May 6, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
website www.marinoreport.com
Mayor Sandy Green and the Borough Council
Dear Elected Officials,
At the Special Council Meeting of April 7, 2008 an Ordinance was passed seeking to fill the positions of Borough Manager and Treasurer. Yet the Borough website does not list the two positions under Employment Opportunities. This again shows the lack of leadership on your part. Isn’t the Borough participating in the search for a Borough Manager and Treasurer or is it the usual let an outside firm do it. This is your usual policy of make no decisions and you will not be responsible for the decisions.
The Ordinance clearly states “the Borough is in the process of seeking candidates for the positions of Borough Manager and Treasurer of the Borough of Kutztown”. This means you plan to hire two people to replace Mr. Vettraino, again increasing the payroll. The minutes of the March 18, 2008 Council Meeting state the new Borough Manager will receive a salary in the range of $90+ thousand a year. What will the new Treasurer’s salary be? The residents of the Borough deserve a thorough explanation as to what your plans are and how you plan to spend Borough Funds.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Letter to the Reading Eagle Editor
May 2, 2008
Former Mayor Marino
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net 610-683-7977
website www.marinoreport.com
Letter to the Editor of the Reading Eagle
Thank you for the very informative 5-1-08 article by reporter Park about Hometown Utilicom. Hometown Utilicom is not a utility as stated by Mr. Caruso but a Business Venture that loses about $1 million a year. A business that has 1,000 customers and adds 6,000 more and breaks even could be losing about $1 million a year or more.
Mr. Caruso does not mention the finances of HU or the amount of money the University customers would generate, the cost of the new installation or the cost of additional personnel. He also did not release the dollar amount of the offer.
Because the Borough is a municipality all of the finances of the Borough are public information. The Borough has never published a financial report or audit of HU which is a Borough Code violation. The Borough can not compete with private industry because of the open records laws.
The article also states that the Borough has loaned and transferred funds into HU but again does not state the amounts. Why did the Council vote unanimously to submit an offer when Mr. Caruso has stated the infrastructure can not be completed in time to satisfy the offer. Then Council Vice President Seyler states we can grow our system, and we can grow our business. He recently voted to borrow $1.3 million to update our current system.
Gennaro A, Marino P.E.
Former Mayor of Kutztown
Former Mayor Marino
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net 610-683-7977
website www.marinoreport.com
Letter to the Editor of the Reading Eagle
Thank you for the very informative 5-1-08 article by reporter Park about Hometown Utilicom. Hometown Utilicom is not a utility as stated by Mr. Caruso but a Business Venture that loses about $1 million a year. A business that has 1,000 customers and adds 6,000 more and breaks even could be losing about $1 million a year or more.
Mr. Caruso does not mention the finances of HU or the amount of money the University customers would generate, the cost of the new installation or the cost of additional personnel. He also did not release the dollar amount of the offer.
Because the Borough is a municipality all of the finances of the Borough are public information. The Borough has never published a financial report or audit of HU which is a Borough Code violation. The Borough can not compete with private industry because of the open records laws.
The article also states that the Borough has loaned and transferred funds into HU but again does not state the amounts. Why did the Council vote unanimously to submit an offer when Mr. Caruso has stated the infrastructure can not be completed in time to satisfy the offer. Then Council Vice President Seyler states we can grow our system, and we can grow our business. He recently voted to borrow $1.3 million to update our current system.
Gennaro A, Marino P.E.
Former Mayor of Kutztown
Friday, May 2, 2008
Finance, Electric and Telecom Combined Illegally
May 2, 2008
From Former Mayor Marino
Subject: Special Council Meeting April 28, 2008
To Mayor Green, Council President Eidle,
Council Vice President Seyler, Councilmen Schlegel, Snyder and
Gangewere,
I have chosen to address all of you by name because you are all hiding behind each other. I want you all to know in many cases you are violating the Borough Code and you can be held responsible individually for your votes and actions.
The Agenda for the April 28, 2008 Special Meeting under the sub title of FINANCE, ELECTRIC AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS is stated “Take action to approve the submission of a Request for Proposal, due April 30, 2008, to Kutztown University for television services”.
When was it decided to submit a figure to the university and how was the figure calculated when the Borough does not have a Business Plan, an Audit or a Financial Report on Hometown Utilicom.
Another topic to be voted on and stated on the Agenda was for Professional Computer Systems to prepare a report to implement a new utility billing solution for all utility systems. Mr. Caruso, Mr. Hill and Mr. Vettraino over the last five years stated many times that this would be accomplished by Hometown Utilicom. And then Mr. Vettraino illegally gave out a contract to New World Systems of Troy Michigan without a public bid to combine the utility billing which New World Systems failed to accomplish. I pointed out the failure of NWS many months ago and by the way Troy Michigan is Mr. Vettraino’s hometown. Is this one of the many reasons he resigned and left the state?
When was it determined and who had the brilliant idea of combining FINANCE, ELECTRIC AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS? This is another one of your ways of concealing the huge losses of HU. To combine two legitimate Departments of the Borough with a Business Venture that could lose money is illegal and you are all guilty and responsible for this ploy. I assume all my accusations and charges are true because no one has addressed them. No one has addressed ex-Councilman Strasser’s statements either.
Former Mayor Marino
From Former Mayor Marino
Subject: Special Council Meeting April 28, 2008
To Mayor Green, Council President Eidle,
Council Vice President Seyler, Councilmen Schlegel, Snyder and
Gangewere,
I have chosen to address all of you by name because you are all hiding behind each other. I want you all to know in many cases you are violating the Borough Code and you can be held responsible individually for your votes and actions.
The Agenda for the April 28, 2008 Special Meeting under the sub title of FINANCE, ELECTRIC AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS is stated “Take action to approve the submission of a Request for Proposal, due April 30, 2008, to Kutztown University for television services”.
When was it decided to submit a figure to the university and how was the figure calculated when the Borough does not have a Business Plan, an Audit or a Financial Report on Hometown Utilicom.
Another topic to be voted on and stated on the Agenda was for Professional Computer Systems to prepare a report to implement a new utility billing solution for all utility systems. Mr. Caruso, Mr. Hill and Mr. Vettraino over the last five years stated many times that this would be accomplished by Hometown Utilicom. And then Mr. Vettraino illegally gave out a contract to New World Systems of Troy Michigan without a public bid to combine the utility billing which New World Systems failed to accomplish. I pointed out the failure of NWS many months ago and by the way Troy Michigan is Mr. Vettraino’s hometown. Is this one of the many reasons he resigned and left the state?
When was it determined and who had the brilliant idea of combining FINANCE, ELECTRIC AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS? This is another one of your ways of concealing the huge losses of HU. To combine two legitimate Departments of the Borough with a Business Venture that could lose money is illegal and you are all guilty and responsible for this ploy. I assume all my accusations and charges are true because no one has addressed them. No one has addressed ex-Councilman Strasser’s statements either.
Former Mayor Marino
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Open Trench on West Main St.
Open trench on west main street 4-20-08
I have made the following complaint to the Department of Transportation today.
Complaint location: 300 and 400 blocks of West Main St.
Complaint: during construction there is a trench about 10 inches wide and about 4 inches deep approx.1500 feet long on both sides of West Main St. It is dangerous and there are 2 churches, several businesses and about 300 people living on the street. The Borough has not announced when the trench will be paved. Thank you.
Reference Number 20080420-D5-7DVN9Q
In beautifying Main Street with a State Grant of $632,004 the Borough has allowed the contract for 25 street lights to disrupt the Borough for 7 months and it is still not completed. The contract is not completed because the Borough does not know how to write a contract. There should have been a time limit, safety provisions, sidewalk and street closure provisions, a schedule, procedure and more written into the contract.
Today was a disgrace the Grace Church and the Trinity Church held services and the parishioners, children, seniors and handicapped, had to cross this trench.
The Borough Council, Mayor Green and her Police Chief, Sergeant and Corporal have never approached the Light Contractor for any reasons such as Safety, Street and Sidewalk closings and protecting the construction site or even just to introduce themselves.
I think it is time for our Elected Officials to get out and meet the public and explain the Borough’s Finances, the Borough’s direction and they should also explain their votes. Isn’t it strange that there are no residents at the Council Meetings?
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
I have made the following complaint to the Department of Transportation today.
Complaint location: 300 and 400 blocks of West Main St.
Complaint: during construction there is a trench about 10 inches wide and about 4 inches deep approx.1500 feet long on both sides of West Main St. It is dangerous and there are 2 churches, several businesses and about 300 people living on the street. The Borough has not announced when the trench will be paved. Thank you.
Reference Number 20080420-D5-7DVN9Q
In beautifying Main Street with a State Grant of $632,004 the Borough has allowed the contract for 25 street lights to disrupt the Borough for 7 months and it is still not completed. The contract is not completed because the Borough does not know how to write a contract. There should have been a time limit, safety provisions, sidewalk and street closure provisions, a schedule, procedure and more written into the contract.
Today was a disgrace the Grace Church and the Trinity Church held services and the parishioners, children, seniors and handicapped, had to cross this trench.
The Borough Council, Mayor Green and her Police Chief, Sergeant and Corporal have never approached the Light Contractor for any reasons such as Safety, Street and Sidewalk closings and protecting the construction site or even just to introduce themselves.
I think it is time for our Elected Officials to get out and meet the public and explain the Borough’s Finances, the Borough’s direction and they should also explain their votes. Isn’t it strange that there are no residents at the Council Meetings?
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
Thursday, April 17, 2008
chaos II at the borough
Chaos II at Borough Hall April 13. 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Website www.marinoreport.com
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net 610-683-7977
Mayor Sandy Green and
The Kutztown Borough Council
Dear Elected Borough Officials,
In my letter to you titled “Chaos at Borough Hall” dated April 9, 2008 I criticized you for appointing an interim Borough Manager from an outside firm rather than from our Borough Employees. The Reading Eagle article by Michelle Park dated April 11, 2008 validates my statement. There is no doubt that there was some controversy surrounding the resignation of Mr. Woglom from the Borough of Quakertown. When Keith Hill, remember him, resigned Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray filled in satisfactorily as Interim Borough Manager and it was a lot cheaper. I repeat you do not have the ability or courage to make positive and responsible decisions for the future of the Borough and you put the borough’s future in the hands of outside firms. You did not thoroughly research or investigate the qualifications and character of the candidate and when you found out about the controversy you did not have the courage to admit your mistake and reject Mr. Woglom. The Eagle article states that on Thursday several of you said they knew Monday that there had been controversy in Quakertown, but they defended their choice. Council President Eidle’s quote, “We feel this is a good man, and we’re going to hire him” simply sums up and explains away all the controversy.
Your actions in this case are just another step by you toward the complete bankrupting and destruction of the Borough. You are concealing our finances, falsifying the Budget, publishing fraudulent reports and not reporting any finances or statistics of HU. In the past 2 years you have more than doubled our Real Estate Taxes. You also raised our electric rates to 80% more than our surrounding areas. You have raised rates and fees on services and permits and created new taxes and fees. You have also depleted all of the Borough’s reserve funds. You are also moving and transferring funds illegally into and out of different Borough Departments.
With all the confusion at the Borough Hall I think it is time for you to explain and demonstrate to our residents the details of our finances and the direction the Borough will take to solve these problems. We are all looking for your wisdom, experience and knowledge to solve the Borough’s financial problems and debt. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Website www.marinoreport.com
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net 610-683-7977
Mayor Sandy Green and
The Kutztown Borough Council
Dear Elected Borough Officials,
In my letter to you titled “Chaos at Borough Hall” dated April 9, 2008 I criticized you for appointing an interim Borough Manager from an outside firm rather than from our Borough Employees. The Reading Eagle article by Michelle Park dated April 11, 2008 validates my statement. There is no doubt that there was some controversy surrounding the resignation of Mr. Woglom from the Borough of Quakertown. When Keith Hill, remember him, resigned Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray filled in satisfactorily as Interim Borough Manager and it was a lot cheaper. I repeat you do not have the ability or courage to make positive and responsible decisions for the future of the Borough and you put the borough’s future in the hands of outside firms. You did not thoroughly research or investigate the qualifications and character of the candidate and when you found out about the controversy you did not have the courage to admit your mistake and reject Mr. Woglom. The Eagle article states that on Thursday several of you said they knew Monday that there had been controversy in Quakertown, but they defended their choice. Council President Eidle’s quote, “We feel this is a good man, and we’re going to hire him” simply sums up and explains away all the controversy.
Your actions in this case are just another step by you toward the complete bankrupting and destruction of the Borough. You are concealing our finances, falsifying the Budget, publishing fraudulent reports and not reporting any finances or statistics of HU. In the past 2 years you have more than doubled our Real Estate Taxes. You also raised our electric rates to 80% more than our surrounding areas. You have raised rates and fees on services and permits and created new taxes and fees. You have also depleted all of the Borough’s reserve funds. You are also moving and transferring funds illegally into and out of different Borough Departments.
With all the confusion at the Borough Hall I think it is time for you to explain and demonstrate to our residents the details of our finances and the direction the Borough will take to solve these problems. We are all looking for your wisdom, experience and knowledge to solve the Borough’s financial problems and debt. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
chaos at Borough hall
Chaos at Borough Hall April 9, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Mayor Sandy Green &
Kutztown Borough Council
Dear Elected Officials,
Besides the Borough debt being about $29.3 million, Hometown Utilicom loses about $1 million a year and you raised our utility rates, taxes and fees Councilman Dr. Brendan Strasser and Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino have resigned.
Dr. Strasser stated that he is tired of putting money into HU because it is a losing business venture. It does no marketing and has no Business Plan. Mayor Green agrees with him and threatened to but did not have the courage to veto the $1.3 million loan and settled for a proposed Business Plan. Not one of you has addressed Doctor Strasser’s derogatory remarks about HU because they true. You have decided to give the Business Plan to an outside firm because you have no faith in the ability of our Borough Employees to develop one. I know the Borough has employees capable of developing a Business Plan.
According to the Reading Eagle you have appointed an interim Borough Manager. Again you do not have faith in the ability of our Borough Employees. This is great for the morale of our dedicated Borough Employees. I know our Borough Employees can fill the temporary position. I also hope you tell Mr. David L. Woglom the interim Borough Manager, who was a Borough Manager for 22 years and I am positive he is more than qualified for the position, that the Borough has special rules and laws that vary from the norm such as:
1) The Borough does not have a Budget available to the public and hasn’t had one for over a year and that the 2006 and 2007 have not been published at this time.
2) The Borough falsifies the Budget and publishes fraudulent reports.
3) The Borough has not published any statistics or finances on Hometown Utilicom for more than a year.
4) Our electric rate is 80% higher than the surrounding area and that our Real Estate Tax more than doubled in the last 2 years from 1.2 mils to 2.6 mils.
5) Borough Solicitors Mooney and Dietrich and independent Auditor Long & Barrell Ltd. Are aware of the above.
6) The Borough has not had an internal audit for at least 14 years and does not employ an accountant or a CPA.
You have also voted to have an outside firm search for a new Borough Manager because you do not have the ability or courage to do it yourselves.
Why do we have to have outside firms come in and dictate who our future employees should be and the direction the Borough should take? You were elected by the residents to conduct Borough Business.
At one time or another over the past 6 years, in my letters to you, I have documented the above 6 statements and more and you have never answered any of my charges. Our finances are a disaster.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Website www.marinoreport.com
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
610-683-7977
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Mayor Sandy Green &
Kutztown Borough Council
Dear Elected Officials,
Besides the Borough debt being about $29.3 million, Hometown Utilicom loses about $1 million a year and you raised our utility rates, taxes and fees Councilman Dr. Brendan Strasser and Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino have resigned.
Dr. Strasser stated that he is tired of putting money into HU because it is a losing business venture. It does no marketing and has no Business Plan. Mayor Green agrees with him and threatened to but did not have the courage to veto the $1.3 million loan and settled for a proposed Business Plan. Not one of you has addressed Doctor Strasser’s derogatory remarks about HU because they true. You have decided to give the Business Plan to an outside firm because you have no faith in the ability of our Borough Employees to develop one. I know the Borough has employees capable of developing a Business Plan.
According to the Reading Eagle you have appointed an interim Borough Manager. Again you do not have faith in the ability of our Borough Employees. This is great for the morale of our dedicated Borough Employees. I know our Borough Employees can fill the temporary position. I also hope you tell Mr. David L. Woglom the interim Borough Manager, who was a Borough Manager for 22 years and I am positive he is more than qualified for the position, that the Borough has special rules and laws that vary from the norm such as:
1) The Borough does not have a Budget available to the public and hasn’t had one for over a year and that the 2006 and 2007 have not been published at this time.
2) The Borough falsifies the Budget and publishes fraudulent reports.
3) The Borough has not published any statistics or finances on Hometown Utilicom for more than a year.
4) Our electric rate is 80% higher than the surrounding area and that our Real Estate Tax more than doubled in the last 2 years from 1.2 mils to 2.6 mils.
5) Borough Solicitors Mooney and Dietrich and independent Auditor Long & Barrell Ltd. Are aware of the above.
6) The Borough has not had an internal audit for at least 14 years and does not employ an accountant or a CPA.
You have also voted to have an outside firm search for a new Borough Manager because you do not have the ability or courage to do it yourselves.
Why do we have to have outside firms come in and dictate who our future employees should be and the direction the Borough should take? You were elected by the residents to conduct Borough Business.
At one time or another over the past 6 years, in my letters to you, I have documented the above 6 statements and more and you have never answered any of my charges. Our finances are a disaster.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Website www.marinoreport.com
e-mail kmayor@ptd.net
610-683-7977
Monday, April 7, 2008
Questions for Information Technology Director Caruso
Information Technology Director Caruso Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Council & Mayor Green
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Elected Officials,
I think it is about time you looked into what Information Technology Director Frank Caruso is doing as a Borough Employee and as the head of Hometown Utilicom and ask him:
1) Is he going to add subscribers by advertising and marketing HU?
2) Is he going to finalize Automatic Meter Reading?
3) Is he going to complete our wireless internet?
4) Is he going to bid for HU services at Kutztown University?
5) Is he going to produce a Business Plan for HU?
6) Is he going to produce a Budget and Financial Report for HU?
7) Is he going to produce and publish his past projections for HU?
8) Is he going to publish statistics and revenue totals for HU?
9) Is he going to explain why HU loses about $1 million a year?
10) Is he going to rejuvenate his old website to speak for you?
11) Is he going to announce when the Borough will have combined billing?
12) Ask him how many HU customers will be added by his remark that landlords will be renting rooms instead of apartments?
At one time or another Mr. Caruso has stated that all of the above services will be installed by the Borough and HU and as far as the questions about HU business and finances they are all public information that should be published periodically.
And after you ask Mr. Caruso these questions you should also ask yourselves (Mayor Green, Council President Eidle, Council Vice President Seyler and Councilmen Schlegel, Snyder and Gangewere) a few such as:
1) When will you make the 2006 and 2007 Budgets available to the public?
2) When will you address ex-Councilman Dr. Brendan Strasser’s remarks about the finances of HU?
At this time the Borough is in a financial crisis and Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino has resigned. You gave him everything he asked for in running the Borough and you also voted him astronomical salary increases. Despite this he claims to be leaving to be closer to his family. Where was his family when he accepted his position with the Borough?
I suggest you walk around the Borough as I do and take notice of all the “House for Sale” signs and there are many. Mr. Vettraino will be adding one more. Maybe Mr. Vettraino is leaving because even with a salary of about $104, 000 he can not afford the high rates of Real Estate Taxes, Water, Sewer, Electric and the addition of new charges and fees. It is ironic that Mr. Vettraino requested all of these increases and with your approval will not make the Budget public because it is embarrassing.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main Street
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Council & Mayor Green
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Elected Officials,
I think it is about time you looked into what Information Technology Director Frank Caruso is doing as a Borough Employee and as the head of Hometown Utilicom and ask him:
1) Is he going to add subscribers by advertising and marketing HU?
2) Is he going to finalize Automatic Meter Reading?
3) Is he going to complete our wireless internet?
4) Is he going to bid for HU services at Kutztown University?
5) Is he going to produce a Business Plan for HU?
6) Is he going to produce a Budget and Financial Report for HU?
7) Is he going to produce and publish his past projections for HU?
8) Is he going to publish statistics and revenue totals for HU?
9) Is he going to explain why HU loses about $1 million a year?
10) Is he going to rejuvenate his old website to speak for you?
11) Is he going to announce when the Borough will have combined billing?
12) Ask him how many HU customers will be added by his remark that landlords will be renting rooms instead of apartments?
At one time or another Mr. Caruso has stated that all of the above services will be installed by the Borough and HU and as far as the questions about HU business and finances they are all public information that should be published periodically.
And after you ask Mr. Caruso these questions you should also ask yourselves (Mayor Green, Council President Eidle, Council Vice President Seyler and Councilmen Schlegel, Snyder and Gangewere) a few such as:
1) When will you make the 2006 and 2007 Budgets available to the public?
2) When will you address ex-Councilman Dr. Brendan Strasser’s remarks about the finances of HU?
At this time the Borough is in a financial crisis and Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino has resigned. You gave him everything he asked for in running the Borough and you also voted him astronomical salary increases. Despite this he claims to be leaving to be closer to his family. Where was his family when he accepted his position with the Borough?
I suggest you walk around the Borough as I do and take notice of all the “House for Sale” signs and there are many. Mr. Vettraino will be adding one more. Maybe Mr. Vettraino is leaving because even with a salary of about $104, 000 he can not afford the high rates of Real Estate Taxes, Water, Sewer, Electric and the addition of new charges and fees. It is ironic that Mr. Vettraino requested all of these increases and with your approval will not make the Budget public because it is embarrassing.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
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