Athletic Group Doesn't Want Township's Funds - Morning Call
Home→Collections→Public MeetingAthletic Group Doesn't Want Township's FundsJuly 09, 1987|by JANIS BARNEY, The Morning CallMonths of wrangling over an audit, a lease and the release of $10,000 in Bethlehem Township money may have ended last night with one sentence from a representative of the Bethlehem Township Athletic Association."We don't want your money," Marty Cusick told the township's Recreation Commission.At a meeting last night, the commission also briefly acknowledged the receipt of $4,000 from developer Robert G. Ciccone, who earlier this week sent a check to the Park Fund to "make amends with the township" for money he received three years ago in a phony invoice scheme.
Commission member Janet Marsh suggested that Ciccone be asked to pay interest on the money.Ciccone testified last month at a preliminary hearing for former Township Manager and Commissioner Albert Timko that he submitted a phony invoice to the township to recoup money that he had given Timko as a "favor."Timko has been indicted on multiple felony charges stemming from a state grand jury investigation of township government.Last night's discussion about the Athletic Association was initiated by Cusick, who spoke during the public comment session.The association and the township have not been able to agree on conditions of an audit report requested by the township, or on the terms of a lease for a football field that the association, known as the Bulldogs, wanted to develop in the township park on Farmersville Road.Until an audit was provided on the township's terms, the township refused to release any of the $10,000 it had allocated to support the Bulldogs' programs in 1987."We're not going to hassle any more with you," Cusick told the commission last night. "We'll raise our own money."Referring to scrapped plans to develop the football field, he suggested, "Any money that you have, you give to your recreation director. Let her develop a football field."Recreation Director Mary Kidder, who arrived later in the meeting, did not hear Cusick's comments.Commission Chairman John Phillips repeated the commission's position that an audit of the association's records is needed so the commission can justify the $10,000 allocation of township funds. "We need to back up and verify that everything is on the up-and-up," he said, stressing that he was "not making any accusations . . . . We're trying to do everything the right way."Cusick said the Bulldogs had cooperated with the township by providing financial figures and by submitting invoices for reimbursement by the township, but Phillips said those figures were not adequate for the township's purposes, and that the commission could not abide by the Bulldog's request that the report be viewed in private rather than at a public meeting."We're only asking for something that any other receiver of funds is asked to provide," Phillips said, citing the Nancy Run Fire Co. as an example."Well, it's not worth the hassle," Cusick said.Cusick also indicated that the Bulldogs probably would not be interested in helping the township develop the football field. "When it's developed, give us a ring," Cusick said in response to a question from Marsh, suggesting that a lease agreement might then be worked out.Cusick said the position of the Bulldogs has not changed since a letter they wrote to the township in April. He said association members had decided to ignore subsequent attempts by the township to discuss the matter further, but that he had decided to come to the meeting to put the matter to rest.
Phillips asked that communication between the two groups not be broken off completely. "We don't want to wipe the slate clean," he said. "We don't want to forget the Bulldogs ever existed."Marsh asked whether the Bulldogs could continue their programs without the township money."I don't know," Cusick said. "It depends on how many hoagies we sell." He said the Bulldogs would step up their fund-raising efforts tomake up the lost money.
Related ArticlesTownship Denies Athletic Funds To Association Pending AuditApril 9, 1987Bethlehem Twp. Athletic Group Asked To Account For FundsOctober 9, 1986Neighbors Fight Plan For Lighted Football FieldMay 17, 1995Bethlehem Township Asked To Spend $30,000 On PlaygroundFebruary 19, 1987Revised Blueprint For Township Park Favorably ReviewedDecember 15, 1988Find More Stories AboutPublic MeetingBulldogsTownship ParkRecreation CommissionIndex by Keyword|Index by Date|Privacy Policy|Terms of ServicePlease note the green-lined linked article text has been applied commercially without any involvement from our newsroom editors, reporters or any other editorial staff.
Athletic Group Doesn't Want Township's Funds - Morning Call
Home→Collections→Public MeetingAthletic Group Doesn't Want Township's FundsJuly 09, 1987|by JANIS BARNEY, The Morning CallMonths of wrangling over an audit, a lease and the release of $10,000 in Bethlehem Township money may have ended last night with one sentence from a representative of the Bethlehem Township Athletic Association."We don't want your money," Marty Cusick told the township's Recreation Commission.At a meeting last night, the commission also briefly acknowledged the receipt of $4,000 from developer Robert G. Ciccone, who earlier this week sent a check to the Park Fund to "make amends with the township" for money he received three years ago in a phony invoice scheme.
Commission member Janet Marsh suggested that Ciccone be asked to pay interest on the money.Ciccone testified last month at a preliminary hearing for former Township Manager and Commissioner Albert Timko that he submitted a phony invoice to the township to recoup money that he had given Timko as a "favor."Timko has been indicted on multiple felony charges stemming from a state grand jury investigation of township government.Last night's discussion about the Athletic Association was initiated by Cusick, who spoke during the public comment session.The association and the township have not been able to agree on conditions of an audit report requested by the township, or on the terms of a lease for a football field that the association, known as the Bulldogs, wanted to develop in the township park on Farmersville Road.Until an audit was provided on the township's terms, the township refused to release any of the $10,000 it had allocated to support the Bulldogs' programs in 1987."We're not going to hassle any more with you," Cusick told the commission last night. "We'll raise our own money."Referring to scrapped plans to develop the football field, he suggested, "Any money that you have, you give to your recreation director. Let her develop a football field."Recreation Director Mary Kidder, who arrived later in the meeting, did not hear Cusick's comments.Commission Chairman John Phillips repeated the commission's position that an audit of the association's records is needed so the commission can justify the $10,000 allocation of township funds. "We need to back up and verify that everything is on
 the up-and-up," he said, stressing that he was "not making any accusations . . . . We're trying to do everything the right way."Cusick said the Bulldogs had cooperated with the township by providing financial figures and by submitting invoices for reimbursement by the township, but Phillips said those figures were not adequate for the township's purposes, and that the commission could not abide by the Bulldog's request that the report be viewed in private rather than at a public meeting."We're only asking for something that any other receiver of funds is asked to provide," Phillips said, citing the Nancy Run Fire Co. as an example."Well, it's not worth the hassle," Cusick said.Cusick also indicated that the Bulldogs probably would not be interested in helping the township develop the football field. "When it's developed, give us a ring," Cusick said in response to a question from Marsh, suggesting that a lease agreement might then be worked out.Cusick said the position of the Bulldogs has not changed since a letter they wrote to the township in April. He said association members had decided to ignore subsequent attempts by the township to discuss the matter further, but that he had decided to come to the meeting to put the matter to rest.
Phillips asked that communication between the two groups not be broken off completely. "We don't want to wipe the slate clean," he said. "We don't want to forget the Bulldogs ever existed."Marsh asked whether the Bulldogs could continue their programs without the township money."I don't know," Cusick said. "It depends on how many hoagies we sell." He said the Bulldogs would step up their fund-raising efforts tomake up the lost money.
Related ArticlesTownship Denies Athletic Funds To Association Pending AuditApril 9, 1987Bethlehem Twp. Athletic Group Asked To Account For FundsOctober 9, 1986Neighbors Fight Plan For Lighted Football FieldMay 17, 1995Bethlehem Township Asked To Spend $30,000 On PlaygroundFebruary 19, 1987Revised Blueprint For Township Park Favorably ReviewedDecember 15, 1988Find More Stories AboutPublic MeetingBulldogsTownship ParkRecreation CommissionIndex by Keyword|Index by Date|Privacy Policy|Terms of ServicePlease note the green-lined linked article text has been applied commercially without any involvement from our newsroom editors, reporters or any other editorial staff.