Letter to Yenta 8/01/00

To the Editor,

With regard to Kathleen Brown’s letter of July 27th, 2000. I will ignore her childish taunts and name-calling. I will respond to her half-truths factually.

Clearly her letter is the opening volley of next year’s political campaign. As such it defends the party line for the failed Jay Snyder-Fred Williamson Borough Council and their current crusade to defend Mr. Brobson.

Yes Ms. Brown, I do want the citizens of New Hope to understand that the actions taken by the previous Borough Council and myself where right and just. This IS a basic issue of right and wrong. I am content to have the wise citizens of New Hope look at the facts and to decide the issue for themselves.

In order for the citizens to decide who is right all of the facts need to be brought out. Because of the ongoing court hearings much is kept out of the public eye. We must have the facts presented in court. The Judge in the case has changed. Now the very capable and Honorable David Heckler will be hearing the case. I will be eager to finally have those facts presented. I caution this Borough Council not to leap to any settlement. A judge’s decision will do more to heal this community and put the matter to rest.

One of my problems has been that I would like to say a great deal more about certain issues. In fact Ms. Brown your people continually try to goad me into saying things which in this litigious atmosphere will be used to bolster your side’s legal position. You will never get that satisfaction.

You talk about my claiming a mandate when I ONLY beat Jay Snyder by 22-votes in the 1997 election and the Council members elected in the last election won by 100 votes over their challengers. Check the number of new voters registered since 1997. In 1997 a 22-vote difference was a landslide! Councilmen
Johnson won by an even greater margin. We offered the citizens a clear choice and they took it.

As to the “mandate” of the new people elected. I worked very hard to get them elected not knowing that they had been co-opted by the very people I have opposed. Sharon, Richard and Gerry welcomed that support with the promise that the successful policies of the previous Council would be continued. In
effect there was no difference between Sharon, Richard, Gerry and the dream team. At least the dream team lost honestly. Until Sharon, Richard and Gerry realize that they are not representing the wishes of the majority of the electorate I will continue to oppose their negative policies.

Ms. Brown, the firing of the Borough manager is political. Victoria was punished for Keeping me informed after Richard imposed an information blackout. Victoria vary competently managed the budget.  A number of events including natural disasters postponed the finance committee’s work on the Budget to
the 11th hour. According to PA State law the budget must be passed by December 31st. We held a special Council meeting on December 28th to pass the budget. Again by law, there can’t be a “deficit” the presented budget must be balanced. It was. When the new council convened in January there was $800,000.00 in the special savings account comprised of earmarked funds from the development money from Riverwoods, The Keystone Grant Money, the COPS Grant, the $100,000.00 open space fund and the
money from the DCNR it was all there. Victoria did her job well. Including presenting time and again the facts concerning the declining revenues from Police activities. Our Police (perhaps with the complicity of the Mayor) produced a “Blue Flu”. The purpose was to make the budget tight so as to discredit the Borough Council that dared to hold the department to a higher standard. One full time officer only wrote 5 tickets in December of 1999!

I oppose running a town on the revenue generated from parking meters and tickets but that was the method being used. We must find a better way.

You are correct in stating that the Police department was in a shambles when the New Council came in. It was in a shambles when we came in as well. Mr. Williamson’s Police Committee allowed a cavalier atmosphere to permeate the department. With a beloved but aging Mayor not paying attention Mr. Williamson became the de-facto director of the Police Department. He went so far as to print Borough business cards proclaiming to be the Police Commissioner (this is of course a non-existent position in
New Hope). Who is supposedly in charge of the Police Department Ms. Brown and shouldn’t you be blaming him for the shambles? The department will only improve when a competent and knowledgeable mayor gives our wonderful new police Chief the impetus to implement the recommendations of the Police Study.

Ms. Brown the Police Study cost $5,000.00 period. Because of the complex nature of our department Chief Stone and Kelly exceeded their estimated cost by over $15,000. They ate that difference. The
citizens of New Hope received far more than their moneys worth. They must demand of this council the gradual implementation of the Stone and Kelly recommendations.

The $300,000.00 in legal fees falls squarely on the shoulders of those people who have brought suit against the Borough of New Hope. The grievances you refer to where another tactic employed by certain employees of the Borough to divert attention and resources from the main event. The actions of Mr. Bollenbacher alone required the Borough to defend itself against its own Civil Service Commission. That stands as the single cause of the high legal bill.

With regard to Fireworks on the 4th of July. You don’t have to take my advice on the fact that they can be done safely here. They have a proven record of safety except for one year. I ask you again, who was in charge of the safety of the Town in 1994? Any one you know Ms. Brown?

I am pleased to see that because of the dialog you credit me with starting there are plans to discuss the issue of Fireworks for the year 2001. By the time you read this it will be August 4th and there are only eleven months left until July 4th 2001. I call for an end to the bickering on this subject. I pledge my wholehearted support to the Emergency Services people and offer to work with them in any capacity. I have expressed a desire to serve on the New Hope Chamber of Commerce liaison committee towards that end. I am even willing to step aside from that table if that will facilitate the planning. But then if it isn't a political issue I am certain that the Emergency Services people will want me there.

You take issue with my sitting next to my friend Greg Burch during his Court hearing. You can support a friend without condoning their actions. Had I not been there for my friend than you would have an argument against me. It would have been hypocritical and cowardly for me not to be there, I am neither. I don’t fault you for sitting next to your friends Ms. Brown.

Ms. Brown, I have worked hard for the Town of New Hope. The only criticism you may make is that I have brought a discussion to a head. There where ugly and festering problems that previous Council members either liked or didn’t have the strength to confront. I don’t like the problems and I have the strength to fix
them.

Thank you for complementing me on my letter writing abilities. Whoever writes for your side does a good job as well. However my letters are based on provable facts and a moral imperative. Yours are based on half-truths, which lead to the fiction.

As always I ask the paper to publish my telephone number so that the good citizens of New Hope may speak with me as their representative.

Robert V. Gerenser
New Hope Borough Councilmen
22 South Main Street
New Hope, PA 18938
(215) 862-2050 or Rgerenser@AOL
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T h e Y e n t a C o l u m n  7/28/00

Save the Barn!!!

All right all of you Yenta fans out there. Here is a chance to show
how much you really think of New Hope and its history. Poor Iain Haight-Ashton has frantically been attempting to save one of the last truly pristine historic structures in New Hope. He has gone to all of the community organizations including the historic society, as well as state and national organizations. No takers. Another piece of history doomed to retail stores. Pretty soon New Hope will be nothing but a large outdoor mall-tackier by the moment. But wait!!! The senior George Michael, if he thinks there is a ray of hope, will provide a stay of execution and consider allowing the historic barn to be used as a museum, IF it can be shown there is a way. Well, loyal Yenta fans, now is your chance. If each of you send a meager contribution to the Canal Barn Fund, c/o The New Hope Historical Society, maybe the initial funding will motivate this conservative group. Up to now, they have been afraid to reach out and secure the control of the few historic structures
remaining. As a result their organization has not grown over the years and has struggled financially to continue the fine tradition of the Parry Mansion. Perhaps, if the Historical Society would reach out and aggressively take over the structures, the community would rally around and reward them for their efforts to preserve history. How about it, all of you self proclaimed history buffs. Now you can help by aggressively supporting the preservation of one of the few historic structures we have left, and take up George Michaels on his offer to allow it to become a museum. Maybe George should be the first to make a contribution to that effort -- what a show of good faith for his offer!! And then,
maybe Yanich and Annie could match his donation, then Herb and so on. There is a way -- you must persist. The Yenta agrees with Iain -- without its history preserved, New Hope will be nothing but a boardwalk kind of town with honky tonk shops, bars and ice cream cones. It's a great place to visit and live -- let's preserve what makes it just that. Remember -- it takes action to create action. If everyone sends a dollar or two -- it is possible. But someone has to start. How about you!!!

The Yenta
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Letter to Yenta 7/27/00

I would like to respond to the front page article in the July 20th Gazette, “No meeting, no business in New Hope.” Since I was mentioned prominently and no Gazette reporter contacted me for my side of the story the Editor has graciously allowed my reply.
In January the schedule for the Borough Council meetings was presented to the public. The long-standing Monday night meetings were changed to Tuesdays. The newly appointed President of Council, Richard Hirschfield said that Monday nights conflicted with too many other meetings (so far the only meeting that is now conflicted because of the change is our own HARB meeting thus preventing members of Council from attending). We scheduled to have two meetings a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays. Simple, end of story… except in New Hope.
Before the reorganization meeting in January I met with Mr. Hirschfield. I wanted to confer on a number of issues I felt would help the new council members “get up to speed”. I was told by Mr. Hirschfield that my input wasn’t necessary as he had the votes and the plan.
At the end of May a sign was posted on the door at Borough Hall announcing that there would only be one meeting instead of two for the months of July and August.
Fact # 1 Geraldine Delavich leaves New Hope during the summer. This has defrauded the voters of New Hope by denying them a full time representative.
Fact # 2 According to the Borough Code a member of Council can be removed for missing two consecutive meetings.
Fact # 3 Jake Fell goes to Hawaii every winter and misses a substantial number of meetings.
Fact # 4 Council President Hirschfield cancelled the regularly scheduled July 25,2000 meeting to accommodate vacations for either himself, Sharon, Jake or a combination of them.
Fact # 5 We were reduced to only two meetings for the Summer to accommodate Ms. Delavich.
Fact # 6 in my Thirty months on Borough Council I have missed one meeting due to surgery. I have invested hundreds of hours in committee meetings, planning commission meetings, zoning hearing meetings etc. etc.
Fact # 7 Richard didn’t try very hard to reach me. I am easy to reach. If I am not at my business number I am on my cell phone. We never had problems like this when we had a Borough Manager.(as always my phone number is included for you below)
Fact # 8 The July 17th meeting was held on one of those conflicted Mondays that Richard was trying so hard to avoid.
Fact # 9 If you are one of Mr. Hirschfield’s chosen few you may be excused from regularly scheduled Borough Business when it interferes with your play; unchosen-one’s are vilified for attempting to make a living.
With regard to the July 17th meeting that I supposedly missed (if there wasn’t a quorum there wasn’t a meeting and the roll call is invalid). The Borough Secretary contacted me on or about July 5th and told me that Richard was manipulating the meeting schedule and wanted to change some meeting dates. I told her that the only alternative meeting date that I could make was the August 1, 2000 meeting. I stated that I had scheduled my personal life and my business life based on the decisions that were made in January. Because I am at the height of my seasonal business my schedule can only be changed for a good reason (accommodating someone else’s vacation schedule is not a good enough reason for me.) I also stated that I would gladly attend any of the meeting dates that where decided upon in January. I have fulfilled my duty to my office and to the citizens of New Hope. I will continue to do so.
The real question here is why was the July 25th meeting cancelled. There would have been a quorum; it just wouldn’t have been the quorum that our dictatorial president wants. What we are clearly seeing is our Council President and Vice President manipulating the meeting schedule so that one or all of them won’t be held accountable under the Borough Code for their absences. They are also manipulating the schedule so as to guaranty that the votes will carry their agenda. So far their agenda has harmed an innocent women, allowed the destruction of historic buildings and thrust the Borough deeper into more litigation. THAT Mr. Hirschfield is the height of arrogance and irresponsibility.
Finally I would like to alert the citizens of New Hope that the next Borough Council meeting will be on the FIRST Tuesday in August, August 1,2000. Please come and see what your Council is up to now.
Robert V. Gerenser
Borough Council
New Hope, PA
215-862-2050 Rgerenser@AOL.COM

Letter to Yenta 7/24/00

The situation that exists in "Riverwoods" is a prime example why developers should not be allowed to build anything until the infra-structure is develped to sustain their rampent building of homes in the area. The wells can not supply enough water for the homes built by these money hungry develpers and they must be sustained by getting water from other areas, for example tanker
after tanker load of water being taken out of the water tank at Village 2. Of course the developer does not care now that all the homes are sold, he has made his money and now it's someone elses problem. My question is when are the local officials going to do their job and go after the contractors who built the eyesore. The residents of Riverwoods has an association and they should be solving this problem and not expecting everyone else to solve it for them. You got sucked in by buying the houses with out checking out the situation and you should solve the problem. I personally do not like to have water rationed in my community so you can water your lawns. On a daily basis the water pressure drops in Village 2 because of the draining effect being
caused by the homes in "Riverwoods".
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T h e  Y e n t a  C o l u m n   7 / 23 / 00

It appears as though the loss of reason is moving across the river. Not only is Victoria Keller suing the borough of New Hope for unlawful termination based on age discrimination and sexual harassment, but a suspended officer in Lambertville is suing the city for a conspiracy to end his employment. It seems the litigious air is contagious, but it also seems to point up a serious issue which members of council on both sides of the river need to address – standard operating procedure that is out in the open and not veiled in secrecy with no consideration for the input of the public which they serve. Even though New Hope is a small town, it has some very big, BIG, problems. Having employee
problems of the volume that the borough experiences points to one thing – management!! Get the picture?

A good move, on the surface, was to generate some revenue from the borough land by leasing it to the New Hope-Ivyland Railfoad for parking. It is noted that the lease ends in August. But, what then? Would it make more sense to for the borough to operate its own lot. Seems to the Yenta to be simple math and that a lot more revenue than $800 a month could be generated. Of course, that would entail the borough taking responsibility for the organization, investment and management of the site. Oh……. maybe it’s not such a good idea.

Speaking of managing one’s own affairs seems to bring us right back to the water issue. It looks like the borough is going to abdicate its control of its most vital natural resource to Bucks County Sewer and Water. How can one perceive this to be a good move, when BCSW hasn’t managed to maintain an adequate sewer system for the last 35 years. With man hole covers popping, sewer gas a common smell and a duct taped pipe carrying excess amounts of effluent (New Hope’s s______!) , across the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge to the sewer plant (which they DO NOT
OWN), they really don’t seem to be a good bet to manage our water, now do they? Isn’t it time that the residents and council took the responsibility for our own natural resources? BCSW now controls the wells at the Water Works, River Run, V2 (indirectly by their “let’s take care of each other for free agreement”). They also control the Fieldstone well and have made bids to get the well at the Hermitage. Which wells are next? We don’t have an unlimited supply of water . . . or money. And BCSW is going to wield great power over both. The yenta says --- take heed. Water is tomorrows gold!!!

The loss of the airboat points out the need to remind everyone that our beautiful Delaware can also be treacherous. Everyone needs to be properly prepared to enjoy the river safely and with consideration for others. One also needs to respect the integrity of this wild and scenic river we are blessed to live on.

The Old Methodist Church has had more publicity in the last month than in the last twenty years. Maybe all that had to be done was to start roof work and the congregation would have grown rapidly as they rallied to support the repair. Who knows? What we do know is that there is definitely another series of miscommunications and fabrications in the works. And of course – another lawsuit is probably in the works too. Wouldn’t it be easier to just file the right permits, say I’m sorry and continue on? Or, maybe Bob will even get fired --- again.

What is going on in this town? Here we thought that with the last
election would come order, reason and fair play with open dealings. Well, the faces have changed but the change in performance is so far, somewhat disappointing. Maybe we would fare better if all of the council members called out sick. Let’s hope things get better.

Meanwhile, the Yenta is impressed that our Solebury neighbors seem to be doing their utmost to fight the bypass. Hooray!! State and Federal officials are trying to claim the impact of the highway to be minimal. Well, if that is the case, explain why development has sprung up along every major highway exit across the country. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you build a highway, the developers will use it. Don’t give up, you’re on the right track.

The Yenta
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Letter to Yenta 7/18/00

To: Bob, Burt and Sandra - stop playing games. Attend the meetings and vote no, if that's what your conscience tells you to do - don't just do a no-show. There is business to transact if the Boro is to keep on its upward track.
An Observer.

Letter to Yenta 07/08/00

Dear Yenta-

Council Watch hopes that the blind supporters of our borough council leaders realize that people can be wonderful friends, appealing acquaintances, and admirable contributors to the community as private citizens, yet reveal another, less attractive side when they find themselves in positions with power over others. In keeping with this, please note that just because
someone stands up to a bully who happens to be your friend doesn't mean he or she is a "trouble maker." That person just might be doing a service to the community--and receiving undeserved criticism for it.

Council Watch

Letter to Yenta 07/07/00

Dear Yenta,

Some thoughts on lawsuits:
Employment: If an employer cannot terminate an employee (whose performance they are not satisfied with or whom they cannot work with) without costly lawsuits, isn't the capacity to put together effective teams compromised? Also, limited time and monies are drained away attending to allegations and attorneys, rather than making needed improvements to a town or business. Everyone seems to lose in these matters, except the lawyers. Laws are necessary to protect employees from physical harm and sexual coercion, but the current laws can apparently be manipulated to misrepresent any action. Someone look at you the wrong way? Sue them! Scratch an itch below the waste? Sue them! Who foots the bill for all this? Ultimately the tax payer or consumer (with either increased taxes/less services or an increase in the cost of products/services).
Product Liability:
Regarding the product notices plastered all over most products; I spent 5 minutes in the basement this morning and uncovered the following ones -
* Car sun shield: "Do not drive with sun shield in place."
* Marbles: "Choking hazard - This toy is a marble.
* Hair dryer: "Do not use while sleeping."
* Window screen: "Screen will not stop child from falling out window. Keep child away from open window"
The real danger notices are being lost in the blizzard of ridiculous ones (all caused by the need to protect against frivolous law suits).

Maybe every small town and business in Bucks County should pool together and form a non-profit legal fund. Every party contributing some yearly monies to hire some salaried, full time lawyers. Maybe some recent graduates of law school, who still have a sense of right and wrong. These lawyers sole purpose would be to spend their every waking hour finding legal grounds of "any" nature to sue plaintiffs and lawyers whom are bringing frivolous suits against local governments/businesses.
On the flip side, this sounds a little like "big brother"; governments & businesses banding together to thwart any legal challenges by individuals. Seems, there are dangers on both sides. Nevertheless, the pendulum has swung way to far into the frivolous realm and this is impacting society.
Are there any lawyers out there who would be willing to contribute here to the philosophical and practical aspects of the lawsuit problem? Any lawyers who care to brand this post as
rubbish, and if so, for what reasons? There are likely many issues I'm missing here, or am in error on. Nevertheless, one thing is for sure, the growth of the lawsuit culture (over the past 25 yrs) is strangling the very freedoms it was meant to protect. Does no one care? Or more likely, does everyone just fear retribution from the small (but growing) group of attorneys who display omnipotent behavior? If this is the unfortunate case, my point has already been proven.
What next? What's the solution?
VW

Letter to Yenta 07/07/00

Sexual harassment? Richard Hirshfield? Come on - lets get real.
Funny that sexual harassment allegations were never leveled by the township manager before her employment was terminated by a majority vote of the boro council.

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