MAY 11, 2020 Exeter Township SUPERVISORS MEETING

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It is a sad situation here in Exeter Township. We have a group of supervisors (the boys club) who do not hide their animus towards any private citizen who might criticize what they do or the policies they adopt. They will openly attack the very same citizens they were elected to serve. The treatment from Cusatis and Speece toward the public must be recognized. Recently, they have circled the wagons on criticism regarding the use of assets and procedures that simply were ignored. Attacking those who mention this and doing what they do best when they can’t support the facts or the acts. They attack the messenger and attempt to make him or her the subject. They try to divert the attention from the real issue instead of addressing the citizens concerns. Despicable behavior by our elected official. You will see it clearly here in this video.

What else will you see? A more pronounced effort to conduct business not listed on the “agenda”. This business is conducted suddenly during “Dept. Reports” or "Supervisors Reports”. Since it is not listed on the agenda the public is unable to make comments concerning the issue. The transparency Speece and the new supervisors promised are simply a joke on the public.

In this meeting you will hear in the Dept report Mr. Hamm asking the board to increase the Finance director’s stipend from $300 to $500. Not on the agenda and no reason why it was not. He points out he sent a memo to all supervisors and it still did not show up on the Agenda. During the supervisors report, they motion to spend another $3,000 for background checks on potential managers. In and of themselves, this business is reasonable and should have been listed on the agenda. Clearly these things were known before the meeting. Mr. Speece and the board claim they use “Roberts Rules of Order”. Well, I haven’t seen that happen yet. They may, at the beginning of the meeting ask the board if there are any pressing issues that any of the staff or supervisors wish to add to the agenda. This is how business should be conducted, unless you are trying to get something past the public….where is the transparency that Speece, Galtere and Staub promised us? 
 
They are completely tone deaf to the voters who put them in office. Particularly two of the three newly elected supervisors, Joe Staub and Greg Galtere. It is my opinion they won this recent election because we expected them to lead our community in a different direction. Unfortunately, we see they have joined with the two supervisors who have been on the board for two years or more, who supported and voted to sell the wastewater treatment plant. They are responsible for the future increases in water and sewer rates. They still claim they support the sale. As recent as this May 11th meeting David Speece reiterated that he supported the sale, voted for the sale, and thought it was the right choice. His boss, John Cusatis during this meeting attacked Michelle Kircher when she discussed her many years involved in the formation of the sewer plant, its good condition, how in recent years Vanderlaan, Cusatis, Granger  deferred maintenance. Both of the narratives that Mr. Speece and the young boy Cusatis claim promote are completely false, misleading and an outright lie. They never, ever tell you that the plant was making $3 to $4 million a year,  more than enough to maintain the plant is good condition. Also, you will never hear them discuss the $7 million CD that matured in 2019. This $7 million was from connection fees and retained earnings in the early years. The $7 million was designated for maintenance and/or debt reduction.
You will never hear the SPEECE/CUSATIS regime discuss these facts. 
 
Why did they sell it? This is something I have studied for over a year. In my opinion and my conclusion is they wanted the huge cash that resulted in the sale of the Wastewater Sewer Plant. After paying off the debt for the plant and unnecessary funding pension plans, they had at the end of 2019 about $40 million left from the sale and along with other monies, about $56 million in total. 
 
They will use most of this money to build government buildings at the Promenade and other projects to continue to promote the development plan that Simone Collins created for Vanderlaan and Granger. This development plan is available on exeterunited.com and you are encouraged to read and study this ridiculous plan. Designed to put taxpayer money into the hands of consultants and contractors of Granger associates and another special interest that essentially owns most of the board.
 
In this meeting video watch how one of our elected officials, John Cusatis, as he attacks and belittles the private citizens who submitted public comment. He makes comment such as: Falsehoods, old news, move on, he needs new material, attacks on another supervisor interrupting her comments and claiming, “not true” adding "he is done" and "I have proved it". We must accept as fact everything he says, only HIS information is acceptable as  accurate. He never provides any facts or key information. He is truly a cancer in our community.
This is the guy who voted to throw the vendor out of the RCC and initiated the lawsuit that has cost us over $4 million dollars. He was also involved in another Federal lawsuit brought by a non-profit against our township for violation of disabled peoples federal rights in care homes. This lawsuit cost the taxpayer over $200,000.
Speece and Cusatis are the last remnants of the old regime but they have incorporated the other two supervisors to support everything that the voters wanted changed and support everything the old regime (and that special interest) wants.

FINALLY, NOTE THE ADMONITION FROM MR. SPEECE WHERE HE TELLS US WE MAY HAVE ONLY 3 MINUTES OR LESS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE MUST BE RESPECTFUL, WE ALSO MUST BE CAREFUL AND WATCH OUR TONE. REALLY? THEY ARE MONITORING OUR TONE?

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS APPLYS ONLY TO PRIVATE CITIZENS INTERACTING WITH THE SUPERVISORS. THE SUPERVISORS ARE NOT HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS, THEY MAY INSULT EACH OTHER, THEY CLEARLY ARE PERMITTED TO INSULT, INTIMIDATE AND RIDICULE THE VOTERS/RESIDENTS OF EXETER TOWNSHIP, THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THIS BEHAVIOR.

They want respect but give none in return, this is a corrupt and leaderless government!!

THE PUBLIC EXPECTS RESPECT FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND A REAL INTEREST IN OUR CONCERNS!
 
 
 
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​BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING AGENDA Monday, May 11, 2020 7:00PM
Hughes Opinion @ 00:01
 Hughes on Galtere @ 18:00
Call to Order @ 26:42
ANNOUNCEMENTS @ 27:37
   Special Meeting for Selection of Architect for Promenade Shopping Center Thursday May 14th @ 4:30PM § Four candidates will be interviewed by supervisors. Discussion on outcome of interviews and final selection. Meeting will be live-streamed on YouTube, public comments submitted in advance.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Comments on Agenda Items @ 29:00
 1.John Carmello on special meeting
 2. John Carmello on rent deferral for promenade tenants
 3. Terry and Dorothy Reilly on Sewer and Promenade Hear John Cusatis claim data inaccurate and dismisses information without supporting or providing facts. @ 39:08 Supervisor Kircher comments on sewer @ 39:29 and Cusatis rudely interrupts @ 40:31
 4. David Hughes on #4 new business supervisors claim no taxpayer money spent on promenade Wrong! @ 41:03

REGULAR APPROVALS @ 45:23
1. Minutes – April 27, 2020
2. Disbursements – May 11, 2020

UNFINISHED BUSINESS @ 50:22
1. Monthly Right to Know Report - April
  § The report is available on the Township’s website.

NEW BUSINESS
1. Authorize Advertisement of Traffic Signal Specification Public Hearing @ 51:20
  § Traffic Signal Specifications will provide design engineers and contractors with requirements and details governing the installation of traffic signals within the Township. The specifications will provide details for future traffic signal equipment and projects that will occur in the Township.

2. Authorize Advertisement of Telecommunications Ordinance Public Hearing @ 55:32
  § The current Telecommunications Ordinance requires revisions. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued regulations limiting local control on siting of telecommunications and the current language is not within the zoning ordinance.

3. 10 Santa Maria Subdivision Waiver Request @ 1:02:54
  § The applicant is proposing to subdivide the property located on Santa Maria Drive. The Township Planning Commission has recommended a waiver from the delineation of wetlands on the plan as no Hydric soils exists. This waiver is occasionally requested during subdivisions.

4. Approve Resolution Forgiving May, 2020 Rent for Promenade Shopping Center Tenants @ 1:05:53
  § Consider forgiving May 2020 rental payments otherwise owed to the Township for those tenants at the Promenade Shopping Plaza who are being adversely impacted by the Pandemic. Supporting Detail: The Promenade fund balance as of April 30, 2020 was $35,589.24. The Township receives monthly rental income from the seven tenants of approximately $15,000 with monthly property maintenance expenses of approximately $8,000 to $10,000. The fund is solely supported by the rental payments of the tenants and receives no taxpayer funding. The current fund balance supports relief of the May 2020 rental payments from all seven tenants.

5. Discussion on Summer Playground Program @1:13:53
  § Supervisors will consider options for the 2020 Summer Playground and Sports Programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Authorize Purchase of Trailer-Mounted Dynamic Message Board Sign in the Amount of $15,086.00 @ 1:31:08
   § This will replace a 20-year old existing message board sign that repair parts can no longer be obtained for due to its age. Electronic message boards are used by the Township to alert residents of road work/closures, special events, traffic issues, etc. This is a budgeted item.

7. Update on Community Communications Committee @ 1:35:40
  § Committee leadership will provide an update on Community Communications Committee status.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS @ 1:41:21
 Clarence Hamm @ 1:59:53
 Additional pay for Jen Savage @ 2:14:32
 Approve additional $200/month stipend added to previous approval of $300               for total additional $500

PUBLIC COMMENT – General Non-Agenda Items @ 2:16:05
1. Carmello question if Township manager will live in township

2.Hughes @ 2:17:38
Questions Promenade project and issues with future revenues Listen as John Cusatis snide remarks : "Same old stuff" , "move on" "needs new material" This is his and the board's attitude to public concerns.

SUPERVISOR REPORTS @ 2:20:48
Greg Galtere RFP issues with solicitor @ 2:21:46
Greg Galtere on Promenade and social media @ 2:22:43
​ Important to go back to April 27th meeting and hear Greg's discussion and put the two together