September 10, 2010
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 West Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Website www.marinoreport.com
Kutztown Borough Manager Gabriel Khalife
45 Railroad Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Dear Sir:
Using the “Service Mark” in your reply to my Right to Know Request is a ploy by you, Kutztown Mayor Green, the Kutztown Borough Council, Kutztown Borough Solicitor Keith Mooney and Kutztown Borough Auditor Long & Barrell to conceal the financial status of the Telecommunications Department from the citizens of Kutztown. Your reply is a disgrace and embarrassment to the citizens of the Borough.
There is a “Hometown Utilicom Annual Report dated August 1, 2003” by Kutztown Borough Manager Jaymes Vettraino which states and I quote from the first paragraph: Three reasons for issuing this report are;
1) It is our belief that the public should be provided with updates on major government projects on a timely basis and in a concise format.
2) It is appropriate to measure the progress of the project against presentations and projections that were previously made.
3) FTTH is a government venture whereby its financial information should be reported to the citizens of the Borough.
Borough Manager Vettraino also states in paragraph four and I quote; it is the responsibility of the elected and appointed officials, with constant input from the community, to guide the future of this project to provide the utmost benefit to the Borough of Kutztown.
According to the above mentioned HU Annual Report all the information I had requested should have been made public periodically and demonstrates to the citizens of Kutztown and I that you and the above named elected and appointed officials have conspired to withhold the Telecommunications from the public which could be a criminal act. This is clearly dishonesty.
I demand this information be made public by the Borough immediately because it does not have to be requested under the Right to Know Law and as per this Hometown Utilicom Report this information should have already been published. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Khalfe Reply
September 7, 2010
Today I am filing a repeat Right to Know Request because in my last RTK Request Borough Manager Gabriel Khalife basically stated Hometown Utilicom was a Service Mark and did not have any records. He is denying me the information on a technicality which is the norm for this Borough’s elected officials, the Borough’s Solicitor and Borough’s Auditor.
Today I am filing a repeat Right to Know Request because in my last RTK Request Borough Manager Gabriel Khalife basically stated Hometown Utilicom was a Service Mark and did not have any records. He is denying me the information on a technicality which is the norm for this Borough’s elected officials, the Borough’s Solicitor and Borough’s Auditor.
Borough Reply
A Community Committed to Tradition and Progress
Incorporated ~ 1815
BOROUGH OF KUTZTOWN
"
www.kutztownboro.org
www.hometownutilicom.org
H~
i, .. ;,.II''':I.II:,/I'1I'1I$i4
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.
Broadband
Internet
Telephone
Home
Security
Refuse
Collection
Recycling
Collection
Highway
Maintenance
Park
Services
Swimming
Pool
Code
Administration
Full Service
Police
RQi/road
MQnagement
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'$9.93 on the electric bill is a demand charge for a 3 KW base
minimum chargeresi~.9.IWalcommercial rate.
~,>
Borough Manager
Incorporated ~ 1815
BOROUGH OF KUTZTOWN
"
www.kutztownboro.org
www.hometownutilicom.org
H~
i, .. ;,.II''':I.II:,/I'1I'1I$i4
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.
Broadband
Internet
Telephone
Home
Security
Refuse
Collection
Recycling
Collection
Highway
Maintenance
Park
Services
Swimming
Pool
Code
Administration
Full Service
Police
RQi/road
MQnagement
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
