September 16, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Council President Malcolm Eidle
Council Vice President Seyler
Councilman Schlegel
Councilman Gangewere
Councilman Snyder
Councilwomen Amy Bray
Dear Council Members,
After almost 2 months the minutes of the July 15, 2008 Council Meeting were published. Page 87 states and I quote, “Under Finance, Electric and Telecommunications Committee, Council reviewed the Second Quarter Budget Summary Report. President Eidle commented that the Borough has done very well with expenses this year”.
I notice Telecommunications is conveniently grouped together with Finance and Electric to hide the fact that Telecommunications is losing money and is illegally being transferred funds from other Borough Departments. Finance and electric control the majority of the Borough’s funds and revenue. I then notice that there are no facts or figures attached to the Budget Report, again to hide the finances of Telecom. Therefore the only financial report for the public is President Eidle’s comment which was that “THE BOROUGH HAS DONE VERY WELL WITH EXPENSES THIS YEAR”. I can not believe the 5 of you sit there and accept this statement which means nothing and not one of you is curious enough to ask President Eidle to explain his statement and ask him for a Treasurer’s Report. I have never seen or heard of any legitimate regular municipality meeting or even a club meeting without a Treasurer’s Report.
Page 87 also states and I quote, “Council reviewed CCG Consulting’s proposal which exceeds the originally approved amount of $16,500. A motion was made by Ms. Bray, seconded my Mr. Schlegel, Resolved, To accept CCG Consulting’s proposal in the amount of $20,000”.
Shouldn’t the public be informed about what this proposal is for? Why was $16,500 originally approved? What was it based on? I think this proposal is for the Telecom Business Plan and again, if it is, you are hiding the finances of Telecom. If it is for the Business Plan why did it take almost 4 months to approve the proposal? And now 2 months later there are still no details about the Business Plan or the $1.3 million loan.
This letter points out just 2 incidents that prove you are all individually responsible for distorting the Borough’s finances. The $1.3 million Telecom Loan hinges on this Business Plan which you are deliberately delaying. You are all running out of time the Borough finances have to be made public sooner than later. The 2006 and 2007 Audits and Budgets are not available to the public which is a Borough Code violation. Every one of you is aware that the Borough’s finances are falsified and you can never say you did not know. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. The truth will prevail.
The Borough has a new Borough ManagerTreasurer but nothing has changed he continues to keep the books illegally as Keith Hill and Jaymes Vettraino did before him and he did not answer my letter as per your orders. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE BUSINESS PLAN AND THE $1.3 MILLION HOMETOWN UTILICOM LOAN?
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Borough9-12-08 Officials Letter
September 12, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
www.marinoreport.com
Council President Eidle
Council Vice President Seyler
Councilman Schlegel
Councilman Snyder
Councilman Gangewere
Councilwomen Bray
Dear Council Members,
I addressed all of you individually and by name because I want each and every one of you personally to know that you are all accountable for not answering the demands that I stated in my letters to Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife and Council President Eidle. You are all violating the Borough Code.
I demanded President Eidle address Mr. Remaley’s untrue and derogatory statements about me and to make the Borough’s finances available to the public as per the Borough Code.
I demanded Treasurer Khalife make all the Borough’s finances available to the public as per the Borough Code. About one month before my letter to him Mr. Khalife told me he was not aware of the situation concerning the Borough finances. I agreed being he was new as Borough Manager and Treasurer. But after more than one month there are still no financial records available to the public.
How can the 6 of you agree to order Mr. Khalife not to publish the Borough’s financial records and violate the Borough Code? You have also ordered Assistant Treasurer Samilo to violate the Borough Code. He personally refused to show me any financial records on several occasions.
You are also aware of the disgraceful behavior of David Remaley who is a member of the Zoning Hearing Board and again you all agree to ignore my accusations but you can never say you did not know of his false statements.
I know that every one of you received copies of my letters because I hand delivered them to the Borough Hall and you can never say you were not aware of the Borough Code violations.
I am in possession of the contract between Hometown Utilicom and Apex at Kutztown and offhand I think the Borough over stepped its limits with this contract. Did the Borough Solicitor review this contract before it was signed?
I am going to pursue the Remaley incident unless I hear from you. And I will continue to pursue my requests for financial records to be made available to the public. Remember you can never say you did not know the facts of this serious situation.
What happened to former Councilman Dr. Strasser’s statements about Hometown Utilicom that were published in the local newspaper? Did you disown them?
Please inform me as to when the financial records will be available at the Borough Hall and how you will handle the Remaley case. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
www.marinoreport.com
Council President Eidle
Council Vice President Seyler
Councilman Schlegel
Councilman Snyder
Councilman Gangewere
Councilwomen Bray
Dear Council Members,
I addressed all of you individually and by name because I want each and every one of you personally to know that you are all accountable for not answering the demands that I stated in my letters to Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife and Council President Eidle. You are all violating the Borough Code.
I demanded President Eidle address Mr. Remaley’s untrue and derogatory statements about me and to make the Borough’s finances available to the public as per the Borough Code.
I demanded Treasurer Khalife make all the Borough’s finances available to the public as per the Borough Code. About one month before my letter to him Mr. Khalife told me he was not aware of the situation concerning the Borough finances. I agreed being he was new as Borough Manager and Treasurer. But after more than one month there are still no financial records available to the public.
How can the 6 of you agree to order Mr. Khalife not to publish the Borough’s financial records and violate the Borough Code? You have also ordered Assistant Treasurer Samilo to violate the Borough Code. He personally refused to show me any financial records on several occasions.
You are also aware of the disgraceful behavior of David Remaley who is a member of the Zoning Hearing Board and again you all agree to ignore my accusations but you can never say you did not know of his false statements.
I know that every one of you received copies of my letters because I hand delivered them to the Borough Hall and you can never say you were not aware of the Borough Code violations.
I am in possession of the contract between Hometown Utilicom and Apex at Kutztown and offhand I think the Borough over stepped its limits with this contract. Did the Borough Solicitor review this contract before it was signed?
I am going to pursue the Remaley incident unless I hear from you. And I will continue to pursue my requests for financial records to be made available to the public. Remember you can never say you did not know the facts of this serious situation.
What happened to former Councilman Dr. Strasser’s statements about Hometown Utilicom that were published in the local newspaper? Did you disown them?
Please inform me as to when the financial records will be available at the Borough Hall and how you will handle the Remaley case. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Teplitz Auditor General letter
September 8, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Department of the Auditor General
Robert F. Teplitz Chief Counsel\Policy Director
229 Finance Building
Harrisburg, Pa 17120
Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your letter dated August 22,2008 which does not address my complaint that the Borough of Kutztown is using Commonwealth Grant Funds for purposes other than they were issued for. You also do not address a previous statement from your office stating that the Borough did not receive any Commonwealth funds. To my knowledge it is the responsibility of the Auditor General to confirm that the funds are legally expended on projects that the grant was issued for. I have pointed out in my previous letters some violations of this provision. And being there are no Borough financial records available to the public at this time there is no way of determining how, when or where the grant funds are spent. Your office has the responsibility and the authority to follow the paper trail, if there is any, of these funds. We are talking about over $1 million since 2004.
I have attached a copy of letters to Borough Manager\Treasurer Gabriel Khalife dated August 24, 2008 and Council President Malcolm Eidle dated September 2, 2008 in which I ask to see Borough financial records and have never received a reply because the Borough will not allow the public to see any information about Borough Finances which includes the distribution of Commonwealth Grants.
Please feel free to contact me if you require any additional information.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Department of the Auditor General
Robert F. Teplitz Chief Counsel\Policy Director
229 Finance Building
Harrisburg, Pa 17120
Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your letter dated August 22,2008 which does not address my complaint that the Borough of Kutztown is using Commonwealth Grant Funds for purposes other than they were issued for. You also do not address a previous statement from your office stating that the Borough did not receive any Commonwealth funds. To my knowledge it is the responsibility of the Auditor General to confirm that the funds are legally expended on projects that the grant was issued for. I have pointed out in my previous letters some violations of this provision. And being there are no Borough financial records available to the public at this time there is no way of determining how, when or where the grant funds are spent. Your office has the responsibility and the authority to follow the paper trail, if there is any, of these funds. We are talking about over $1 million since 2004.
I have attached a copy of letters to Borough Manager\Treasurer Gabriel Khalife dated August 24, 2008 and Council President Malcolm Eidle dated September 2, 2008 in which I ask to see Borough financial records and have never received a reply because the Borough will not allow the public to see any information about Borough Finances which includes the distribution of Commonwealth Grants.
Please feel free to contact me if you require any additional information.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Right to Know Secretary Bray 9-5-08
September 5, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray
Kutztown Borough Hall
45 Railroad St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Madam Secretary,
I am in receipt of your reply to my Right to Know Law request dated
August 27, 2008 and I would like to appeal my requests Nos. 1,2 and 4 on the grounds that these documents have to exist because this information was given to the Borough Council and the Mayor for discussion and vote. Council President Eidle and Councilman Gangewere stated publicly that Hometown Utilicom will be profitable after the Borough has provided Apex with services. Under the Right to Know Law your letter states the Borough has to duplicate public records. Councilmen Eidle and Gangewere had to receive status reports on the Business Plan, the $1.3 million loan and the number of potential subscribers to HU to make such statements. In fact Mayor Green, the remaining Council Members and Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife were all given this information. It had to be in writing for distribution and all you have to do is make copies to fulfill my request. This information was voted on at the March 2008 Council meeting which was almost 6 months ago.
This information should be published monthly along with the Budget and should not have to be requested under the Right to Know Law. This is public money in a Business Venture that loses $1 million a year and the Borough residents are entitled to know what you are doing with the money.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino
Kutztown Borough Resident
cc. Council Members
Mayor Sandra Green
B.M. Khalife
Open Records Office
Many Others
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Kutztown Borough Secretary Bonnie Bray
Kutztown Borough Hall
45 Railroad St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
Madam Secretary,
I am in receipt of your reply to my Right to Know Law request dated
August 27, 2008 and I would like to appeal my requests Nos. 1,2 and 4 on the grounds that these documents have to exist because this information was given to the Borough Council and the Mayor for discussion and vote. Council President Eidle and Councilman Gangewere stated publicly that Hometown Utilicom will be profitable after the Borough has provided Apex with services. Under the Right to Know Law your letter states the Borough has to duplicate public records. Councilmen Eidle and Gangewere had to receive status reports on the Business Plan, the $1.3 million loan and the number of potential subscribers to HU to make such statements. In fact Mayor Green, the remaining Council Members and Borough Manager\Treasurer Khalife were all given this information. It had to be in writing for distribution and all you have to do is make copies to fulfill my request. This information was voted on at the March 2008 Council meeting which was almost 6 months ago.
This information should be published monthly along with the Budget and should not have to be requested under the Right to Know Law. This is public money in a Business Venture that loses $1 million a year and the Borough residents are entitled to know what you are doing with the money.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino
Kutztown Borough Resident
cc. Council Members
Mayor Sandra Green
B.M. Khalife
Open Records Office
Many Others
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
President Eidle Answer or Resign
September 2, 2008
Gennaro A.Marino P.E.
www.marinoreport.com
Council President Eidle
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Sir,
I have not received a response to my letter to you dated August 14, 2008 in which I accuse Zoning Hearing Board Vice Chairman David Remaley of making false statements about me. In addition he has stated that I have a dishonorable discharge from the military which is slander. Being you are the leader of the Borough I am holding you responsible for his actions. Mr. Remaley is embarrassing the Borough and should be fired or asked to resign. In my letter I also ask for a retraction and an apology for his false statements and at this time I will accept both. But please don’t think that by not responding to my letters that this matter is over. It is your duty and responsibility to put a stop to this matter before it becomes a legal matter.
An anonymous comment on my blog states that I have refused to allow the Borough access to my water meter. The comment states ITD Frank Caruso gave them this information. How, when and where was this information made public? Is my business with the Borough public information? There is also other information on my website that indicates that there is other information being leaked to individuals about Borough business, namely Telecom. I think some elected and appointed borough officials are commenting on my blog anonymously with the aid and approval of you and the Borough Council.
I think it is time for you to make all the finances of Telecom public, in fact you should make all Borough finances public as per the Borough Code.. The anonymous comments on my blog also mention a contract with the Apex Development. There are also rumors that Telecom will turn a profit when Apex becomes a customer. Where did this information come from? Telecom is a loser even with Apex and you know it and that is why there are no financial reports about Telecom available to the public.
I recently wrote letter dated August 25, 2008 to Borough Manager\Treasure Khalife stating there are no financial records of any kind at the Borough desk which is a Borough Code violation. He has not replied to it or acknowledged if he received it. Recently I made you aware of this illegal situation and you have done nothing about it. If you do not or you are not capable of leading the Borough you should resign. Do your job and accept responsibility or leave.
MY WEBSITE, MY ACCUSATIONS, MY QUESTIONS AND I ARE NOT GOING AWAY. PRESIDENT EIDLE I DEMAND AN ANSWER TO THIS LETTER OR YOUR RESIGNATION.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Gennaro A.Marino P.E.
www.marinoreport.com
Council President Eidle
Kutztown Borough Hall
Dear Sir,
I have not received a response to my letter to you dated August 14, 2008 in which I accuse Zoning Hearing Board Vice Chairman David Remaley of making false statements about me. In addition he has stated that I have a dishonorable discharge from the military which is slander. Being you are the leader of the Borough I am holding you responsible for his actions. Mr. Remaley is embarrassing the Borough and should be fired or asked to resign. In my letter I also ask for a retraction and an apology for his false statements and at this time I will accept both. But please don’t think that by not responding to my letters that this matter is over. It is your duty and responsibility to put a stop to this matter before it becomes a legal matter.
An anonymous comment on my blog states that I have refused to allow the Borough access to my water meter. The comment states ITD Frank Caruso gave them this information. How, when and where was this information made public? Is my business with the Borough public information? There is also other information on my website that indicates that there is other information being leaked to individuals about Borough business, namely Telecom. I think some elected and appointed borough officials are commenting on my blog anonymously with the aid and approval of you and the Borough Council.
I think it is time for you to make all the finances of Telecom public, in fact you should make all Borough finances public as per the Borough Code.. The anonymous comments on my blog also mention a contract with the Apex Development. There are also rumors that Telecom will turn a profit when Apex becomes a customer. Where did this information come from? Telecom is a loser even with Apex and you know it and that is why there are no financial reports about Telecom available to the public.
I recently wrote letter dated August 25, 2008 to Borough Manager\Treasure Khalife stating there are no financial records of any kind at the Borough desk which is a Borough Code violation. He has not replied to it or acknowledged if he received it. Recently I made you aware of this illegal situation and you have done nothing about it. If you do not or you are not capable of leading the Borough you should resign. Do your job and accept responsibility or leave.
MY WEBSITE, MY ACCUSATIONS, MY QUESTIONS AND I ARE NOT GOING AWAY. PRESIDENT EIDLE I DEMAND AN ANSWER TO THIS LETTER OR YOUR RESIGNATION.
Sincerely,
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
Friday, August 29, 2008
An Old Letter Same Old Story
More Borough Council Finances 2-5-08
Upon reviewing the structure of the Committees of the Borough I discovered that there are six committees and they are:
Community Development Committee
Public Safety Committee
Public Works committee
Personnel Committee
Water and Wastewater Committee
Finance, Electric and Telecommunications Committee
I noticed Telecommunications, a business venture that loses about $1 million a year, is conveniently tucked in between Finance and Electric in one committee. Finance is the General Fund and Electric is the Electric Fund and between them they generate and control almost all of the revenue and funds that can be transferred to all departments of the Borough without restrictions. Telecommunications (Hometown Utilicom) is grouped with Finance and Electric to allow Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino to intermingle revenue and funds of the three departments and illegally conceal the finances of Hometown Utilicom. This coupled with the item on the Consent Agenda which usually reads “move funds from any fund or agency to any other fund or agency to pay the monthly bills” allows Mr. Vettraino to transfer funds secretly without making them public. These illegal transfers and fund movements are all done under the direction and the approval of the Borough Council, Mayor Sandra Green, ITD Caruso and Borough Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney and auditors Long & Barrell.
To complete the scheme and keep the finances of Hometown Utilicom a secret, there are no 2006 and 2007 Budgets available at the Borough Hall.
Upon reviewing the structure of the Committees of the Borough I discovered that there are six committees and they are:
Community Development Committee
Public Safety Committee
Public Works committee
Personnel Committee
Water and Wastewater Committee
Finance, Electric and Telecommunications Committee
I noticed Telecommunications, a business venture that loses about $1 million a year, is conveniently tucked in between Finance and Electric in one committee. Finance is the General Fund and Electric is the Electric Fund and between them they generate and control almost all of the revenue and funds that can be transferred to all departments of the Borough without restrictions. Telecommunications (Hometown Utilicom) is grouped with Finance and Electric to allow Borough Manager\Treasurer Vettraino to intermingle revenue and funds of the three departments and illegally conceal the finances of Hometown Utilicom. This coupled with the item on the Consent Agenda which usually reads “move funds from any fund or agency to any other fund or agency to pay the monthly bills” allows Mr. Vettraino to transfer funds secretly without making them public. These illegal transfers and fund movements are all done under the direction and the approval of the Borough Council, Mayor Sandra Green, ITD Caruso and Borough Solicitors Dietrich and Mooney and auditors Long & Barrell.
To complete the scheme and keep the finances of Hometown Utilicom a secret, there are no 2006 and 2007 Budgets available at the Borough Hall.
Pearl Seaman 8-29-08
August 29, 2008
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Ms. Pearl Seaman,
It was an honor and a pleasure to receive a second comment from an idealistic young lady who cares about her Borough. After reading the comment from” Residents against Marino” you realize your mom was right as moms usually are. I did not acknowledge your first comment because I knew it would generate such comments. You stated you have a tendency to believe some of the things in my reports and I may be on the right track. Their comment twists your statements and has you agreeing with me which isn’t the case. I thought your comment was asking questions and for clarifications. I apologize for their comment and would like to point out it comes from someone with no name who falsely claims to represent some residents. The comment also does not address my blog and is all about distorting your comment which is typical of people with no names. Take notice that the third comment was posted by another no name and the article has nothing to do with the Kutztown situation.
In your comment you ask me to publish some of the responses to my letters that I have written to government officials. Contact me and I will gladly give you copies or show you the originals. I think if I publish them it will give my detractors more material to distort as they have done to many of my blogs.
Gennaro A. Marino P.E.
409 W. Main St.
Kutztown, Pa 19530
610-683-7977
Ms. Pearl Seaman,
It was an honor and a pleasure to receive a second comment from an idealistic young lady who cares about her Borough. After reading the comment from” Residents against Marino” you realize your mom was right as moms usually are. I did not acknowledge your first comment because I knew it would generate such comments. You stated you have a tendency to believe some of the things in my reports and I may be on the right track. Their comment twists your statements and has you agreeing with me which isn’t the case. I thought your comment was asking questions and for clarifications. I apologize for their comment and would like to point out it comes from someone with no name who falsely claims to represent some residents. The comment also does not address my blog and is all about distorting your comment which is typical of people with no names. Take notice that the third comment was posted by another no name and the article has nothing to do with the Kutztown situation.
In your comment you ask me to publish some of the responses to my letters that I have written to government officials. Contact me and I will gladly give you copies or show you the originals. I think if I publish them it will give my detractors more material to distort as they have done to many of my blogs.
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