Comments from Connie Keller on Boro Grant Money

Hi, Vickie!
Your newsletter is certainly going to be missed. It has been entertaining fodder many times with our Friday "lunch bunch." I would like to comment on your Community Grant Issue article in the Sept. paper. Quote: Communication lines between council and the committee got BLURRED? From Jan. until June of this year? HELLO? I'm in my 11th year on the Womelsdorf council (I'm a glutton for punishment).
At each and every meeting, committee chairmen are asked to give a report. Forgive me if I have the figures wrong......$174,000 GRANT and no one asked, "what's happening with the grant monies?" Shame on you guys, and you too, Mr. Randler, I know you're at every meeting! Council members SHOULD be footing the bill if they left something that huge slip through their fingers. I've known Mr. Rohrbach since 1959, so I know where he stands on money issues. COME ON! Someone wasn't paying attention! Where was the rest of her committee? We're only human, and we all make mistakes. Let's see how many more anxiously step up to the plate to fill Ms. Phillips' position when it's empty! It's a thankless job!
Good luck in your writing endeavors.
Connie Keller-Sheffy

Disrespect Stops Annonymous Postings

Due to a few people showing disrespect and rudeness toward local business owners and myself I will no longer accept anonymous postings.  I am amazed how little most people know about this town and the people that live here.  They are surely in the dark about me and the more successful people who live and work here.  Some claim to be newcomers.  (FYI, I receive the identity of everyone who posts on my blog)  I refuse to allow their contempt to play out on this blog.  I am sorry to say I know these people and cannot believe the nasty personalities they have or have developed.  Is it jealousy?  For many yes.  Is it misconstrued information?  Absolutely!  Whatever their issues may be I will not allow them to use this site as a means to stomping on those that have worked for improvement and positive change for Robesonia.  It is a disgrace to pick on a child because of your own issues.  You really need to stop separating Fry Manor from Robesonia.  How does one become so closed minded or redirected into thinking Robesonia 19551 is not my home town because I grew up in Fry Manor?  That flawed way of thinking only comes from one small flock of people.  If you really want to share your distorted points of view I think everyone should know who you are not just me and those I tell.  My guess is all cowards will stay in their closets and continue to feed off of each other.

Criminals Strike Again!

Flower pots were knocked over again at the East end of Robesonia.  It is thought to have happened after the football game.  Did you see anyone do this?  Please report it to the local police if you did.  We need to stop this senseless behavior!

Loser destroys property in Robesonia

What possess anyone to destroy the American flag and lighting at a memorial wall?  I was appalled to hear that while I was away some loser or losers had nothing better to do than walk around town abusing things that don't belong to them.  The hard work that was put into the park and the time the Boyscouts took to place all the flags on Penn Ave. didn't matter to the creeps who did the damage.  Is it that they hate America?  Are they retards that need to be locked up?  Are they kidz with no parental supervision?  If you know who did this damage or any damage in town please contact the police, the boro hall, or post it on here.  I have dealt with losers in this town before and at that time boro officials refuse to meet with them so they could speak of what they knew without public acknowledgement.   According to the Reading Eagle the boro secretary is now aware of the retaliation concerns for many residents.  She deals first hand with complaints and issues that affect the town and unlike some council members understands anonymous is sometimes the only way to get people who have the info to come forward.  Maybe if the council president would have offered residents the same open door when they requested it last year more people would be willing to talk.  2 of those long time Robesonia families moved away because of the property destruction and criminal activity they were experiencing.  I felt forced to print their concerns for the awareness and was disappointed when those in charge wiggled their way out of granting a meeting or even a phone call to address their concerns.  I surely hope that door is open and ignorance on the back burner.  What does it matter where the information is coming from when the goal is to get the information.  I do believe that line of communication has opened and that if you know something about a crime occurring it is your obligation to report it.  Find a way to get the information to the right people even if you must do it anonymously.  The boro has stepped up and is even offering a $200 reward for info that leads to catching the crimminals.

Back in Robesonia

Sorry I have been out of touch and the blog was shut down for a tad.  I could not accept mail or send mail out.  I am back now and I am happy to say I got a real good start on book # 2.  I met my agents demands and got out of town at the same time.  I have learned an awful lot about the publishing industry.  With my talanted and gracious agent I feel more confident than ever that I will not only meet the deadlines for these books but that I will be re-signed in March.  I will try and update as time allows but plan on going into seclusion up to and until I have completed this book.  In April I will reevaluate my position and decide weather or not to bring the Our Robesonia out of retirement.  Because the newsletter was a huge contribution to my being contracted as an author I will start printing it again if there is any way possible.  Feel free to keep me updated with issues and concerns and I will get them out there through this blog and my Our Robesonia website.  Thanks for all of the support and keep the comments coming.  I have one page full and I'll keep adding what you send in the final October issue.  .

Main Street Boro News Update

Council: Mayor-Randy Gartner, President-Harvey Marshall, Vice President-Abby Wertz, Jeff Gerhart, Bob Pierce, Dave Rohrbach, Mike Kocher, Joyce Phillips, Secretary- Lisa Heilman, Solicitor-Andy George, Engineer-Dave Bright, Police Chief-Scott Wagner. Abby Wertz ran the meeting. Harvey was absent. Joyce Phillips was removed from the Beautification Committee but the aftermath of all her errors will be felt for sometime. The boro has already been billed $3500 in attorney fees for this fiasco and it is sure to be thousands more by the time it is all cleared up. Bids must still be advertised for the shelters and if the current company is not the lowest bidder the boro is responsible for the monies. All 7 council members are on the hook to pay a portion of the cost toward the 2 bus shelters that Phillips illegally signed an agreement for. She also has no agreement from Twinch or the Sunoco to place them on their properties. Sunoco employees claim they do not want a bus shelter which would cause traffic hazards at the already dangerous
intersection. Unless Phillips or someone comes forward to pay for the soon to be delivered shelters council members must foot the bill. Phillips could regain some dignity if she would offer to pay the solicitor and for the shelters as an effort to make amends for her errors. Communication lines between council and the committee got blurred soon after the grant money was awarded. From Jan. of this year until the June meeting council had no idea where and how the committee was spending the money. Council never approved any spending by the committee nor were they presented with the budget of spending that was submitted with the grant application. The unseating of Phillips was handled with the upmost respect from council members. Phillips was given the opportunity to step down at a behind closed door meeting and had agreed but later chose to state her case right up to the seconds before council voted her off. Gartner explained in detail numerous problems with how grant money was handled and the position Phillips has left council in both financially and the embarrassment the committees actions have caused Robesonia. Attorney George also attempted to explain to Phillips the legal issues concerning her signature on a contract she was not authorized to sign. Phillips said she called the bus shelter company and that the shelters were put on hold until these issues are worked through. Atty. George said he also called the shelter company and was told the shelters are finished and ready for delivery. Ouch! After 30 minutes of explanations from both sides Abby made the motion to remove Phillips which was seconded by Pierce and unanimously agreed by council. A motion by Abby to appoint Mike Kocher, seconded by Rohrbach and unanimously agreed upon. Phillips asked if she could still serve on the committee and council said no.   V. Richards ask Atty. George if left over grant money could be used to pay the attorney fees? Grant money is for items and improvements to the Main Street district. There is an allowance of 20% for administration fees but your committee didn’t take advantage of that and that’s why we are all in this mess. Gartner explained that when grants were applied for in the past both the engineer and the solicitor reviewed all actions. Phillips ignored an email from the engineer, SSM, who offered to review documents. Rohrbach made it clear to her that she was not following proper procedure. Rohrbach said she responded by saying she “would rather buy all the goodies she could not advice”. Rohrbach claims she just “would not listen.” She just refuses to admit when she is wrong.”
Bus Shelters for sale.
In other business K. Richards brought to the attention of the boro that the Boca Code book he purchased for $60 is dated 1998 and is missing everything current. He also said the boro website has errors with dates and wrong street names listed on the map. Police officer, Ed Wilson, will not accept the offer from boro on his contracted healthcare coverage. He will be filing a grievance. The boro is working on the 2011 budget. Repaving Maple Street has been advertised for bids. A traffic study required by the state is needed before any further steps can be taken to stop truck traffic on S. Church St. at a cost of $2000+. Boro is considering eliminating playground for 1 year due to poor attendance and interest.
At the workshop meeting council voted to pay $2,470 for the gateway banners and $106 for a bucket truck to install them on the utility poles. EJB was awarded $23,490 to mill Maple Ave. in September. The Main Street Project is back on track with Mike Kocher as chairman. Now that the embarrassment of the Main Street kayos has quieted down rumor has it there is more scandal about to break in Robesonia. Time will tell…
Villa Studio is moving into the empty spot where Bountiful Harvest was.
Joe Nemecs ( Johnny & Hons) new bar is opening in September.
Pizza Hut is opening in September.

LOCAL FOOD BANK AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS

LOCAL FOOD BANK AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS
Greater Berks Food Bank
Where: Grounds of Wernersville State Hospital – Building 5 – Berks Encore Center (610) 670-1372
When: 3rd Thursday of each month (3rd Fri in October)
Line forms at 8:00 – Food bank open at 10:30 – 12:30 or later
First Come – First Served
Anyone in need in the local area / Berks County – and falls within income guidelines is eligible. If you think you won’t qualify – but you need help – please call Rachel. In today’s world where some are greedy – it’s no time to be proud. Help is available. It’s not only for the lazy people – it’s for those of us who work and are still struggling to make ends meet.  Senior Citizens take advantage of this program.

Penn Avenue Project

After researching and working on small town economics for 7 years I have learned a good deal of information that would benefit Robesonia. I have implemented a lot of them through this newsletter. I would have liked to be on the Main Street committee and part of the revitalization plan but I don’t associate with any of those that would have offered that opportunity. It is unfortunate that certain people cannot put aside personal issues and allow others to share in decisions being made in our town. I feel I have a lot to offer on the topic but because I have different views on many subjects, my input was not asked for. I have personally visited many small towns and have spoken to the chairpersons in charge of many Main Street projects. Every town had a drawn and written plan for a 5-10 year project with an outline of the phases. The plan could be picked up at their boro hall and was published on their boro website. I have not seen any published plan for Robesonia. After years of research my course of action would have first been to establish the business district here (which I have). I would hold many meetings with these business owners for their input (which I do) on what would bring them more traffic. What type of décor would be most inviting? What they would be willing to contribute? I would look into selling Shop Robesonia First dollars (yes it is legal) to residents at half price to promote visiting our businesses. I would establish a yearly membership fund for businesses that would include them in a distributed newsletter which consists of our business directory, our public service directory, a calendar of our events and attractions, ads for our events, a website business page, business of the month & eatery of the month. That newsletter would be available at public places and their businesses. Each member would receive a special Shop Robesonia First store plaque. Blue ribbon cuttings would be held for all new businesses. All these things help support the reason for having a “Main Street” and are what the project is intended for. It isn’t just about decoration. We do not need bus stops here at this time. We do not need more benches where nobody sits. We need to keep the businesses we have and offer incentives to invite new ones. We all want our town to look clean (nice trash receptacles would be good) have charm and display our pride with tasteful beautification. With change comes some risk but we have to start at the core and work on a goal that includes growth. I have been doing that. You can trim Robesonia with all kinds of things but if you don’t have the basics of businesses what is the appeal and how will you afford to maintain it? It is in ALL of our best interest to support these small town tradesmen. They are the core of America and our small towns. Every time you ignore them and invest elsewhere when you could spend here we risk losing them. Imagine Robesonia with no business. It can happen and it does when people don’t work together to maintain and rally to support them. If the boro is unwilling to appoint the right people to master that task, maybe I will take it on and add to what I already do.

Teacher GREED

Are you willing to hand over your house and quality of life because of teacher greed and a school board who is not willing to start firing those demanding more more more?  By now everyone is probably aware that the Weiser teachers are not agreeing to contract offers.  Do you think it's time for the school board to start handing out the pink slips?  Let this group who feel they are so underpaid stand in the unemployment line.  Maybe they can get lucky and find a $10,000 a year job with no health insurance and that $50-80,000 job with $39 per month family health benefits will start looking pretty good. As for your pension, your problem not ours!  As bad as things are for most of Americans the greedy people in our school districts just don't GET IT!  Somehow, sometime soon, this attitude of we are better and worth more than all of you because we went to college and got a degree and we are the future of your children blah blah blah needs to be silenced.  Get over it.  Enough is enough.  Be happy (for once) with what you have and let us taxpayers alone.  I don't feel I should owe for life because I had 2 children go through the school system.  Foolish spending and extremely high salaries need to come to an end.  If it takes replacing every single teacher, board member, superintendent, nurse, librarian........then we need to demand the hatchet starts swinging.  I am not willing to give up my home and my quality of life because of teacher GREED!  Are you?????

Council STOPS spending of $147,000 grant (tax payer $)

Monday nights boro council meeting brought up concerns regarding possible illegal actions of the Beautification committee headed by Joyce Phillips. With no experience in grant procedures councilwomen Phillips carelessly spent thousands of taxpayer dollars without advertising for bids from local business owners. This money may now have to be paid back which should come directly from Phillips checkbook not the taxpayers. Warned by councilman Dave Rohrbach about the right way things are to be done, Phillips opted to forgo expert advice and proceed on her own with a few uneducated residents on the committee. Rohrbach quit the committee and he and Randy Gartner showed disappointment in how Phillips handled most everything but mostly the town clock that she has a $13,000 deposit on.  Placement of a clock had been decided when the HP Memorial Park was built but Phillips is trying to change that plan. This behavior is the norm for Phillips who has a long history of personal vendettas with town people in which she has used her council position to threaten individuals and cause unecessary problems. The issues she has with Dave Randler seem to have started with a Christmas contest she held and expected Randler to supply FREE prizes for.  He refused. In the past the Christmas and landscaping contests were run by Randler and the Our Robesonia.  We worked together. Phillips assumed Randler would just give her all the prizes. With that and feeling she was eliminated from the Christmas Trail celebration she has been accused of spreading vicious rumors about Randler and has told people not to shop at businesses in the Randler complex.  Here are some of the numbers and items:  20 flower pots, flowers ($8,400), 46 Gateway, Holiday, & or Patriotic Banners, 2 streetline wreaths (21,408 + shipping), 1152 small flags ($438) 3 sided post and signs trash receptacles ($8769), 8 benches abd bases ($8171) 2 bus shelters and bases ($16,241), Christmas LED lights & decor ($7762), base for clock ($1668), electric and conduit for clock ($1750) Randy Gartner already placed this behind the wall, and the clock (25,639).  All were purchased by the committee from businesses or given to contractors from everywhere but here in our own town. Nothing was put out for bids and most items could have been purchased right here keeping our tax dollars in Robesonia, avoiding shipping costs ($544 to date). Phillips who claims to care so much about this town has little to no respect for the other businesses that are here. All of the complaints could have easily been avoided if the opportunity would have been offered to Quality Signs, DP Randler (could have saved boro $2600 on the pots).  Grosiflex may have even donated all 20 flower pots but due to the mission of the committee to avoid Robesonia businesses not one member of the committee bothered to ask or include their own towns people. There is also a witness to Phillips using her council seat to threaten a man with arrest who parks in front of her daughters store. He is to attend the next council meeting. I personally spoke to several businesses the day they received pots and not one was told they were to maintain it (water, mow and or trim around it, keeping it neat).  They all assumed the boro was doing maintenance. Phillips claims all those who got pots were aware of the taking care of them.  Not one person I talked to heard from any council or committee person.  Phillips told Randler he could have called her and asked to bid on the flower pots.  Sorry Joyce, the bidding process doesn't work like that. How council left Phillips run this train so far off track I cannot figure out. I asked at the meeting and got no response from any council member. Randler asked that council remove Phillips from her council seat due to unethical behavior and the potential for once again causing the boro unnecessary legal issues. A local contractor put 22 hours into bidding and preparing proposals for the cement work for the benches and bus stops. Phillips does not have him listed on the budget to do the work. Oh yeah, he is from Robesonia and was an easy target for FREE advice. All $147,000 was outsourced. Robesonia residents should be outraged that someone with so little education was appointed and given control of this project. If Robesonia is going to keep our businesess and bring in new ones we ALL need to support them!