Occasionally my column involves a story that is too long, or too complicated, for the space I am allotted in The Free Press. Rather than condensing, or removing, important background, or facts, these stories are presented exclusively on this website. This week's column is such a story, available here in its entirety, unedited by The Free Press.
This investigation is a product of input from five neighbors, two attorneys, the Richland Township Police Department, and numerous township employees, volunteers, and staff.
April 7, 2005
Allegations of trespassing. Illegal entry. Abuse. Intimidation. I hardly know where to begin. How about "I told you so". Part 10. Or is it 11, or 12?
I told you so in the fall of 2003, when Mike Zowniriw belatedly joined the race for Richland supervisor. We knew nothing about him. He had no experience in government, in leadership, or as a local volunteer. He was a city guy from the Olney section of Philly, who, with his Richland Citizens Alliance buddies, tossed around a lot of allegations, and made a lot of promises.
The RCA ran a textbook campaign of creating a cause: Charges that the supervisors were arrogant and encouraged overdevelopment. Your backyards were going to be condemned for the trail system, which would allow "that element" from Quakertown to invade your homes. The township was granting too many waivers.
I told you so that these were pure fabrications. Bare-knuckle, say-anything, big-city politics. But Richland bought it. Zowniriw narrowly defeated Pat Keller, who had probably worked harder than anyone for the quality of life in Richland. Of course, Z was then thrust into the public spotlight, giving us the insight we should have demanded before we trusted him.
And what we have seen is that he has presented little in the way of ideas. But he did vote for almost every waiver brought to the supervisors. And if Z's scare tactics made you question the desirability of the trails, note that Milford, Salford, and Chalfont now require developers to connect new housing developments to their trail systems.
I told you so that his conduct in the first fifteen months of his reign has earned him the nickname "Pinocchio Mike". He has embarrassed himself with poorly-researched suggestions like a golf course (he couldn't find the land), and his public charge that the township staff had illegally spot zoned a property, later disproved by an independent counsel (at your expense).
He did not participate in township cleanup day, nor the golf outing, nor the Businessman's Association dinner, and made only a late cameo appearance at Community Day.
Mostly, he has had problems:
I told you so about his illegal letter to a judge supporting his RCA friends against his own township. And the angry letter back from that judge. A failed attempt to get the Preservation Board to accept his wife and campaign manager. And his demand for the resignation of the chairman of that board when the man opposed the wife and manager.
I told you so about a deceptive letter to Hunters Crossing residents, again on behalf of his RCA buddies. And his threats to The Free Press when they fired his wife, Amy. And his threats against me, and my business, for writing about his conduct.
And applying for membership on the Planning Commission after stating repeatedly during his campaign that township supervisors should not be on other township boards and committees. And calling township volunteers at their homes and berating them for not voting as he wanted them to.
I told you so that he doesn't understand the issues, and doesn't write his own speeches. He even has trouble reading the speeches written for him. His wife and the RCA pull the strings. His sanctimonious campaign manager's Bed & Breakfast closed for months after Richland found violations of the zoning code.
And now it has gotten much worse. What Z has succeeded in doing is bringing city problems to Richland. Specifically, to his own neighborhood.
Z's neighbors on both sides have hired attorneys, threatening legal action against him and Amy. After months of complaints, letters, and calls to Richland police, the attorneys have written letters to the Zowniriws, warning them to cease trespassing on those families' properties, and not to communicate with them in any way.
One letter says "It is my understanding that there have been repeated incidences in the immediate past in which my clients' privacy and their right to be free from trespass in their home has been violated when you come unannounced and without permission onto their property."
And it continued "...they cannot tolerate any further intrusions into their lives and will not tolerate further trespasses."
"There are to be no further telephone calls...and any contact that you feel is necessary should be directed to me at this office".
"In the event there is any further trespass...it will be regarded as defiant trespass and treated accordingly under the law".
Sample complaints from five neighbors: Mike enters their homes without permission, even after being told to stay away; One woman installed "huge locks" because she is afraid of him; He was found one night in a neighbor's backyard, shining a large spotlight on her house, saying he was "looking for bats"; Amy has boasted that Mike is "over the police".
They also say that both Zs routinely scream and curse the neighbors; Amy slammed a door on one woman, and called another's children liars; Their cats roam free, and defecate on the neighbor's porch; Their little dog chases the neighbors' children and guests, and, neighbors claim, has bitten at least five people.
One neighbor says that Mike has repeatedly removed the 40-watt bulb from her outdoor security light, telling her that it was in violation of the township's lighting ordinance. Despite the fact that the township code enforcement officer determined that it was just fine.
And these neighbors were all Zowniriw supporters during his campaign!!! They even signed his nominating petition. But, like Richland, they have learned the hard way. They are now fed up with the yelling, swearing, and intimidation, and truly fear both Mike and Amy. One woman met with Police Chief Larry Cerami to seek help.
Another, who has a sick husband and has lived there for 30 years, says she is considering moving. She describes Mike as "power happy, he thinks he can do what he wants." The same arrogance that Z accused the supervisors of showing.
A township snowplower claims that during a storm this past winter, Mike identified himself as a supervisor, and ordered the man to move the snow from his side of the street to the other.
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on March 28, Z inappropriately attacked Cathy Woods, the recording secretary, and widow of the late Richland police chief, Stu Woods. The most honest and religious person you might ever be pleased to meet. Zowniriw accused her of being biased in the way she kept the minutes.
Perhaps he wanted her to include his statement "I just got a king sized bed, and if I don't behave up here I won't be able to sleep in it". The need for obedience classes apparently isn't limited to the family pets.
Also feeling his wrath was Rick Brown, the thoroughly professional attorney for the Zoning Hearing Board. Mike was upset at the way Brown conducted a hearing on an issue that Z personally opposed. When it was approved, Mike ripped the attorney, who didn't even have a vote!
But Mike did offer personal praise for one man: the ZHB member who voted his way. A man who Z had refused to approve as a board member a few months ago!
Mike Zowniriw still has more than four years left on his term, and heaven knows what he will do to his neighbors, and his township, if one of his allies is elected to join him. Be very careful who you believe, and who you support, this time around.
I would hate to say "I told you so".