Shaffer Arrested for Theft of Pyle’s Campaign Funds
by David Croyle
No one is explaining how a Ford City man gained access to campaign funds for State Representative Jeff Pyle (R-60).
Shaffer
Thomas Shaffer was arrested late yesterday afternoon on charges that he managed to steal $26,000 from the legislator’s campaign checkbook. Charges include Theft by Unlawful Taking, Forgery, Receiving Stolen Property, and Theft by Failing to Make Require Disposition of Funds.
Shaffer was arraigned before District Magisterial Judge Gary DeComo and placed in the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.
Pyle was not able to comment last night, but directed all inquiries be referred to Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi on the advice of his counsel.
Shaffer served six years ago as campaign manager for Pyle. During an interview on Family-Life TV aired August 3, 2010, Pyle denied involvement with Shaffer during the campaign that just ended in Tuesday’s election with Pyle winning by an overwhelming margin.
Shaffer is a restaurant manager in Ford City. He served as a borough council member until ousted last year by voters during his bid for re-election. He was then appointed to the Ford City Borough Municipal Sewage Disposal Authority (FCBMSDA) earlier this year and was elected president of that board.
FCBMSDA Vice-President Christopher Zionkowski said the sewage authority will continue to run under its current board of directors.
“We have a meeting coming up this Thursday and we will have to pick a new vice-president. The project is still going to go on, I have talked to Council already about putting new members on the Board . We are going to advertise that. Everything is still going to run smoothly. Hopefully the best comes out of it. Tom will be removed from the sewage authority as of this Thursday.”
Ford City Borough Council will meet on Monday night at 6:00 PM in the Ford City Public Library. Zionkowski said he expects Council to advertise for a replacement to Shaffer’s appointment.
The regular FCBMSDA meeting will take place Thursday, November 11 in the Ford City Borough office. In the absence of Shaffer, Zionkowski will assume leadership of the sewage authority until a reorganizational meeting in January 2011.
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Ford City Borough, Local News | David Croyle November 5, 2010
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By Jen16226, November 5, 2010 @ 6:40 AM
So was this from the previous campaign? What took so long to figure it out if so?
Was this from the current campaign? Was he originally helping and then let go?
By devitt, November 5, 2010 @ 6:48 AM
I wonder if this issue will be permitted to be discussed during the next meeting. Will it be on the agenda?
I wonder if audits will be performed for the borough and the sewerage authority to ensure that there are no deficits. Wasn’t an investigation just completed? Who overseen that investigation? Will this be discussed at the next council meeting?
Will this current council own up to their actions, their appointments and their associations from the past few months? They did not want to listen to the citizens, because THEY knew better and were above any input from the public. Resignations should be contemplated.
There is a lot of responsibility to go around. The citizens deserve to know who was rubbing elbows with who at the council meetings and away from the meetings.
How about one of those town hall meetings to clear the air? Or, will this be swept under the carpet like evetrything has been over the past few years?
Transparency…yeah, right.
By walrus, November 5, 2010 @ 7:10 AM
A day AFTER the election. Something smells! Sort of like drug busts that happen before elections. Coincedence!!???!!
By DANBOY, November 5, 2010 @ 7:27 AM
Things I think I think:
I wonder when the good people of my home town will quit following the advice of my boyhood idol, Sargeant Schultz in Hogans’s Heroes,”I SEE NOTHING, I HEAR NOTHING, I KNOW NOTHING!!!!!
Is it me or does it strange this happens a day AFTER the election??? Politics is a dirty business no matter if it is local,state or national.
Those haven’t been earthquakes you have been feeling lately but the good people who built and established this city rolling over in their graves.
Driving down past the ruins of third avenue makes me sick!
Why can’t we be like other municipalties and make headlines when we quit using ashes in the winter??
Good luck Sabers and boys remember do you best have fun and leave every thing on the field. Good luck to the Elderton girls volley ball team also. Thank goodness for sports!!!!!
By mutchka, November 5, 2010 @ 9:01 AM
A lot of the members of the sewage authority were picked by mister sticky fingers. They were rubber stamps for him and should quit or be fired. Help RD youre our only hope!!!!!!
By cando, November 5, 2010 @ 9:30 AM
I am glad this is finally out….wait, the people have been saying this all along! If you read the Trib, council President is waiting advice from Frank Wolfe on action to be taken? Is it not clear? Wow! The need to wait on advice on what to do with a man who stole funds from one place his was involved in- how about an investigation into the town funds? This is precisely why there is a need to question the council as citizens! Is Ford City’s money where it belongs? And there were an awful lot of councilmen backing Mr. Shaffer at all times? hmmmmm…….. On another note- Jen16226, investigation take time and you were one of those people who has always “defended” Mr. Shaffer- funny how you are the first person to post questions and comments? Another BIG hmmmmm….
By Jen16226, November 5, 2010 @ 9:42 AM
Cando…..
Would you please show me where I have defended Shaffer?
Only one time have I posted about him and that was posting the few intereactions that I had regarding him which also asked what the whole connection is with Indiana that people have said, because I do not know that and could not find anything when I had googled it.
BTW….my questions were answered with the updated edition of the other paper.
Could someone answer why our Boro does not have an auditor when other townships/municipalities/boros do?
By scott_starr, November 5, 2010 @ 9:47 AM
I read that Schaffer was Pyle’s Campaign manager until March…. that’s a big hmmmmmmmmmm.
and cando, I don’t recall Jen defending Shaffer, can you cite specific examples?
By dawnterri, November 5, 2010 @ 10:47 AM
jen16226 has always said that she didn’t know Tom personal…only on boards and such…believe me if she knew any wrongdoing before now, she would had reported it to the police or whom ever she needed to. I just wonder how much frank wolfe knew….
By rudytuesday, November 5, 2010 @ 11:06 AM
First, I have to say, is this really a surprise to anyone? Seriously?
Second, Cando, why do you seen to have an ax to grind with Jen16226? Sounds a little personal to me. She has stated time and again that she didn’t really know him personally and that she doesn’t base her opinions of people on rumors (some good advice that a lot of people should take).
Sounds to me like you are trying to tie Jen to Tom. Her only tie, that I can see is the Planning Commission and since no one ever seems to show up for those meetings, her contact with him was minimal.
Could it be that you are afraid that Jen is going to run against Solak? Could it be that the Solakians are already starting their smear campaign? Well one could ask why Solak was a daily visitor to Shaffer’s cafe. If there is ANY connection to Shaffer……………there, you got it!
By Silence Dogood, November 5, 2010 @ 2:37 PM
I think Ford City needs to check their books, or do they already know that there is money missing. I find it hard to believe that this the first time Shaffer has stolen or had the opportunity to do so. As to the day after, “come on” tell me that is not politically motivated.
By Silence Dogood, November 5, 2010 @ 2:43 PM
By the way Mr. Shaffer, you look great in orange!
By scott_starr, November 5, 2010 @ 3:02 PM
Maybe Pyle has a no-nit policy before conducting investigations ?
Yea, that’s why it was after theelection this happened.
By cherok29, November 5, 2010 @ 3:36 PM
At which restaurant was he manager?
By mutchka, November 5, 2010 @ 3:54 PM
Now we are going to have F.Wolfe the crimnals appointed lawyer investigate him. Why dont the borough just give him a blank book and let him write a few on the taxpayers.Or have him investigate himself. Once again the only person to stand up to him was Ron Dillard. The rest cant be trusted.
By devitt, November 5, 2010 @ 5:01 PM
The question still remains as to who and why wanted to appoint Mr. Shaffer to all the positions he was in? He could not do this by himself.
I cannot even remember all the positions now, there was the liaison for the proposed Regional Police Task Force, the Planning Commission, and then the President of the Sewerage Authority! Wow! It seemed like somebody or some people wanted this guy to be involved in everything. He could not appoint himself to these positions. Who were these people and why were they pushing to get him on all these committees?
It is time to start pulling the curtains down for the citizens to see what is really going on. No more hiding behind obstacles such as ridiculous measures to request information. No more attempting to silence the questions of the taxpayers. No more isolating topics under the premise that “there is an investigation being conducted.”
As far as we know, there is no investigation occurring in relation to the borough at this time, so the citizens should be given EVERY opportunity to ask questions about circumstances surrounding this council and their relationships and associations.
And for the good mayor, please save the interjections about the CDC and trying to swerve the discussions that are currently facing this borough. Let’s hear you rant and rave about the current discretions for the next two years like you have done with the CDC. We will all be listening.
By Mike Fichthorn, November 5, 2010 @ 5:20 PM
Exactly mutchka. It’s disgusting how far up Shaffer’s behind a couple of the councilmen were. Hopefully next election that will be noted.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Whispers of missing money…different organizations. Eventually it will all come out.
I wonder if they have a size 5XL orange jumpsuit??
By ASDpayer, November 5, 2010 @ 5:26 PM
Well this is kind of sad. Sad that a guy stole from Jeff, so he couldn’t send us campaign lit that tells us he “protected jobs.” Really, how did he do that? Since Jeff has been in office unemployment has doubled in Armstrong. But I got side tracked. It is sad this guy has had leadership positions in a declining community. It is sad anyone would defend him.
Now that this arrest has been publicized, what about a story on Markilinski who is facing federal felony charges?
By zepp, November 5, 2010 @ 6:05 PM
This guy has been a virus since he first came here. The people that supported and helped this man better whatch out because with three felony charges this birds gonna sing!
By Toni, November 5, 2010 @ 6:20 PM
And don’t forget, Mayor Mantini thinks Shaffer is a real stand-up kind of guy. Always defending him. Seems like Pyle is a pretty poor judge of character to have someone like Shaffer running his campaign. And that’s who the people just reelected. Pitiful!
By rockon, November 5, 2010 @ 7:16 PM
Wow - is this the best that our area has to offer? Since Tom is guilty we should point fingers at everyone who’s around him? Is he too stupid to pull it off on his own, but now we are worried about everyone he’s talked to? Let’s try not to throw stones when we live in glass windows. ASDpayer - don’t we all pay to ASD to the sum of thousands of dollars, yet our students aren’t getting any smarter. “But I got sidetracked.” I believe unemployment rates across the COUNTRY have doubled since Obama has been in office and Armstrong county is exactly what you said it is “a declining community” - it has been since they pulled out PPG.
By rainman, November 5, 2010 @ 7:55 PM
Dear Jen 16226 if you take a minute and look at the borough’s web site you would find the audit and the auditor name, instead of shoot’n your mouth off all the time.
By Citizen46, November 5, 2010 @ 11:53 PM
According to some other news sources, Jeff only learned about this situation when he wrote a check the end of October that was refused due to insufficient funds. There does seem to be a lot of unfinished business in the area. What’s the scoop and why do people keep asking about Markilinski? ( I haven’t read anything about him facing any type of charges, but then I’m not in the loop these days. If any of this is true then why isn’t the local media reporting this?) What happened with the teacher who allegedly made a thread against a local school? Did the police ever find out who robbed S&T Bank (Manor TWP.) a while back? What is Ford City going to do about the whole Tom S. mess? Let’s hope the community isn’t missing any more money. Ford City has too many problems as it is.
By John, November 6, 2010 @ 8:19 PM
Shaffer really is stupid, maybe while he is in jail he can also figure out how some of the Ford City cronies used him to do their dirty work. And he thought they were his friends. He is the type of person they would bring into the fold to fire the bullets against other council members and Ford City citizens, as they hid in the background. Well, Shaffer we’ll see were they will be at now. The only thing you can hope for, is that they continue to assist you so you don’t expose their dirty deeds. I wonder if Mayor Mantini is going to denounce him, as much as he praised him in the past. If he is a man of character he’ll do the right thing.
By theinz, November 7, 2010 @ 7:14 AM
Good points ASDP. I have heard about Markilinski and his inability to follow the rules regarding the financial aspects of the ambulance company.
By Billy, November 7, 2010 @ 9:01 PM
Citizen46, ask your beloved jimmy solak about the teacher. He and his sidekick Stitt were behind the whole thing with a little help from some teachers in the union. It would be a great thing if that whole story came out. Dontcha think it kinda funny that the police were never involved if there were really a true threat? Whole thing stinks to high heaven of a politically motivated witch hunt to get someone who openly opposed the frivolous spending and irresponsible “non”educational practices of the current board majority. Ask jimmy and rose what’s going on with that now. I am sure they will tell you that they have no idea because the illustrious superintendent should be handling it, but think again, guess who tells the super-super what to do?
Wouldn’t be surprized if he(jimmy) could answer some of your other questions too. Can you say CORRUPTION! We need to Clean house Ford City!
By devitt, November 7, 2010 @ 10:02 PM
The question was asked:
“Wow – is this the best that our area has to offer? Since Tom is guilty we should point fingers at everyone who’s around him?”
No, we should not convict guilt of those around him by opinion, but they DEFINITELY should be asking the tough questions of those people who associated with him who are involved in governmental positions.
After all the warnings by the citizens and all the questions which were squelched at the council meetings, it is the duty of our local government officals and investigators to find out why this guy kept being proposed and appointed to certain positions within the borough. Who was behind these appointments and why was he selected? Nobody has come up with any rational answer as to why these things occurred. The citizens and taxpayers deserve answers.
By Viper972, November 7, 2010 @ 10:37 PM
Another corrupt leader in this county. Thinking of himself rather than the goodness of Armstrong County.I have seen this story to many times in this community. Just makes a person sick. We all have come to realize to follow the money trail. Most don’t work alone and he will probally rat/plead out his corrupt friends this week. It will be interesting who separates themselves and who hides in the shadows.
By Jan, November 8, 2010 @ 6:54 AM
@Billy- you it the nail on the head! If you take people like Shaffer and Solak and put them in a collective room- they would all make the mafia look like angels. This current board has managed to destroy an entire district in a very short time. What is being done to the teacher from KJHS is not but “BULLYING” at it’s finest and they have managed to scare very teacher in this district from having an opinion- and let me remind you that as teachers, we are to help students to formulate opinions and be critical thinkers about various views in life. Our current superintendent is merely a over-paid puppet in this district who is outwardly chastising all who work in the ASD, canceling some very good conferences, etc. for students ( because we don’t have the money?? (seriously- we seem to have no problems with borrowing cheap money to renovate buildings- why not something that will benefit the education of students?) He has also publicly stated that there have been too many school closings in the winter months- this coming from a man who has in his contract that he doesn’t have to come to work on bad, snowy roads.Since we are going to borrow so much money for renovations, let’s borrow a little more and “buy out Chapps contract”- after all, it’s been done before- just ask “Bill-Bill”! It’s time to get rid of the disease and decay in the ASD.
By mutchka, November 8, 2010 @ 8:11 AM
Two of the present council ran with shaffer as a team.One seems to be spouting the shaffer line and the other doesnt seem to be doing anything. They both are guilty by association if nothing else they should resign.
By Jen16226, November 8, 2010 @ 8:18 AM
Dear Rainman,
Perhaps YOU need to look on the boro website and look at the audit. If you did, you will see it is a firm that handles the audits….not someone that is elected to do so like other boro’s/municipalities/towns.
And I will continue to “shoot my mouth off” if that means I am asking questions that are pertinent to things that are going on or could make things work better in our area.
Don’t like it? Oh well.
I questioned that because if you look at the previous years elections on the county website, you will see that several towns have an auditor or even multiple auditors.
Now, to take this one step further, do these auditors act just like would happen in business and audit quarterly instead of just yearly? Do they audit checks that are written over a certain dollar amount?
I ask all of this because now in previous posts, there are questions about money.
By cmon, November 8, 2010 @ 9:29 AM
Why do we, the people of Ford City let these thefts happen when we know they are going on. We ALL talk about the certain people of this community who seem to always have access to monies , yet WE let them have access to it and never question it behind their backs. We have ALL heard the rumors of improprieties with certain youth sports activities, community monies, business’ being investigated for fraud of monies from the government. We as a community need to oust these people, let them know it will not be tolerated. We all work so hard for our paychecks..why should these people think it is ok to take our money ??? and why are we letting them??? Time to clean house and start fresh..if you have broken the law and stolen from ANYBODY ..YOU need to go to jail..period!
By suzmac33, November 8, 2010 @ 11:03 AM
All of this and shockingly the TV/Radio broadcasts are not going to happen tonight for the Council Meeting?! Must be a coincidence!
By JSFCDC, November 8, 2010 @ 11:52 AM
I guess Will Rogers was right, remarks and accusations only hurt in proportion to the truth that they elicit. I’m also glad to see that the local Der Stürmer (Leader Times/Trib etc. etc.) actually printed the stories without any apparent censorship. Better start saving your cigarettes, they will be your new form of currency where you are heading and your new nickname in the prison yard will be T-BONE.
By Jen16226, November 8, 2010 @ 1:25 PM
you are exactly right Cmon……..
There needs to be transparency, there needs to be communitcation, there needs to be involvement..
By renee, November 8, 2010 @ 2:31 PM
To mutchka, Just a reminder, Ron Dillard was a part of that team. He was aligned with Shaffer and the boys and, for his first 2 years, voted along with them on almost every issue. Check the record. More often than not, the vote was 4-2. Malec & Tokarek were the 2.
By mcfee, November 9, 2010 @ 2:20 AM
Has anyone else wondered about the discrepancies in what has been reported about this? According to the LT, Mr. Shaffer was fired as campaign manager in March of this year, the Indiana Gazette reported that Mr. Pyle “brought Shaffer on to chair his campaign committee early this year when he learned he would be opposed by a Democrat, Jo Ellen Bowman” but in the article above, Mr. Pyle stated that Mr. Shaffer wasn’t involved with his campaign that just ended with this election.
Is anyone else also wondering how Mr. Pyle’s campaign treasurer didn’t know that there were checks missing, presumably the ones that Mr. Shaffer wrote between Feb. and this month also as reported in the Indiana Gazette? And also why didn’t the treasurer question why he/she wasn’t receiving the bank statements? One would think he/she would need them to balance the campaign checkbook. I know I use mine to balance my checkbook every month.
In case you all get the wrong idea, I am not questioning this because I think Mr. Shaffer is innocent in all that he is being accused of, I just think there has to be more to the story than what is being reported.
By theinz, November 9, 2010 @ 5:57 AM
“I paid for my stuff on Ford Street, you didn’t,” Shaffer responded. “My reputation is on the line here and I demand the time.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes, Tommy, you will get the “time”; perhaps sharing it with BUBBA. And we now see how you obtain the likes of the pay for your stuff. I
strongly suggest you do as JSFCDC said, start collecting those cigarettes….
By devitt, November 9, 2010 @ 12:34 PM
A couple of things..
Mr. Dillard did run with the other councilmen during his election to the FC Borough Council. and the theme seemed to be of a reform platform. I cannot speak for Mr. Dillard, but I believe he wanted to see reform and positive changes within the borough, but he learned very quickly that there were other agendas to be followed. He was basically duped into buying into the alleged reform package that was being sold to the voters and citizens. They launched into their terms with the supposed Ford St. completion and the Heritage Days reorganization. The public got lulled into believing that this council was for positive change. After this, the wheels began coming off of the wagon. I think if he could do it all over, again, Mr. Dillard would have been a little wiser to the politics going on around him. I have seen Mr. Dillard take a stand on many occasions against the controversial majority only to be mocked and insulted. He has taken the blows, and he is still one of the only beacons of hope on the council.
I heard on the radio show today that Ford City citizens interrupt the meetings and can’t get along just for the sake of getitng along. I TOTALLY disagree with those statments. That is the makings of good government. The more the citizenry questions and interacts with the government is a VERY GOOD thing, not a bad thing as described on the radio show today. What is the comparison? Kittanning Council Meetings? I hardly ever see citizen involvment in those meetings. Instead of trying to restrict and censure the voices of the citizens and taxpayers, this should be embraced as the democratic process in action. The hosts of WTYM should not take cheapshots at an active and vocal group of citizens, instead, they should encourage other muncipalities to do the same.
Or, would you rather be like the one council person who sounds like a parrot who just sits there and says, “We are the elected representatives of the people.”
Yes you are, but you are not above being questioned by the people who you govern. Let’s all hope we agree with that point.
Ford City is on the right road, but now they got big messes to clean up, although I am amazed that there are still not any resignations being tendered.
By pleaseknowmore, November 9, 2010 @ 7:09 PM
I can’t understand why the citizens of Ford City feel that the Borough Council Meetings are open town meetings. If they were run correctly, the agenda would be followed and any citizen comments (on agenda items only) would be comments. These question answer sessions have got to go. Too many people pointing fingers, must be feeling guilty for things they may have done while they were on council. There is a difference between being an informed citizen and grasping at straws.
By devitt, November 9, 2010 @ 7:57 PM
Isn’t it a shame that people like the poster pleaseknowmore wants to silence the citizens.
Who will tell the people?
With so much apathy in today’s society, you would think that the exchange of ideas and questions would be welcome, but no, sadly it seems like there is a cohort of people out there who think things are better to be left unsaid and MAYBE uncovered later.
Who will tell the people?
Let’s use a current example to make things simple. There was a grant that went into default status that may cost the borough $581,000! How dare somebody stand up and question this! What crieria does this fit into? It was not on the agenda. It is an item that could affect all the taxpayers. Are you saying that there is no room for this questioning? Sweep it under the rug? Pretend it did not happen?
Who will tell the people?
pleaseknowmore, why shouldn’t there be questions raised on this issue? Is this grasping at straws? Is this finger-pointing? Well, somebody point something in the direction of this expense, because council did not seem to want to share it.
This is not a process of finger-pointing or grasping at straws. This is the process of having an informed citizenry. That is not welcome in Ford City?
Who will tell the people?
To prevent the finger-pointing, you need a strong leader holding the gavel. It has been proven that Ford City lacks this very much. Currently, it seems like the current council likes to pick and choose who can finger-point and what straws can be grasped. This leads to tension among the citizens when one person can do this and others cannot.
Who will tell the people?
If the question is not relevent, then make a statement explaining that the question does not fit into the scope of the meeting and end it. This allows the public to hear the question and the explanation given. The public would probably agree that the question does not hold merit if it is frivolous. If it is a credible question and something the public thinks they should know, then they can weigh the statement given by the council as to why they do not want to answer it. Do they not want to answer it because it is meaningless or repetitive? Or, maybe they do not want to answer it, because they want to withold the answer from the taxpayers? The public will decide if it is a credible question. If the public believes it is a question that needs to be answered, then a debate could be started on the merits of the question. What is so wrong with that? Nothing, unless you are trying to hide something, right, pleaseknowmore?
Who will tell the people?
I will say it, again, Ford City should feel grateful and appreciative that they have active citizen involvment with their meetings in this day and age of apathy.
pleaseknowmore needs to understand that a democracy is better than a theocracy.
Who will tell the people?
By renee, November 10, 2010 @ 9:57 AM
To devitt,
I appreciate your posts. They are well thought out, well written, objective comments.
To pleaseknowmore,
There seems to be some confusion as to meeting procedures.
According to the Pennsylvania “Borough Council Handbook”…….
page 17 item #9
Public Participation - This allows residents of the borough in attendance to be recognized even though they had not previously been placed on the agenda by the manager or secretary. A time limit is usually placed on an individual’s presentation and any resulting discussion.
page 18, last paragraph
“Borough councils are required to provide an opportunity for public comments at each advertised regular and special meeting. A 1998 amendment to the Sunshine Law requires that council must allow for public comment prior to taking official action. The right of citizens to make comments is limited to matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the governing body. A board may limit the right to speak during this period to residents and taxpayers of the borough.”
Please know more before you post.
Finance IS an agenda item and $581,000 buys a lot of straws.
By Jen16226, November 10, 2010 @ 3:23 PM
Very nice post Devitt.
By mutchka, November 10, 2010 @ 5:07 PM
I have the perfect candidate for the borough manager job they are advertising.Hes available hes experienced and he has most of the council in his pocket. I propose we give the job to Tom Shaffer. It wouldnt surprise me if the gang that cant shoot straight would give it to him if they could. Im sure the solicitor would approve!!! So three cheers for our new manager!!!!!!!
By theinz, November 10, 2010 @ 9:37 PM
He mutchka, YOY! Don’t give them any ideas.
By newvoice, November 12, 2010 @ 6:38 PM
devitt you make very good points, BUT if you are going to bring thing to council…you should also bring facts and documents that backs your postion..$581,000.00 grant? Do you think F&M Bank and the Snyder Co. would have taken possession of the building if they were on the line to pay back any grant moneys? Renee was the operation manager of the CDC..Renee has commerical realtor license ( she says). When repossession took place, all leins were voided. Renee knows that….Point is. If you come before council tell the truth.
By devitt, November 12, 2010 @ 9:20 PM
It is not a matter of paying it back. It is a matter that needed to be explained to the taxpayers.
I ask you…who is responsible for this debt? Are you saying that all debts were forgiven? If so, then somebody from council should have explained that at the meeting, and the issue would have become a moot point.
The problem is that this was not discussed.
By renee, November 12, 2010 @ 9:32 PM
Yes, I was the operations chair of the CDC starting in 2007. I never said I had a commercial real estate license. I don’t know if there is such a thing in Pa. However, I was in the commercial real estate business for almost 15 years. I don’t know if you are ignorant of the facts or just plain ignorant. The grant agreement was and is with Ford City Borough. The obligation to repay this on the backs of Ford City Borough taxpayers. Before you implied that I am not telling the truth, did you bother to check the facts? The borough’s web site has the 2009 audit posted. The information on the $581,000 is listed on page 2, paragraph 2. The council members also confirmed the default status of this grant.
Maybe you should tell the truth when you post.
By VerySpecialPerson, November 12, 2010 @ 10:25 PM
Wasn’t there supposed to be a meeting between Ms. Zacour and Mr. Dillard and the accountant over the grant? Did anyone hear what happened? Com’mon Renee! Tell us the truth. What happened at that meeting?