PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING
MARCH 21, 2005
A regular meeting of
the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was
held on Monday, March 21, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer
Library with four supervisors present. Mike
Mitchell was absent. Also present were
the Township Manager, Public Services Director, Police Chief, and Township Solicitor. Chris Pollock from the Express Times represented
the news media. Chairman Colver convened
the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag.
2. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT
OF FUNDS – MARCH 21, 2005
INFORMATION
The reports will be provided at the meeting.
DISCUSSION
On
motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the
disbursement of funds for March 21,
2005.
3. APPROVAL
OF MINUTES – MARCH 7, 2005
DISCUSSION
Colver
added to the second paragraph of page 4 “Colver and the Board agreed the
developer could trade the two previously approved buildings for the new Bear
Rock Café building.” Colver changed
paragraph five of page 7, third sentence from “Colver said” to “Colver asked,”
and added to the end of the fourth sentence “and that the baseball field is not
part of Phase I of the community center project.” Colver changed the first sentence of the
seventh paragraph from “I feel all” to “most of all.”
On
motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the
minutes of March 7, 2005
with the above changes.
4. FULL-TIME POLICE
OFFICER RECOMMENDATION
INFORMATION
The Board needs to approve/disapprove the
promotion of Keith Border and Steve Steckel from part-time police officers to
full-time police officers, as recommended by Chief Fretz.
DISCUSSION
Colver
said they received a recommendation letter from Chief Fretz recommending Keith
Border and Steve Steckel be promoted to full-time officers. Colver said Fretz’s letter also requests to
begin the hiring process for two new part-time officers. Officers Steckel and Border were in
attendance and received a round of applause.
On
motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved promoting
Keith Border and Steve Steckel from part-time officers to full-time officers and
authorized Chief Fretz to begin the hiring process for two new part-time
officers.
5. WEST EASTON BIKE PATH DEED
INFORMATION
The Board needs to approve/disapprove the
West Easton Bike Path deed.
DISCUSSION
Bruno said the deed
is now in a form acceptable to all parties.
Bruno said he feels the language protects the township and said a motion
was needed to authorize the Chairman to sign the deed.
On
motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the
Chairman to sign the West Easton Bike Path Deed.
Colver
said he spoke with Adams about the property and said it is .45 miles
of the path that is located in West Easton. Bruno said it’s a quick claim deed that
states West Easton will now be responsible for that portion of the
path.
6. HAYMONT STREET/LAWNHURST AVENUE – COLONIAL
BUILDERS PLANNING MODULE POSTCARD EXEMPTION
INFORMATION
The Board needs to approve/disapprove the
planning module postcard exemption for Haymont Street/Lawnhurst Avenue – Colonial Builders.
Lammi said this item hasn’t come before the
planning commission yet, stating it was scheduled for tomorrow nights meeting. Lammi said he’d prefer to hold off until
after they are through the planning commission.
The Board agreed to reschedule this item for an April agenda.
7. SOUTHAMPTON ESTATES/SOMERSET
VILLAGE PLANNING MODULE POSTCARD EXEMPTION
INFORMATION
The Board needs to approve/disapprove the
planning module postcard exemption for Southampton Estates/Somerset Village.
DISCUSSION
8. PUBLIC
COMMENT
Attorney Pulcini was in attendance
representing Mickey Corpora. Pulcini
said Mr. Corpora was suspended from coaching for the entire year. Pulcini said he wrote a letter after
reviewing the Athletic Association (AA) bylaws.
Pulcini said the AA has hired an attorney who also reviewed the bylaws. Pulcini referenced Article 11, Section II of
the bylaws and read that it states a commissioner will be responsible for investigating
any and all behavior and/or actions that are considered unethical,
unsportsmanlike, illegal or in complete contempt for
this Association, its Constitution and bylaws by any active, associate, coach
or staff member. Pulcini said the AA
received four complaints, but also received 30 to 40 more letters of support for
Mickey Corpora. Pulcini said on a
personal level, my son played baseball and basketball for Mr. Corpora. Pulcini said they
now live in Lower Mount
Bethel Township
but his son learned more in the Palmer
Township athletic organization than
he’s ever learned in Lower Mount
Bethel Township. Pulcini said that’s because of the
fundamentals that Mr. Corpora and his coaches have taught their players. Pulcini said Mr. Corpora hasn’t had the
opportunity to confront the people who feel he doesn’t adequately coach the
kids. Pulcini said I’ve not seen one
kid mistreated or miscoached by Mr. Corpora.
Pulcini said as a Board, the ultimate decision relies with you. Pulcini said you have the authority to say
this is not right. Pulcini said we’re
all here to ask you as a Board to put Mr. Corpora back in the position where he
belongs.
Colver said this Board appoints the
Recreation Board members but we do not appoint Athletic Association
members. Colver said we will hear
everyone who wants to talk tonight.
Smith said he’s spent the last four weeks
on this issue. Smith said my
recommendation to this Board tonight was going to be to let the Recreation Board
investigate the matter further. Colver
said we put these commissions into place for a reason.
Jeff Quinn, 2909
Washington St, said Mr. Pulcini said a lot of what
he was going to say. Quinn said he’s the
basketball commissioner and coached with and against Mickey for years. Quinn said he never saw Mickey embarrass a
player. Quinn said it’s hard to get
coaches these days. Quinn said we get
coaches that coach because we need them, but they don’t have the skills. When
you get a coach that understands the game and has played the sport, we’re
fortunate. Mickey is that enthusiastic
coach. Quinn said Mickey teaches life
lessons on work ethic and discipline. Quinn
said it’s a shame that the AA is removing a coach because of a few
letters. Quinn said when you coach for
10 years your going to upset a few people along the way. Quinn said the AA wouldn’t answer any of my
questions the other night. Smith asked Quinn
if he turned in a slate of coaches to the AA for review prior to his season. Quinn said he didn’t think so because he was
still filling positions up to the day before practice.
Joanne Durante, 6
Charles Court, said she had three children in the
recreation program and she wrote a letter of support for Mickey. Durante said her concern is Mr. Corpora,
along with many other coaches, spend countless hours of volunteer time and the way
Mr. Corpora was notified, in my mind, was appalling. Durante said her son plays basketball for Mr.
Corpora and at a Saturday game they were told they didn’t know if they’d have a
coach for their next game. Durante said Mr. Corpora was a player and was named to the
Blue Mountain Hall of Fame. Durante said
there has to be some kind of rules or regulations that should be followed before
it gets to this point. Durante said you
can’t use surprise tactics on people.
Willie McCoale, 2410
Victor Street, Wilson
Borough, said he was here to support Mickey Corpora. MCoale said his son is 13 years old and that
he’d coached against Mickey. McCoale
said it’s always a pleasure to coach against Mickey. McCoale said you see how well the kids are
coached across the field and you can see what Mickey expects from these kids. McCoale said the Palmer coaches always conduct
themselves exceptionally well and the sportsmanship that is shown is exceptional.
Sue Wilder, 2601
Sandy Lane, said at the AA meeting the other night
she felt the Board presented themselves in a poor way. Wilder said they wouldn’t respond to
anyone. Wilder said parents said if
Mickey couldn’t be part of the organization their kids wouldn’t play. Wilder said the board was stone faced.
Kim Wood, 2950
Green Pond Road, said her son Devon
played for Mickey and he is a wonderful man.
Wood said her son wanted to play for Mickey and he taught them the right
way and was never demeaning to him. Wood
said there are coaches out there I can’t believe are still coaching, so I don’t
understand why the AA wouldn’t want Mickey as part of the organization.
Jackie Schoemaker, 2505
Sandy Lane, said she had to agree with Ms.
Wood. Schoemaker said her son said if
Mickey couldn’t be his soccer coach he wouldn’t want to play anymore. Shoemaker said when she heard what was
happening she asked her son about Mickey and he said he was a great coach.
Rich Drey, 1331
Wayne Street, said he knows Mickey off the field
and he donates a lot of his time to the community. Drey said he was involved when this whole
thing got started two years ago. Drey said he never had a problem with Mickey. Drey said he’d also like to know what’s going
on with the wrestling program in the township.
Drey said Palmer has always been a main feeder program to the high
school wrestling program. Colver said
there wasn’t a wrestling program last year.
Colver said a few days before the season was to start the coaches
resigned and we didn’t have enough time to get new coaches, and the kids had
already transferred to other organizations.
Colver said the dues were paid last year and have been renewed so we are
in the program again this year. Drey
asked if anyone asked the coaches why they left. Drey said he felt the wrestling program came a
long way over the years and it was sad to see this happen. Colver said the Recreation Board is accepting
applications for coaches to get the program back up and running.
Michael LaValva, 2675
Peggy Street, said to the Board that you were
elected to get involved in this situation.
LaValva said some select members of the AA have been on a mission to get
rid of Mickey Corpora. LaValva said these
allegations are so blatant and the four letters have no merit. LaValva said if Mickey isn’t reinstated the
kids will suffer. LaValva referred to
the township website where it states Palmer is a strong and active governing
body where volunteers continue to use that vision to make Palmer what it is today
and will be in the future. LaValva said allowing this vendetta is having
total disregard for the kids. LaValva
said the question is; what will Palmer be in the future?
Kathy Bisco , 4024
Nicholas Street, said my husband and I feel very
strongly that the way this came about is the root of the problem. Bisco said we are asking you to take a look
at how four people were solicited to go after Mickey. Bisco said we don’t want this to go on for
three more months. Bisco said this is a
two year old issue and it wasn’t until February that they solicited attention
because the baseball season is about to begin.
Bisco said we’re asking you to look closely into this matter, not have
the Recreation Board look into it.
Kristie Corpora, 189
Jonathon Drive, said as you saw the other night
the AA Board disregarded anything anyone said at that meeting. Corpora said she’s seen her husband coach, she’s
seen him give up family time for his teams.
Corpora said this has been a personal vendetta by the head of the AA and
all of his followers. Corpora said
regarding the four letters that were written, that man blatantly lied when I
made the comment about him being in my house.
Corpora said every one of those four parents used to call my husband for
rides to and from practice and games for their kids. Corpora said if he’s such a bad man, would
you entrust your kids to him, I wouldn’t.
Corpora said those four parents have asked my husband to do something
for them because they could not. Corpora
said one person has been trying for two years to solicit those letters. Corpora said please look into this.
Bob Elliott, 23
Ridgewood Road, said he’s been a township resident
his whole life and he’s participated in the Association since he was eight
years old. Elliott said he coached 22
seasons, participated on the Planning Commission, and served as a Township Supervisor. Elliott said there is a greater issue
here. Elliott said there have been few
that spoke to his detriment, but many who have good to say about Mickey. Elliott said a year ago Mickey was dismissed
from the AA commissioner position and it was never explained. Elliott said the AA would not speak about why
they chose to replace Mickey last year. Elliott
said they instill fair play to the kids but for whatever reason, the AA doesn’t.
Rich Wilkins, 2
George Court, said he’s been a basketball coach and
a commissioner, he was the President of the AA for four years, and he’s currently
on the Planning Commission. Wilkins said
he didn’t go before the AA the other night because I knew it was
pointless. Wilkins said a year ago we
had a cheering problem and I was told there weren’t enough concerned parents about
the issue and that’s where it ended. Wilkins
said the head football coach is on the Rec Board, another Rec Board member is a
coach. Wilkins said we need to separate
the Rec Board and the AA. Wilkins said years
ago you may not have been able to do this, but today we have a lot of people in
the township that would be willing to coach or volunteer. Wilkins said I never had an attorney tell me
I couldn’t talk. Wilkins said he went to
high school with Mickey and everyone knows he’s a great athlete and a good
coach. Wilkins said the Rec Board and
AA’s job is to go between the people with the problems and it’s not being done.
Sue Wilkins, said she came before this
Board two years ago with a cheering problem. Wilkins said you didn’t blow me
off but the Recreation Board did. Wilkins
said they threatened to have me arrested and publicly tried to humiliate me. Wilkins said these people have one interest
and that’s to further their own child. Wilkins
said it’s supposed to benefit all kids.
Wilkins said cheering shouldn’t be about competition teams and being
forced out of the program. Wilkins said
those coaches made you promises and you didn’t do anything about it. Wilkins added Barry Schaffer’s kid didn’t
make the team two years ago and he freaked out, and from that point on you knew
he would go after Mickey. Wilkins said you
need to dissolve the AA and take control of it.
Wilkins said to say your not going to act on it is wrong. Colver said we said we would listen to
concerns and go through the proper chain of command, we didn’t say we wouldn’t
act on it.
Devon Wood, 2950
Green Pond Road, said he played for Mickey and he
was a great coach. Wood said he didn’t understand
why the AA is making a big deal about this.
William Web, 3111
John Street, said the Board on Thursday night said
they couldn’t speak on the advice of their attorney, yet the Rec Board could
talk and their attorney was there.
Ed Murray, 3315
Virginia Street, said we’re blaming you but we
should blame ourselves also. Murray
said he stopped going to AA meetings and it’s unfortunate that we can say
someone didn’t do anything wrong and then they take it out on him. Murray
said he was here to support Mickey. Murray
said he coached with him, and against him, and he never had a problem with Mickey.
Mark Schultz, 2660
Farmhouse Court, said he was on the Board six
years, and was baseball and softball commissioner for six years. Schultz said we did everything we could for
all the kids. Schultz said he took
personal offense because he was the one who appointed Mickey as baseball
commissioner. Schultz said they booted him
in one year. Schultz said then the next
thing was the wrestling program, and now kicking Mickey off of coaching. Schultz said the AA has deteriorated over the
years. Schultz said we’ve become the
laughing stock of the community.
Gretchen Wilkins, 205
Brendan Road, said Mickey’s coached her son the
last two years and her son learned a lot over those two years. Wilkins said these people need to grow up.
Dan Costanza 3419 Vermont Street, said he coached with and against Mickey and he
umpired for him. Costanza said Mickey has taught me a lot and I think this is a
travesty. Costanza said every coach in
his career does something they’d like to take back. Costanza said the Rec Board needs to do
that. Costanza said Mr. Schultz said the
AA has deteriorated over the years and I don’t even want to go any more. Costanza said you have the main puppeteer and
his marionettes and the only thing missing are the strings attaching them. Costanza said it’s all about the kids. Costanza said they’ve taken it away from the
kids. Costanza said if you pass this on to
the Rec Board you give the game away.
Dan Eckel, 2019 Stocker
Mill Road, said he’s coached with Mickey for ten
years. Eckel said he’s never seen Mickey
do anything wrong. Eckel said Mickey’s dedication
and knowledge is second to none. Eckel
said this whole group in this room has great accolades to him and no one can
tell us what he has done wrong. Eckel
said if he did anything wrong he would have been gone years ago. Eckel said the AA started
out getting rid of him in three sports, now he’s only out in baseball, which is
his specialty. Eckel asked why you would
pull him out of only that sport.
Bob Williams, 1425
Camelot Drive, said you need to step in and take
action over the
Rec
Board. Williams asked how all four
letters can come about in the same month.
Williams said when kids in this township find out they’re playing for
Mickey Corpora they get on the phone to brag about being able to play for
Mickey.
George Holup, 315
Old Orchard Drive, said he can agree with
everything that’s been said in this room tonight. Holup said his son played for Mickey and even
though he didn’t know the details he knew we were losing a great man for
baseball. Holup said Mickey’s what the
sport is all about. Holup said it’s a great
loss.
.
Rick Lynch, 3551
Southwood Drive, said he’s been the Palmer soccer
commissioner and assistant commissioner, and his son played for Mickey. Lynch said Mickey is an extremely dedicated
coach. Lynch said kids would request to
have Mickey as his coach. Lynch said he was
at the AA meeting years ago when the Wilkins raised their concern about
cheering and they were treated terrible.
Maria LaValva, 2675
Peggy Street, said unfortunately I’m the Vice
President of the AA. LaValva said this
has been very difficult for me. LaValva
said children and coaching has been part of my life forever. LaValva said I’m sorry what happened in the
wrestling program with Jack but that’s not why I’m here. LaValva said my son’s been coached by Mickey
and I’ve coached for 28 years. LaValva
said I don’t think this is about four letters, that’s a minor issue. LaValva said there are 800 kids and the are only four letters.
LaValva said it’s unfair that Mickey has to be here to show us what he’s
about. LaValva said we know what Mickey
is about. LaValva said I will always be
here to help, but I will no longer be in this position on this board. LaValva said I cannot stay on this
board. LaValva said I’m a very
respectful person. LaValva said if Mickey
isn’t reinstated after 30+ years, I will dismiss myself from this Board. Smith said he was told there were 12 issues before
the AA Board and asked LaValva if the whole Board reviewed those issues. LaValva said I’m not the ear that gets all
the information. LaValva said the issues
that were in those letters were not corrected.
LaValva said the President said that Mickey threw a ball at a former commissioner’s
son’s head, which I believe is ludicrous.
LaValva said I asked the gentlemen if it’s true, and he said it never happened. LaValva said that didn’t matter to the Board. LaValva said she spoke to Dave Colver because
the President tells us these meetings are private meetings. LaValva said the decision was already made, it
didn’t matter what was said the other night. Colver asked how many members are
on the AA Board. LaValva said nine. Colver asked how long the president was elected
for, LaValva said two years and nine people repetitiously repeat terms. Corpora said three just were re-elected for
one year terms. Colver inquired about
the process. LaValva said you’re
nominated by a nominating committee during football season, then the nominating
committee solicits to see who’s interested in running, then they post a slate
to the general membership and then a vote is taken at a November meeting. Lammi asked who can vote. LaValva said if you attend three out of five meetings you
can vote. Smith asked how many do the bylaws
state should be on the Board. LaValva
said eleven.
Allan Wolfe, 125 Grandview
Drive, said Mickey was the first coach they were
exposed to when they moved to the township.
Wolfe said his daughter was the only girl on Mickey’s soccer team and
now she plays for the high school. Wolfe
said Mickey was a great coach. Wolfe
said there’s a split between football and every other sport in this
township. Wolfe said what we learned in
the last five minutes between Bob Smith and Maria LaValva is more than any one of
us found out at last Thursday nights meeting.
Wolfe said the AA has given no official reason as to why they dismissed
Mickey other than four letters, and a problem between Barry Schaffer and
Mickey. Wolfe said it looks bad to the
community and in the end the kids are the ones that lose.
Tom Hughes, 19
Russet Drive, said he’s been in Palmer
Township for nine years now. Hughes said he’s received phone calls from
both sides of the fence. Hughes said
Mickey is one of the better guys out there coaching. Hughes said he’s a role model for my son and it’s sad how they could make the decision to take him away.
Howard Schneiderman, 2150
Stocker Mill Road, said he coached the Babe Ruth Prep
and Junior Legion with Mickey. Schneiderman
said he’s not going to add to the accolades because he agrees with all of
them. Schneiderman said those four
letters were given to the Board and they never asked me, or Costanza, or Marafioti,
who coaches with Mickey. Schneiderman
said all four of those letter writers were on my team too. Schneiderman said I’d like the AA Board to ask
me. Schneiderman said I’m head of the Anthropology
Department at Lafayette College
and I can be trusted.
Bob Elliot, 23
Ridgewood Road, said if the AA chose not to speak
because they felt it was a personnel matter, then why when Mickey publicly
spoke and asked to have it brought out in the public they didn’t respond.
Mickey Corpora, 189
Jonathon Drive, said tonight is a very humbling
experience for me. Corpora said I do
what I do because I love kids, they make
me thrive. Corpora said I’ve coached
soccer, basketball, and baseball. Corpora
said I’m Vice President of Commercial Lending for 24 years, past President of
the BIP, been involved on the Easton Redevelopment and Sewer Authority, Dream Come
True, Camelot House, and Reading is
Fundamental. Corpora said a lot of what
I do, I do for kids. Corpora said what
embarrasses me is I had four people say I did something wrong when I know I
didn’t do anything wrong. Corpora said I
am not going to let this go away. Corpora
said Barry Schaffer and the AA, minus Maria, ripped my heart out two years
ago. Corpora said instead of having the President
say I did something wrong, they got rid of me as commissioner but he said he didn’t
have a problem with me coaching. Corpora
said Barry Shaffer is a liar and I will take this further. Corpora said what they did to me and my
family and the kids is a travesty.
Corpora thanked the audience and the Board for their support.
Smith said he’s been exposed the most to
this issue. Smith said he’s appalled
that we have attorneys involved, that we teach our kids good sportsmanship, yet
we’re not able to practice it. Smith
said he’s spent hours and hours looking at both sides of this issue and hasn’t
been able to come to a conclusion. Smith
said I’m a facts and figures guy and I’m still going through facts. Smith said I didn’t know Mickey before
this. Smith said I asked the AA to
please follow the rules and be fair. Smith
said after the last Board meeting it disgusted him that the AA’s attorney said
they didn’t follow their own rules. Smith
said we as a Board will follow through with this and we will use the Boards
that are at our discretion to assist us.
Lammi said my four kids are older and were
never coached by Mickey, but one thing I felt strongly about when they played was
the people who coached them. Lammi said
a coach is not just teaching a sport but they are teaching about life too. Lammi said he’s distressed with what he’s heard
and about the conversations he’s had with Bob Smith after the AA meeting. Lammi said one thing this township has always
prided itself with is our volunteers. Lammi
said many of the volunteers in Palmer are part of the sports program and other
municipalities have always thought highly about Palmer for excelling in this. Lammi said I don’t know Mickey that well, but
I’ve heard a lot about him. Lammi said the
different sports and amount of teams he’s coached is impressive. Lammi said I’m glad you were all here to
explain it from your perspective. Lammi
said I care for the parents but I care more for the kids. Lammi said my expectations are that the
coaches will do their job as far as teaching the kids. Lammi said someone mentioned it being a feeder
program for the high school and as long as there is good coaching it will be;
it won’t continue if this continues to go in this direction. Lammi said we’re proud of this program and I
want to see it continue. Lammi said we
will get the facts, and I’m not sure where we go from here, but as far as I’m
concerned I will not let this program go down the tubes.
Panella said she doesn’t have any children
but she was a school teacher and her heart is always with the kids. Panella said she almost wants to apologize
for what Mr. and Mrs. Corpora went through.
Panella said you should never be held up to ridicule like this. Panella said with the anger I feel, you have
my promise that this won’t be swept under the rug because you don’t get this
many people in a room if you’re in the wrong.
Panella said these people are not a fake that came out here tonight.
Colver said we’ve heard many concerns from
over thirty who spoke. Colver said
obviously timing is an issue because baseball is ready to start. Corpora said the liaison from the AA sent an
email to the commissioner of baseball today letting them know there must be an
appointed Junior Legion coach. Colver
asked if there is a replacement. Corpora
said no one knows. LaValva asked how
could you replace him, no one is qualified enough.
Dan Costanza said the rest of Corpora’s
staff resigned when they dismissed Mr. Corpora.
Mrs. Corpora said they’ve decided to take
him away from all of baseball not just Junior Legion. Corpora asked why should the children of Palmer
Township suffer like this, it’s not
right. Mr. Corpora said I offered a compromise
from my side and I said we could discuss it, the compromise didn’t come from
the other side.
Colver said this is time oriented. Smith said my only concern is I don’t have
all the facts because I can’t get all the AA’s information, because it wasn’t
an agenda item last week. Smith said the
Board needs to wrestle with what we need to do now. Mickey Corpora said the decision the other
night was made at a special meeting. Corpora
said the AA now says coaches have to be approved and slated each year. Corpora said if our season ends July 10, with
the decision of the board the other night, you are no longer a coach for
baseball; so who attends their meetings?
They said everyone must be approved every season.
Mrs. Wilkins asked the Board who they give
the money to and how do they disperse it.
Wilkins said follow the money trail.
Colver said the money goes to the Rec Board. Wilkins said therefore the Rec board is
accountable to you. Colver said that
isn’t the popular belief of where it needs to go.
Colver said when I listened to the
comments at the meeting the other night I thought there has to be something
wrong. Colver said I would have thought the
AA would have warned Mickey and asked someone to assist coaching with him. LaValva said my concern is the things in the
letters are not true so why have to assign an assistant to Mickey. LaValva said Mickey has four other gentlemen
who coach with him; people say Mickey’s throwing bats, swearing, throwing
balls, would his assistant coaches allow that.
Joanne Durante said there’s a process that
has to be followed but I think you need to speed it up. Durante said baseball is right around the
corner and it’s for the kids. Durante
said if this is in the hands of the wrong people, the kids suffer the most.
Colver said the timing is the worst. Smith said this is the same thing that
happened with wrestling, down to the last minute. Corpora said Junior Legion is the kids who
don’t make the high school teams so there is some time. Corpora said there is an expediency to this
but there is some time to make a just decision.
Colver asked when you would normally start. Corpora said tryouts would be not this
weekend but the following weekend.
Colver asked do you have cuts. Corpora
said yes we cut, but the ones who are cut aren’t out of the program they go to
the Babe Ruth level.
Attorney Pulcini said everyone here
tonight spoke on the record and we are asking for this Boards support to Mickey. Pulcini said Mickey’s assistant coaches will
speak on the record because they believe in Mickey. Pulcini said it would be a chilling affect
because of four people’s letter. Pulcini
said we’re just asking for your support so these kids can have a good year.
Colver said they will get two Board
of Supervisors members, two AA members, and two Rec Board
members to have a special meeting to listen to the other side of the allegations. Colver said of the throwing ball incident,
the father was in attendance the other night and said it didn’t happen. Colver said the wrestling problem and now
this, there’s obviously a problem somewhere.
Lammi said he feels the whole Board should attend this meeting. Colver asked Bruno how to proceed.
Bruno said there are a number of issues
which concern him. Bruno said timing is
an issue but there still is enough time to not make a rash decision. Bruno said you have to be aware of the
structure in place; the Rec Board is appointed by the Board of
Supervisors and falls under the Second Class Township Code. Bruno said the AA answers to the Rec Board. Bruno said to a certain extent you may be
bound to have the Rec Board hear it first.
Bruno said because this wasn’t a scheduled agenda item tonight both
sides weren’t given the opportunity to attend, so you’ll have to give due
process for both sides. Bruno said the
Rec Board is the first step and if it requires a special meeting by them and you, that can be done.
Bruno said another issue is whether or not the Junior Legion actually
falls under the authority of the AA. Bruno
said if the Junior Legion doesn’t fall under the authority of the AA then the
Rec Board would be responsible. Colver
asked Bruno to look into the Junior Legion issue. Bruno suggested in the interim to have two
members of this Board meet with the two Rec Board members and the two members
of the AA for informational purposes. Bruno
said this Board has the ultimate control.
Lammi said the problem we have is the
information in the letters is not factual according to what some people have
said tonight. Bruno said Mr. Elliot said
at last weeks meeting when they tried to say they couldn’t discuss this because
it was a personnel matter; if Mickey said he would open the discussion, they
should have discussed it; Mr. Corpora has that right. Bruno said with Bob Smith’s involvement and this
Board we could put together a list of the information we want to see from the
AA to back up both sides. Bruno said we
need to get to the twelve issues that decided removal. Lammi said he can support what needs to be
done to get it finished as quickly as possible.
Rich Drey
said when Mickey was first appointed the commissioner I was a coach on
Mr. Shaffer’s son’s team. Drey said our
head coach couldn’t make it to a meeting and asked me to attend. Drey said our team played a championship game
in the rain because it was the last day to play and they didn’t have time to
have a try out. Drey said the coaches
were asked to hand in a list of players they felt could play on Mickey’s team. Drey said a group was around a truck in the
parking lot and were reviewing who was on the list. Drey said when Mr. Shaffer found out his son
wasn’t on the team he threw a fit. Drey
said after that he’s talked strongly against Mr. Corpora and I believe that’s
where this all started. Drey said I
can’t believe it’s gotten to this point.
Bruno said there’s no need to go forward
with the evidentiary side of this tonight.
Colver said we meet next week and the following week. Bruno said a special meeting will be
advertised in the newspaper and the township website. Township Manager Bob Anckaitis
said the special meeting has to be advertised 24 hours in advance of the
meeting and it would be advertised in the Express Times and posted at the
municipal building.
Jack Bambary, 8
Midland Drive, asked if this Board couldn’t recommend
immediate reinstatement be given to Mr. Corpora tonight and after a full
investigation a final decision could be made.
Bruno said reinstatement by this Board without due process given would
not be appropriate. Bruno said a review
will be held based upon a new proceeding where they will hear the facts from
both sides. Bambary said it’s like you’re
guilty until proven innocent. Bruno said
we will follow the procedures and the decision can be reversed if proven.
Colver said meetings will happen over the
next week or two and probably not on a regular supervisors meeting night
because of the normal agenda items for those meetings.
Robert Gumlock,
109 Burke Street, said he
was here because he’s concerned about the lack of progress on the south Palmer
water project. Gumlock said he spoke to
Mr. Adams and was told they’re still trying to acquire some properties along
the roadway. Colver said even if we had
that wrapped up we would probably not be working on that right now due to the
major traffic changes that need to take place at 25th
Street and at Freemansburg
Avenue and 27th
Street.
Colver said Greenwood Avenue
will be a major route during that construction.
Colver said the plans are done for the work in that area and it involves
36 different property owners. Gumlock
asked what percentage of properties are already acquired. Bruno said the Shannon
property is subject to condemnation and it is being worked out with those
property owners. Bruno said Adams
is in contact with other property owners regarding right of ways. Bruno said we’re in the middle of that
process now and said so far we haven’t had any opposition. Colver said the last part of the puzzle is we
can’t go out for bid until we get the Penndot Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) and
we won’t have the final HOP approval until all 36 properties are under our
control. Colver said Freemansburg and 27th
Street roadwork is scheduled for May. Lammi said we’re trying to go out with one
big contract to try to save some money and we’re working with the Township
Engineer regarding that. Gumlock said
I’m concerned because we’re on the upswing regarding hurricane activity. Gumlock said the
mud cleanup during the last storm was a lot of hard work. Lammi said hopefully when the pond for the
Starlite Estate project is finalized the mud should no longer be a problem. Gumlock
asked when the detention pond would be completed. Adams said he believes
the conservation district requirement is 70% of the upstream area needs to be
stabilized.
Jack Bambary, said he wrote a letter to
Barry Shaffer and gave a copy to Mr. Smith for the Board to review. Bambary said the wrestling coaches resigned a
few weeks before the beginning of the season last year. Bambary said the coaches told the AA that we were
going to recruit the younger kids at the elementary schools. Bambary said there were a couple of five year
olds interested in the program who signed up.
Bambary said that’s when the AA blew up about no five year olds being allowed
in the program. Smith asked who the President
of the AA was when you had these issues.
Bambary said Barry Schaffer. Bambary said another time our commission said openly in a
public meeting that a college student was going to hold a clinic for our kids
and we called and told Diane Grube we were going to use the room. Bambary said the coaches put a lot of time
into these kids and our program and to be talked to the way the AA spoke to us
is uncalled for. Bambary said it hurts Easton
High School and I know the township
feels its not a feeder system, but it is.
Bambary said we were embarrassed as much as you were and I sent this
letter to try to get wrestling back to Palmer.
Bambary said the problem is communication. Bambary said Mr. Schaffer never officially
responded to my email, but I’ve seen him on two occasions at social
events. Bambary said he went to a
meeting and the AA said they have put together a committee and I need to submit
a resume for the wrestling coach position.
Bambary said if I have to submit a resume I’ll
expect to get paid. Bambary said this is
a volunteer position, not a job. Bambary
said he hadn’t put his name in to coach in the past four years and he coached
the past five years. Bambary said he can’t
force the kids to come back to Palmer. Bambary
said Mr. Bellis said he’d go out and recruit kids. Bambary said we want the program back. Bambary said if you need a resume, we’ve been
coaching this program for five, six, and in some cases twelve years and now we
need to submit resumes. Bambary said Mr.
Bellis said we needed to submit a resume in an arrogant way, and then they’d
review it. Bambary said when I asked Mr.
Bellis if he knew why we left, he said because we couldn’t have five year
olds. Bambary said Mr. Bellis said he’d
coach the team before he let me back. Bambary
said we’ve been offered positions at St. Anthony’s but we want it back in
Palmer. Bambary said the communication
needs to be clear on who does what and I don’t think you need to be reviewing
resumes for athletics, you have more important public issues to worry
about. Bambary asked if this is the
process, the precedence Palmer wants.
Rich Wilkins said you become a victim of
selective discipline. Wilkins said the first
time a child signs up for a sport you have to submit a birth certificate. Wilkins said Mr. Bellis said he doesn’t know
that, yet he helped write the rules. Wilkins
said why is Bellis considered the bottom line.
Wilkins said, does Bellis say you won’t coach. Colver said you have to remember who puts
these people in these positions; it’s the AA’s own members who elect these
people.
9. REPORTS
Solicitor
·
Bruno had an extension agreement for Crossings
Court requesting an extension until October 6, 2005 to complete public improvements,
and stated it was recommended by the Township Engineer. On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and
agreed by all, the Board approved the extension agreement for Crossings
Court.
·
Bruno had the final Act 167 ordinance and stated
is was in final form ready for the Chairman’s signature. Bruno noted the Board authorized approval at
the last meeting.
·
Bruno had a letter from Attorney Margle, on
behalf of Prologis, requesting a meeting with two members of the Board and the
Township Engineer regarding modifications of their obligations regarding recreation
fees, public improvements, and voluntary traffic contributions. Lammi said we’ve talked with developers in the
past but it will still need to come back before the Board. Lammi said he has no problem with meeting
with them and Panella also agreed to attend the meeting.
·
Bruno said Remaley Industrial Park
is requesting additional time until May
30, 2005 for improvements.
On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board
approved the extension agreement for Remaley
Industrial Park.
·
Bruno had the final easement agreement for Mr. &
Mrs. Bell. On motion by Panella,
seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign
the easement agreement.
·
Bruno had one litigation item for executive
session.
Public
Services Director
·
Adams said regarding the
Act 167 Plan, he had a letter from Pidcock regarding the plan and a letter from
the LVPC with the same date that had some strong comments regarding the
plan. Bruno said the Board may want to
hold off on signing the Act 167 ordinance tonight until he can assure the LVPC
document was reviewed in detail. Bruno
said Attorney Gallagher worked on the Act 167 ordinance.
Police Chief
·
Fretz said he was
approached from the Wilson Borough Chief regarding the boundary line on 25th
Street at the Palmer
Center. Fretz said they asked if Palmer
Township could take control of the
roadway down to Dearborn Street
and Wilson would take control from Dearborn
Street south.
Bruno said he felt addressing it in an agreement would make it more
specific if there were ever an incident in the future. Lammi asked about 25th Street from
Freemansburg Avenue
to Glendon. Fretz reviewed who covered
what areas. Fretz said when it breaks
into four lanes it is Palmer’s.
Supervisors
·
Smith said he was going to discuss the sign
issues at the baseball fields but decided to hold until a future meeting due to
the length of tonight’s discussions.
·
Lammi reported that there was a meeting last
week with Penndot officials and local officials regarding storm water issues on
South 25th Street.
·
Colver had one real estate and one personnel
item for executive session.
On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella,
and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 10:05
p.m. with one litigation, one real estate, and one personnel item for
executive session.
Respectfully
submitted,
Robert
G. Anckaitis
Township
Manager