Haverford 4th Ward Commissioner Fred Moran's preliminary hearing
In events of interest to Haverford Township at large, 4th Ward Commissioner Fred Moran's preliminary hearing was held today in Glenolden PA in the District Court 32-2-42, with District Justice Peter Tozer, Esq. presiding.
The prosecution brought charges against Moran related to theft by deception and bribery. The theft charges were dismissed, the bribery charges were held for court.
The theft charges were in regards to Moran's expense reimbursement for his Verizon service. Testimony was heard from Township Finance Director George Rementer, former Township Manager Mike English, and Special Agent Bugga. The testimony described that for many years Moran has presented the cover sheet of his Verizon bill for reimbursement with typical monthly charges of just above $200, without completing a regular expense report. Agent Bugga testified that the charges were for 1 land phone line, 1 DSL internet connection, and 2 cell phones.
The judge dismissed these charges, explaining that no township employee told him it was not acceptable to present his Verizon bill as his expenses for township business.
The bribery charges related to Moran's phone conference call with Goldenberg Group's Mike Lawry and 5th Ward Commissioner Andy Lewis. According to Lewis' testimony, Moran had stated at the Dec. 2005 commissioners meeting that there was large budget shortfall, and that he wanted to contact the developers to see about getting some revenue from the deal in now, possibly in the form of pre-paid property taxes.
Lewis, Moran, and Lawry held a conference call the next day. In this conversation, both Lewis and Lawry testified that Moran was trying to get a $500,000 increase in the property purchase price to plug the budget shortfall, and in return would expedite the zoning approvals for the project. Both Lewis and Lawry testified that Moran said something like: Call it extortion or whatever you want, we need $500,000 more, and this is the way it's going to be. Both witnesses specifically stated that Moran used the word "extortion."
There was also related testimony that Moran had instructed English to move a township finance staff member to the parks and recreation department, and put into that position an employee who was related to a member of the Haverford Township Zoning Board.
In closing, the defense argued that Moran's suggestion was not bribery as Moran did not stand to benefit personally from the tactic, but was just trying to cover the township deficit.
The prosecution argued that the solicitation did occur and in return for the price increase Moran offered to grease the skids with the Zoning Board.
On these bribery charges, Moran was held for court. The arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 2.
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Comments:
I was surprised and angered that there were no charges related to the other activities described in the Grand Jury report, specifically in relation to:
The $600,000 payment to Obermeyer attorney Jeffry Rotwitt on Dec 31, 2003, orchestrated by Rotwitt and Twardy, and executed by Moran. (p. 18-25) Moran described this payment and the lack of a vote as "not really that important".
The "back room session" where the Agreement of Sale and Escrow Agreement were signed by former Board President and 2nd Ward Commissioner Joe Kelly, Township Manager Mike English, and Township Solicitor Leo Sereni. (p. 22-23)
The inside information provided to Goldenberg's Mike Lawry by Fred Moran and former 6th Ward Commissioner George Twardy about other developers' bids. (p. 17-18)
The piecemeal evasion of the township home rule charter also orchestrated by Moran, splitting the $16,530 cost of advertisement of the redistricting plan in January 2004 to avoid the $10,000 limit on expenditures that would require a board vote. (p. 28-29)
In fact, the mention of Moran's expenses and the contact with Lawry are not even mentioned until p. 30 of the Grand Jury report, where Moran's work to pay for former 5th Ward Commissioner Carolyn Parker to fly from her new home in Florida for meetings to keep their majority in place is also mentioned.
The $600,000, the breaches of confidence in the developers' bids, the deals with Rotwitt/Obermeyer, the redistricting advertising ... these cost the taxpayers of Haverford hundreds of thousands of dollars. Where are the charges for these? Aren't these crimes?
==============================
References:
PA Attorney General's press release, April 5, 2007
The Grand Jury Report
The prosecution brought charges against Moran related to theft by deception and bribery. The theft charges were dismissed, the bribery charges were held for court.
The theft charges were in regards to Moran's expense reimbursement for his Verizon service. Testimony was heard from Township Finance Director George Rementer, former Township Manager Mike English, and Special Agent Bugga. The testimony described that for many years Moran has presented the cover sheet of his Verizon bill for reimbursement with typical monthly charges of just above $200, without completing a regular expense report. Agent Bugga testified that the charges were for 1 land phone line, 1 DSL internet connection, and 2 cell phones.
The judge dismissed these charges, explaining that no township employee told him it was not acceptable to present his Verizon bill as his expenses for township business.
The bribery charges related to Moran's phone conference call with Goldenberg Group's Mike Lawry and 5th Ward Commissioner Andy Lewis. According to Lewis' testimony, Moran had stated at the Dec. 2005 commissioners meeting that there was large budget shortfall, and that he wanted to contact the developers to see about getting some revenue from the deal in now, possibly in the form of pre-paid property taxes.
Lewis, Moran, and Lawry held a conference call the next day. In this conversation, both Lewis and Lawry testified that Moran was trying to get a $500,000 increase in the property purchase price to plug the budget shortfall, and in return would expedite the zoning approvals for the project. Both Lewis and Lawry testified that Moran said something like: Call it extortion or whatever you want, we need $500,000 more, and this is the way it's going to be. Both witnesses specifically stated that Moran used the word "extortion."
There was also related testimony that Moran had instructed English to move a township finance staff member to the parks and recreation department, and put into that position an employee who was related to a member of the Haverford Township Zoning Board.
In closing, the defense argued that Moran's suggestion was not bribery as Moran did not stand to benefit personally from the tactic, but was just trying to cover the township deficit.
The prosecution argued that the solicitation did occur and in return for the price increase Moran offered to grease the skids with the Zoning Board.
On these bribery charges, Moran was held for court. The arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 2.
==============================
Comments:
I was surprised and angered that there were no charges related to the other activities described in the Grand Jury report, specifically in relation to:
The $600,000 payment to Obermeyer attorney Jeffry Rotwitt on Dec 31, 2003, orchestrated by Rotwitt and Twardy, and executed by Moran. (p. 18-25) Moran described this payment and the lack of a vote as "not really that important".
The "back room session" where the Agreement of Sale and Escrow Agreement were signed by former Board President and 2nd Ward Commissioner Joe Kelly, Township Manager Mike English, and Township Solicitor Leo Sereni. (p. 22-23)
The inside information provided to Goldenberg's Mike Lawry by Fred Moran and former 6th Ward Commissioner George Twardy about other developers' bids. (p. 17-18)
The piecemeal evasion of the township home rule charter also orchestrated by Moran, splitting the $16,530 cost of advertisement of the redistricting plan in January 2004 to avoid the $10,000 limit on expenditures that would require a board vote. (p. 28-29)
In fact, the mention of Moran's expenses and the contact with Lawry are not even mentioned until p. 30 of the Grand Jury report, where Moran's work to pay for former 5th Ward Commissioner Carolyn Parker to fly from her new home in Florida for meetings to keep their majority in place is also mentioned.
The $600,000, the breaches of confidence in the developers' bids, the deals with Rotwitt/Obermeyer, the redistricting advertising ... these cost the taxpayers of Haverford hundreds of thousands of dollars. Where are the charges for these? Aren't these crimes?
==============================
References:
PA Attorney General's press release, April 5, 2007
The Grand Jury Report
Labels: Attorney General, Fred Moran, Grand Jury, Haverford Township
posted by Larry Chrzan at
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