Cathy Paretti’s Speech As Read At Tonight’s Pottstown Borough Council Meeting

Below are Cathy Paretti’s remarks, in their entirety, as read to Pottstown Borough Council!

June 13, 2011

I feel compelled to speak tonight so all facts are on the table concerning the Gallery School and what has happened with the county funding this year.  First, to get the information correct about the Gallery School of Pottstown, we are a 501c3 non-profit community art center.  We attained our non-profit status in 2005 in order to fulfill our mission of being a positive attraction not only for the downtown district but Pottstown as a whole.  We specifically kept the name Pottstown in our title, even though at the time it was more fashionable to claim to be a tri county entity.  We wanted to make Pottstown a name that was recognizable and associated with a positive reaction.  Erika Hornburg-Cooper and myself are the co-founders of the organization. The Gallery School rents 254 High Street from CLE Properties, of which Erika and myself are partners along with a third person who owns 51% of the property.  The third partner has no interest in the school.  The Gallery School is seeking to purchase the property from CLE in order to renovate the third floor of the building so we can expand our programming and also attain an asset to make us more financially stable.  Our board of directors will not invest in raising funds to renovate a building that it does not own, and the third partner of CLE will not invest money in the building, as she has no faith that Pottstown will pull itself out of its current downturn.  As per the guidelines of the county revitalization program, we are well within the parameters of applying for the funds to purchase the building, just as Tri Pac has done in the past.  Our current proposal only includes money to pay off the mortgage on the building, as well as any transfer fees that will occur from the transaction.  As for the payout of the partners, our board of directors will be responsible to raise those funds as agreed to by the partners.  All money secured by us from the county will go towards paying off the mortgage, and we provided ample evidence to the county to prove that this is the case.  Neither Erika nor myself will receive any financial gain from the funds.  We understand how this proposal may have raised some eyebrows, and went above and beyond to make ourselves available for questioning in the hopes of achieving maximum transparency in the matter.  In short, we have nothing to hide.  I have worked at this organization for the past seven years without taking a paycheck and am constantly paying out of my own pocket for expenses to keep the building and the organization running.  Our only interest is in making sure that the organization is secure for the future.

I’d now like to discuss the events leading up to the mess we currently find ourselves in.  As the facts currently stand, on March 14^th council voted on the prioritization of projects to propose to the county.  The results were that the Gallery School was chosen as the top priority and the Western Gateway was chosen as the second priority, with the vote breakdown being four for Gallery School, two for the Gateway, and none for the Skyline project.  The borough staff was also on board with this decision.  However, when it came time to present our projects to the county, they were to be presented in the order prioritized by council, and suddenly the Skyline project was now being presented as the second priority.  At the time I wondered why this would be but, against my better judgment, decided not to question it, as we were not involved with either project.  But now I can’t help but ask why, without a single vote from council, the Skyline project was suddenly presented as the second priority?  The only entity against council’s decision of prioritization was Mayor Heath, whose opinion in the matter does not override that of the council.

In addition to this, Mayor Heath then took it upon herself to contact Commissioner Hoeffel and advocate for a project that was not supported by one member of borough council as far as any record of the matter is concerned.  Her actions make our town look as if we do not have our so-called ducks in a row, and has once again cast Pottstown in a bad light with the county.  Please correct me if I am wrong, but I did not feel at any time that our council and our borough staff were at odds with each other over the decision of March 14^th.

I would also like to speak about recent events which I believe call into question the extent of the Mayor’s involvement in the county’s decision.  On Friday, June 3^rd, Mr. Mason Craig was approaching people in town and informing them that the Skyline project had been awarded funding by the county per recommendations by the county staff.  This is important because that information was not to be made public until Monday, June 6^th, when the county staff’s recommendations would be emailed to all involved parties.  In those recommendations emailed on June 6^th, it was outlined that the Skyline had been awarded $241,000, while the other two projects were not to receive funds.  It wasn’t until June 7^th when the revitalization board made their first ever decision not to follow the county staff’s recommendation and instead leave the decision to the commissioners.  Still, I’d like to know how Mr. Craig was aware of the staff’s recommendations three days before they were to be announced.

To be clear, I have no political agenda.  I only want to ensure that the Gallery School of Pottstown can keep its doors open to serve the community and help the town move forward.  As for Mayor Heath, her actions may have serious consequences.  Because of her and Mr. Wildrick’s appeal to Commissioner Hoeffel, Pottstown is now in a position where we may not see any county funding at a time when the economy is in serious turmoil.  I understand that borough council cannot control the actions of its citizens, but Mayor Heath is an elected official.   You may correct me here, but I believe Pottstown has a council – manager form of borough government, which means that the mayor did not have the authority to go against borough council’s wishes.  Her interference in this process is, I believe, unethical, and I do hope that council reprimands her for her actions.

I have given all council members a copy of what I have said here tonight.   I have also included copies of letters that we receive from students and parents of the children that attend our programming and classes.  We have dozens more in our files.  I hope these speak to the impact that we do make and can continue to make in the Pottstown community.

Thank you all for your attention.

Cathy Paretti,

Co-Founder, Gallery Director of the Gallery School of Pottstown

Cathy Paretti Blasts Pottstown Mayor Bonnie Heath Over Gallerygate

Cathy Paretti, Co-founder of the Gallery on High/Gallery School of Pottstown read a prepared statement during the Comments from Citizens Present part of tonight’s Pottstown Borough Council Meeting.  Evidently only Councilors Weand and Rhoads were listening.  Bonnie appeared unphased (probably because she knew four members of council support her bad behavior).

Mrs. Paretti broke down the series of events which lead to Gallerygate.  Mayor Heath meddled in a council decision and caused the Gallery’s request for grant money (to pay off the mortgage on their building and expand their services) to be denied.  Mrs. Paretti also brought some interesting facts to light about an inappropriate release of information, by the mayor’s husband, before it was to be made public.

If Mrs. Paretti would like to have her remarks published on Roy’s Rants, in their entirety, we would be glad to do so!

We applaud Cathy Paretti and Erika Hornburg-Cooper for not allowing the mayor’s highly inappropriate behavior to go unchallenged, and for all they have done to help the Borough of Pottstown and the Greater Pottstown Area.  You ladies ROCK!

“Teflon Bonnie” Dodges Bullet – Escapes Pottstown Council’s Ire Over Gallerygate

Image via Wikipedia

Where to begin! 

Bonnie’s Mayor’s Report started off as the usual cheerleading session and turned into making excuses for her bad behavior, which she is not sorry for.  Bonnie said she did what she did because she is “passionate” and she felt the Gallery School Project was a bad idea.  She blithered on about differences and stepping on toes etc… but any apology in all that was missing, from what I could tell.

During the Announcements part of the meeting, which comes right before Adjournment, Councilor Weand raised a motion that we limit the mayor’s speaking at council meetings to the Mayor’s Report, if she was asked a direct question or if she needed to break a tie vote.  The other part of the motion was to forbid Bonnie from speaking negatively in public against Borough Council, like on WPAZ or to the County Commissioners, for example.

Councilor Gibson seconded the motion but only for the sake of debate.  Only Councilor Rhoads sided with Councilor Weand.  Maureen Allen was absent.  Chomnuk, Gibson, Kirkland and Toroney all sided with the mayor.  Councilors Gibson and Toroney expressed their displeasure at Bonnie’s recent behavior but felt it was not proper to limit her “face time” at meetings.  Councilors Kirkland and Chomnuk did not think her speaking time should be limited.

So once again, bad behavior in Pottstown is rewarded.  It’s okay to go outside the chain of command, bad mouth at will and undermine binding votes of council, all in the name of being “passionate”.

Expect more bad behavior, more diatribes and insubordination from our mayor in the future, now that she has been further empowered to do so.

Two Roy’s Rants thumbs up to Councilor Weand for doing the right thing and to Councilor Rhoads for backing him up and voting yes.

At this time, I will refrain from comment about the rest of Council until such time as I can think of a polite way to say what is on my mind.

Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre – Accessible Performance Of “Godspell”

Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre

to present accessible performance of

“Godspell“

 

July 17 performance of “Godspell” at Muhlenberg

will feature Open Captioning and Audio Description

for hearing impaired and visually impaired patrons

Allentown, Pa. (June 13, 2011) – Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre will present a performance of “Godspell” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 17 with Open Captioning (OC) for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing and Audio Description (AD) for patrons who are blind or visually impaired. This performance is sponsored in part by the Tri-County Accessible Arts Coalition.

“The Tri-County Accessible Arts Coalition is working to accomplish several goals,” says Jessica Bien, general manager of Muhlenberg’s Theatre and Dance Department. “The first is to educate local organizations about the need for accessible performances and events in the region. The second is to educate the communities that the accessible performances will serve. Since many individuals have not ever experienced an open captioned or audio described performance, they need to understand what the performance will be like. Finally the Coalition is hoping to be able to secure the necessary equipment for these services so that any organization in the area may borrow the equipment to offer audio description or open captioning.”

Prior to the performance, there will be a tour and reception for audience members utilizing the services. The performance will be held in the Baker Theatre in the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance on the Muhlenberg College campus in Allentown, Pa.

“We are hoping that this performance provides the chance for other theaters and organizations in the Lehigh Valley to experience audio description and open captioning so that they can begin to offer these types of performances as well,” Bien says.

“Godspell,” Stephen Schwartz’s upbeat retelling of biblical parables, is one of Broadway’s biggest successes, featuring a beloved and sparkling score—including the international hit “Day By Day.” The show will run July 13-31.

“We are excited to bring the first audio described and open captioned performance to the Lehigh Valley community,” says Bien. “By offering these types of performances, we are hoping to provide a whole new audience with the opportunity to experience live theatre and some of America’s greatest musicals.”

Audio Description is a form of audio-visual translation, using the natural pauses in dialogue or between critical sound elements to insert narrative that translates the visual image into an audible form that is accessible to individuals who otherwise lack full access to live theatre. Using a single earpiece connected to an infrared headset, patrons who are blind or have low vision can listen to trained audio describers give live, verbal descriptions of actions, costumes, scenery, and other visual elements of a performance.

Open captioning provides the audience with an electronic text display to the side of the stage which displays what the actors are saying or singing in real time. The display also describes sound effects on stage.

To purchase tickets for the July 17 performance of “Godspell,” call Jess Bien at 484-664-3087 or email boxoffice@muhlenberg.edu. The number of headsets available for Audio Description is limited so it is suggested that reservations be made early. Tickets are only $10 for hearing impaired and visually impaired patrons and one companion can also purchase a ticket for $10.

Each year, Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre mounts major original productions of Broadway musicals featuring the work of accomplished directors, designers, performers and musicians. Tickets are still available for all three Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre shows – “The Music Man,” running June 15 – July 3; “Cinderella,” our children’s theatre show, running June 22 – July 30; and “Godspell.”

Tickets for regular performances can be purchased online at muhlenberg.edu/tickets, by calling 484-664-3333, or by visiting the box office located on the lower level of the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance, Mon.-Sat. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information contact Scott Snyder, at 484-664-3693 or scottsnyder@muhlenberg.edu.

 

Camp Wanna-Be Fit: Outdoor Summer Camp

Camp Wanna-Be Fit

Outdoor Summer Camp Fun!

Youth Ages 7 to 10

June 20 through August 26, 2011

9 AM – 3:30 PM Monday through Friday

Fernbrook Access Park in North Coventry

 Children may be dropped off at the YWCA between 6:30 and 8:15 AM. 

At 8:30 AM, a bus will transport the staff and children to the park for the day, returning to the YWCA at 3:45 PM. 

Children can be picked up anytime from 4 PM to 6 PM.

Rate:  $155 weekly

Subsidized Families Welcome!

Call YWCA at 610-323-1888 to Register