A Community Committed to Tradition and Progress
Incorporated ~ 1815
BOROUGH OF KUTZTOWN
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www.kutztownboro.org
www.hometownutilicom.org
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Electric
Distribution
Water
Service
45 Railroad Street * Kutztown, PA 19530-1112 * Phone: 610-683-6131 * Fax: 610-683-6729 * E-mail: admin@kutztownboro.org
Sewer
Service
Television
Gennaro Marino
409 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530
August 24, 2010
~~G, 2.
u
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Internet
Telephone
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Dear Mr. Marino:
Thank you for writing to the Borough of Kutztown with your request for information
pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right- To-Know law.
On August 12, 20 I 0 we received your attached list requesting information on the finances of the
Borough.
The following is a response to your information requested:
Hometown Utili com (HU) is a 'service mark' not a department or entries of the Borough.
The Borough does .have an annual audit preformed for all Borough operations and a copy
of this audit is available at the cost of$0.25 per copy. Please let me know if you would
like a copy. Payment will be required in advance of a copy being made at the cost of
about $12.00.
The Monthly Statii!i~~J~.ep0t1 is available for each month for the years of 2008 or 2009,
total cost of $6.00, at $O.~-S per copy. Please let me know if you would like the copies.
Again HU is a 'service mark' as noted in #1 above regarding your request for the total for
funds transferred or moved into HU from the Electric Fund for the years 2008 and 2009.
Again HU is a 'service mark' as noted in # 1 above regarding your request for the total for
funds transferred into HU from the General Fund for rent, services, interest or any other
purpose in the years 2008 and 2009.
Again HU is a 'service mark' not adepartment or enterprise. This information is not
available. .-'
Again HU is a 'service mark' not a department or enterprise. Regarding your reference
to the 'fiber optic line to the Berks Quarry', the Borough did install a fiber line leading to
the Berks Quarry and the total cost of that Baldy Street Project was $20,573.60, (of which
25%, or $5,143.40, of the noted amount was paid by Berks Products).
According to the Open Records Law, the request must not be in the form of a question
but in the form of requesting records. This item is not requesting a records but asking a
question.
According to the Open Records Law, the request must not be in the form of a question
but in the form of requesting records. This item is not requesting a record but asking a
question. However, the'$9.93 on the electric bill is a demand charge for a 3 KW base
minimum chargeresi~.9.IWalcommercial rate.
~,>
Borough Manager
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Right to Know Request 8-12-10
Attachment to Right to Know Request to the Borough of Kutztown from Gennaro A. Marino dated August 12, 2010 regarding finances of the Borough.
My request under the Right to Know Law is to see the following:
1) Budgets, Audits and financial records of Hometown Utilicom for the years ending 2008 and 2009.
2) The number of Cable TV, internet and telephone subscribers for each month of 2008 and 2009.
3) The total amount of funds transferred or moved for any reason from the Electric Fund into Hometown Utilicom in 2008 and 2009.
4) The total amount of funds transferred or moved into Hometown Utilicom from the General Fund for rents, services, interest or any other purpose in 2008 and 2009.
5) The total amount of funds from subscribers of Hometown Utilicom outside the Borough in 2008 and 2009.
6) The cost of installing the HU fiber optic line to the Berks Quarry outside the Borough.
7) The status of the agreement between Apex and the Borough regarding the water sewer and internet services provided by the Borough to Apex.
8) What is the charge on my Electric Bill for $9.93 called KW USAGE?
Gennaro A. Marino
My request under the Right to Know Law is to see the following:
1) Budgets, Audits and financial records of Hometown Utilicom for the years ending 2008 and 2009.
2) The number of Cable TV, internet and telephone subscribers for each month of 2008 and 2009.
3) The total amount of funds transferred or moved for any reason from the Electric Fund into Hometown Utilicom in 2008 and 2009.
4) The total amount of funds transferred or moved into Hometown Utilicom from the General Fund for rents, services, interest or any other purpose in 2008 and 2009.
5) The total amount of funds from subscribers of Hometown Utilicom outside the Borough in 2008 and 2009.
6) The cost of installing the HU fiber optic line to the Berks Quarry outside the Borough.
7) The status of the agreement between Apex and the Borough regarding the water sewer and internet services provided by the Borough to Apex.
8) What is the charge on my Electric Bill for $9.93 called KW USAGE?
Gennaro A. Marino
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Letter to Pres. Eidle
July 28, 2010
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Council President Malcolm Eidle
A recent article in The Reading Eagle stated you favor purchasing the house next to the Borough Hall. I assume you will pay for it with another loan to add to the current $13 million debt. You also voted to buy the local railroad a few years ago which currently adds to the Borough debt and you also voted to go into Telecommunications business which loses $1 million a year.
Do you plan to make it into student housing to add some subscribers for HU? These 3 operations do not serve the residents of the Borough and add to the Borough debt.
This decision proves you do not have any knowledge about the Borough finances. These three are not utilities they are business ventures which just add to Borough expense and debt.
I demand that you explain how the 2009 Budget total in November 2009 was $21 million and December 31, 2009 was $18 million. These facts were taken from the Borough’s Budget at the counter in the Borough Hall. I also demand you publish a financial report on HU and the railroad property.
How can you consider buying property that the Borough can not afford and does not need?
Gennaro A. Marino
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Council President Malcolm Eidle
A recent article in The Reading Eagle stated you favor purchasing the house next to the Borough Hall. I assume you will pay for it with another loan to add to the current $13 million debt. You also voted to buy the local railroad a few years ago which currently adds to the Borough debt and you also voted to go into Telecommunications business which loses $1 million a year.
Do you plan to make it into student housing to add some subscribers for HU? These 3 operations do not serve the residents of the Borough and add to the Borough debt.
This decision proves you do not have any knowledge about the Borough finances. These three are not utilities they are business ventures which just add to Borough expense and debt.
I demand that you explain how the 2009 Budget total in November 2009 was $21 million and December 31, 2009 was $18 million. These facts were taken from the Borough’s Budget at the counter in the Borough Hall. I also demand you publish a financial report on HU and the railroad property.
How can you consider buying property that the Borough can not afford and does not need?
Gennaro A. Marino
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Letter to Elected Officials 6-23-10
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 West Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Kutztown Borough Elected Officials
or Whoever is in charge at the Borough Hall
MX Energy and other local electricity vendors are all soliciting new subscribers since the rate caps came off. Their rates are all around 10 and 12 cents a KWH. I paid 20.5 cents per KWH on my last bill and paid and 31.5 cents per KWH in my vacant rental apartment. You are exploiting the residents of the Borough to pay for your wild spending and funding Hometown Utilicom which loses about one million dollars a year. The so called independent 2009 Borough Audit in the Kutztonion does not show revenue and expenditures for electricity, water, sewer and HU separately, they are lumped together to deliberately hide the fact that HU loses $1million a year and funds are moved freely between Borough Departments which is a Borough Code violation.
The Audit also shows the annual payment for the $13 million debt is $1,294,365 which is $25,000 a week.
Another fact is HU loses about $1 million a year which is $20,000 a week.
Borough Manager Khalife, who is also the Borough Treasurer, and Frank Caruso who heads HU, cost the Borough about $5,000 a week.
The 2008 and the 2009 Audits in the Kutztonions also show
Revenue charges for services 2008 $12.6 million and 2009 $11.6 million down $1 mill
Expenses water sewer, electric, HU ’08 $7.6 million and 2009 $8.5 million up $900 K
Another interesting fact is
Revenue interest and rents 2008 $67,623 & 2009 $1,286,647 up more than $1.2 mill
It is strange that revenue for 2009 is only $420,000 more than 2008.
Many City, State and Federal Agencies realize they have to cut spending but in Kutztown we do not have to cut spending because we have loyal residents who have put their trust in you and you sure let them down.
If you read the Audit you would realize that whoever put it together does not have a clue as to what is in it. Numbers do not lie but they act funny in Kutztown. I do not expect an answer from any of you because you either do not have an answer or you do not have the courage to answer.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 West Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Kutztown Borough Elected Officials
or Whoever is in charge at the Borough Hall
MX Energy and other local electricity vendors are all soliciting new subscribers since the rate caps came off. Their rates are all around 10 and 12 cents a KWH. I paid 20.5 cents per KWH on my last bill and paid and 31.5 cents per KWH in my vacant rental apartment. You are exploiting the residents of the Borough to pay for your wild spending and funding Hometown Utilicom which loses about one million dollars a year. The so called independent 2009 Borough Audit in the Kutztonion does not show revenue and expenditures for electricity, water, sewer and HU separately, they are lumped together to deliberately hide the fact that HU loses $1million a year and funds are moved freely between Borough Departments which is a Borough Code violation.
The Audit also shows the annual payment for the $13 million debt is $1,294,365 which is $25,000 a week.
Another fact is HU loses about $1 million a year which is $20,000 a week.
Borough Manager Khalife, who is also the Borough Treasurer, and Frank Caruso who heads HU, cost the Borough about $5,000 a week.
The 2008 and the 2009 Audits in the Kutztonions also show
Revenue charges for services 2008 $12.6 million and 2009 $11.6 million down $1 mill
Expenses water sewer, electric, HU ’08 $7.6 million and 2009 $8.5 million up $900 K
Another interesting fact is
Revenue interest and rents 2008 $67,623 & 2009 $1,286,647 up more than $1.2 mill
It is strange that revenue for 2009 is only $420,000 more than 2008.
Many City, State and Federal Agencies realize they have to cut spending but in Kutztown we do not have to cut spending because we have loyal residents who have put their trust in you and you sure let them down.
If you read the Audit you would realize that whoever put it together does not have a clue as to what is in it. Numbers do not lie but they act funny in Kutztown. I do not expect an answer from any of you because you either do not have an answer or you do not have the courage to answer.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Letter to Readig Eagle Editor
June 10, 2010
Gennaro A. Marino P.E .
409 West Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
Editor of The Reading Eagle
Dear Editor,
As an observer of the disastrous Gulf oil spill I would like to say law makers and environmentalists have forced oil companies into deep water drilling which was an unknown technology that they knew nothing about. The water pressure at 5,000 feet is 312,000 pounds per square foot. Then these same law makers attempted to oversee, regulate and license them. The oil companies had to fend for themselves and the oil spill is the result. President Barack Obama and these same politicians are now blaming British Petroleum when they should be taking charge, standing by, supporting and working with BP to stop the leak and clean up the spill.
President Obama and his cronies should have declared a national emergency and brought in the Navy, with their Seabees, to clean up the mess and assist BP. There is no doubt that BP is responsible for the spill but the President and the Congress should have sent billions of dollars to the businesses and residents of the Gulf Coast as they had done in the Haiti and Chile disasters. BP could have been billed at a later date.
June 10, 2010 Admiral Allen announced he will meet with BP officials June 16, 2010 (56 days after the spill) and President Obama will participate in part of the meeting.
When is President Barack Hussein Obama going to realize he is the Commander in Chief and in charge?
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Faxed to Reading Editor June 10, 2010
Gennaro A. Marino P.E .
409 West Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
Editor of The Reading Eagle
Dear Editor,
As an observer of the disastrous Gulf oil spill I would like to say law makers and environmentalists have forced oil companies into deep water drilling which was an unknown technology that they knew nothing about. The water pressure at 5,000 feet is 312,000 pounds per square foot. Then these same law makers attempted to oversee, regulate and license them. The oil companies had to fend for themselves and the oil spill is the result. President Barack Obama and these same politicians are now blaming British Petroleum when they should be taking charge, standing by, supporting and working with BP to stop the leak and clean up the spill.
President Obama and his cronies should have declared a national emergency and brought in the Navy, with their Seabees, to clean up the mess and assist BP. There is no doubt that BP is responsible for the spill but the President and the Congress should have sent billions of dollars to the businesses and residents of the Gulf Coast as they had done in the Haiti and Chile disasters. BP could have been billed at a later date.
June 10, 2010 Admiral Allen announced he will meet with BP officials June 16, 2010 (56 days after the spill) and President Obama will participate in part of the meeting.
When is President Barack Hussein Obama going to realize he is the Commander in Chief and in charge?
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Faxed to Reading Editor June 10, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Electricity Rates 5-27-10
May 27, 2010
Gennaro A. Marino P.E..
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
www.marinoreport.com
Kutztown Mayor Green &
Kutztown Council Members
Dear Elected Officials:
Since the caps came off the electrical rates the local electricity suppliers are advertising for new subscribers and their prices per KWH are between ten and eleven cents. My latest electric bill from the Borough starts out at 16.69 cents per KWH and after the net monthly rate ($9.16) was added came out to be 21 cents per KWH.
My rental Apartment which was vacant most of the month used 85 KWH starts out as 20.42 cents and after the KW usage ($11.92) was added came out to be 34.4 cents plus tax. What is the NET MONTHLY RATE and what is KW USAGE?
Residents, like myself, pay double the rate residents in the surrounding areas pay and renters pay more than triple the rate that is advertised by the local electrical suppliers. There is no end in sight to raising electrical rates to finance Hometown Utilicom which loses about $1 million a year and pay salaries of more than $100,000 a year to an incompetent Borough Manager Khalife and over $80,000 a year to an incompetent Information Technology Director Caruso who both oversee and direct HU.
You seven are guilty of violating the public trust, falsifying the budget, publishing fraudulent reports, violating the Borough Code and should resign.
Your response to this letter would be appreciated. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E..
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
www.marinoreport.com
Kutztown Mayor Green &
Kutztown Council Members
Dear Elected Officials:
Since the caps came off the electrical rates the local electricity suppliers are advertising for new subscribers and their prices per KWH are between ten and eleven cents. My latest electric bill from the Borough starts out at 16.69 cents per KWH and after the net monthly rate ($9.16) was added came out to be 21 cents per KWH.
My rental Apartment which was vacant most of the month used 85 KWH starts out as 20.42 cents and after the KW usage ($11.92) was added came out to be 34.4 cents plus tax. What is the NET MONTHLY RATE and what is KW USAGE?
Residents, like myself, pay double the rate residents in the surrounding areas pay and renters pay more than triple the rate that is advertised by the local electrical suppliers. There is no end in sight to raising electrical rates to finance Hometown Utilicom which loses about $1 million a year and pay salaries of more than $100,000 a year to an incompetent Borough Manager Khalife and over $80,000 a year to an incompetent Information Technology Director Caruso who both oversee and direct HU.
You seven are guilty of violating the public trust, falsifying the budget, publishing fraudulent reports, violating the Borough Code and should resign.
Your response to this letter would be appreciated. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Eidle Letter May 4, 2010
May 4, 2010 Gennaro A. Marino P/E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977 kmayor@ptd.net Borough Council President Eidle
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Mr. President,
The Borough website does not carry the 2009 Audit which, as per the Borough Code, shall made public by April 1, 2010. Was the audit ever performed by the so called independent auditor Long & Barrell? Was it ever submitted to the DCED? How could this happen with a $100,000 Borough Manager Khalife and an $80,000 internet expert Caruso?
Eight years and $410,000 later Councilman Gangewere thanked the staff for a great job done with utility billing software. The 2 contracts that totaled $410,000 were never bid publicly and were given to 2 firms outside the state.
Under your leadership and with the approval of your cronies the Borough continues to allow Hometown Utilicom to lose $1 million a year and the Treasurer continues to falsify the Budget.
When will you stop raising fees, permits and taxes and cut spending?
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977 kmayor@ptd.net Borough Council President Eidle
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Mr. President,
The Borough website does not carry the 2009 Audit which, as per the Borough Code, shall made public by April 1, 2010. Was the audit ever performed by the so called independent auditor Long & Barrell? Was it ever submitted to the DCED? How could this happen with a $100,000 Borough Manager Khalife and an $80,000 internet expert Caruso?
Eight years and $410,000 later Councilman Gangewere thanked the staff for a great job done with utility billing software. The 2 contracts that totaled $410,000 were never bid publicly and were given to 2 firms outside the state.
Under your leadership and with the approval of your cronies the Borough continues to allow Hometown Utilicom to lose $1 million a year and the Treasurer continues to falsify the Budget.
When will you stop raising fees, permits and taxes and cut spending?
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
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