The Reading Eagle 10-8-09
Dear Editor,
Thank you for the very informative opinion about the City of Reading in today’s Eagle. With a Budget of $60 million and a population of 80,000 the City spends $750 per resident. Your opinion was that the city needs outside help.
The Borough of Kutztown with a Budget of $21 million and a population of 5,000 spends $4,200 per resident.
At least the City of Reading realizes they need help. According to the Kutztown Borough Council and the Mayor everything is wonderful in Kutztown. The Kutztown philosophy is spend whatever amount pleases you and then raise taxes, fees permits etc. to pay for the irresponsible and wild spending.
For starters the population of Reading is 16 times greater than Kutztown and the Budget is only 3 times the amount of Kutztown’s and the Borough does not have a paid Fire Department. But the Borough does operate a business venture, Hometown Utilicom that loses $1 million a year.
How can there be such a great difference in the above statistics?
Gennaro A. Marino
Resident of Kutztown
409 W. main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Blog www.marinoreport.com
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
KUTZTOWN'S WILD SPENDING
Kutztown’s Wild Spending 10-4-09
Besides wasting our hard earned money running more than a mile of fiber optics cable for a preferred customer the Borough Council still has time to spend our taxes and utility funds wildly. Friday’s Reading Eagle had an article about the City of Reading’s finances. The 2010 Budget for the city with a population of 80,000 is $60 million which is $750 per resident. The article also states the 2010 is $9 million less than the 2009 Budget.
The Budget for Kutztown with a population of 5,000 is $21 million which is $4200 per resident.
If the City of Reading spent money as the Borough of Kutztown does the Budget for Reading would be $336 million.
The numbers for the Borough are ridicules. How will the Borough get out of this financial mess?
What will we pay for electricity when the price caps come off? The Borough rate is already twice the rate of our neighbors.
Will someone check my numbers because they seem to be unreal.
Jerry Marino
Besides wasting our hard earned money running more than a mile of fiber optics cable for a preferred customer the Borough Council still has time to spend our taxes and utility funds wildly. Friday’s Reading Eagle had an article about the City of Reading’s finances. The 2010 Budget for the city with a population of 80,000 is $60 million which is $750 per resident. The article also states the 2010 is $9 million less than the 2009 Budget.
The Budget for Kutztown with a population of 5,000 is $21 million which is $4200 per resident.
If the City of Reading spent money as the Borough of Kutztown does the Budget for Reading would be $336 million.
The numbers for the Borough are ridicules. How will the Borough get out of this financial mess?
What will we pay for electricity when the price caps come off? The Borough rate is already twice the rate of our neighbors.
Will someone check my numbers because they seem to be unreal.
Jerry Marino
Saturday, September 26, 2009
COUNCIL RAISING ALL RATES 9-26-09
Borough Website back on line 9-25-09
The Kutztown Borough website is back on line and the minutes of the August 18, 2009 Council Meeting were posted. It shows the Borough passed many Resolutions and Ordinances raising ALL RATES, FEES, INTERESTS,AND PENALTIES for business venture Hometown Utilicom and all other Borough utilities. It is amazing that all this was accomplished in 35 minutes. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 and was adjourned at 8:05. The Council voted without any discussions on 28 pages of legislation raising everything possible to create desperately needed revenue to divert to Hometown Utilicom which loses $1 million a year. Keep in mind the Council borrowed $1.3 million last year for Hometown Utilicom. The Borough debt is now $14 million and the average monthly payment for the debt is $100, 000 month or $25, 000 a week. HU loses about $20,000 a week.
It is impossible for the 7 Elected Officials to know what they are voting on. There was one nay vote all night and it was not on a rate increase or finances. The 7 Elected Officials do not have a clue as to how much they are spending our hard earned money.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
The Kutztown Borough website is back on line and the minutes of the August 18, 2009 Council Meeting were posted. It shows the Borough passed many Resolutions and Ordinances raising ALL RATES, FEES, INTERESTS,AND PENALTIES for business venture Hometown Utilicom and all other Borough utilities. It is amazing that all this was accomplished in 35 minutes. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 and was adjourned at 8:05. The Council voted without any discussions on 28 pages of legislation raising everything possible to create desperately needed revenue to divert to Hometown Utilicom which loses $1 million a year. Keep in mind the Council borrowed $1.3 million last year for Hometown Utilicom. The Borough debt is now $14 million and the average monthly payment for the debt is $100, 000 month or $25, 000 a week. HU loses about $20,000 a week.
It is impossible for the 7 Elected Officials to know what they are voting on. There was one nay vote all night and it was not on a rate increase or finances. The 7 Elected Officials do not have a clue as to how much they are spending our hard earned money.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
HU BLUNDER ON BALDY ROAD
HU Blunder 9-17-09
Three Kutztown Borough Trucks were seen installing fiber optic cable on Baldy Road 2 weeks ago and no one knew why. The Agenda for the September 15, 2009 Council Meeting states why.
It reads, “Authorize the appropriate Borough officials to execute an Agreement with Berks Products for the fiber optic cable quarry installation project.”
This means the Borough ran the fiber out of the Borough without a contract or agreement. The Borough is running fiber out of town for 1 customer, then draws up a contract. What is the cost of installing the fiber and what is the amount of a contract that does not exist?
The Agenda then states, “Take action to hire the recommended vendor to install a fiber optic cable on a messenger out to the quarry.”
The above fiasco proves that President Eidle, the Borough Council, Borough Manager Khalife and HU Director Caruso are incompetent planners and on top of that the Borough does not have the personnel to complete the project.
The Hometown Utilicom venture should be shut down immediately because the above actions prove the Borough is not capable of spending borough Funds wisely.
To prove the above geniuses do not know what they are doing, they are going to create a Telecommunication Advisory Commission. After losing about $1 million a year since 2002 ( 8 years over $8 million) plus the initial investment of about $6 million they realize they are over their heads.
HOMETOWN UTILICOM SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY !!!
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Three Kutztown Borough Trucks were seen installing fiber optic cable on Baldy Road 2 weeks ago and no one knew why. The Agenda for the September 15, 2009 Council Meeting states why.
It reads, “Authorize the appropriate Borough officials to execute an Agreement with Berks Products for the fiber optic cable quarry installation project.”
This means the Borough ran the fiber out of the Borough without a contract or agreement. The Borough is running fiber out of town for 1 customer, then draws up a contract. What is the cost of installing the fiber and what is the amount of a contract that does not exist?
The Agenda then states, “Take action to hire the recommended vendor to install a fiber optic cable on a messenger out to the quarry.”
The above fiasco proves that President Eidle, the Borough Council, Borough Manager Khalife and HU Director Caruso are incompetent planners and on top of that the Borough does not have the personnel to complete the project.
The Hometown Utilicom venture should be shut down immediately because the above actions prove the Borough is not capable of spending borough Funds wisely.
To prove the above geniuses do not know what they are doing, they are going to create a Telecommunication Advisory Commission. After losing about $1 million a year since 2002 ( 8 years over $8 million) plus the initial investment of about $6 million they realize they are over their heads.
HOMETOWN UTILICOM SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY !!!
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
BOROUGH NEWS 9-15-09
Borough News September 15, 2009
Council President Eidle did not respond to my blog stating that the Good Old Boys are alive and well in the Borough. I take it that no response means that my statements are correct. I was even thanked by one of the councilman for calling him a Good Old Boy. They are proud of their actions and are destroying the morale of our Borough Employees.
The minutes of the 7-21-09 Council Meeting under the Consent Agenda read:
Ratify approval for the payment of bills and necessary transfer of funds which have been provided to Borough Council in the Accounts Payable G\L Distribution Report, including payment dates June 13, 2009 to July 17, 2009 as summarized below:
General Fund $248,827.34
Refuse and Recycling Fund $78,010.09
Water Fund $116,143.30
Electric Fund $547,147.11
Sewer Fund $104,636.01
Telecommunications Fund $194,624.06
Passed by unanimous vote.
The Council voted on this motion without any indication as to where and what amounts are to be transferred.
Later in the minutes it is stated:
Malcolm Eidle and Gina Wiand hereby ordered payment of the expenditures listed in the Accounts Payable G\L Distribution Report, including payment dates from June 13, 2009 to July 17, 2009, in accordance with Section1106 of the Borough Code, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Again, there are no amounts or indications as to where these funds are transferred to or from. This is the way Borough Council and the Mayor handle Borough funds. There is no disclosure or transparency. There was no discussion or comments on transferring $1,289,387.91. Remember the Borough does not retain a CPA or employ an accountant.
The Borough Council votes on almost $1.3 million transfer in a Consent Agenda and votes separately on hiring a new employee at $13.65 and waiving permit fees of $50 and $75 for the Kutztown Fire Co. and Hope Cemetery.
These 7 Political Hacks with a $14 million debt and a Budget of $21 million have no idea of what they are doing to the finances of the Borough. We now pay an electric rate of double the surrounding area which will increase even though ex-Borough Manager Vitraino with the Council raised our electric rate anticipating the caps were coming off electric rates.
In desperation of revenue the Council will bill residents for water and sewer monthly and they passed raising utility and HU rates by Resolution rather than Ordinance because they could raise rates faster. If they read the Borough Code they would have found out they could have raised rates by resolution. Jerry Marino 409 W, Main St. Kutztown 610- 683-7977
Council President Eidle did not respond to my blog stating that the Good Old Boys are alive and well in the Borough. I take it that no response means that my statements are correct. I was even thanked by one of the councilman for calling him a Good Old Boy. They are proud of their actions and are destroying the morale of our Borough Employees.
The minutes of the 7-21-09 Council Meeting under the Consent Agenda read:
Ratify approval for the payment of bills and necessary transfer of funds which have been provided to Borough Council in the Accounts Payable G\L Distribution Report, including payment dates June 13, 2009 to July 17, 2009 as summarized below:
General Fund $248,827.34
Refuse and Recycling Fund $78,010.09
Water Fund $116,143.30
Electric Fund $547,147.11
Sewer Fund $104,636.01
Telecommunications Fund $194,624.06
Passed by unanimous vote.
The Council voted on this motion without any indication as to where and what amounts are to be transferred.
Later in the minutes it is stated:
Malcolm Eidle and Gina Wiand hereby ordered payment of the expenditures listed in the Accounts Payable G\L Distribution Report, including payment dates from June 13, 2009 to July 17, 2009, in accordance with Section1106 of the Borough Code, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Again, there are no amounts or indications as to where these funds are transferred to or from. This is the way Borough Council and the Mayor handle Borough funds. There is no disclosure or transparency. There was no discussion or comments on transferring $1,289,387.91. Remember the Borough does not retain a CPA or employ an accountant.
The Borough Council votes on almost $1.3 million transfer in a Consent Agenda and votes separately on hiring a new employee at $13.65 and waiving permit fees of $50 and $75 for the Kutztown Fire Co. and Hope Cemetery.
These 7 Political Hacks with a $14 million debt and a Budget of $21 million have no idea of what they are doing to the finances of the Borough. We now pay an electric rate of double the surrounding area which will increase even though ex-Borough Manager Vitraino with the Council raised our electric rate anticipating the caps were coming off electric rates.
In desperation of revenue the Council will bill residents for water and sewer monthly and they passed raising utility and HU rates by Resolution rather than Ordinance because they could raise rates faster. If they read the Borough Code they would have found out they could have raised rates by resolution. Jerry Marino 409 W, Main St. Kutztown 610- 683-7977
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Reading Eagle Editor 9-6-09
Reading Eagle Editor
September 6, 2009
Dear Sir,
Thank you for the article by Michele Park (9-5-09) in which she states the Berks County Commissioners refuse to name a seventh member to the Maxatawny and Kutztown Sewage Plant Authority. This Sewage Treatment Plant was to be built in 2001 and was sabotaged by Borough Manager Keith Hill, Council Presidents Ely, Crooker, Eidle and other Kutztown Borough Officials. Maxatawny Supervisors were told by the State EPA to construct a Plant in 2003 or face jail time and received a delay when they stated they would form a joint venture with Kutztown Borough. Since then Kutztown Borough Officials have intentionally delayed the joint venture in every way possible. At one time the Borough refused to participate in the joint venture although they were told they did not have to finance the plant until they had a need to use it. Commissioner Schwank was sincere in attempting to mediate the joint venture. When she stated the County would name a seventh member the situation wasn’t as it is now. The County Commissioners are correct in not naming a seventh member to complement the 3 members from the Borough and the 3 members of the Township. The seventh member could cast the deciding vote and the County would be the fall guy. The Borough of Kutztown with its $14 million debt and $21 million Budget has plenty of experience and knowledge to handle a partnership in a sewage treatment plant.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Former Mayor and Proud Resident of Kutztown
409 West Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610- 683- 7977
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
website www.marinoreport.com
Faxed to Reading Eagle 9-6-09
September 6, 2009
Dear Sir,
Thank you for the article by Michele Park (9-5-09) in which she states the Berks County Commissioners refuse to name a seventh member to the Maxatawny and Kutztown Sewage Plant Authority. This Sewage Treatment Plant was to be built in 2001 and was sabotaged by Borough Manager Keith Hill, Council Presidents Ely, Crooker, Eidle and other Kutztown Borough Officials. Maxatawny Supervisors were told by the State EPA to construct a Plant in 2003 or face jail time and received a delay when they stated they would form a joint venture with Kutztown Borough. Since then Kutztown Borough Officials have intentionally delayed the joint venture in every way possible. At one time the Borough refused to participate in the joint venture although they were told they did not have to finance the plant until they had a need to use it. Commissioner Schwank was sincere in attempting to mediate the joint venture. When she stated the County would name a seventh member the situation wasn’t as it is now. The County Commissioners are correct in not naming a seventh member to complement the 3 members from the Borough and the 3 members of the Township. The seventh member could cast the deciding vote and the County would be the fall guy. The Borough of Kutztown with its $14 million debt and $21 million Budget has plenty of experience and knowledge to handle a partnership in a sewage treatment plant.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Former Mayor and Proud Resident of Kutztown
409 West Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610- 683- 7977
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
website www.marinoreport.com
Faxed to Reading Eagle 9-6-09
Monday, August 31, 2009
Good Old Boys Alive and Well 8-31-09
Good Old Boys Are Alive and Well August 31, 2009
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 West Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Council President Malcolm Eidle
Kutztown Borough Hall
Under your leadership Borough Manager\Treasurer\Right to Know Officer Gabriel Khalife was granted full time employment status at the June 16, 2009 Borough Council Meeting. The minutes of the meeting read, “MR.SNYDER AND MRS. BRAY BOTH VOTED NAY. THERE BEING A MAJORITY IN FAVOR, THE MOTION PASSED”. Why didn’t the minutes state who voted in favor? You Mr. President, Vice President Seyler, Councilman Gangewere and Councilman Schlegel were listed in the Minutes as being at the meeting and I assume you four voted to grant Mr. Khalife full time employment status knowing he has a Borough Vehicle at his disposal and was cited for Drunk Driving during his probation period. Some Borough employees have been fired for less and one recently was reinstated.
I demand you explain to the Borough Residents and Borough Employees why he was never charged or reprimanded by the Borough while he was on probation and why you voted him permanent employment.
I thought there was a Borough Resolution that states any employee of the Borough that receives a DUI shall be terminated?
I guess he will remain a permanent employee as long as he continues to falsify the budget, publish fraudulent reports, alter foreman reports and withholds the financial records of Hometown Utilicom as directed by you and your three Good Old Boys Schlegel, Seyler and Gangewere.
You and your Good Old Boys with our $14 million debt and $21 million Budget are on the verge of bankrupting the Borough. Our electric rate is double that of the surrounding areas and now we will pay water and sewer monthly because you are desperate for revenue. All this is to finance HU which still loses $1 million a year and still does not have a Business Plan as was promised to Mayor Green over a year ago. In fact the Borough does not employ anyone that is capable of producing a Business Plan.
Are the Borough Solicitors still telling you not to answer my letters? I am challenging you, Auditors Long & Barrell and Borough Solicitors Tim Dietrich and Keith Mooney to address my above statements which are all true.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 West Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Council President Malcolm Eidle
Kutztown Borough Hall
Under your leadership Borough Manager\Treasurer\Right to Know Officer Gabriel Khalife was granted full time employment status at the June 16, 2009 Borough Council Meeting. The minutes of the meeting read, “MR.SNYDER AND MRS. BRAY BOTH VOTED NAY. THERE BEING A MAJORITY IN FAVOR, THE MOTION PASSED”. Why didn’t the minutes state who voted in favor? You Mr. President, Vice President Seyler, Councilman Gangewere and Councilman Schlegel were listed in the Minutes as being at the meeting and I assume you four voted to grant Mr. Khalife full time employment status knowing he has a Borough Vehicle at his disposal and was cited for Drunk Driving during his probation period. Some Borough employees have been fired for less and one recently was reinstated.
I demand you explain to the Borough Residents and Borough Employees why he was never charged or reprimanded by the Borough while he was on probation and why you voted him permanent employment.
I thought there was a Borough Resolution that states any employee of the Borough that receives a DUI shall be terminated?
I guess he will remain a permanent employee as long as he continues to falsify the budget, publish fraudulent reports, alter foreman reports and withholds the financial records of Hometown Utilicom as directed by you and your three Good Old Boys Schlegel, Seyler and Gangewere.
You and your Good Old Boys with our $14 million debt and $21 million Budget are on the verge of bankrupting the Borough. Our electric rate is double that of the surrounding areas and now we will pay water and sewer monthly because you are desperate for revenue. All this is to finance HU which still loses $1 million a year and still does not have a Business Plan as was promised to Mayor Green over a year ago. In fact the Borough does not employ anyone that is capable of producing a Business Plan.
Are the Borough Solicitors still telling you not to answer my letters? I am challenging you, Auditors Long & Barrell and Borough Solicitors Tim Dietrich and Keith Mooney to address my above statements which are all true.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
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