Sept. 15, Council Meeting Notes
Page 17672 of the September 15, 2009 Council meeting Minutes states, I quote, “Jack Long of Long Barrell & Co. provided a brief overview of the Borough’s audit report for the year ending December 31, 2008”. The Audit Report for 2008 has not been reviewed by the Borough Council or the Mayor for more than 8 months? Who is checking our finances?
Page 17685 of the minutes states, “A motion was made by Mr. Seyler and seconded by Mr. Gangewere, Resolved, To authorize the appropriate Borough officials to execute an agreement with Berks Products for the fiber optic cable quarry installation project. All in favor except Ms. Bray and Mr. Snyder voted nay. There being a majority in favor, the motion passed”. And then, “A motion was made by Mr. Seyler and seconded by Mr. Gangewere, Resolved, To hire the recommended vendor to install a fiber optic cable on a messenger out to the quarry. All in favor except Mr. Snyder who voted nay. There being a majority in favor, the motion passed. PLEASE NOTE: There are no details, facts or figures mentioned for the installation or the messenger contracts. How much will this cost? Did the Information Technology Director Caruso, who heads Home Town Utilicom, make a presentation? Nepotism is alive and well in Kutztown.
The minutes also show the Council also passed a Resolution, which I think should be an Ordinance, that police officers will pay 5% of their salaries into their Pension Plan every year. I calculate that 5% will come to about $40,000 a year. Why can’t the Borough with a $21 million Budget fund the Pension?
This plainly shows where the priorities of the elected Borough Officials lie. The Borough Council votes to fund the cost and execute the contract of a new preferred HU subscriber outside the Borough after the fiber is installed. Being it is for HU there is no limit to the cost. Hometown Utilicom already loses $1 million a year.
My point is it takes more than eight months to review the Annual Audit. Then the Council votes to have the Police pay into their Pension. The amount paid by the Police will save Borough funds which will find their way into HU.
This is a perfect example of how this Borough is wildly and irresponsibly handling our finances. I predict every fee, electric, water and sewer rates will have to be raised to fund this wild spending and $14 million debt. The Borough Council already made it easy to raise all rates through Resolutions which are easier, faster and cheaper than Ordinances.
Jerry retired Professional Engineer in Pa., N.Y., and Nevada
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
MARINO SPEAKS
Marino Speaks 10-25-09
I would like all my subscribers to know that the people who comment on my blog not only have trouble with 3rd grade arithmetic they would also have trouble with a 3rd grade reading comprehension test. Let it be known what I stand for and what I say. For the slow readers I will not write a paragraph. I will just make simple sentences and number them:
1) The Borough of Kutztown is a great place to live. Don’t forget I picked it.
2) I am very happy with our utilities, our superintendents and the Borough personnel that maintain them.
3) Hometown Utilicom which is not a utility but a business venture that loses $1 million a year, has been losing $1 million a year for 7 years should be shut down immediately.
4) Borough Manager Khalife and the HU Director Caruso who oversee HU are overpaid at salaries of $100,000 and $80,000 respectively.
5) Contrary to all of the Borough’s statements and lies there has never been a complete Financial Report on HU. HU revenue is grouped together with the General Fund and the Electric Fund (where all the big money is) to hide the fact that HU is a losing proposition.
6) The Borough is violating the Borough Code by transferring revenue from the Water and Sewer Funds to finance HU. The Borough Code states that revenue has to stay in the fund that receives it. But revenue is allowed to be transferred from the Electric Fund which is why we pay double the electric rate paid by the surrounding area.
7) The Borough Debt of $14 million is a disgrace for a Borough of 5,000 and don’t forget there are about 1,500 renters.
8) The Borough falsifies the Budget, publishes fraudulent reports and alters foreman reports and does not employ a degreed accountant or retain a CPA.
9) The Reading Eagle recently wrote that the Borough Council voted to appoint a Committee to guide HU. It will take place at the beginning of the year exactly one year after it was recommended by CCG Consulting. The article also stated that HU had 1,000 customers that is the same amount CCG Consulting stated we had one year ago. In other words HU did not gain one new subscriber in a year.
I think it is high time that the Borough elected officials shut down Hometown Utilicom, cut spending and open all financial books and records to the public.
Jerry
Treasurer of the Kutztown American Legion
Post 480 1966-2007 11 years
I would like all my subscribers to know that the people who comment on my blog not only have trouble with 3rd grade arithmetic they would also have trouble with a 3rd grade reading comprehension test. Let it be known what I stand for and what I say. For the slow readers I will not write a paragraph. I will just make simple sentences and number them:
1) The Borough of Kutztown is a great place to live. Don’t forget I picked it.
2) I am very happy with our utilities, our superintendents and the Borough personnel that maintain them.
3) Hometown Utilicom which is not a utility but a business venture that loses $1 million a year, has been losing $1 million a year for 7 years should be shut down immediately.
4) Borough Manager Khalife and the HU Director Caruso who oversee HU are overpaid at salaries of $100,000 and $80,000 respectively.
5) Contrary to all of the Borough’s statements and lies there has never been a complete Financial Report on HU. HU revenue is grouped together with the General Fund and the Electric Fund (where all the big money is) to hide the fact that HU is a losing proposition.
6) The Borough is violating the Borough Code by transferring revenue from the Water and Sewer Funds to finance HU. The Borough Code states that revenue has to stay in the fund that receives it. But revenue is allowed to be transferred from the Electric Fund which is why we pay double the electric rate paid by the surrounding area.
7) The Borough Debt of $14 million is a disgrace for a Borough of 5,000 and don’t forget there are about 1,500 renters.
8) The Borough falsifies the Budget, publishes fraudulent reports and alters foreman reports and does not employ a degreed accountant or retain a CPA.
9) The Reading Eagle recently wrote that the Borough Council voted to appoint a Committee to guide HU. It will take place at the beginning of the year exactly one year after it was recommended by CCG Consulting. The article also stated that HU had 1,000 customers that is the same amount CCG Consulting stated we had one year ago. In other words HU did not gain one new subscriber in a year.
I think it is high time that the Borough elected officials shut down Hometown Utilicom, cut spending and open all financial books and records to the public.
Jerry
Treasurer of the Kutztown American Legion
Post 480 1966-2007 11 years
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
BUDGET NEWS UPDATE
Kutztown Budget News 10-20-09
Today’s Reading Eagle stated the Borough of Kutztown spends $298 for Police per resident per year which is the 4th highest cost in the County. My point is that the only service provided to Borough residents for our tax dollars is the police. We pay for everything else, such as water, sewer, electricity and don’t forget the million dollars Hometown Utilicom loses every year. If the Borough spends $4,200 per resident per year and only $298 for police, will someone explain to me how the Good Old Boys and Girls are spending $3,902 a year and why retired senior citizens can no longer afford to live in the Borough.
This is all 6th grade arithmetic the Borough spends wildly, raises all our rates and fees to pay for it. And then my detractors state they never wrote a check for $4,200. The 7 wild spenders (the Mayor and the Borough Council) write all the checks for us.
Will someone please go to the Borough Hall and verify my numbers and statements and while you are there please pick up a financial report on Hometown Utilicom. There is no financial report, there never was a financial report and there will never be a financial report on HU and the Borough never addresses my charge that HU loses $1 million a year. Jerry
Today’s Reading Eagle stated the Borough of Kutztown spends $298 for Police per resident per year which is the 4th highest cost in the County. My point is that the only service provided to Borough residents for our tax dollars is the police. We pay for everything else, such as water, sewer, electricity and don’t forget the million dollars Hometown Utilicom loses every year. If the Borough spends $4,200 per resident per year and only $298 for police, will someone explain to me how the Good Old Boys and Girls are spending $3,902 a year and why retired senior citizens can no longer afford to live in the Borough.
This is all 6th grade arithmetic the Borough spends wildly, raises all our rates and fees to pay for it. And then my detractors state they never wrote a check for $4,200. The 7 wild spenders (the Mayor and the Borough Council) write all the checks for us.
Will someone please go to the Borough Hall and verify my numbers and statements and while you are there please pick up a financial report on Hometown Utilicom. There is no financial report, there never was a financial report and there will never be a financial report on HU and the Borough never addresses my charge that HU loses $1 million a year. Jerry
Thursday, October 8, 2009
EAGLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR 10-8-09
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
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
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.
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