District retains current solicitor
Attorney Brian Subers, with Fox Rothschild, LLP, headquartered in Philadelphia, will continue to represent the Daniel Boone School District, following a 6-3 vote on Monday night.
Subers has served the district since 1996.
Brian F. Boland, Esquire, with Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys, Wyomissing, and representatives of Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, LLP, New Britain, Bucks County, presented the benefits of contracting with their firms.
The district bid the solicitor opening last spring following the recommendation of board member Richard Martino.
Martino had attended Amity Township Board of Supervisor and Planning Commission meetings for two years, until his term as school board president ended in December 2015.
Boland has served as Amity Township solicitor for 20 years.
Martino said the district would benefit by contracting with Kozloff Stoudt — and Boland — who is familiar with the Daniel Boone community and its issues and concerns.
Residents routinely ask school boardmembers during meetings, for a solution, they say, to the lack of Amity Township efforts to attract and secure new commercial and industrial companies to the district.
New commercial businesses would reduce the residential property tax burden.
Six board members voted to retain Fox Rothschild; Martino, and board members Carol Beitz and Connor Kurtz voted for Kozloff Stoudt.
Beitz said at the Sept. 12 Committee of the Whole meeting that the board and district could benefit from new solicitor blood.
Board members voted 8-1 to forgive the Blazer Foundation the $34,000 in startup funds that it owes to the school district.
The district will forgive $11,333 each of the next three years, provided that the Foundation raises at least $5,000 per year for the school district.
Martino opposed the motion.
“The former board that lent the money, lent taxpayer money,” said Martino, adding, “They said the money would be repaid.”
“To forgive $11,000 a year because $5,000 is raised? “We’re paying the [Foundation] director $6,000 a year to raise $5,000,” said Martino.
Board President Michael D. Wolfe said the Foundation has raised about $90,000, much more than $34,000 since it was created three years ago.
The Foundation was created to solicit and collect Educational Improvement Tax Credits (EITC) for the school district.
“I understand it [the resulting lack of EITC funds] is not what was presented to us, but [the Foundation] is healthy and vibrant,” said Wolfe, adding, “Mr. Martino’s point is very valid -- it’s not our money, it’s the taxpayer’s money -- but a good investment.”
“I don’t think their motivation to raise money was the $34,000 hanging over their heads,” said board member Jeff Scott, adding, “I don’t think anyone believes they will close up shop because the money is forgiven.”
Business Manager Loren Small said new projected revenues of $900,000 from Birdsboro Power, LLC, in 2020, will be included in the district’s five-year plan.
Birdsboro resident Steven Lusky said board members/ district administration have not responded to his request to view the “new building” occurring at the 90-acre, former Armorcast site.
“It will be significantly more money received than from any other district,” said Lusky.
“I ask you to reconsider closing Birdsboro Elementary Center. With all the income we will be providing you, is it really necessary to do that?”
At the end of the meeting, Lusky asked if Superintendent James Harris has apologized to Amy Hicks, president of the Daniel Boone Ed- ucation Association (DBEA), for his comments to her at the Sept. 12 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Harris told Hicks that she is “not a good faith partner” with the school district, and that she is an “antagonistic person who only wants to intimidate.”
He told the public on Sept. 12 to disregard social media posts, including the recent one by Hicks on Facebook about the “imminent” transfer of a second grade teacher.
That teacher transfer did not occur.
Noboard action was taken on board member Tamara Twardowski’s motion that Harris not answer Lusky’s question.
Subers told Lusky that he cannot demand an answer from board members, and that the public can only ask questions during the public comment period of board meetings.