Chamber of Secrets, Part II: Will New Hope business group’s prospects for the future be haunted by its past?

By Charlie Sahner

Conversations with leading Chamber of Commerce officials in recent weeks reveal an organization with no shortage of enthusiasm for improving the prospects of New Hope businesses. But can the business group get where it needs to go without accounting for past irregularities in the wake of recent revelations about financial problems? 

And, despite the recent tightening of chamber disbursements by Treasurer Grover Stults, fundamental ethical compliance and control procedures remain absent.

One common ethical compliance procedure and Internal Revenue policy revolves around record retention. An examination of New Hope Chamber of Commerce Federal tax returns from 2006-2012 (2013 has not yet been submitted) shows numerous preparers indicating that the organization had a document retention policy, and also provides detail on which officer was charged each year with maintaining statements and records.

Nonetheless, the inability of current and former chamber officials to detail budgetary and tax return line items or produce records, along with an examination of available chamber documents, appear to reveal that substantial financial and cultural history may be missing. One example: current chamber leadership cannot provide detail on whom held officer, board and committee positions in recent years.
Said Treasurer Stults, “Roger [Green] can probably get your lists of responsible parties, because I fail to have them.”

Asked if the chamber currently has a record retention policy, a conflict of interest policy, and/or a competitive bidding policy on contracts and other expenditures, Stults replied, “We are redrafting the bylaws and other policies and rules of conduct to document more stringent operating procedures for those who will follow in our footsteps.”

In fact, the chamber doesn’t appear to have ever had a conflict of interest policy, according to tax returns, along with “whistleblower”, prejudice, equal opportunity employment, or harassment policies.

Said Chamber President Green, “We cannot categorically state whether the Chamber has a record retention policy, conflict of interest policy, or competitive bidding policy on contracts and other expenditures. We can state that if such policies exist, they do not appear pervasive in the Chamber’s day-to-day activities and decisions.

“Also, we can state that historical records one would normally expect to find at a longstanding Chamber of Commerce are not readily available in the New Hope Chamber,” added Green.
“We are committed to enacting a complete set of policies that promote clarity and transparency before the end of this Board’s term in March,” he continued. “We expect to approve a system of financial guidelines at our meeting next Tuesday. We have assembled draft guidelines for how to conduct completely transparent elections, and hope to complete these within the next one to two months. We welcome help from our members and the entire Greater New Hope community in identifying items to include in our fundamental set of ethical compliance and control procedures.”

Identifying a set of procedures should not prove daunting. A quick glance at internet resources reveals several compliance plans from chambers around the nation. One group with its ethical policy act already together is the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce in Oregon. Back in 2006, they published an excellent code of ethics policy online, and the document begins, “Chambers have only one class of stakeholders…Members. The Chamber must earn the respect and trust of its Members. Trust is earned with routine ethical behavior, built around honesty and fairness.

“Members are not just customers,” the document continues. “Members expect more value and deserve more respect than is available in the typical customer interaction. Directors and Staff have a fiduciary responsibility to all members…Service differentiates; democratic control provides a decision making environment that elevates creating value for the Members above profit accumulation at the Chamber.”

Green apparently shares that concern for creating member value, saying, “When this Board assumed leadership on April 1, our top priorities were to stabilize Chamber finances and build bridges to other organizations that are our natural partners. We have made great strides in these areas already.
“Long-term critical success factors include building a system of clarity and transparency and determining better ways to support our members in their pursuits to build high-value, successful businesses in New Hope and the surrounding towns,” he continued.

Another ethics-related question on the Federal income tax form 990 typically submitted by chamber tax preparers requires a declaration of any family or business relationships between officers, directors and key employees. While a review of available tax records indicates this line has always been checked “no,” anecdotal information suggests that this may not have always been the case and, yet again, information on specific processes and transactions is scant.

And there are other line items in Chamber of Commerce tax filings dating back several years, including relatively large expenditures referred to simply as “parties,” “award ceremonies,” “awards,” “PR,” “advertising,” “technology,” and “art show,” among others, that lack meaningful breakouts. One example would be the Arts and Crafts Festival, which grew from revenue of roughly $70,000 in 2010 to $80,000 in 2013, while event expenses exploded from $17,000 to $40,000.

When queried about festival expenses, Chamber Secretary and Arts and Crafts Committee Chair Linda Rowe said, “While I would love to answer your questions regarding finances that was not my job with the show! Since I started on the committee, I have been solely responsible for the logistical side of the show. I can tell you that over the past three years we incurred additional expenses when we had to move the venue from North Main Street to Union Square one year and then to the school the past two years!”

But the cost of additional security, transportation, and rental expenses still doesn’t add up when trying to account for the rapid growth in event expenses, and current chamber leaders who can speak with any specificity to that point are hard to find.

Examples of other anomalies visible in chamber tax records over time include employees that appear incorrectly designated as “consultants,” late IRS filings and/or use of EZ versions of IRS forms, and funds earmarked for fireworks being used for other expenses or fireworks expenses being listed as chamber expenses during periods when the organizations may have been separate.

For those interested in reading the information for themselves, New Hope Chamber of Commerce tax returns from 2006 to present are available online.

Asked the difficult question of whether or not chamber leadership currently has total control over its finances, Green said, “Operating under the Draft Financial Guidelines prepared by our Treasurer and President, the Board believes we have complete control on all expenditures going forward. We do not have a complete, clear understanding of all the various financial transactions and decisions that occurred before we came together as a Board this past April.”

Accountant Peter Augenblick, who prepared the chamber’s tax returns in 2012 and 2011, would not return phone calls seeking information.

Asked about prior budget expenditures and other financial matters, Chamber Treasurer Stults sidestepped more than 15 questions posed by this reporter, saying “Fifteen is a BIG number. Are you willing to compensate me at $200 per hour to find your answers?”

Stults goes on to say, “It is my additional goal to give Linda [Rowe] and Sharon [Flanagan] the support they need to orchestrate another successful Arts & Craft Show. I appreciate your focusing on the past, while I am charting a course for a successful future.” Rowe, Flanagan, and a former chamber president were at the center of a controversy involving cash awards received at a 2013 ceremony.

While the desire to move on during a crisis and focus on the future is not unusual, can the New Hope Chamber of Commerce fully move forward on its vital quest without a thorough accounting to the business community of what went on in the past?

 

Time will tell. But Green says he’s committed to operating more transparently.

 

“Within the week, we will announce a date for a community meeting at which all Greater New Hope businesses, whether Chamber members or not, can come ask questions and state their opinions about how the Chamber can serve the community,” he said. This will be the first of a regular series of open meetings.”

Chamber of secrets: controversy swirls around cash awards to New Hope business group officials at 2013 holiday party

 

New Hope Chamber of Commerce office (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

By Charlie Sahner

It was a relatively warm, dry evening during an otherwise cold and stormy winter as Roger Green, then vice president of the New Hope Chamber of Commerce, sat at an event registration table in the Raven, greeting arriving guests at the business group’s annual holiday party.

“It’s 6:15 p.m., and name tags are being given out, and friends are coming up me to say ‘hi,’” recalls Green, now chamber president. “Drinks and hors d’oeuvres are being served, a singer is warming up, and the party is scheduled to start at 6:30.

“I am given this stack of checks to review,” continued Green. “I look at the first couple of checks, I know what they are, I know why they’re there, and I assume we are operating in an honorable system where people wouldn’t do anything like cut themselves checks without approval.

“The first check is to the restaurant for the party, and the second one was a check for the awards, by which it is meant the plaques and statues that were given out at the party,” Green continued.
“And then there were a couple of other checks, then the four checks to some individuals on the bottom. So I just sign them, because I know what the first two are, and we’re committed and the party’s going on.”

What Green didn’t know at the time was that “the co-chairs of Arts and Crafts authorized disbursements of $3,600 of cash awards. The two co-chairs (Connie Gering and Linda Rowe) and Sharon Flanagan each received a $1,000 award, and Linda Rowe was authorized to convert $600 into ‘crisp bills’ to be given to key Committee members,” according to a document Green later prepared in December, 2013 entitled “Financial Problems.”

That document was purportedly shown to then-president Connie Gering, board member Brandon Wind, long-time chamber member and official Sharon Flanagan, and the chamber office manager, among others, in various forms in the weeks following the Holiday Party.

Confirmed Rowe in a statement, “The $600 was given to the six committee members at $100 each. The awards were given at the annual holiday party to the entire committee.”

Green says he found out that something was wrong with chamber finances some ten days following the Holiday Party on Dec. 14, when he received a call from Gering saying there was an immediate monetary shortfall that needed to be addressed.

Soon thereafter, Green and then-secretary Flanagan began “investigating all charges to determine what had gone wrong,” documents show.

Says Green, “Connie claimed that the chamber was out of money because Nick [Gialias] had been an inept treasurer, and therefore he should immediately be fired and taken off the board, and she should be able to fix it. Nick said ‘Connie has been in the books, she’s been using the debit card despite my repeated request not to, and for all these reasons, we can’t get a handle on this thing.’”

As Green continued probing, evidence quickly revealed that one of the award checks in question had been given to Flanagan.

Says Green, “I think most intense moment for me was when I found out they had cut themselves these checks. To me that was unimaginable behavior.”

“The other amazing moment was going through the budget and finding that the holiday party was never in the budget, and having Sharon Flanagan tell me ‘no, it was included in with the holiday event.’ And then going through the line item on the holiday event and noticing that there was nothing on the line item that looked like it could have been for the holiday party,” he continued.

Gering disagrees: “Included in the Arts and Crafts event budget was a projected $5,000 for “coordinating fees” to cover management expenses. A precedent was that the coordinator of Restaurant Week had always been paid, as had some of the people working on Friday Night Fireworks.

“As mentioned above, the event budget including these fees was approved by the Executive Board and was included in the Budget that was approved by the Board,” added Gering. “Because of the hard work done by committee members thereby bringing in the event under budget, checks totaling $3,600 were awarded to committee members, myself included. If there was a mistake, it was that these were noted as “Awards” and presented at the Holiday Party. “

Gering also disputes the assertion that the holiday party was not properly accounted for in the chamber budget, saying, “Each event committee of the Chamber develops a budget for that event. These budgets break down projected revenue and expense categories. So, for example, the Arts and Crafts budget breaks down anticipated expenses for things like advertising, supplies, rentals, etc.
“These budgets are then reviewed and approved by the Executive Board. The projected totals for revenue and expenses are then included as event line items in the Chamber’s annual budget, which is then reviewed and approved by the entire Board. All event budgets are sent to the Treasurer and are available for review by any Board member or Chamber member.”

In terms of approvals needed for actually spending budgeted funds, Gering states, “Once the event budget has been reviewed and approved per the above process, the event committee has the responsibility and authority to make purchases and commit funds within the total budget for that event; it does not have to take each expenditure back to the Board or Treasurer for approval since this would be onerous and inefficient; again, with the provision that the event committee is not going over budget. Chamber bylaws state ‘If a Committee budget has been approved, the committee Chair shall sign invoices to authorize actual disbursements.’”

Gering also said that then-treasurer Nick Gialias indicated the chamber’s budget was “on track” at both the October and November board meetings of 2013, right before the Holiday Party at the center of the controversy. Gering argues that this shows Gialias knew about the expenditure for the holiday party and that money spent on the event was not the direct cause of the chamber’s financial mess.
Responded Gialias, “That refers to the annual budget, and the items that were budgeted; this doesn’t include items that were not budgeted, nor approved, and just spent without any approval.”

Rowe said, “The awards are budgeted by the committee and approved by the board of directors at the May board of directors meeting and the 2013 A&C budget did allow for this.”

Rowe currently holds the position of secretary on the chamber’s board of directors. “The top three people were to be awarded $1000 each, which I did question,” she added.

“According to Sharon Flanagan, the co-chairs considered these expenses within their purview to authorize without further Board discussion,” reads a section of “Financial Problems.” Flanagan was a member of the 2013 Arts and Crafts committee of the chamber, and has held a variety of positions on the chamber board over the years, in addition to her role helping manage the annual festival.

The document goes on to say, “Chamber By-Laws permit expenditure up to the approved budget limit without line item approval from the Board or any Executive Officer. Sharon and Connie Gering both noted that there was a $3,500 line item for “Awards” in the approved Arts & Crafts Fair budget. Sharon asserted that the Chamber Board permitted these payments during discussions about Restaurant Week, when the Board “agreed to continue the discussion” about the appropriateness of paying volunteers at a later date. She further asserted that paying other groups for parties or dinners constituted an appropriate precedent for paying cash in this case,” continues the document.

“An alternate interpretation might consider that self-dealing disbursements are a different ethical class of spending than any other,” asserts another passage from “Financial Problems.”

“The Arts & Crafts Chairs never alerted the Board that the “Awards” line item referred to payments to themselves,” the document continues. “Connie took a strong stand against paying volunteers when asking the Board to reabsorb Restaurant Week at our July [2013] meeting. The Board supported Connie’s stand by voting to reabsorb Restaurant Week, expressly because “it was wrong” to pay volunteers. Finally, the co-chairs never asked the Board or Executive Committee to confirm their interpretation of their right to make these disbursements.”

Said Gialias, “Just because you put a vague budget item in your budget, it still needs to be expensed, and that was never done here.”

“All event budgets are supposed to be submitted to the treasurer for review. In this case, no event budget to my knowledge was sent for the holiday party.”

Further, says Gialias of the budgeting process, “These are estimates going in and they’re not very detailed. The purpose of having the treasurer approve them at the time they’re wanted is because you need a more detailed explanation of what those expenditures actually are when you fully realize them, and they need to be accompanied by invoices and receipts.”

In terms of the belief that a committee chair can sign invoices, Gialias says, “No, that’s wrong. The committee chair doesn’t do that, the treasurer does that.

“You have the ability to authorize, but you can’t cut the check for it, that has to be done by the treasurer.”

Gialias further contends, “The thing I take issue with is that committees can disburse their own funds by signing checks. That’s not true. The treasurer must sign the check, unless there’s a situation where the treasurer can’t sign the check, in which case he’ll appoint someone like the vice president and a co-signer on the account.” In fact, Gialias’ trip abroad in December, 2013 caused him to appoint then-vice president Green as signer of the fateful Holiday Party checks.

Commenting on the state of chamber finances immediately after the Holiday Party, Gialias said, “We had gone from around $8,800 to $300 without me as a treasurer approving any expenses. I was shocked to see that, and that it all happened within a week.”

“Later, we discovered the cost of the holiday party, which I recall being $3,500, and I had a major problem with that because it’s way too much to spend for this kind of event at this kind of organization, where we really don’t have that kind of money,” he continued.

Gering sees different reasons for the chamber’s budgetary shortfall: “In January, Sharon [Flanagan] reported to the Board that what she found there was approximately a $10,000 deficit in our last fiscal year that was carried forward but wasn’t noticed because the revenue generated by the Arts and Craft Show provided the necessary operating cash. (Note last year, the A&C show netted the Chamber approx. $58,000; we were able to come in under budget on the expense side by approximately $4,794 due to the hard work of the committee members.”

Flanagan bolsters the view that debt from previous chamber administrations weighed heavily on chamber finances and contributed to the group’s near-insolvency in December in a memo to fellow board members obtained by the Free Press. “We weren’t doing well. Because of treasurers long past, we are playing catch up. But that doesn’t mean that there is a problem.”

“We have an accountant as treasurer who will make sure that we are compliant and back on track again, explained Flanagan. “Past chamber boards have taken on more expenses than we could sustain, given our income, and it finally caught up with us with the last chamber board.

“The money maker that drives the Chamber is the New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival, which is a healthy ongoing event, unless something is done that undercuts that,” continued Flanagan. “If someone else takes over, it will likely take 8 years to rebuild it, because that is what it has taken to build it from a $6000 profit to a $58,000 profit, and the quality will likely degrade, as it has for so many art festivals that are run by impersonal entities. And the chamber will get a small amount of the profits.”

In her memo to the board, Flanagan sees other reasons for the chamber’s precarious December financial situation: “Fireworks was in the black, the [holiday] tree was not. We have not received grants that we expected to receive, so that has hurt. Especially for the holidays.

“Having been included in this, as I should be, I just want to know what the problem is?” she asks.
Rowe said she believes that chamber treasurers for the past four years have been “well-intentioned” but “in over their heads,” saying she also “over the past two years, asked for an audit of the books to be done at the change of office.”

Said Gialias, “In a non-profit organization, I think it’s especially important that we’re transparent and everything sees the light of day. We have a very clear policy that all expenses run through the treasurer. This is important not only to make sure things are honest, but also helps to manage the cash flow of the organization that particular committees may or may not be aware of, and in this case, this was not done.

“I think we’ve had a very clear policy of that dating back to [chamber treasurers] Bill Scandone and Ryan Fuller, where all expenses have to be approved by the treasurer, whether it’s debit card, which we regulated very highly, or whether it’s a written check,” added Gialias.

In his opinion, the “$10,000 carryover debt” described by some others was not the main issue contributing to the chamber’s cash crunch in December of 2013. “Issues like that can be fixed and addressed,” he said.

“I’ve really worked very hard on making the chamber an organization that is solely focused on doing things to help the business community here, and I would like to see us continue on that path,” continued Gialias. “We have to make sure things like this don’t occur in the future.”

According to the “Financial Problems” document, “Linda and Connie deposited their checks shortly after the Holiday Party. They subsequently made full restitution of their $1,000 awards when notified by Roger (and, in Connie’s case, Brandon Wind) that the Board intended to pursue disciplinary action unless the money was returned. Upon learning that the Chamber was essentially out of funds, Sharon chose not to deposit her check, and it was subsequently destroyed.”

The notification by Green to Gering took place at a meeting attended by board member Brandon Wind, according to Green and two additional sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. Wind would not comment.

Said Green of the meeting, “We told Connie that if she didn’t give the money back, we were going to take the case to the general membership.”

Gering did not address the alleged meeting in her statement, but in the past has said she stepped down from the chamber presidency last winter to more fully be able to attend to her duties as newly-elected New Hope Borough Council member.

Green, slated to take over as president of the chamber in April, assumed the position some three months early. “By February we were on our way to a better place financially,” he said.

Grover E. Stults took over as treasurer of the New Hope Chamber of Commerce on April 1, 2014. A Certified Public Accountant by trade, with a reputation for candor, he recalled his first remarks to the chamber leadership: “I’m the new sheriff around here.”

“I want documentation of expenses; I want to see an invoice; and I want to see an invoice from the chairman saying we received the items that we were billed for,” he recalls saying.

“I have full access to everything, and I’m here to say I want to make sure it goes to the betterment of the business community of New Hope,” he continued.

“We’re not handing out debit cards like tissue paper. We have them, and we’re not handing them out,” Stults remembers saying, along with a phone call to the chamber’s bank: “I don’t care where they are, Mr. Banker, cancel them right now. This is a non-profit organization that needs to have controls, and until I figure out what’s going on, cancel the cards.”

In terms of the current state of chamber finances, Stults said, “We’re solvent, we’re back on our feet, and Roger and the board are cooperating with my suggestions.”

“We’re making changes,” he added.

One change that would be welcomed by many chamber members interviewed for this article would be smaller allotments for meetings, member events and parties involving expenditures for food and other refreshments. One chamber official estimated that expense as representing nearly 40% of membership dues collected.

Said prior treasurer Gialias, “It’s way too much. I could see 4%.”

Said Green of the controversy, “The chamber serves at the will of, and in support of, the businesses in New Hope. That requires a standard of us, it requires that we operate in sunlight at all times, it requires that we have a stable financial footing, it requires that we have dialogue with our members, and it requires that we act with a vision of what we can do to support our members.

“The view used to be that the chamber runs events that bring people to town. In pursuit of that, they would buy products and services online to get them cheaper than through businesses in town that sell the same thing  — we don’t do that anymore,” said Green.

“They figured that once they created events, that was the end of the story, so we would have food trucks at the Arts and Crafts Festival that competed with people who sold the same thing in town, and who were not allowed to put food trucks there. That won’t happen anymore.

“The view of the chamber that I inherited was that it was basically an events company centered around the Arts and Crafts Festival and Fireworks, which bring people to town, but that’s the end of our responsibility,” he added.

“So we’re overhauling the events so that they not only strengthen the image of the town, but also bring and keep people here to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.

“Secondly, the chamber is not a club, it’s a service organization, and it needs to reach out to other organizations that are important to the businesses of New Hope,” Green said. “We started working jointly with the Lambertville Chamber of Commerce and more closely with the borough manager here in New Hope. We have an expanded view of who we are and what we’re doing, and we’re putting in place the financial controls necessary to do that and to be able to provide a transparent look at the financials of the chamber, because if we’re going to ask for people’s trust and money, we need to do that,” he added.

“This Chamber has done many good things for New Hope,” said Green. “New Hope Celebrates was spawned in the Chamber. The Arts & Crafts Show has become a tremendous success, abetted by the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers seeking nothing for themselves but to help our community. The Chamber-sponsored Fireworks have improved the regional reputation of New Hope, and, I expect, will return next year with a program designed to support our merchants better,” continued Green.

“Nonetheless, the business community of New Hope has operated with varying degrees of distrust and skepticism toward the chamber for years, and unfortunately I think that these episodes show that was not inappropriate.

“And while I was not a direct participant, I am the president of the organization, and I want to apologize to the members because I feel they were not treated appropriately, and they were not given the transparency they deserve nor, frankly, the focus on what makes their businesses do best,” he said.

“Accountability and transparency are the only ways to run a business,” added Green. “We will make sure that every single penny is accounted for, and we’ll make sure every voice is heard. I believe we’re doing the things necessary to earn your trust and rebuild the chamber.”

New Hope Borough Council president risks appearance of conflict of interest by not recusing herself from review of project next door

Proposed project site (foreground) and Claire Shaw’s property (background, fenced)

New Hope Borough Council President Claire Shaw would be well-advised to create some distance between herself and the borough’s review of the proposed four-story boutique conference center that investors want to build next to her property to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, say ethical experts.

Shaw disagrees: “I have no intention of recusing myself from the decisions on this project. The location of my property to the proposed site is not a conflict of interest and I find your suggestion that it may be, offensive.”

As previously reported, members of New Hope’s Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) were shocked at their June 3 meeting by Borough Council President Claire Shaw’s pronouncement that not only had their request to retain a structural engineer to assess the feasibility of preserving the former Odette’s restaurant been overruled, but also that “Council decided to handle this from this point forward.”

Getting a structural engineer to assess the cost of preserving the remaining portions of the historic 1784 structure is vital to HARB members because it lets them assess practicality of preservation efforts and their financial burden on the project applicant.

In response to questions by HARB members, Shaw asserted at the June HARB meeting that, ”We are not really getting a study, we’re having an open house…council will then decide if we want to request a formal structural report. Based on what we see and hear, the seven of us will decide what to do next.” Council and HARB members attended a tour of Odette’s last week organized by the applicants although HARB members had asked to delay the tour until they first reviewed a valid structural engineer’s report.

Under further questioning on June 3, Shaw explained, “I think this was sort of taken out of your hands because they [the applicants] were not treated very fairly at the first go around with this board.”
HARB member Dee Dee Bowman responded, “We simply stated that we did not think their report was adequate.”

“Because of what transpired, right or wrong, Council decided to handle this from this point forward,” said Shaw.

But what Shaw did not mention was that she had already received a verdict by an outside structural engineering consultant indicating that the two previous structural reports contained “insufficient information to make an opinion” according to minutes of a May 13 meeting of Borough Council. At that meeting, Shaw mentioned she had received a decision from the engineering consultant that showed structural reports submitted by the applicant to be inadequate, and then initiated discussion of the planned tour or “walk-through” of the Odette’s property.

It is not clear whether HARB members were informed about the result of Shaw’s study, despite their continuing requests for a valid structural report. One HARB member who spoke on condition of anonymity because of their fear of retaliation indicated that they had never heard of it.

“What was taken out of ‘HARB’s hands’ was their request for an independent structural study. No advisory board has the authority to obligate or expend Borough funds. Only Council has that authority,” said Shaw.

“As I stated in a communication to Ian [Haight-Ashton] on April 25, 2014, ‘although I have been told HARB would like to ask questions of the engineer performing the analysis and offer direction on the structural study, this will now fall within Council’s jurisdiction. Of course, Council will share the structural study at the appropriate time.’ In my opinion, HARB was inappropriate in stating a demand for an independent study when, at that time, the previous studies completed by the applicant had not been provided to our engineer.”

But, of the three Borough Council members who responded to questions by the Free Press, all indicated they were not involved in any decision to take the review of the Odette’s proposal out of HARB’s hands. When queried whether he was asked about taking the Odette’s proposal away from HARB, Council Member Cliff Montgomery said, “I was never asked.” Montgomery also indicated he was not aware of any meeting or vote on the matter, and that he doesn’t think this matter should be taken out of HARB’s hands because they were “unfair” to the applicants.

Said Council Member Nick Gialias of the purported council decision to take over responsibility for Odette’s review from HARB mentioned by Shaw on June 3, “There was no meeting, no vote, and I wasn’t involved.”

 

Council Member Geri Delevich said, “I never agreed privately to anything in this regard. The question of an independent structural engineer was brought up at the May council meeting. I thought it was not an unreasonable request by HARB and it made sense to me.

“I think the more informed we can be, the better we can make a fair decision,” added Delevich. And despite Shaw’s assertion on June 3 that “council decided to handle this from this point forward,” Delevich said, “I am not aware that council has taken this over.”

 

Several colleges and universities with faculty specializing in political, philosophical, and organizational ethics were contacted to find out if they thought it’s a good idea for a public official to recuse themselves from consideration of project next door to their property to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

 

Mark Cobb, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Bucks County Community College, said, “I do think it would be wise to recuse themselves, generally speaking.”

 

Bill Pezza teaches at Bucks County Community College’s Social & Behavioral Science Department, and his academic credentials include a fellowship at the Robert A. Taft Institute of Government. He said, “Generally, and without wishing to comment on the specifics of this situation, elected officials have no more or fewer rights than any other citizen and individual, and they’re elected to exercise judgment. Generally, there may be a legal reason not to recuse, however, the optics of it may dictate something different, and that’s ultimately up to the elected official and the judgment of taxpayers. The most important thing is that all of this is brought to the light of day, and that people can exercise their judgement with full exposure to the facts.”

 

James Abruzzo, Co-Director, Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers Business School, said, “Public officials have a responsibility to every citizen to act in a disinterested manner. Inevitably,  a governing body must decide on a situation that could benefit one of its members.  In that case, there could be the appearance of a conflict of interest. I am not qualified to decide if something is illegal, but it could be construed as unethical.  The best solution is for the person involved to declare his conflict; to provide input into the situation if asked; but to then remove himself from the voting process. This not only removes the conflict, it removes the perception of a conflict.”

 

Linda K. Treviño is Distinguished Professor of Organizational Behavior and Ethics, and Director of the Shoemaker Program in Business Ethics in the Smeal College of Business at Penn State where she has been on the faculty since 1987. Her research and writing on the management of ethical conduct in organizations is widely published and recognized internationally.

 

She also agreed that not recusing oneself from consideration of a project next door to one’s property could prove problematic for a public official. “Generally speaking, at minimum, there is the appearance of a conflict of interest.”

New Hope retail roundup: Will Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters dominate South Main snack scene? Plus bye-bye Verizon, hello Mohan

Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters in New Hope (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

Feverish positioning for the busy warm season ahead continues, with Bridge Street flavored popcorn emporium Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters moving to South Main Street, Verizon vacating 30 W. Bridge Street and women’s fashion retailer Snapdragon taking its place, New Hope perennial retailer Mohan Mohinani opening an apparent third location at the former Beyond the Wall poster shop, and Four Seasons Mall favorite Guy Stuff opening its newly-expanded space.
First up: Bucks County Caramel Corn Clusters is holding its grand opening at 87 South Main St. on the weekend of May 3-4, having vacated its former West Bridge Street home. The new store has been renovated with no expense spared, and looks clean and inviting.

Owners confirmed they’re also taking on the space next store, previously occupied by New Hope Candle Shop, which will initially take the the form of a “coffee and gelato bar” that could ultimately morph into a cafe. All in all, this airy, well-lit snack spot with driven owners and top-notch interior design could become a dominant force in the competitive downtown food service sector.

Mohan’s new store

New Hope Indian fashion mogul Mohan K. Mohinani has opened the doors of his new women’s and kid’s clothing mart in the former Beyond the Wall poster location on South Main Street. Signage will ultimately reveal its name, but if you haven’t had enough of Mohan’s unique fashion vision, this is more Mohan than you’ve ever dreamed.

Women’s fashion retailer Snapdragon has hung its shingle up the hill at 30 W. Bridge Street, the former Verizon store. A quick glance revealed a well-organized selection of women’s clothing, accessories, home goods and gifts.

Snapdragon at 30 W. Bridge St. (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

And last, but by no means least, Guy Stuff in the Four Seasons Mall on South Main Street has re-opened, and is bigger and badder than ever, with expanded lines of Airsoft, pointy things, and politically incorrect signage, all of which seems to draw a good size audience.
New Hope’s own version of musical merchant chairs is sure to heat up even more as temperatures outdoors climb. Next up: what the heck are they planning on doing at 46 N. Main Street? Rumors are flying…

Aerial View of New Hope in the 1970s

First New Hope PA - Lambertvile NJ Fireworks Show a Blast

Shopping Safari to Jake's Playhouse in New Hope PA

New Hope PA Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce Give Up on Visitors' Center (and Promoting Tourism?)

The Times of Trenton reports today that New Hope's visitor center, located in a former town hall at South Main and Mechanic streets, will be outsourced to the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau beginning January 1, 2010.

"It's a win-win situation for everyone," said Councilman Richard Hirschfield, who for several years was looking for a way to get the tax-funded tourism operation removed from the borough's budget.

The borough had been budgeting $62,000 a year, the equivalent of about $1.1 million in real estate taxes, to operate the center.

[Ed. note: New Hope PA also earns $371,200 per year from parking meters, $315,000 from parking ticketing and stopping vistors' vehicles, $89,000 from its "business privilege tax", and $56,150 from "business licenses and franchise fees"]

"It was felt the borough could contribute and work toward it but it should be the function of the New Hope Chamber of Commerce or some other organization that would promote business," said Hirschfield.

Louis Licitra, former president of the organization, said it was impossible financially for the chamber to operate the visitors' center.

"After all, people come to New Hope for New Hope. They don't come here to see the visitors center," said Licitra.

Surprise Shopping Visit to Cockamamie's Art Deco Store in New Hope PA

Shopping -- Knife Maker "Little John" Featured at Medieval Gallery in New Hope PA

Expert custom knife maker Little John will be on site at Medieval Gallery in New Hope PA on weekends throughout the holiday season to present and demonstrate his handiwork.

Little John is fairly well known throughout the region and RenFair community for the quality of his work. The blades are beautifully crafted in stainless and carbon steel, but what really stands out are the custom-designed stag horn handles that are one-of-a-kind works of art in and of themselves.

Also impressive are the bowie style blades, but his work features blade shapes of every style and for every purpose. These are not "fantasy" knives either, but handmade heirlooms that are practical, historical and beautiful.

Little John is the real deal. Stop by and chat with him weekends through the New Year at Medieval Gallery, 86 South Main Street in New Hope PA, 215-862-4800.

Captain Bob Keeps on Truckin' This Holiday Season at His Famous New Hope PA Ice Cream Parlor

You'd think that losing a bid for New Hope PA Borough Council (again) and owning an ice cream parlor with winter approaching would be enough to give anyone pause, but not New Hope's very own Bob Gerenser, owner of New Hope landmark Gerenser's Exotic Ice Cream, and plyer of the Delaware's currents, George Washington impersonator and Havana karaoke legend.

I stopped by on Thanksgiving day during my downtown "who's open" tour. Of course a lot of local inns and bars were open to offer cool weather warmth, but not as many shops and smaller businesses. Gerenser's, however, was open and Captain Bob was running his river tour boat out back on the Delaware. He's promoting winter fare like warm beverages and wieners, but the hottest dish in the joint was easily his girlfriend (forgive the Dashiell Hammett), keeping busy behind the counter.

Gerenser's Exotic Ice Cream. A New Hope PA original.

22 S Main St
New Hope, PA 18938
215-862-2050

Now & Then You See It, Now & Then You Don't

Sure looks like recently resurrected Dead shop Now & Then is dead again, in the fastest store shuttering in New Hope PA since the engraved soap debacle at the Historical Society's floody barn near the Playhouse.

Although store lifespans in New Hope often approach that of the average fruit fly, this one may wind up being attributed to a difference among partners.

History tells us, however, this may well not be the last we see of Now & Again...it's a Dead store that just won't die.

Ramble on Rose.

Blue Raccoon Home Furnishings Store Returns to Original Lambertville NJ Location

After five years in New Hope PA's struggling Union Square development, the Blue Raccoon home furnishings store has returned to its original location at 6 Coryell Street in Lambertville NJ, next to Hamilton’s Grill and across the street from Finkles Hardware.

Say the owners: "We’re coming home to Lambertville. We still believe in defining comfort by style and value, still believe in creating a worthwhile and pleasurable shopping experience and are mindful to go above and beyond in providing personalized service and superior customer support. These are the qualities that have defined us since we first opened in Lambertville back in the summer of 1993."

Cute house gifts, cute doggy; check it out.

Peddler's Village Celebrates 38th Annual Apple Festival This Weekend

New Hope PA will be getting even more crowded this weekend as Peddler's Village in nearby Lahaska PA puts on its 38th Annual Apple Festival.

It all takes place Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, rain or shine. Free admission and parking.

Love fall fruit? Dig into favorite apple dishes from crisp apple fritters and warm apple pie to savory apple dumplings and freshly pressed apple cider. Peddler’s Village restaurants will feature delicious apple specialties all weekend.

One can also take home a bushel of green, golden or red delicious apples from local orchards, or watch authentic demonstrations of cider production in an antique cider press and cooking old-fashioned apple butter in a huge cauldron stirred by hand over an open fire.

Also enjoy the live musical entertainment, jugglers and stilt walkers on the Main Green, shop the handcrafted items at the 40 artisan booths on the Street Road Green, and cheer on the brave contestants in the traditional pie eating contests. (Competitions are held at 3:00 p.m. each day by age category, contestants are chosen by lottery and must sign up from 10 a.m.-2: 45 p.m. at the Hospitality Booth on the Main Green.)

Peddler’s Village is located just off Route 202 in Lahaska PA...about a five minute drive west of New Hope PA.

Tip: If you're visiting New Hope PA this weekend, make reservations and park early, the town gets packed with festival goers, revelers and those enjoying the last foliage of autumn.

For more information, please visit www.peddlersvillage.com or call 215-794-4000.

Who is Bill Scandone and Why is He Running for New Hope PA Borough Council?

Last week, Bill Scandone left a flyer in my mailbox asking for my vote in the upcoming New Hope PA Borough Council election. Four seats are up for grabs this November, and for the first time in quite a while, it appears the Republicans have a full slate and are going to give the four Democratic incumbents a run for their money. Bill's one of the Republican upstarts this year, not that "Republican" or "Democrat" mean that much in a small town like New Hope.

The thing that caught my eye about Bill's flyer was that he listed his email address and phone number on it. Now, it's not unusual for smarter candidates to campaign door to door in the closing weeks of local elections, and to claim they want to "listen" to constituents' views, but they don't usually leave a personal calling card: billscandone@comcast.net or 215-595-6304.

So I emailed him, and he agreed to meet and talk about the campaign. I had seen "Scandone" signs around town, and had also heard there might be actual competitive races in the upcoming elections. Rumors have also abounded that a couple of high-ranking local politicos are promoting a candidate to depose one or more incumbents, partially motivated by last spring's bloodless coup in Borough Hall.

There's two things I learned about Scandone fairly quickly: he is actually listening to people, and he is running a serious campaign. When I met him, he'd already spent the morning at a local diner shaking hands by the front door.

A former head of International Compensation and Benefits for Pfizer, Scandone, 62, lives on Kiltie Drive, likes dogs, goes bicycling, knows lots about fixing the bike path that runs along the Delaware Canal. Bill had been President of the New Hope-Solebury Education Fund, where he helped raise money for worthwhile local teaching initiatives.

I asked whether he's aligned with any group or individuals involved in the Borough's opposing factions and alliances, and he said he's running because "I wanted to do more, to give back to the community."

"After speaking with those involved in Borough Council and the New Hope-Solebury School Board," says Scandone, "I felt I could be more impactful on Borough Council. I believe in the concept of social responsibility," he added. "I intend to be a public servant to this community, and I don't know if that's happening now."

One key element of Scandone's plank seems to be a concern for "revitalizing the downtown."

Says Bill, "There's many stores and galleries closed, and when they close, there's a snippet of the identity of New Hope that is lost."

I asked him why he felt residents should theoretically be concerned about the welfare of local shops and businesses. Replied Scandone, "As a resident I feel I have a vested interest [in the business community]. There has to be a balance. At the end of the day what you don't want vacant shops."

Scandone is not opposed to franchised businesses, as long as their identity meshes with that of New Hope, and he is especially interested in seeing more restaurants and galleries. Admittedly, his economic proposals do not appear overburdened with specificity at this point, but his basic approach is clear enough: he has lots of experience in negotiating and consensus building and believes he can bring the right people together to start "spreading the good word about New Hope."

"New Hope is at a crossroads and could be eclipsed by other places, and New Hope could financially lose out," he continued.

"I've got the time. I've got the experience. I really am committed to this."

Sure does seem to be the case. The weeks ahead will certainly hold unexpected twists and turns, but this much is for sure: Bill Scandone seems like a serious contender.

Dining Out: Kids Not Welcome Here

The New Hope PA restaurant above not only admonishes against parking nearby and using their restrooms if one is not a patron, but also makes it pretty plain with front door signage that, frankly, "kids aren't welcome here."

In this author's opinion, a ridiculous, unfriendly, impolite manner to treat our town's visitors. Most parents are nice enough to leave strollers parked outside, but if strollers don't fit, that means wheelchairs don't fit and evacuation in a fire could be interesting.

Funny thing is, the food's not bad, but not memorable, either. The lack of hospitality leaves an impression, though.

Below, two local restaurants that are kid-friendly.

Table Outside, Senor?

With temperatures soaring into the 70s, restaurants with outdoor seating in New Hope PA were in high demand. This popular destination just north of the Bridge on N. Main Street is running a luncheon special to boot, which is great because I've eaten there and it's the real deal although usually a bit pricey.

A Spectacular Day in New Hope PA

New Hope PA Police Chief Mike Cummings out doing some good community relations work while chatting with Howard Cooperman, owner of Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art.

Leaves Falling On a Drippy, Windy Day in Downtown New Hope PA

The trees of New Hope PA try to hold onto their colorful, leafy coats on a windy, wet weekend in the historic downtown section of Bucks County's most popular tourist destination.

While some bargain shoppers are seen about as the sun peeks out for brief moments here and there, many visitors have sought shelter in lunchtime favorite Karla's Restaurant on West Mechanic Street, or in John and Peter's on Main Street for a quick brew.

Annual "Oyster Pork Supper" in Carversville, PA this Saturday

The flyer posted above at Bob's Exxon in Lambertville NJ reminded me that we were due soon for an annual pig-out not to be missed: the Oyster Pork Supper at the Carversville Christian Church. A local tradition since 1871, the menu interestingly combines a twist on the surf-n-turf theme, with roasted pork and hand-dipped fried oysters as the culinary centerpoint.

One can also sample the homemade gravy, applesauce, and pepper hash, along with home cooked stewed tomatoes, and creamed corn (yum!). And don't forget the coffee, tea, iced tea, and assorted homemade desserts!

Prices are reasonable at $19 for adults ($20 takeout) and $8 for kids. There will also be plenty of crafts, baked goods, jams and treats made by the women of Carversville Church, and a a quilt raffle (heavens to Betsy!).

The church is located in Carversville, PA just north of New Hope, PA via Route 32 or via Aquetong Road off Route 202 (Carversville Christian Church, 3736 Aquetong Road, 214.297.5166, carversvilleucc@verizon.net).

It's all taking place this Saturday, October 17, from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00, unless they run out of stuff sooner.

It's oysters. It's pork. We're on a mission from God!