audit available for public review at the Borough Hall? Gennaro A. Marino ----- Original Message -----


From: ONeill, Karen
To: kmayor@ptd.net
Cc: DC, DCEDCLGS ; Wolfe, Sandra
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 1:51 PM
Subject: RE: NewPA.com Contact Us Inquiry

Dear Mr. Marino,

Thank you for contacting the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
Kutztown Boro has filed both their 2006 and 2007 Annual Financial Reports with DCED. The 2006 Annual Financial Reports will be published to the web approximately the last week in June or first week in July. The 2007 Annual Financial Report is currently being reviewed in DCED.

Sincerely,

Karen O'NeillGovernment Policy SpecialistDepartment of Community & Economic Development(717) 720-7395Commonwealth Keystone Building400 North Street, 4th FloorHarrisburg, PA 17120-0225www.newPA.com www.visitPA.com

.

From: kmayor@ptd.net [mailto:kmayor@ptd.net] Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 11:04 AMTo: readysetsucceed@newpa.comSubject: NewPA.com Contact Us Inquiry

First Name: Gennaro A.
Last Name: Marino
Company: noneTitle:
residentEmail: kmayor@ptd.net
Phone: 610-683-7977
Field: CitizenQuestion/Comment relates to: Local governmentQuestion/Comment:

Question: Has the Borough of Kutztown filed The Municipal Annual Audit and Financial Reports-DCED-CLGS-30 reports for 2006 and 2007? They are not available to the Public at the Borough Hall and the Borough has not announced when and if they were filed or published in the local newspapers. No financial reports or audits have been avaiable at the Borough Hall for almost a year and one half.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Hiring New Borough Manager and Treasurer

May 6, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
website www.marinoreport.com
Mayor Sandy Green and the Borough Council
Dear Elected Officials,
At the Special Council Meeting of April 7, 2008 an Ordinance was passed seeking to fill the positions of Borough Manager and Treasurer. Yet the Borough website does not list the two positions under Employment Opportunities. This again shows the lack of leadership on your part. Isn’t the Borough participating in the search for a Borough Manager and Treasurer or is it the usual let an outside firm do it. This is your usual policy of make no decisions and you will not be responsible for the decisions.
The Ordinance clearly states “the Borough is in the process of seeking candidates for the positions of Borough Manager and Treasurer of the Borough of Kutztown”. This means you plan to hire two people to replace Mr. Vettraino, again increasing the payroll. The minutes of the March 18, 2008 Council Meeting state the new Borough Manager will receive a salary in the range of $90+ thousand a year. What will the new Treasurer’s salary be? The residents of the Borough deserve a thorough explanation as to what your plans are and how you plan to spend Borough Funds.

Gennaro A. Marino P.E.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Letter to the Reading Eagle Editor

May 2, 2008
Former Mayor Marino
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net 610-683-7977
website www.marinoreport.com
Letter to the Editor of the Reading Eagle
Thank you for the very informative 5-1-08 article by reporter Park about Hometown Utilicom. Hometown Utilicom is not a utility as stated by Mr. Caruso but a Business Venture that loses about $1 million a year. A business that has 1,000 customers and adds 6,000 more and breaks even could be losing about $1 million a year or more.
Mr. Caruso does not mention the finances of HU or the amount of money the University customers would generate, the cost of the new installation or the cost of additional personnel. He also did not release the dollar amount of the offer.
Because the Borough is a municipality all of the finances of the Borough are public information. The Borough has never published a financial report or audit of HU which is a Borough Code violation. The Borough can not compete with private industry because of the open records laws.
The article also states that the Borough has loaned and transferred funds into HU but again does not state the amounts. Why did the Council vote unanimously to submit an offer when Mr. Caruso has stated the infrastructure can not be completed in time to satisfy the offer. Then Council Vice President Seyler states we can grow our system, and we can grow our business. He recently voted to borrow $1.3 million to update our current system.
Gennaro A, Marino P.E.
Former Mayor of Kutztown