Is This the Governing Newtown Residents Deserve?

When Thomas Jefferson said that "people get the government they deserve," I don’t think he had in mind the Newtown Township Municipal Authority’s April meeting.

It seems to me that some of the members of the Municipal Authority who had willingly volunteered to become members now feel that they should not take an independent position nor have any responsibilities other than attending the meeting–everything from inaccurate minutes to inaccurate representations of resident comments to disregard of processes.

And, for residents who choose to make comments in hopes of encouraging the board members to remember who and why they serve, the only thing they are served with are personal attacks and inaccurate representations of their comments and actions.  Here is some of the business that took place at the meeting:

The Municipal Authority voted to approve an additional $667 in compensation for Valerie Hoxter, an independent contractor the Municipal Authority had hired to do bookkeeping and administrative tasks.  Since terminating her services at the March meeting, Ms. Hoxter submitted an invoice for hours worked from February 4th through March 4th. Ms. Hoxter charged $50 per hour for 13 hours and $35 per hour for 0.5 hours. This meant that she was charging the taxpayers as though all her work was just about bookkeeping.

And yet, it was clear from her listed activities that many of the services were administrative and should be charged at a lesser rate. I have questioned Ms. Hoxter’s charges in the past. At the meeting, I questioned again. One of the statements made by a board member was, “Unfortunately, it is the cost of doing business that won’t happen going forward.” How about not letting it occur today? 

Ms. Hoxter was paid over $28,000 in 2011, amounts which I have questioned repeatedly in the past. Having received additional information about where the Municipal Authority spent all its funds, I also found that among other expenses, Ms. Hoxter had numerous lunches with a prior board member, the Municipal Authority solicitor and the Municipal Authority engineer which were paid for by the taxpayers. But, board members Mark Caldwell, Larry Fischer and Linda Gabell voted to use tax dollars to pay Ms. Hoxter again. Only Jack DiPompeo voted against making this payment to Ms. Hoxter.

Jack DiPompeo proposed a motion to advertise for replacement of the Municipal Authority Engineer saying that “we have had some serious problems” with them.  Before a motion could be made or public comment was called for, John Nawn, a township supervisor liaison to the Municipal Authority, offered the following, “I don’t disagree with everything you are saying. The current Municipal Authority Engineer needs to be replaced. My concern is over $200,000 that he thinks he is owed. My thinking is that if you cut him loose now, he is going to start whatever proceedings are necessary to collect that $200,000.” 

Mr. Nawn  proposed to keep the current Municipal Authority for fear they will sue for payment the engineers think they are owed. Only Mr. DiPompeo argued that “I think we should do it now (replace the engineer).”  All other board members chose to wait, continuing to employ an engineering firm that all appeared to agree needed to be replaced.

Is this the government that residents of Newtown Township deserve? Sure seemed to me that only Mr. DiPompeo was willing to argue for the residents. Only he seemed willing to defend residents' comments and look to ensure fiscal accountability.

I don’t think this is the government Newtown residents deserve. Unfortunately, right now, this is the government we have.