If your cheeks turned red about the middle of last week, it is because Quakertown Borough Manager Dave Woglom, and Council President Dennis Hallman, both slapped all residents right in the face. Again.
This is a town that has no ethics laws, no one watching the shenanigans of the borough manager or solicitor, rampant abuse of no-bid contracts, no historical protection ordinance, enormous tax increases, councilmen illegally selling to the borough, repeated violations of the Sunshine Law, an infrastructure that looks like a sieve, illegal votes at council meetings, grossly over-budget projects, special favors for councilmen, and incredible waste of taxpayer dollars at every turn.
And now we find that they may still be handing out municipal contracts without proper procedures, in total defiance of state law.
Last November, voters clearly said "No more!" when they tossed former council president Ray Fulmer out of office. But it appears that Woglom, with the apparent consent of new president Hallman, and solicitor Chuck Fonzone, hasn't missed a beat. Borough documents show that he built the much-ballyhooed speed humps on Mill Street without the necessary public contract awards by council. How much taxpayer money was wasted? We don't know. That's why the law requires these procedures.
On February 1, council authorized Woglom to "proceed with the implementation of the Mill Street Traffic Calming Plan". But Woglom had ordered two different plans drawn, one showing two humps, and one with four. He decided to go with the two, but mistakenly bought (and you paid for) materials for four. In fact, borough workers say they actually put up four sets of signs, and had to take two down.
Town sources place the total project cost at about $20,000. There are several contracts in issue: the humps themselves, installed by Blooming Glen - although public works employees say they could have done the job themselves less expensively; the yellow reflective tape, which is used like painted lines, and cost about $8000; and the engineering. But there are no public awards by council for any of the contracts.
Last Wednesday I filed an Open Records request for the contract and bidding documents. (As of April 4 there had been no response.) But borough sources say that soon after the request, Woglom privately admitted his wrongdoing. This is at least the eleventh time he has been caught. In Quakertown, managers have more lives than a cat. At your expense. Will council finally hold Woglom accountable for his pattern of improper conduct, or will they just look the other way? Again.
Hallman is just as guilty as Woglom. Every contract over $4000 requires that public vote by council. Where was he? But Hallman is a veteran of these improper contracts. In April, 2001, when Woglom wrongfully purchased his new $27,000 borough Crown Victoria without any bids, then-president Hallman signed the resolution anyway.
And, by the way, if you don't know much about the background of your President Hallman, he was delivering pizzas prior to landing a political job in the County Recorder of Deeds Office. Is it just coincidence that Woglom's wife is an administrator in the County Office of Community and Business Development?
Both Woglom, and council, have some hard decisions to make. Soon. Woglom's job has to be in more jeopardy than an Iraqi cabinet member. He is the one who has been caught repeatedly flaunting the law. And one sure has to wonder if he would still be borough manager if he didn't arrange for special perks, like stone deliveries, for council members, and arrange for the borough to "mistakenly" purchase over $15,000 in supplies from those elected leaders. Even if they continue to support him, new members elected next year may well let him go.
So what are his options? He is a relatively young man (49), and could start looking for a new job while he is still employed here. He could say that he just wants to move on, and council would give him great recommendations. After all, he came to Quakertown under questionable circumstances, having illegally manipulated the police pension fund in Hatboro...he could certainly leave the same way.
Or, he could wait and see what happens with the elections, knowing that if new council lets him go, he will have a much harder time finding another job. The ever-growing multitude of revelations about his actions must worry him every day. But with no Woglom, perhaps there would be more positive things to write about.
And the kicker is - council can't do anything to help him!!!! They have to worry that his behavior may get them voted out of office, so they also have a tough decision. "Encourage" him to move on, and perhaps rehabilitate their reputations before it is too late, or keep him on and risk being voted out because of him.
In each of the last two Qtown elections, a Democratic newcomer has defeated a long-time Republican incumbent, including Fulmer in 2005. And this country is going to see a significant backlash against Republicans in upcoming years, thanks to the arrogant and destructive policies of George W. Bush, and his 38% approval rating. Add these factors to the dark stormclouds of problems hanging over council chambers, and it is a very bad time to be allowing Woglom's repeated arrogance to overshadow community concerns.
If Woglom remains, there can be no doubt that Quakertown residents will be best served by voting for major changes on council in 2007. No matter the party affiliation of the candidates. The degree of change will be measured only by how many civic-minded citizens, Democrats and Republicans alike, are willing to step up and make a difference. Call them the Quakertown Party. They can hardly do worse than what we have now.