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He had been well-judged in Doylestown, and well-advised by his attorney. But his oppositional attitude is well-known. And he just can't leave well enough alone. So it will be back to court for Richland supervisor Mike Zowniriw.
The well-documented mess started April 12th, when the elderly, disabled couple that owns the well-kept half of a Victorian duplex on Station Avenue discovered that their water had been shut off. By their neighbor, Mike Zowniriw, in retaliation for their joining five other well-intentioned families in complaining that Z, and his wife, Amy, were frightening the neighborhood. And for alleging that Mike was abusing his elected position.
Zowniriw actually well-built a wall across the basement of the house, preventing the couple from getting to their well. The decidedly-not-well-to-do victims spent over $10,000 in a well-advised attempt to force Z to restore the water, and move the wall.
Easier said than done. On April 14 th , a well-behaved Mike contritely admitted to the judge that the well-meaning couple really did have the right to access their own well. It's amazing how an opinion can change just by taking a little trip to Doylestown. He agreed to move the wall. But, apparently, his word wasn't good enough.
Weeks passed. He cancelled two meetings. Nothing changed. No demolition. Not even a well-meant discussion. The couple grew increasingly worried that Z would again leave them high and dry.
They went back to their attorney, who finally was able to set up a meeting to "remind" the Zowniriws about their well-drawn obligation. But with no judge present, Mike's attitude was predictable:
According to the couple's well-spoken daughter, Kelly Collins, Zowniriw was not well-mannered: "It seems that Mr. Z has conveniently forgotten that he agreed to a legal resolution to this situation and it was approved by a judge over one month ago. Z was combative and argued with our lawyer that he will not be able to work on the wall because he 'works' seven days a week".
"He further stated that he would fix the wall in his own time and the whole situation was my fault. Z also informed us that he does not have to comply with the agreed upon specs related to the size of the new wall. He will build the space according to his own measurements".
She continued "After much arguing it was finally decided that Z would remove a part of the wall today (May 13) and will have a month to re-build the wall. Mike Z has no intention or desire to resolve this situation the easy way. His lawyer actually had to remind him that it was probably not a good idea for him to go back to court and have the story in the newspapers again".
The new agreement gave the Zowniriws until June 16 th to complete the work. But, on that Friday the 13th in May, Kelly Collins made a well-founded prediction: "I have no doubt that he will not comply with any of the judge's decisions or his own lawyer's advice. I guarantee that in one month we will have to go back to court because he has not fixed the wall".
She was right. On June 18, two days after the deadline, he created a small opening, barely large enough for a person to squeeze through. And he added a door that allowed him to get into their basement! Not at all what was agreed on, but, as Collins predicted, done in his own time, and own way. This supervisor apparently needs to be well-supervised. Doylestown, here they come again.
I wonder what Supervisor Mike's attitude would be if a developer missed a deadline, and then didn't build according to the approved plan. How can Richland ever impose legal restrictions on anyone if a supervisor publicly refuses to follow them himself?
The family now has constant fear welling up. After suffering from the original dastardly deed, they have had an additional two months of worry and anxiety, while our elected leader has thumbed his nose at them, and the legal system.
They have tried to put their home on the market, but were told they needed to resolve the issues first. Our court system machine isn't well-oiled for victims like them. They are held well-planned prisoners by a township supervisor.
And Z's credibility has taken yet another hit. At the June 13 board meeting, he blamed the other supervisors, and the entire township staff, for somehow keeping him in the dark about proposed changes to the zoning ordinance. He complained that he did not know until June 11 that the matter was on the agenda.
What nonsense. The board had voted on May 9, more than a month before, to have the staff prepare the proposed changes. He knew they were coming.
And, Zowniriw failed to mention that he had been out of town from June 7-11. The agenda was emailed, as usual, to all three supervisors on June 9 at 11:49am. The necessary documents were waiting for him that same day at the township building. As usual. He just didn't pick them up.
And, he alleged that the issue was scheduled near the end of the agenda to somehow hide it. Apparently, in Mike's eighteen months in office, he hasn't yet learned that the agenda is always in the same order, and "township business" matters are always in the same place.
This is the second time that Z has falsely accused the staff of nefarious conduct. He has also taken numerous shots at his fellow supervisors. Like the wall, his problems always seem to be someone else's fault.
Oh well, all's well that ends well.