Committee Meeting 4-8-09 Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
I attended the Committee Meeting to witness the bid openings for the contract for the transition of the head end to digital. There were 2 bids but they could not be compared because one bid was incomplete and the committee decided to consult legal counsel. I think the bid document was flawed but council members stated that they think one bid did not include engineering. The bid from Advance Media Technology was $104,858.51 and wasn’t very clear and the bid from Blonder Tongue Laboratories was $119,511.87. It was strange that the bid from Blonder was the exact same amount as their Purchase Order which according to Borough Secretary Bray and ITD Caruso does not exist.
I have asked the Office of Open Records to have the Borough provide me with a copy of the Purchase Order and they replied that they will investigate my request.
By the way I was the only concerned citizen at the meeting.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
www.marinoreport.com
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
NO SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT 4-7-09
No Special Council Meeting Announcement 4-7-09 Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Council &
Mayor Green
Dear Elected Officials,
I noticed an announcement in The Reading Eagle of a Special Borough Council Meeting called for on April 8, 2009 at 2:00 PM. It does not appear on the Borough website. On the Borough website is the following.
Under next scheduled meeting is stated 4\21\09 at 7:30 PM
Under current council meeting agenda is stated March 17, 2009 Agenda
Under Revising meeting dates and times is stated Nothing at this time
This Special Meeting was called to open the bids for the contract for the transition of head end to digital.
This action or lack of action is the continuation of the cover up of lies to conceal the existence of a Purchase Order by you and the Borough Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney, Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife, ITD Caruso and some Borough employees. And you do not want any residents to attend this meeting.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Fax nos. 610-683-6729
610-683-9076
610-683-3537
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Council &
Mayor Green
Dear Elected Officials,
I noticed an announcement in The Reading Eagle of a Special Borough Council Meeting called for on April 8, 2009 at 2:00 PM. It does not appear on the Borough website. On the Borough website is the following.
Under next scheduled meeting is stated 4\21\09 at 7:30 PM
Under current council meeting agenda is stated March 17, 2009 Agenda
Under Revising meeting dates and times is stated Nothing at this time
This Special Meeting was called to open the bids for the contract for the transition of head end to digital.
This action or lack of action is the continuation of the cover up of lies to conceal the existence of a Purchase Order by you and the Borough Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney, Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife, ITD Caruso and some Borough employees. And you do not want any residents to attend this meeting.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Fax nos. 610-683-6729
610-683-9076
610-683-3537
Thursday, April 2, 2009
BLONDER PURCHASE ORDER UP DATE 4-2-09
Blonder Tongue Laboratories Inc. Purchase Order Up Date 4-2-09
Kutztown Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
45 Railroad St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Madam Secretary,
My March 27, 2009 Right to Know Request read:
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COPY OF THE PURCHASE ORDER OF $119,511.87 WHICH THE COUNCIL WAS TO RATIFY AT THE MARCH 17, 2009 COUNCIL MEETING.
Your reply of April 1, 2009 reply read:
YOUR REQUEST IS DENIED BECAUSE NO FINAL ACTION WAS TAKEN BY COUNCIL TO RATIFY THE PURCHASE ORDER. THEREFORE THE PURCHASE DOES NOT EXIST.
This reply is a direct and deliberate insult to every resident of the Borough. You are an appointed important and responsible Official of the Borough and also the Right to Know Officer. An existing Purchase Order still exists whether it is ratified or not and the public has a right to see it.
I am referring this matter to the Office of Open Records and I am happy to see you copied Borough Manager Khalife, Council Members, Mayor Green and ITD Frank Caruso. Why didn’t you copy the Borough Solicitors? This is a blatant and deliberate violation of the Right to Know Law. And this is an open and continued conspiracy by you and the above to withhold the finances of HU from the public. This smacks of corruption.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Kutztown Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
45 Railroad St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Madam Secretary,
My March 27, 2009 Right to Know Request read:
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COPY OF THE PURCHASE ORDER OF $119,511.87 WHICH THE COUNCIL WAS TO RATIFY AT THE MARCH 17, 2009 COUNCIL MEETING.
Your reply of April 1, 2009 reply read:
YOUR REQUEST IS DENIED BECAUSE NO FINAL ACTION WAS TAKEN BY COUNCIL TO RATIFY THE PURCHASE ORDER. THEREFORE THE PURCHASE DOES NOT EXIST.
This reply is a direct and deliberate insult to every resident of the Borough. You are an appointed important and responsible Official of the Borough and also the Right to Know Officer. An existing Purchase Order still exists whether it is ratified or not and the public has a right to see it.
I am referring this matter to the Office of Open Records and I am happy to see you copied Borough Manager Khalife, Council Members, Mayor Green and ITD Frank Caruso. Why didn’t you copy the Borough Solicitors? This is a blatant and deliberate violation of the Right to Know Law. And this is an open and continued conspiracy by you and the above to withhold the finances of HU from the public. This smacks of corruption.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS CONTRACT 4-1-09
Professional Computer Systems Co. Contract 4-1-09 Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Please check my Blog @ www.marinoreport.com.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Borough still has not produced any public bids or bid documents or offered any reasons for a bid exemption for the contract that was awarded to Professional Computer Systems Co. for $185,000.
This contract will computerize billing for the Borough’s utilities. It is an update of the contract with New World Systems which was awarded by former Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino for $225,000 without a public bid and was unable to provide a satisfactory utility billing system.
As per the Borough Code any contract for over $10,000 shall be bid publicly unless it has an exemption. Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray in my Right to Know Request stated a section of the Borough Code that allows the exemption but did not state the provision of the section that applies. I asked her personally for the provision of the section and I am waiting for a reply.
This is another incident of the Borough Council, Mayor Green, Solicitors Mooney and Dietrich, Auditors Long & Barrell and some Borough employees circumventing the law to let out contracts to certain hand picked contractors which smacks of corruption.
The Borough Elected officials are obligated by the Borough Code to explain to the residents of the Borough how this contract was awarded. This information should be publicized without a Right to Know Law Request.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Please check my Blog @ www.marinoreport.com.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Borough still has not produced any public bids or bid documents or offered any reasons for a bid exemption for the contract that was awarded to Professional Computer Systems Co. for $185,000.
This contract will computerize billing for the Borough’s utilities. It is an update of the contract with New World Systems which was awarded by former Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino for $225,000 without a public bid and was unable to provide a satisfactory utility billing system.
As per the Borough Code any contract for over $10,000 shall be bid publicly unless it has an exemption. Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray in my Right to Know Request stated a section of the Borough Code that allows the exemption but did not state the provision of the section that applies. I asked her personally for the provision of the section and I am waiting for a reply.
This is another incident of the Borough Council, Mayor Green, Solicitors Mooney and Dietrich, Auditors Long & Barrell and some Borough employees circumventing the law to let out contracts to certain hand picked contractors which smacks of corruption.
The Borough Elected officials are obligated by the Borough Code to explain to the residents of the Borough how this contract was awarded. This information should be publicized without a Right to Know Law Request.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
HU PURCHASE ORDER DOES NOT EXIST 4-1-09
HU Purchase Order Does Not Exist Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
To Whom It May Concern,
The Council Meeting Agenda for the March 17, 2009 Council Meeting stated under the Consent Agenda: Ratify the issuance of a Purchase Order to Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. Old Bridge NJ, in the amount of $119,511.87 for machinery and equipment for the transition of head end to Digital.
When I personally asked Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray to see the Purchase Order she referred me to Information Technology Director Frank Caruso who stated that the Purchase Order does not exist. How can a Purchase Order be ratified if it doe not exist?
My question is, where did Secretary Bray get the Purchase Order information to post on the agenda if it doesn’t exist? The Borough was attempting to give out this contract without a public bid which is a Borough Code violation. Many Borough Officials are involved in this cover up.
I have since requested to see the P.O. under the Right to Know Law. The Borough has to tell the truth, better sooner than later.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
To Whom It May Concern,
The Council Meeting Agenda for the March 17, 2009 Council Meeting stated under the Consent Agenda: Ratify the issuance of a Purchase Order to Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. Old Bridge NJ, in the amount of $119,511.87 for machinery and equipment for the transition of head end to Digital.
When I personally asked Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray to see the Purchase Order she referred me to Information Technology Director Frank Caruso who stated that the Purchase Order does not exist. How can a Purchase Order be ratified if it doe not exist?
My question is, where did Secretary Bray get the Purchase Order information to post on the agenda if it doesn’t exist? The Borough was attempting to give out this contract without a public bid which is a Borough Code violation. Many Borough Officials are involved in this cover up.
I have since requested to see the P.O. under the Right to Know Law. The Borough has to tell the truth, better sooner than later.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
HU PURCHASE ORDER DOES NOT EXIST 3-28-09
Purchase Order for HU Does not Exist 3-28-09
www.marinoreport.com
Borough Elected Officials and Residents
Dear Elected Officials and Residents,
The fifth item on the Consent Agenda for the March 17, 2009 Council Meeting was: ratify the issuance of a Purchase Order to Blonder Tongue Laboratories Inc., Old Bridge, N.J. in the amount of $119,511.87 for machinery and equipment for the transition of head end to digital.
In a FAX dated March 16, 2009, a day before the Council Meeting, sent to the Borough Council and Mayor Green I stated the Purchase Order was illegal because it was over $10,000 and was not bid publicly and any one who voted for it could be sued personally. My statement was correct because the request was withdrawn from the Agenda and was not voted on.
Yesterday Friday March 27, I personally went to the Borough Hall and asked Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray to see the Purchase Order. She called over Information Technology Director Frank Caruso, who heads HU, and he said the Purchase Order does not exist. I asked Secretary Bray who gave her the Purchase Order with the exact amount on it to the penny and she kept referring me to HU head Frank Caruso. Mr. Caruso attempted to explain why and how it does not exist and I stated a Borough representative had to give some one at Blonder Laboratories a list of specifications, work to be performed etc. and request a price. Mr. Caruso stated many times the Purchase Order does not exist.
I was then told that the work noted on the Purchase Order was given out by the Borough for public bid. I received the bid package and it had no date on it. I asked Secretary Bray why there was no date on it and she again referred me to Mr. Caruso. I then asked when the bid was advertised in the local newspaper and was told March 23, 2009 which was 6 days after the Purchase Order was to be ratified by the Borough Council. The omission of the date was an attempt to hide the fact that the Bid was given out after the date of the purchase Order
This is proof that all 6 members of the Borough Council, Mayor Green, Borough Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney, Auditors Long and Barrel, Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife and other appointed Borough Employees were and are all aware and guilty of the many lies about the illegal Purchase Order and took part in the cover up of putting out an illegal bid.
At what Council Meeting did the Borough Council vote for the public bid and publish the bid in the local newspapers?
The Purchase Order is a violation of the Borough Code but the cover up, the late bid and lies about the Purchase Order are a deliberate act of falsifying HU and Borough financial records. This incident is far from over. I am still seeking more information about this incident and another contract for $185,000 that was not bid publicly.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
www.marinoreport.com
Borough Elected Officials and Residents
Dear Elected Officials and Residents,
The fifth item on the Consent Agenda for the March 17, 2009 Council Meeting was: ratify the issuance of a Purchase Order to Blonder Tongue Laboratories Inc., Old Bridge, N.J. in the amount of $119,511.87 for machinery and equipment for the transition of head end to digital.
In a FAX dated March 16, 2009, a day before the Council Meeting, sent to the Borough Council and Mayor Green I stated the Purchase Order was illegal because it was over $10,000 and was not bid publicly and any one who voted for it could be sued personally. My statement was correct because the request was withdrawn from the Agenda and was not voted on.
Yesterday Friday March 27, I personally went to the Borough Hall and asked Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray to see the Purchase Order. She called over Information Technology Director Frank Caruso, who heads HU, and he said the Purchase Order does not exist. I asked Secretary Bray who gave her the Purchase Order with the exact amount on it to the penny and she kept referring me to HU head Frank Caruso. Mr. Caruso attempted to explain why and how it does not exist and I stated a Borough representative had to give some one at Blonder Laboratories a list of specifications, work to be performed etc. and request a price. Mr. Caruso stated many times the Purchase Order does not exist.
I was then told that the work noted on the Purchase Order was given out by the Borough for public bid. I received the bid package and it had no date on it. I asked Secretary Bray why there was no date on it and she again referred me to Mr. Caruso. I then asked when the bid was advertised in the local newspaper and was told March 23, 2009 which was 6 days after the Purchase Order was to be ratified by the Borough Council. The omission of the date was an attempt to hide the fact that the Bid was given out after the date of the purchase Order
This is proof that all 6 members of the Borough Council, Mayor Green, Borough Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney, Auditors Long and Barrel, Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife and other appointed Borough Employees were and are all aware and guilty of the many lies about the illegal Purchase Order and took part in the cover up of putting out an illegal bid.
At what Council Meeting did the Borough Council vote for the public bid and publish the bid in the local newspapers?
The Purchase Order is a violation of the Borough Code but the cover up, the late bid and lies about the Purchase Order are a deliberate act of falsifying HU and Borough financial records. This incident is far from over. I am still seeking more information about this incident and another contract for $185,000 that was not bid publicly.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Another Loan For Hometown Utilicom? 3-25-09
Marino Asks Is this another Quiet Loan for HU? 3-25-09
www.marinoreport.com
Mayor Green&
Kutztown Borough Council
Dear Elected Officials,
On page 6 of the Council Meeting Agenda of March 17, 2009 under Finance, Electric and Telecommunications is stated, I quote, Take action on the proposed Resolution to appoint an underwriter and bond counsel and to proceed preliminarily with a G.O. bond issuance.
This sounds like another loan. And by you grouping Hometown Utilicom with finance and electric you can hide another loan for HU. Is this another loan? The video tape of the meeting as televised on the HU system can not be deciphered.
I have also heard that the Consent Agenda vote on the Purchase Order of $119,511.87 from Blonder Tongue Laboratories Inc. did not take place. You should have noted that this P.O. is for HU. I think the Purchase Order is illegal as I pointed out in my letters to you. Again the video of the Council Meeting is not very clear.
You should all be embarrassed by the quality of the tape of the Council Meetings. You advertise sign up for HU to see the video of Council Meetings. You can not tell who is speaking and the sound is terrible. With all the money and effort you and your predecessors have sunk into this business venture and with all the most modern equipment HU can buy the Borough can not produce a simple video tape of a Council Meeting. You even paid a consultant $20,000 to tell you lies that you wanted to hear, that HU is very well run and could turn a profit next year. Yet HU can not produce a simple video. It is about time for one of you to come to your senses and speak the truth about Hometown Utilicom.
I learned in Public School 14 in the sixth grade a statement by Abraham Lincoln. He said. You can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Gennaro A, Marino P.E.
www.marinoreport.com
Mayor Green&
Kutztown Borough Council
Dear Elected Officials,
On page 6 of the Council Meeting Agenda of March 17, 2009 under Finance, Electric and Telecommunications is stated, I quote, Take action on the proposed Resolution to appoint an underwriter and bond counsel and to proceed preliminarily with a G.O. bond issuance.
This sounds like another loan. And by you grouping Hometown Utilicom with finance and electric you can hide another loan for HU. Is this another loan? The video tape of the meeting as televised on the HU system can not be deciphered.
I have also heard that the Consent Agenda vote on the Purchase Order of $119,511.87 from Blonder Tongue Laboratories Inc. did not take place. You should have noted that this P.O. is for HU. I think the Purchase Order is illegal as I pointed out in my letters to you. Again the video of the Council Meeting is not very clear.
You should all be embarrassed by the quality of the tape of the Council Meetings. You advertise sign up for HU to see the video of Council Meetings. You can not tell who is speaking and the sound is terrible. With all the money and effort you and your predecessors have sunk into this business venture and with all the most modern equipment HU can buy the Borough can not produce a simple video tape of a Council Meeting. You even paid a consultant $20,000 to tell you lies that you wanted to hear, that HU is very well run and could turn a profit next year. Yet HU can not produce a simple video. It is about time for one of you to come to your senses and speak the truth about Hometown Utilicom.
I learned in Public School 14 in the sixth grade a statement by Abraham Lincoln. He said. You can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Gennaro A, Marino P.E.
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