Pottstown Borough Manager Lured Away By West Norriton Township

Location of West Norriton Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Pottstown‘s loss is West Norriton‘s gain.  And it is Pottstown’s loss!  Good luck finding somebody to replace Jason!  We wish Jason the best of luck in his new position and thank him for leaving Pottstown in better shape than he found it.

POTTSTOWN, Pa.  — Borough Manager Jason Bobst is leaving the post he has held for three years to take a job as the township manager of West Norriton.

With the 90 days’ notice his contract requires, his last day will fall sometime in August.

Bobst said Tuesday he had not been looking for long, “but I saw an opportunity that opened up and it piqued my interest.”

He was helped in what he said was “a difficult decision” by “ongoing issues around here,” but he declined to elaborate.

Read more: http://www.timesherald.com/article/20120522/NEWS01/120529831/pottstown-borough-manager-hired-by-west-norriton

Default Looms For Scranton Parking Authority As City Council Refuses To Pay SPA’s $1.4 Million Debt

Default is looming for the Scranton Parking Authority as city council refuses to release $1.4 million the authority needs by June 1 to pay debt, officials said.

SPA notified the council last fall it would have a budget deficit in 2012 and would need council to fill the gap. Council set the funds aside in a contingency account that only council can release, thus forcing SPA and Mayor Chris Doherty’s administration to come back to council for the funds.

As the city backs the SPA debt in question – and with the June 1 deadline fast approaching – the administration on May 10 requested emergency legislation from the council for the $1.4 million.

But the council refused and demanded that SPA executive director Robert Scopelliti and city Business Administrator Ryan McGowan first appear before council on May 17 to explain why the funds are needed. Councilman Pat Rogan and council Solicitor Boyd Hughes went so far as to say SPA should be allowed to go into default.

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/default-looms-for-scranton-parking-authority-as-city-council-refuses-to-pay-spa-s-1-4-million-debt-1.1318104

5 Most Damaged Brands Right Now

A conservative, a liberal, a country, a football team and a car make up the list!

See the list: http://money.msn.com/investing/5-most-damaged-brands-right-now

Charles W. Colson, Watergate Felon Who Became Evangelical Leader, Dies At 80

Charles W. Colson, who as a political saboteur for President Richard M. Nixon masterminded some of the dirty tricks that led to the president’s downfall, then emerged from prison to become an important evangelical leader, saying he had been “born again,” died on Saturday. He was 80.

The cause was complications of a brain hemorrhage, according to Prison Fellowship Ministries, which Mr. Colson founded in Lansdowne, Va. He died at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., and lived in Naples, Fla., and Leesburg, Va.

Mr. Colson had brain surgery to remove a clot after becoming ill on March 30 while speaking at a conference, according to Jim Liske, the group’s chief executive.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/us/politics/charles-w-colson-watergate-felon-who-became-evangelical-leader-dies-at-80.html?_r=1&hp#

Reading Mayor Defends How He Built Team

Reading City Hall on the NRHP since April 13, 1982. At 8th and Washington Streets, Reading, Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Since his Jan. 2 inauguration, Mayor Vaughn D. Spencer has awarded six outside consulting contracts, worth a total of $176,000, to give him more people to carry out his agendas.

All of these contracts circumvented the city’s normal contract-awarding process; all of them bypassed City Council; all but one of them involved members of his campaign and/or transition committees; and one was for the services of a media manager, who council had previously rejected for a city job.

Council members’ responses have ranged from livid to concerned. Several claim it’s all political patronage for those who got Spencer elected, and several say the city could better use the money to hire a badly needed police officer or firefighter.

But Spencer defends the contracts, saying they give him the extra help the administration needs and are the only way the city can plan how to do a better job, which he defines as saving money or raising revenue without increasing tax rates.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=381111

Pottstown Councilor Jody Rhoads Is Looking For A Few Good Men And Women To Run For Pottstown Borough Council

Next year there will be four Pottstown Borough Council seats up for grabs:  Wards 1, 3, 5 and 7.  As many people know Jody is not a politician.  He is a life-long resident who truly cares about Pottstown and has been trying to make things better since taking office four years ago as Sixth Ward Councilor. 

Councilor Rhoads just won a landslide re-election and will be in office another four years.  We need more people on council like Jody.  We need concerned citizens who want to do the right thing by Pottstown, not bobbleheads who go along with whatever their party tells them to do!  We need independent thinkers and doers in leadership positions if Pottstown is ever to turn the corner, clean up its act and revitalize.  One maverick on council can’t get things done.  We need four people with a like-minded vision to get the job done!

If you are interested, talk to Jody and see what’s involved with being a councilor!  He knows the ropes after serving four years!  Start attending council meetings or committee meetings to see exactly why Pottstown is not moving forward!  It’s a question of leadership!  The right leadership WILL move Pottstown forward!

Newspaper Barons Resurface

The Philadelphia Inquirer-Daily News Building in Philadelphia, PA. Taken from North Broad and Callowhill Streets. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note: If you have followed the sale of the Philadelphia newspapers, this article gives some perspective on what that might mean for Philadelphia from an out-of-town perspective.

Is there anything more forlorn than the American metropolitan newspaper? First readers began deserting in droves, then the advertisers followed. Family owners headed for the exits and then hedge funds and other financial players scooped up newspapers thinking they were buying at the bottom of the market. Greater fools came and went, each saying they could cut their way to former glory and renewed profitability. They got a haircut instead.

Many smaller community newspapers remain stable and newspapers with a large national footprint have generally done better. But quite a few of the midsize regional and metropolitan dailies that form the core of the industry have gone off a cliff: over all, the newspaper industry is half as big as it was seven years ago.

So if most newspapers are an uneconomical proposition incapable of sustaining profits, let alone pay off the debt so many buyers have larded on them, who is left to own them?

Rich guys.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/business/media/the-return-of-the-newspaper-barons.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&src=dayp

Related articles

• Political Figure Considers Bid For Philadelphia Newspapers (huffingtonpost.com)

After Early Bumps, Reading Mayor And City Council Say They’re InTune

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The relationship between Mayor Vaughn D. Spencer and City Council got off to a rocky start, he and council members admitted Tuesday at a Berks County League of Women Voters breakfast.

But now they’re ready to move on to implementing Spencer’s agenda of making the city safer and cleaner, encouraging economic development and getting the finances in order, they said.

“The impression that the president of council and the mayor hate each other is not true,” Council President Francis G. Acosta said. “All of us on council would like to see the mayor succeed and attain his goals.”

About 20 league members attended the event in Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Ave.

Read more:http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=374259

Roseanne Barr Joins Race For The White House

Editor’s note:  Some people will do anything for attention!

Having just had her Lifetime show “Roseanne’s Nuts” canceled, actress Roseanne Barr has a little extra time on her hands. And to fill the void, she’s come up with a new plan – she’s running for president.

The actress announced on Thursday (Feb. 2) that she will seek the Green Party’s presidential nomination. Barr explains that she’s a big supporter of the party and is discontent with the existing political landscape.

“The Democrats and Republicans have proven that they are servants — bought and paid for by the 1% — who are not doing what’s in the best interest of the American people,” Barr says.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/zap-roseanne-barr-joins-race-for-the-white-house-20120203,0,1356352.story

Pottstown Councilor Jody Rhoads Sworn In For Second Term

I had the pleasure of witnessing Man of the People, Jody Rhoads get sworn in this morning for his second term as Pottstown Sixth Ward Councilor.  Congratulations to Jody for a spectacular win!  See photo’s below!

 

Jody writes:

 

For my Oath of Office I had various options to choose from.

I made the decision to have our newly elected Magisterial District Judge, Scott Palladino, administer my Oath of Office.

I am looking at : 1-A new term

                                  2-A new year

                                  3-A new Judge

                                  4-My ceremony being the first on the list

                                  of 2012 for District Court  #38-1-11

  

   

  

  

Speaker Boehner Succumbs On Tax Deal

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Thursday bowed to pressure from both within and outside his party and agreed to a short-term deal to extend a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans.

In what could be an end to a toxic stalemate, Boehner informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will set a vote in the House on a Senate-passed two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, a Democratic leadership aide said.

Now comes the hard part – getting his often rebellious caucus to follow his lead. He is expected to brief members of his caucus later on Thursday, according to one lawmaker’s office.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/sns-rt-us-usa-taxestre7b827k-20111209,0,557603.story

Failed Democratic Candidate For Governor Of Pennsylvania Dan Onorato Finds Life After Politics

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Dan Onorato may have lost the Pennsylvania Governor’s race to Tom Corbett, but when his job ends as Allegheny County Executive he will start a new job in the private sector.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will join health-insurance giant Highmark Inc. as one of its top executives when he leaves office next month.

His multi-part title will be executive vice president, chief external affairs and communications officer.  He will begin his new job Jan. 3, the day Rich Fitzgerald will succeed him as county executive.

Mr. Onorato will report to Ken Melani, Highmark’s president and chief executive officer.

The appointment was announced Friday.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11351/1197577-455.stm#ixzz1gr67xpvh

GOP Gobbling Up Berks Political Map

The lone Democrat representing Berks County in Congress would be pushed outside Berks borders, allowing three Republican congressmen to take larger chunks of Berks and a fourth to extend his district into the county.

That picture became clear Wednesday when maps and district descriptions began circulating in advance of an expected vote on them by the state Senate.

Dr. G. Terry Madonna, a political analyst and professor of politics and public affairs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, described the plan as artful and skillfully drawn to protect incumbents. 

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=352919

Pottstown Mayor Whines About Budget Cut

Image via Wikipedia

Only in Pottstown!  Our illustrious Missy Mayor, Bonnie Heath is upset with Pottstown’s new $38.9 million budget.  In an effort to cut frivolous expenditures and luxuries we cannot afford, her $300.00 Mayor’s budget was reduced to $50.00.  Well cry me a big fat river!  I find this absolutely amazing for several reasons:

a. Bonnie was whining about eating “fuel costs” for attending events.  Excuse me, but the last time I checked, driving around a 5 square-mile borough does not exactly use much gas.  You might consider buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle if gas to drive around Pottstown is such a strain on your budget.  You already require a free ticket to attend an event!  Or better yet, don’t make unauthorized and secret trips to Norristown to undermine binding votes of Council you disagree with.  That would save a couple bucks!

b. Does the totally ceremonial position of mayor even need a “budget” to be a ribbon-cutter and baby-kisser?  I think not!

c. Considering the state of the economy and the state of Pottstown; does this petty whining about $250.00 seem out of touch with reality to anyone else?  People are starving, a large percentage of PSD students are on reduced or free lunch, homes are being foreclosed, jobs are hard to come by and our mayor has the chutzpah to carp about her “budget” being cut when we are trying to avoid raising taxes!

Two Roy’s Rants thumbs down for this selfish behavior from a public servant.  Why don’t you try being part of the solution instead of being part of the problem, Bonnie!

Why Councilor Rhoads Voted To Remove HARB’s Jurisdiction From Pottstown’s Central Business District

Sixth Ward Councilor and “man of the people”, Jody Rhoads shared his thoughts with me about the recent action taken by Pottstown Borough Council to remove the Historic Architectural Review Board’s (HARB) jurisdiction over the Downtown Commercial District.  The motion as stated on the Council Agenda was:

13. Motion to adopt an Ordinance amending the boundaries of Certified Local Historic Districts to eliminate a portion of the Downtown Commercial District from the Old Pottstown Historic District

The motion passed by a 4-3 vote at Pottstown Borough Council’s November 14^th meeting.  Councilors voting in favor of the amendment were Toroney, Allen, Chomnuck and Rhoads.  Councilors voting against the amendment were Gibson, Kirkland and Weand.

Councilor Rhoads’ reasons for voting in favor are:

• I believe anyone who wants to open a business or buy a property in town will do so and keep the architecture we have.
• There is nothing holding anyone back from consulting any HARB member for opinions if they are interested in a downtown property.  HARB members who are so interested can keep tabs on issues coming through Borough Hall.
• I believe there is now such a significant awareness of the concerns that we will not lose the architecture we have.
• Pottstown is stuck in a rut and no one wants to make changes.  For the good of the community, we need to move forward.
• And most significantly; this decision can be reversed if needed.

Despite a difference of opinion by three councilors and the HARB Board, the majority of Council has spoken.  As Councilor Rhoads pointed out, if down the road this decision proves to be flawed, it can be changed by a vote of Council.

Members of the Historic Architectural Review Board are:

Joseph Fay, Chairman
Levi S.Wolf
Stephanie Stranick
Jeffrey Leflar
P. Richard Frantz
Andrew Monastra

A Statement And Upcoming Local Events From Occupy Pottstown

I asked Amy Francis to write a few paragraphs about what Occupy Pottstown’s goals are and what it hopes to achieve.  Amy also talks about the Occupation Movement in general.  If all you know about this movement is what you have seen on television you may want to take a moment and see what this is all about. 

So without further adieu, Amy writes:

The Occupations are a statement against the economic and political systems in this country, which are currently only working only for the most “powerful” (in other words, the richest) 1%. In Pottstown, we have surely seen the trickle down effects from this economic imbalance everywhere: homes going into foreclosure, blight in what were once nice neighborhoods, companies moving out of town or closing, broken-down infrastructure, educational cuts while unfunded mandates continue to increase, skyrocketing taxes, more and more unemployment, etc, etc. What has become painfully clear is that the American Dream has become virtually unattainable for the majority of American people, and certainly for the Pottstown people.

While it is clear is that everyone’s reason why they “occupy” is unique and personal, however, what I perceive to be the common thread of the Occupy Pottstown supporters is a desire to put a spotlight on the inequities that Pottstown bears, along with many other First Suburbs. As history has shown us in Pottstown, ignoring these problems will not make them go away; the Occupy Pottstown group has proven to me to be the people willing to talk openly about the local issues and how they have effected their lives in palpable way; that, I believe, is the only real fist step towards making things better for more people. Simply put; the members of Occupy Pottstown have opened up the discussion and have shown a commitment to do so until change takes hold.

Occupy Pottstown’s first public gathering will be on November 21, 4 – 7 pm at the corner of Hanover Street and College Drive, and all are invited to join us. Occupy Pottstown also wants to increase awareness of the importance of supporting local businesses which, in turn, helps to support our local economy. To initiate this goal, Occupy Pottstown members will be holding our first “Occupy Downtown Pottstown Walk” on November 26th, which is Small Business Saturday; meeting time and place to be announced. Again, all are invited and encouraged to join.

Power to the People (one Pottstown at a time)!

Friends Of Pottstown Public Education Need Your Vote On Tuesday, November 8th

Save Pottstown Lambastes Thomas Hylton In Election Related Post

Ah, the smell of napalm is in the air once again as Election Day is just around the corner.  Our friends at Save Pottstown have come out of semi-retirement to shed some light on the self-proclaimed “most powerful man in Pottstown” and his election antics campaign.  Look for those glossy mailers to start trashing up your mailboxes soon!  If nothing else, they make lovely bird-cage liners or table crumbers.

To read Save Pottstown’s revealing look at Mr. Hylton aka the PAC man’s finances and get a few yucks at their verbiage, click on the link below:

http://savepottstown.com/lang/es/2011/11/the-queen-of-the-big-spenders-is-back/

The Brick House Versus The Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority

It never ceases to amaze me how The Fishwrap inserts itself into Pottstown’s affairs.  There is a fine line between reporting the news and “creating” the news.

The most recent article about the dispute between PDIDA and Brick House owner Dave Walsh is a sterling example of taking a bad situation and making it worse, under the guise of “the public has a right to know”.  The article is slanted in favor of PDIDA and against one of the most successful merchants downtown.  It paints an unflattering picture of Dave Walsh.

I have read the study on the use of opera and classical music to remove vagrants from business districts.  I agree it was worth a try.  I also understand business owners have a right to their opinion, even if that opinion disagrees with PDIDA.  Without business owners there would be no PDIDA.  Frankly, downtown Pottstown is in the worst shape I have ever seen it; since moving here in 1983.  Antagonizing and bad-mouthing Dave Walsh is spitting in the face of one of the few reasons to even go downtown.

I interviewed Dave Walsh a while back and found him to be one of the most down-to-earth people I have ever met.  He answered all my questions, he was forthright, polite, genuine in his desire to help Pottstown and was a pleasure to talk with.  It was the first conversation I ever had with him.  He was a wealth of information.  Instead of pissing him off, maybe PDIDA should pick his brain and find out why and how he is so successful!  He readily shared that information with me.

As for Bonnie trying to mediate this “crisis” I LOL!  Bonnie is firmly on the side of PDIDA, or should I say her agenda. 

Andrew Monastra had the only sensible comments that were reported.  And trust me Andrew, you are right on when you say Dave has valid points which are not personally driven.  Dave Walsh could be a great asset to PDIDA.  He is already a great asset to Pottstown.

As for the loitering problem downtown…we do have a police department, don’t we???  We have laws on the books.  As usual we don’t use our existing tools to solve problems.  The only way to turn Pottstown around is to clean it up.  The police department is a key part of the equation.  Playing opera only keeps undesirables away while the music is playing.  We need to send a clear message that we will not tolerate this behavior on our streets and that can only be done by enforcing the law.  Private citizens can not do that.

I really do applaud PDIDA for trying something.  Sometimes things do not work, for a variety of reasons, and we need to regroup and move on.  Demonizing Dave Walsh is neither productive nor proper.  Dave is not the problem here.  You should extend an olive branch and tap into what Dave knows.

Getting In And Out Of New York City Just Got More Expensive!

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Not to be outdone by the Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is also raising bridge, tunnel and PATH fees.  Crossing the Hudson will cost you a lot more in September. People in New Jersey are getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop being sandwiched in the middle!

E-ZPass car tolls will rise from $8 to $9.50, cash tolls will rise from $8 to $12.  This is for peak-time.  By 2015, the E-ZPass car toll will be $12 and the cash toll will be $15.

Single-fare PATH train rates will increase .25 cents per year, over the next four years.

These increases are lower than initially proposed.  Both governors took credit for intervening on the side of the consumer.

The Port Authority has cut staffing to the lowest level in decades and made other improvements to cut costs.  However, both governors have called for an audit of the Port Authority citing fiscal mismanagement as the primary reason for the increases.  Overtime is out of control.

None of the nine appointed commissioners would speak with the press at the end of this morning’s hearing on the higher tolls.  One commissioner had his eyes closed during most of the meeting.  Always a nice touch, to show the public how deeply you care, when a commissioner sleeps through a public hearing.