Darnell L Williams
2402 Magnolia Dr.Harrisburg, Pa. 17104
WDarn44243@aol.com
717-233-1511
Feb. 18. 2007
Dear Honorable City Council Members;
On Tuesday February 20, 2007, City Council will vote on Resolution 8-2007. This resolution will give City Council a vehicle to make Boards, Commissions, and Authorities accountable for their actions. This vote will make or break your reputation as a fair, honest, and competent legislator. Since October, 32 employees have lost their jobs. Union members have had their confidence shaken by the actions of this administration. Citizens have seen their fees and taxes rise as well as their services cut, such as leaf removal. I expect each and every one of you to pass Resolution 8-2007 to override the Mayor’s veto.
The reason for this action is that this city needs oversight of its projects. This Incinerator Crisis has shown that we have a problem with accountability, responsibility, and credibility when it comes to public projects. The Mayor and the city authorities will still have control of the “day to day” operation of its projects. But City Council will have the responsibility of over site. This check and balance of city responsibility is needed to ensure credibility, responsibility, and accountability when it comes to our tax payers money.
This City has spent $126 Million on a $80 Million retrofit. This time last year, the Mayor told the public that the incinerator retrofit was complete. Last Thursday, Covanta Corporation said that it is only 80% complete. At least one of Barlow’s Vendors came to the Public Works Meeting, complaining that they have not been paid by Barlow. Covanta reported that many of Barlow’s Vendors have not been paid. Barlow spent $126 Million with $25 Million not accounted for. They claim that they gave the money to a bankrupt company. From Covanda’s presentation, more than $25 Million is not accounted for because they did not pay many vendors. Barlow was never bonded to do this job. In the meeting with Covanda, it was pointed out that many vendors working for the Harrisburg Authority are not bonded. Barlow’s reputation is so bad in this state that no one would take the chance in bonding this company. This is a fact that the Harrisburg Authority and the Mayor hid from the people and City Council.
Last year, neither the Mayor nor the Harrisburg Authority said anything about a problem with the project or Barlow. As a matter of fact, they refused to give City Council any information on the project, highlighted by Fred Clark leading a walkout of a Public Works Committee Meeting last October. One of my jobs as a member of the Environmental Committee was to read over the Barlow management reports. When I found management problems and reported these problems, the Administration, the Authority, and Barlow Projects Inc. reaction was to hide the problem by falsifying the Management Reports. This is fraud.
Last year, neither the Mayor nor the Harrisburg Authority said anything about a problem with the project or Barlow. As a matter of fact, they refused to give City Council any information on the project, highlighted by Fred Clark leading a walkout of a Public Works Committee Meeting last October. One of my jobs as a member of the Environmental Committee was to read over the Barlow management reports. When I found management problems and reported these problems, the Administration, the Authority, and Barlow Projects Inc. reaction was to hide the problem by falsifying the Management Reports. This is fraud.
When I reported that Barlow was not hiring local people and that the closest person hired was living 35 mile away, the administration, the authority, and Barlow Projects solved this problem by changing everyone’s address to one address in Harrisburg. That is a violation of the law. These are just some examples of why our authorities need oversight.
If City Council votes down this Resolution, then Harrisburg will move toward Receivership. Receivership would mean that the courts would run the city. We could look forward to a triple tax increase, triple fee increases, and more cuts in services. The court will layoff more employees. Landlords will pass along the tax increase to renters. Renters can expect to pay up to $200 more a month. The court will only be interested in getting the city out of receivership. They will not be interested in the people’s comforts.
We are already on our way. The Harrisburg Authority spokesperson said that they will not be able to make the debt interest payment on the bonds. The first payment is due in March. The banking community is lowering property values in the city, partly because of the Incinerator problem. Our equity in our homes may have already decreased or does not exist at all. So it has already started.
The choice to act is up to City Council. If you believe in the “Good Old Boy Network” then do nothing. If you want to serve the people then vote “yes” for this Resolution.
The choice to act is up to City Council. If you believe in the “Good Old Boy Network” then do nothing. If you want to serve the people then vote “yes” for this Resolution.
Sincerely,
Darnell L Williams
CC: US Attorney General
