As reported yesterday federal agents removed boxes of interested material regarding an investigation into the bid award for the removal of dredge material at Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania. In this Times Leader story by Terrie Morgan-Besecker, Steve Mocarsky, and Jerry Lynott details emerged that the question at hand concerns bids made by Barry Bowen as Bowen Enterprises and Fort Mifflin Reclammation Associates Inc(FMRAI) on July 25, 2006 for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project hauling dredge material away from its storage place.
According to the federal government contract site contract W912BU06C0024 was prepared on September 20, 2006 in the amount of $21 million dollars to FMRAI.
To get to the crux of the story this summation in the Times Leader tells it all.
Bowen was the site manager for the Hazleton Creek Properties project as of December 2006. His withdrawal from the dredging project meant that companies connected to (Marvin L.) Slomowitz got both the contract to transport the sludge and to develop the site at which it was being deposited.
A second source, who also requested anonymity, said Bowen’s relationship with Hazleton Creek Properties, coupled with Bowen’s withdrawal from the bidding process, led a person to contact federal authorities to request an investigation into possible collusion.
A simple call by any competent person would ellicit from a Corps spokesperson that the REASON Bowen withdraw was his inability to secure bonding for the project. That fact brings SOP to the conclusion that the person who had possible collusion concerns really didn't do any homework whatsoever. SOP won't publish the phone number at the U.S. Army Philadelphia office called to obtain the information but it was a simple Google search to obtain it. There were four bids submitted through the internet on the project.
There are political hand and footprints all over this story. Hazleton Creek Properties is the entity doing business with the City of Hazleton, not Fort Mifflin Reclammation Associates, Inc. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bid process was separate from the contract with the City of Hazleton. What went on, if anything, in Philadelphia has no connection to the City of Hazleton efforts to clean up abandoned mine lands withing its boundaries.
The site where Hazleton Creek Properties has been hauling the dredge to in Hazleton is inspected 60 times a year due to objections by an organization with a handful of members. A landfill is only inspected 12 times per year. There are GPS systems as well as monitor wells in place at the site to track the movement and possible contamination, none of which is required at the Palmerton Zinc Plant site. Due to its high profile nature Mr. William Rinaldi, manader of Hazleton Creek Properties, has been subjected to constant scrutiny bordering on harrassment over cleaning up the landscape.
This contract was awarded in 2006. The "concerned citizen" with possible collusion concerns waited until 2010 to bring up the bid process during a hotly contested race. Barry Bowen was point man with Hazleton Creek Properties since the beginning and it took until now to make a connection! With all the media attention this project received for the last five years believability that it only came to light is total hogwash. It wouldn't surprise SOP if those footprints traveled from Nanticoke to Washington. It seems someone waited until a Democratic President took office and the next election year before calling the authorities.
In is important to make the disclaimer that no one has been arrested or charged in this matter. As Ray Musto said “I’ve stepped on a lot of big toes over the years."
Agents actions yesterday give a new meaning to "boxing".
UPDATE:
Information has been received by SOP from the federal government regarding the awarding of contract for titled "Renewal Capacity, Fort Mifflin Disposal Area, Philadelphia, PA". The bids were as follows:
Barbella Construction Services, LLC Somerville N.J. Base Bid $28,000,000.00 Total Base Plus Option $46,600,000.00
Fort Mifflin Reclammation Associates Kingston, PA. Base Bid $21,000.000 Total Base Plus Option $33,600,000.00
Bowen Excavating, Scranton, PA. Base Bid $19,250,000 Total Base Bid Plus Option $30,800,000
A.P. Construction Inc. Philadelphia, PA. Base Bid $23,875.00 Total Base Bid Plus Option $38,575,000
The bids were opened by Joseph Bujnowski on August 24, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. The government estimate for the contract was $19,525,000.00. Total Base Plus Option estimate $31,018,000.00
Showing posts with label Hazleton Creek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hazleton Creek. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Monday, October 26, 2009
Gabos Received $15,219.00 For Health Insurance
If one calculates the amount of insurance paid over the time Tom Gabos served as Hazleton City Councilman the figure is about $15,219.00. As a councilman he spends about 48-60 hours PER YEAR at meetings.
Gabos is an electrical contractor. If he hired a part time electrician for 20 hours per week would he offer that person health insurance? Name one company that offers its part time workers health insurance. The amount of money paid could fund a code enforcement officer for a year.
As far as Gabos's claim of a huge deficit in the budget he forgets that City Council approves the budget, not the Mayor. If the figures were off its City Council's problem. They have the ability to revisit the budget anytime they see fit.
With the recent property reassessment in Luzerne County it will be nearly impossible for Hazleton to go bankrupt as the new tax rate is 1.4 mills. The statutory authority allows Hazleton as a third class city to tax up to 25 mills. His bankruptcy claim, as well as his followers, are opposition hype that lacks real substance. It is a typical election time scare tactic employed by a weak positioned official.
Gabos opposed the HCP project that brought $2 million into the City's coffers with another $2 million to come. That money allowed the hiring of nine(9) police officers. If Gabos had his way the City would be short $2 million dollars and minus 9 police officers. Some closet to hang your hat in.
Note: There has been a correction made to this article.
Gabos is an electrical contractor. If he hired a part time electrician for 20 hours per week would he offer that person health insurance? Name one company that offers its part time workers health insurance. The amount of money paid could fund a code enforcement officer for a year.
As far as Gabos's claim of a huge deficit in the budget he forgets that City Council approves the budget, not the Mayor. If the figures were off its City Council's problem. They have the ability to revisit the budget anytime they see fit.
With the recent property reassessment in Luzerne County it will be nearly impossible for Hazleton to go bankrupt as the new tax rate is 1.4 mills. The statutory authority allows Hazleton as a third class city to tax up to 25 mills. His bankruptcy claim, as well as his followers, are opposition hype that lacks real substance. It is a typical election time scare tactic employed by a weak positioned official.
Gabos opposed the HCP project that brought $2 million into the City's coffers with another $2 million to come. That money allowed the hiring of nine(9) police officers. If Gabos had his way the City would be short $2 million dollars and minus 9 police officers. Some closet to hang your hat in.
Note: There has been a correction made to this article.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Bankrupt The City Of Hazleton- An Active Effort By The Dems
In the latest bully pulpit spewed by Todd Eachus to the news media over the City of Hazleton's pension woes Steve Mocarsky writes in the Times Leader as stating "Eachus said he’s busy working to try to balance the state budget, which he said is “facing the largest deficit since the Great Depression” – $3.2 billion – and trying to find a fix for the city’s problem right now is impractical. He also said case law wouldn’t allow for retroactive reimbursement even if the bill were passed. so the city would still owe the pension funds $3 million." Can one imagine that the Legislator for a district is too busy doing something else that working on an issue in his disctrict is "impractical"?
That statement is only one in a series of moves on Eachus's part that points to an active campaign which involves bankrupting the City of Hazleton. Let us examine his claim.
On October 8, 2008 Senate Bill 1093 was passed and signed into law in Pennsylvania. Information about the bill is found in the state's portal system. The act is more commonly known as Act 92. Here is synopsis from the portal document.
Act 2008 – 92 (Senate Bill Number 1093, Printer’s Number 2038). Signed into law on October 8, 2008, Act 92 amended the Municipal Police Pension Law (Act 600 of 1956), as amended by Act 30 of 2002, further clarifying eligibility and applicability of survivor benefit provisions for certain beneficiaries. Act 92 closed an unintentional gap in the survivor benefit coverage provided in Act 30 of 2002 for a small number of surviving spouses of police officers who retired before the effective date of Act 30 of 2002, and died after the act's effective date.
Act 92 declared that survivor benefits were payable to the surviving spouse or dependent child, as applicable, provided that the surviving spouse was not remarried on April 17, 2002. The surviving spouse is entitled to receive a pension of no less than 50% of the pension the member was receiving at the time of death, provided the spouse was a member of the police force or a former member of the police force who: 1) prior to April 18, 2002, retired on pension and dies subsequent to retirement; or 2) after April 16, 2002, retires on pension and dies subsequent to retirement. This act applies retroactively to April 17, 2002.
Eachus voted YES on this bill. So there is a pension bill passed in 2008 that is retroactive to 2002 that Todd Eachus voted YES on but Eachus makes the claim to John Q. Public that case law wouldn't allow for retroactive reimbursement.
His earlier attempt to thwart progress in Hazleton centered on the dredge issue and Hazleton Creek Properties. He worked with Clean Water Action to prevent the dredge from making it to the site. He issued a "Health Alert" from his official House Office using taxpayer dollars stating that the dredge would risk public health. Yet, the Department of Environmental Resources cleared the use of the dredge material by Hazleton Creek Properties.
It's statement: “The company’s proposal meets DEP’s strict regulations and includes conditions to ensure the safe and effective use of this material in construction,” DEP Northeast Regional Director Michael Bedrin said.
Governor Rendell supported the plan with a $250,000 investment through the Rail Freight Assistance Program. “Hazleton Creek Properties will receive $250,000 for construction of new track to serve a bulk unloading facility adjacent to Humboldt Industrial Park; the facility will dispose of dredge material from the Delaware River".
As a result of that project over $4 million dollars have or will come to the City of Hazleton. Hazleton was paid $1 million dollars to date for material brought to the Hazleton Creek Properties site. In November, 2006 Mayor Lou Barletta was interviewed by Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes. In that interview he stated there were 31 police officers on the force. By March, 2007 the number of police officers increased by 2 to 33 keeping pace with a pledge he made in December, 2006 to increase the force by ten officers. Hazleton eventually went on to hire the ten officers meeting Barletta's goal with salaries for six of those officers paid for from the revenues generated by the dredge project.
It appears there is a concerted effort to make the City of Hazleton, its residents, firefighters, police, children, and senior citizens suffer over a political slugfest.
Eachus feigns support. “Something must be done to get the city out of this bind, but I want to make it clear that any solution must be within the confines of the state law and the state Constitution. It will be a challenge to fix the city’s mistakes, but I have asked my staff to determine what options, if any, we can take. While we work to find a solution, I suggest you also begin examining alternative options,” Eachus wrote.
The solution is already in a bill that Eachus failed to support. He sat silent during a hearing held by Rep. Dave Levdansky's committee. Representative Dave Levdansky made the statement during that hearing on Hazleton's pension issue he was opposed to a bill that only addressed one city. Yet in that same portal article a pension bill was passed for members and former members of the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority. Eachus has made a similar claim.
Act 2002 –185 (House Bill Number 2595, Printer’s Number 4633). Signed into law on December 9, 2002, Act 185 amended the Second Class County Code to permit a member who became an employee of the county to receive service credit for prior service with the former Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority (ACRA); and permit an active member of the system to receive up to three years of service credit for prior military service without regard to the minimum age or service requirements currently mandated by the Second Class County Code, and to be exempted from paying statutory interest of 6% per annum for the service purchase provided the member pays the required sum in full within three years of the effective date of the legislation. This bill passed 200-0 in the House so Eachus supported it was well.
Eachus acknowledges that the pension issue could cost Hazleton $3 million dollars. If the House Majority Leader cannot get a resolution through his chamber to help the largest city in his district why should the people of Hazleton support his reelection?
His opposition to the dredge project, had it been successful, would have added another $4 million dollar loss. If Eachus fails to support and intervene on the pension issue it will show that his priorties have been clouded with stinkin thinkin in an effort to "get Lou Barletta." Eachus has the audacity to call Barletta "reckless." His actions and inactions point to reckless disregard for the citizens he is paid to represent. It is time to call him out on his actions.
That statement is only one in a series of moves on Eachus's part that points to an active campaign which involves bankrupting the City of Hazleton. Let us examine his claim.
On October 8, 2008 Senate Bill 1093 was passed and signed into law in Pennsylvania. Information about the bill is found in the state's portal system. The act is more commonly known as Act 92. Here is synopsis from the portal document.
Act 2008 – 92 (Senate Bill Number 1093, Printer’s Number 2038). Signed into law on October 8, 2008, Act 92 amended the Municipal Police Pension Law (Act 600 of 1956), as amended by Act 30 of 2002, further clarifying eligibility and applicability of survivor benefit provisions for certain beneficiaries. Act 92 closed an unintentional gap in the survivor benefit coverage provided in Act 30 of 2002 for a small number of surviving spouses of police officers who retired before the effective date of Act 30 of 2002, and died after the act's effective date.
Act 92 declared that survivor benefits were payable to the surviving spouse or dependent child, as applicable, provided that the surviving spouse was not remarried on April 17, 2002. The surviving spouse is entitled to receive a pension of no less than 50% of the pension the member was receiving at the time of death, provided the spouse was a member of the police force or a former member of the police force who: 1) prior to April 18, 2002, retired on pension and dies subsequent to retirement; or 2) after April 16, 2002, retires on pension and dies subsequent to retirement. This act applies retroactively to April 17, 2002.
Eachus voted YES on this bill. So there is a pension bill passed in 2008 that is retroactive to 2002 that Todd Eachus voted YES on but Eachus makes the claim to John Q. Public that case law wouldn't allow for retroactive reimbursement.
His earlier attempt to thwart progress in Hazleton centered on the dredge issue and Hazleton Creek Properties. He worked with Clean Water Action to prevent the dredge from making it to the site. He issued a "Health Alert" from his official House Office using taxpayer dollars stating that the dredge would risk public health. Yet, the Department of Environmental Resources cleared the use of the dredge material by Hazleton Creek Properties.
It's statement: “The company’s proposal meets DEP’s strict regulations and includes conditions to ensure the safe and effective use of this material in construction,” DEP Northeast Regional Director Michael Bedrin said.
Governor Rendell supported the plan with a $250,000 investment through the Rail Freight Assistance Program. “Hazleton Creek Properties will receive $250,000 for construction of new track to serve a bulk unloading facility adjacent to Humboldt Industrial Park; the facility will dispose of dredge material from the Delaware River".
As a result of that project over $4 million dollars have or will come to the City of Hazleton. Hazleton was paid $1 million dollars to date for material brought to the Hazleton Creek Properties site. In November, 2006 Mayor Lou Barletta was interviewed by Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes. In that interview he stated there were 31 police officers on the force. By March, 2007 the number of police officers increased by 2 to 33 keeping pace with a pledge he made in December, 2006 to increase the force by ten officers. Hazleton eventually went on to hire the ten officers meeting Barletta's goal with salaries for six of those officers paid for from the revenues generated by the dredge project.
It appears there is a concerted effort to make the City of Hazleton, its residents, firefighters, police, children, and senior citizens suffer over a political slugfest.
Eachus feigns support. “Something must be done to get the city out of this bind, but I want to make it clear that any solution must be within the confines of the state law and the state Constitution. It will be a challenge to fix the city’s mistakes, but I have asked my staff to determine what options, if any, we can take. While we work to find a solution, I suggest you also begin examining alternative options,” Eachus wrote.
The solution is already in a bill that Eachus failed to support. He sat silent during a hearing held by Rep. Dave Levdansky's committee. Representative Dave Levdansky made the statement during that hearing on Hazleton's pension issue he was opposed to a bill that only addressed one city. Yet in that same portal article a pension bill was passed for members and former members of the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority. Eachus has made a similar claim.
Act 2002 –185 (House Bill Number 2595, Printer’s Number 4633). Signed into law on December 9, 2002, Act 185 amended the Second Class County Code to permit a member who became an employee of the county to receive service credit for prior service with the former Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority (ACRA); and permit an active member of the system to receive up to three years of service credit for prior military service without regard to the minimum age or service requirements currently mandated by the Second Class County Code, and to be exempted from paying statutory interest of 6% per annum for the service purchase provided the member pays the required sum in full within three years of the effective date of the legislation. This bill passed 200-0 in the House so Eachus supported it was well.
Eachus acknowledges that the pension issue could cost Hazleton $3 million dollars. If the House Majority Leader cannot get a resolution through his chamber to help the largest city in his district why should the people of Hazleton support his reelection?
His opposition to the dredge project, had it been successful, would have added another $4 million dollar loss. If Eachus fails to support and intervene on the pension issue it will show that his priorties have been clouded with stinkin thinkin in an effort to "get Lou Barletta." Eachus has the audacity to call Barletta "reckless." His actions and inactions point to reckless disregard for the citizens he is paid to represent. It is time to call him out on his actions.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Kanjorski's False Issues and Smear Tactics Part 1
First Truth About Waste At Dredge Site
"Wood and metal found at a proposed amphitheater site being reclaimed by Hazleton Creek Properties belongs in a landfill for construction and demolition waste, a state inspector told the company.
After finding more than 100 tons of unpermitted material at the site in Hazleton last week, an inspector told the company to remove it, Mark Carmon of the state Department of Environmental Protection said.
By Tuesday, a railcar returned the wood and metal to New Jersey, Carmon said."
Second Truth About Waste
"Earlier this month, DEP issued a formal violation notice to Hazleton Creek for unloading unauthorized waste at the site. Inspectors found eight to 10 piles of wood, brick, mortar and scrap metal that had been unloaded from rail cars."
Listen to Kanjorski's commercial alleging that "Lou Barletta is pocketing campaign contributions from developers dumping contaminated Philadelphia sludge in Hazleton. Waste so polluted and unauthorized the state issued a violation for unloading it at the site."
How is wood and metal polluted waste? It is construction waste, plain and simple. The violation was unloading unathorized debris in the form of wood and metal. It wasn't spread at the site. It was quarantined and then removed.
Now lets address the "Contaminated Philadelphia Sludge"??: DEP Approves Hazleton Creek’s Use of Regulated Fill at Mine Reclamation Site "The Department of Environmental Protection has approved Hazleton Creek Properties LLC’s general permit to use regulated fill for construction activities at a land reclamation project in Hazleton, Luzerne County.
“The company’s proposal meets DEP’s strict regulations and includes conditions to ensure the safe and effective use of this material in construction,” DEP Northeast Regional Director Michael Bedrin said."
The site-specific general permit authorizes Hazleton Creek Properties to use regulated fill, including dredged material, in access road construction, rail infrastructure construction, utility relocation and permitted facility construction, and as use for sub-base for future parking areas that also will serve as a cap on old landfill areas.
Regulated fill is soil, rock, stone, dredged material, used asphalt, historic fill and brick, block or concrete from construction and demolition activities."
Another press release on the subject.
So I ask the questions, Paul why didn't you tell the truth and why did you smear William Rinaldi, his employees, and his business?? You didn' t only lose your image; you lost your moral values.
"Wood and metal found at a proposed amphitheater site being reclaimed by Hazleton Creek Properties belongs in a landfill for construction and demolition waste, a state inspector told the company.
After finding more than 100 tons of unpermitted material at the site in Hazleton last week, an inspector told the company to remove it, Mark Carmon of the state Department of Environmental Protection said.
By Tuesday, a railcar returned the wood and metal to New Jersey, Carmon said."
Second Truth About Waste
"Earlier this month, DEP issued a formal violation notice to Hazleton Creek for unloading unauthorized waste at the site. Inspectors found eight to 10 piles of wood, brick, mortar and scrap metal that had been unloaded from rail cars."
Listen to Kanjorski's commercial alleging that "Lou Barletta is pocketing campaign contributions from developers dumping contaminated Philadelphia sludge in Hazleton. Waste so polluted and unauthorized the state issued a violation for unloading it at the site."
How is wood and metal polluted waste? It is construction waste, plain and simple. The violation was unloading unathorized debris in the form of wood and metal. It wasn't spread at the site. It was quarantined and then removed.
Now lets address the "Contaminated Philadelphia Sludge"??: DEP Approves Hazleton Creek’s Use of Regulated Fill at Mine Reclamation Site "The Department of Environmental Protection has approved Hazleton Creek Properties LLC’s general permit to use regulated fill for construction activities at a land reclamation project in Hazleton, Luzerne County.
“The company’s proposal meets DEP’s strict regulations and includes conditions to ensure the safe and effective use of this material in construction,” DEP Northeast Regional Director Michael Bedrin said."
The site-specific general permit authorizes Hazleton Creek Properties to use regulated fill, including dredged material, in access road construction, rail infrastructure construction, utility relocation and permitted facility construction, and as use for sub-base for future parking areas that also will serve as a cap on old landfill areas.
Regulated fill is soil, rock, stone, dredged material, used asphalt, historic fill and brick, block or concrete from construction and demolition activities."
Another press release on the subject.
So I ask the questions, Paul why didn't you tell the truth and why did you smear William Rinaldi, his employees, and his business?? You didn' t only lose your image; you lost your moral values.
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