Audit This!
POTTSTOWN, PA – While April 15th is only a few short months away, we here at Save Pottstown!! think it’s time to start taking some serious financial investigative action.
Last week, The Mercury published an article on Pottstown School Board member Thomas Hylton and his now since revoked pledge to loan the school district $20,000 from his personal cache of cash to pay for his ridiculously wasteful hi$torically-accurate window$ project for Rupert and Edgewood elementary schools. You can read that article here.
Hylton’s highly ethically-questionable stunt got us wondering…where is he pulling this money from? How can a retired newspaper writer profess to have such a large amount of cash on hand to casually toss around?
One of our readers recently made an interesting comment we thought was worth pursuing. And that is to request from the Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Charitable Organizations an investigation into Thomas Hylton and his numerous non-profits he operates from his home.
The Bureau of Charitable Organizations administers the state’s charitable solicitation law. They also maintain registration and financial information on over 11,000 charities soliciting in the Commonwealth, as well as more than 400 professional solicitors and fundraising counsels. Within the Bureau is the Division of Investigations and Division of Audits. These divisions were created under the powers granted to the Secretary, who has the authority to investigate violations of the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act, 10 P.S. § 162.1 et seq. Citizens and taxpayers who have complaints concerning solicitations by charitable organizations, solicitors or fundraising counsels are urged to contact the Division of Investigations/Audits.
As you may recall from our Tom Hylton’s Forest of Deceit post back in December, the Borough of Pottstown has contributed close to $105,000 to Trees, Inc. Taxpayer money that is now at the discretional use of Hylton, the Treasurer of Trees, Inc. According to records posted on its website, Trees, Inc. has total assets of $91,000+. That’s a lot of money for a non-profit nest egg…especially one that professes to be a strictly volunteer organization with no paid staff.
We’re asking our readers to take action by writing or calling the Bureau and request that they perform an extensive audit of Hylton and his two non-profits: Trees, Inc. and Save Our Land, Save Our Towns Enterprises, Inc.
Here is the financial data available for both non-profits from the state’s Charities OnLine Database:
Save Our Land, Save Our Towns Enterprises, Inc. Financial Data
When contacting the Bureau, it’s best to have this information at hand. You can contact them by phone: 1-800-732-0999 (within PA) / 717-787-0700 (outside PA) or in writing:
Bureau of Charitable Organizations
Division of Investigations/Audits
212 North Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Remember that the Bureau is prohibited from releasing any information regarding any complaints it may have received or any investigations it may be conducting except as provided by law.
The time to take action is NOW!
I’ll start this post by saying I’m certainly no fan of Mr. Hylton’s practices. This entire debacle with the windows is absurd, ludicrous and extremely angering.
That being said, what business is it of anybody’s where his personal income comes from? Maybe he has a nice nest egg. Maybe he had a killer 401K or pension with The Mercury. Maybe he inherited a family trust. Maybe he’s in debt up to his eye balls. Who knows? But, it’s nobody’s business and until he’s running for a much higher office, he doesn’t have to tell anyone that personal information.
My question is, what discrepancy in any of the posted financial documents are you taking issue with? You never seem to cite a specific example. Just that you think there clearly must be some financial shennanigans at play because you feel his chosen career path should have left him broke by now. Do you really think any State Bureau is going to take you seriously when you ask for an investigation based solely on your opinion that, as a retired newspaper man, he shouldn’t have this type of disposable income? Specifically, what crime are you charging him of committing? What proof do you have to support this charge, other than a hunch, that would cause a State official’s eyebrows to be raised and start an investigation? Without this, this issue pretty much goes nowhere, even if every resident in town called.
It just seems to me that maybe something a little more concrete would get taken more seriously.
Just seems that sometimes things doesn’t smell right. For instance, Mr. Hylton used to be involved with preservation Pottstown. Years ago that organization purchased the lot at Beech and Charlotte St. for $35,000. They planted trees on the lot. Good enough. In 2007 Preservation Pottstown sold the lot to Trees, Inc. for $1. Who runs Trees Inc? Tom Hylton of course. I am not accusing or suggesting anything, just seems that a lot of this kind of thing goes on in this town with Mr. Hylton.
i would think that the borough would have already done an audit, since tax payer money is involved. if they won’t do one, then the state should. why did the borough give trees inc tax payer money and now hylton is in control of how that money gets spent? i definitely think the state should do an audit. who’s to say that $20K is hylton’s money and not tax payer money from trees inc??
As if yet another reason is needed to AUDIT the IDIOT – I attended a council meeting this past Fall when a neighbor told the borough that Tommy Boy had agreed to repair one of our neighbors’ sidewalks. Assuming that the money was coming out of Trees Inc. she said she phoned T.B. personally to ask him to repair her sidewalk too. He told her that he was donating $10,000 of his own money to make this repair and that he couldn’t afford to repair her sidewalk too. What’s up with the sum $10,000 and if, as he said, this money came from his personal finances….WHY? $10,000 to fix a about a 4′x4′ square of sidewalk???? This sent of all kinds of bells and whistles when I heard this one.
Well, Angel, from my point-of-view I will try and answer your question of who is to say that the $20K is his money and not tax payer money. The answer is simple and surprising – he does. Hylton himself says it. Not only does he say it, but he very openly SHOWS it!
I know that it’s hard to believe. This guy has been anything but transparent so far with anything he’s done on the SB to date. The sneakiness of circumventing a policy he clearly knew existed with his unnannounced school visit; the fact that the ‘Fab 5′ are the only ones who seem to be in the loop on anything – these are just 2 examples (there are many others) of how this man works in anything but the open. However, on this one particular issue – the issue of finances with Trees, Inc. – he is nothing BUT transparent. I know, I know it just makes no sense. But, on his very own website, he posts every piece of financial information possible. Tax records, bank statements, etc. He is filing every document an organization such as that is legally obligated to file. He is telling the State and Feds he has said amount of money and backs it up with bank statements that show the money is in fact, in the bank. It just couldn’t be anymore transparent.
That’s why I ask, where is the discrepancy? What am I missing? If there was a $20K difference, then yeah, Houston, we have a problem. But the proof just isn’t there for any agency to start an actual investigation into anything.
Look, all I’m saying is, you have to pick your battles. And until this one has a smoking gun, it’s currently nothing but a dead end. Right now, the battle is with the Fab 5. We need to focus the energy on that. The more people who show up and speak out, the more the pressure is on them to do the right thing. We only need to get 1 of them to see the light and turn the tide. We’ll definitely never get Hylton or Wausnock. But you have to think that one of the remaining three has got be thinking somewhere deep down inside that this just isn’t right; it’s just not what the people want. Maybe, just maybe, we can raise the voice of their conscience and one of them will turn and say, “No Tom, sorry. Not this time.”
pottstown guy, if i understand this post properly, than i completely agree with the need/right to audit. at the very least trees, inc., after all the borough gave over $100,000.00 + to that NON-PROFIT…no excuse me – THE TAXPAYER’S gave $100,000.00 + to that NON-PROFIT. (i’m sorry that i’m yelling, but this gets me hot!) and this man has had the audacity on not one, not ten, not fifty, but waaay too MANY occasions to count to sit on his high (pile of money) throne telling the taxpayers (you know, the ones who own the town) what they can and can’t have/do with THEIR $$$ and what they should and shouldn’t pay for, as far as the amount of trees in lots, etc. and, by the way, why does he have and how did he get all of this power/authority over taxpayer’s $$$, anyway – don’t know…does anyone have an answer to that?
you bet the taxpayers deserve to know where EVERY penny of that $100,000.00+ was spent. i don’t know who, in good conscience, could dispute that! and if there has been misappropriations of power/money with the public funds in regards with “save our land”…then the same goes for that 501c!
Power to the People!
Pottstown Guy,
Agreed – it is nobody’s business where the money comes from IF it is his gift from a personal fund. How are we to know if it is or isn’t?
If he is on the up and up then he will shine through an audit and he can double thumb his nose at the lowly, misguided residents of this town. If Tommy Boys heart is in the right place then he would graciously let go of the death grip he has on the $91,000 and FIX THE FRIGGIN’ sidewalks before somebody is seriously injured.
Where is his heart? That is the question of the hour. This crazy crap of offering $10,000 to the S.B. and $10,000 to fix ONE small section of a sidewalk, (ostensibly), does not have the “feel” of well thought out philanthropy. If his offerings are coming from a good place then why doesn’t he establish THE TOM HYLTON PHILANTHROPIC FUND and give above board, equal opportunity to all worthy local enterprise? And if the SB wants a share they can apply along with everybody else.
Instead, his motives are not clear, and he has not proven to this community that he is competent let alone compassionate. He leaves himself wide open to ridicule, doubt, harsh treatment and disdain.
Hell…maybe he likes that kind of attention? Bring out the cat-o-nine-tails Tommy is handing out money like “dog treats”.
Power to the people indeed, silencedogood. No need to apologize for yelling. What’s going on is very much upsetting. I feel it to. We all do. That’s why we’re here.
You are certainly correct, the taxpayers gave that non-profit a lot of money. In fact, various Councils over the years have given exactly $104,970 of our money to it. How do I know the exact amount? Since it looks like we both posted responses close together, I am assuming you hadn’t read my response to Angel yet. But basically, the complete financial documents of the non-profit are posted for all to see. Every financial transaction. You can clearly see where every penny is going. Again, I just don’t see a discrepancy to flat out make an accusation that I can’t back up with facts. We absolutely have every right as taxpayers to demand to see where every penny of our money is going. And it appears as though we can see that here. For the time being, I’m satisified with what I see.
Believe me, I know I am in the minority here on where I stand with this issue. Let’s keep our eye on it but focus the energy toward the larger issue at hand.
I have to say that I am empathetic with Pottstown Guy’s plea…. I LOVE this blog. I want this blog to live forever. I want this blog to be the most respected source of information regarding the machinations going on in the Pottstown School District. Therefore, I have a great fear that certain postings could potentially open the door for others to call SP “lunatic fringe,” and that would be the worst thing EVER.
We need to focus our energy and attention on things that appeal to logic and reason. I have repeated ad infinitum that Tom Hylton is ethically challenged. But he is not STUPID. I find it very, very hard to believe that he would “steal” donations from a non-profit and claim them as personal funds. That just does not seem the least bit plausible to me.
That said…. I think much of what he does has a taint about it. It smells bad. It seems fishy. And I think that an investigation may very well be warranted, not because he has taken money and claimed it as his own but because he MAY HAVE (and I emphasize MAY HAVE intentionally, as I have no proof) a. obtained grants under false pretenses… that is, told the grantor that the money would be used for one purpose but then devoted much of it to something else that was only tangentially related to the stated purpose; or b. used non-profit money for political purposes… that is, obtained tax-exempt donations and employed them in a fashion that can be construed as political in nature. For example…
This publication of his, “Renovate or Replace?” makes me take pause. It came out right at a crucial moment in the nascent life of the Central Campus or Centers Project. It was practically hand-delivered to every decision maker at every level of that project. Look at what it says on the front cover:
Renovate or Replace?
The case for restoring and reusing older school buildings
The Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association
The Pennsylvania Historic Schools Task Force
AIA Pennsylvania, A Society of The American Institute of Architects
It sounds as if this is a publication OF the PA Dept. of Education and the PA School Boards Association. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Hylton refer to this in a similarly suggestive way, such as “The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s ‘Renovate or Replace?’”
But neatly tucked away on page 31 (of 32) you’ll find this:
“Renovate or Replace?” was conceived and produced by a task force
representing state agencies and non-profit partner organizations.
Thomas Hylton, Author, “Save Our Land, Save Our Towns,” Editor
Published by Save Our Land, Save Our Towns Inc. on behalf of
The Pennsylvania Historic Schools Task Force
Governor’s Office of Policy and Planning
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Pennsylvania School Boards Association
AIA Pennsylvania, A Society of The American Institute of Architects
Preservation Pennsylvania
The design and printing of this publication was funded by the William Penn Foundation
If you read this carefully, you’ll see that this is something that Tom Hylton did pretty much on his own and got state agencies to agree to let him put their names on the cover. I would like to know who is on this task force. I would like to know who in each of the agencies listed in the document reviewed and approved what the document says as POLICY that should be employed throughout the state.
I wonder if all of those state agencies knew in advance that Tom Hylton would be using the publication for political purposes, to help sway an election. He referenced this publication and the agencies named on the cover liberally in his Political Action Committee’s literature that was mailed to the home of every Pottstown household with a registered voter. I wonder if the William Penn Foundation knew it was funding a tool used to turn an election? I wonder which came first, the PAC’s need for something to use as fodder against the school board, or the non-profit’s need to publish such a document.
Maybe it’s all perfectly legal and ethical. But I’d like someone with more expertise than I have to tell me so.
While I agree with Pottstown Guy on some of the issues, as addressed above, I disagree with his claim that Tom Hylton doesn’t have to disclose his financial interests. He does. It’s the law. If he is getting money from non-profits, then he should be disclosing that.
Non-profits do issue money “no strings attached” to people they feel are making significant contributions to the greater good. People like Hylton who have won a prize can apply for grants or stipends from non-profits. It is kind of like the NEA offering grants or stipends to writers the NEA thinks might produce the next Great American Novel…. The non-profit sees the funding as a means of facilitating societal improvement by these special, gifted people.
Yea, I know most of you are taking a “gag me” break right about now. But, trust me, the Pulitzer gives Hylton a big advantage in applying for and getting these “stipends.”
Now… I don’t know that he is receiving such funds. I have never seen his financial interests disclosure form, although I’m pretty sure I have a right to under the Right To Know law. The question is, would a non-profit choose to give a stipend to someone who is so flush with cash that he can donate half or a third or even ten percent of what the non-profit is giving them as a living allowance? I don’t know the answer to that. I don’t know the answers to a lot of questions. Two that I’d love to see answered:
1. Does Tom Hyton PERSONALLY receive stipends or grants from non-profits?
2. If so, do the non-profits know how he uses their money? Do they care if the money is being used in whole or in part to sway the outcomes of elections?
Hello everyone. I understand there is a shade tree meeting on monday feb. 22 at 7:30 at boro hall. I am suggesting that as many people come as possible. Google the commission on the mercury’s website. Ask specific questions pertaining to your concerns. Emphasize the seperation of the commission and trees inc. What is going on is amazing. I have been to several meetings. And take notes and be sure Mr. Hylton sees that.
pottstown guy, we are on the same page about the personal money issue in this way – i don’t care about anybody’s personal money – including the hylton’s – well, let me correct that…i didn’t care about it until he started using it to get people elected in town to buy votes for his pet projects and now – his latest and GREATEST stunt – using it to pay for votes for his project while he sits on a board in the tune off $10,000 – that of which the district desperately could use towards educational programs for our students and the like. it’s like a sick joke, if you ask me. no strings attached, please – just like the invisible strings attached to his “fab four” sitting around that table with him. up until a few weeks ago i would have shrugged my shoulders and said “oh, well…what can you do – this is how he chooses to spend his money,” but, now i believe, it is different. ethics come into play and boundaries have been BEYOND blurred here! and while i also agree that we need to stay focused on the bulls eye – that being the hopes of getting one of the three that may have a conscience to start voting for themselves – i can’t agree that he should be left off the hook for the way he throws around his dollars to blatantly “buy” votes. a donation in that manner from an anonymous donor to the district – different story, and that’s how it’s done if your integrity is in check.
wayftp, i agree with you, as well…he is not stupid and he’s extremely crafty…that’s exactly why he’s so good at doing what he’s doing. you are also onto something with grants being used, PERHAPS, inappropriately. when i was reading the post that had the two preservation pottstown newsletters in (maybe sp can insert them here for me?) i thought it odd that a non-profit would give a $6,000 grant for the purpose of preserving a school building. when i went back and looked up the foundation (clancil foundation, i believe – now i can’t even find the website???) that gave the grant they specifically said they gave grants for educational purposes. preserving a building is not exactly educational, right? how does that fly?
anyway, all in all, the point of any effort – in my opinion – is to have taxpayers realize what is going on and to stop this crazy power-trip that seems to happen when some elected officials get into office. just because they run on some “scare-tactic” platform that the majority of taxpayers truly didn’t buy into DOES NOT give them carte blanche. they need to know NOW that it needs to STOP! they now represent the WHOLE community, you know, all 22,000 of us – ALL of us who are footing the bill and ALL of the children who are affected by their decisions – not the just the 2,200 votes (at the most) that they got in an election. that mentality is archaic and is what has gotten our community into this mess.
from the wise mind of mio angelo, when you know better, you do better. they should all know better by now!
Don’t get me wrong, WhirledPeas, I have never said that I don’t agree with having an audit done. In fact, I think an audit is exactly what is needed to finally put this issue of finanicial misdoing for personal gain to bed. We could finally all be convinced that, while he may be many things, embezzler isn’t one of them. Then all this misdirected anger on the subject could be put towards a more productive use. A forensic audit is a very costly and time consuming procedure. Unfortunately, there is little to convince the State to bear this burden through formal investigation.
Again, I am only speaking on the part that he is stealing tax payer money for personal gain. I think it’s a baseless claim and we’re wasting time and energy by discussing it.
However, Fighting to protect, brings up a much different set of questions and concerns that could actually be right on the mark. Possibly using grant or non-profit money under false pretenses or for political purposes. I just simply couldn’t agree more with every single point you made in your 10:44pm post. Your feelings about this site, about Tom not stealing for personal gain, the legal and ethical questions surrounding these publications – dead on accurate. These are a much different set of issues that, quite frankly, need to be answered. There is most definitely a whiff of something fishy in the air. These particular issues would be handled by the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission. On their website, there is easy to access information and a fairly simple process to log a complaint. However, the first bullet point states that if there is insufficient information, it will not be processed. I fear, at this point, this is what they would conclude.
Let me be clear, this is an issue for me. I’m aware of it and want answers to these questions. However, it’s an issue that will be there well after his reign of terror on the SB is over. Right now, the most pressing Hylton issue to me is the damage he can rapidly bring about the town with decisions being made RIGHT NOW on the SB. Currently, in my eyes, this is the fight we need to harness our anger over and come together to demand action.
i’m happy there is a forum to discuss these issues. i went back and re-read that SP post on mr and mrs moneybags (http://savepottstown.com/2009/12/mr-and-mrs-moneybags/) and i’m just wondering where all this money is coming from. i don’t think there’s been any criminal activity going on, but all these large sums of money moving around by hylton is worth questioning. last year the hytlons gave over $35K to their pottstown citizens pac and also gave over $10K to trees inc. i mean $40K here, $20K there. it really does seem fishy. i also agree with what are you fighting. it would make more sense that awarded grant money is being used in ethically questionable ways for political gain. i know hylton gave lots of money to people who ran for office – some of whom are now elected officials. hylton paid for mailings and envelopes. is that from awarded grant money? i don’t know how to prove that but it would make a lot of sense.
I just saw the message of the day. The headline in an out of town paper (about a non-Pottstown related issue)was “Legal does not mean ethical”. Wow-what a message. What a powerful message. An individual could be meeting the letter of the law and yet doesn’t pass the smell test. Our friend Mr.Hylton may meet the legal requirements for an “unconditional” donation to the Pottstown School District. Those cattle and sheep who blindly follow this self anointed hero of Pottstown (I can think of 4 sheep right on the SB)will comfort themselves that the “donation” was legal. But ethical? Not even close! I have raised my children to strive to live lives of integrity. What I see in Mr.Hylton is someone who wants to convince everyone that he wants only whats best for this town-he is our rescuer-and will do whatever legally he can do to save us from ourselves. But what you don’t see behind the curtain is the power grab, manipulation and strong arming of those who stand in his way. The back room manipulation of the electoral process in this town. The shady deals. Like allowing Mr.Huss what he wants-to be President of the SB-with the stipulation that he goes along with the Hylton agenda or be removed by the Hyltonites. The facade (isn’t the word facade eerily similar to the word farce?) is one of noble desires to save this town the legal way. The room behind the facade is dark with ethically questionable practices. Is it enough to just be legal? Shouldn’t a person strive to live a life of integrity? Shouldn’t a person also be ethical?
Legal most certainly does not mean ethical. That’s abundantly clear. Isn’t this the game of politics? The exact description you provide – convince the people your doing what they want, while manipulating everything behind the scenes – is exactly the crux of the problem in modern day government. I think we have done an excellent job throughout this debate in showing what democracy is. We may have differing points of view on a certain issue, but we respect each others opinions and can agree to disagree. It doesn’t stop us from collectively coming together and working towards a solution on other issues. It’s a breath of fresh air and the way our fore fathers intended it to work.
i am so much in agreement with your last comment, pottstown guy. but, please, let it be clear – i am NOT suggesting in any way the he is an embezzler – just that he is a pro at manipulating the rules and telling half-truths. nor have i read that insinuation in any of the posts here. i must say, though…SP knows how to strike up conversation and get you thinking, no?
the main point, and a direction to a solution to some of the town’s leadership (or lack of) problems, is that there should be a zero tolerance from the citizens for this inappropriate use of power in governing this community, especially in regards to SB. these leaders should be the pillars of ethics in our community, being that they are governing over the body that makes the policies that directly affects our most formidable citizens – and our potential future leaders – our children.
LOL! If that’s a subtle hint that I’m talking too much – duly noted.
I almost have to plagerize WAYFTP verbatim when I say I LOVE this site. I want it to succeed. I think they are doing a great job. And the worst thing that could EVER happen would be for it to be passed off as ‘the angry mob rag’. Hopefully many people are reading this and educating themselves on what’s happening. Hopefully it will spur some to get involved.
I think the town’s leadership has definitely improved after the last election. For the first time in a very long time, it seems that each and every one of the 7 Council people (and a mayor) genuinely have the best interests of the town front and center. No political BS, no hidden agenda’s, no back door secret deals. Just a group of townsfolk who are committed to trying to work together for the betterment of the town.
It’s a shame the voting electorate missed the boat when it came to seating the Fab 5. However, there are 4 committed people on the SB who fit the bill of ‘leaders’. Four people who are serving for no other reason than the betterment of our children’s education at the best possible return for the taxpayer. They must feel like they’re going through hell right now and personally, I thank these 4 for fighting the fight.
I have to agree with mssilencedogood. It’s so important that people come together to say that there’s zero tolerance for poor and unethical leadership. Everything’s got to be above board & squeaky clean. There’s a whole cascade effect that starts at the top. This kind of shenanigans casts a shadow over the SB itself, then the district, then the town and it scares off potential home owners and new businesses. And probably quality superintendents too. There are some real opportunities for the town to re-make its image in terms of the downtown, the river, etc. But the schools have to have their act together; it’s just so basic to a town’s identity.
On the many aspects of the $$ thread… nonprofits usually monitor their grantees and have reporting requirements as to how the money was spent in furtherance of the nonprofit’s mission – assuming the nonprofits are operating above board. I think the crux of the issue is that this is what happens when someone wears too many hats. The lines are not clearly drawn between when you’re acting on behalf of one cause or another. Are you a philanthropist? Are you a SB member? Are you a preservationist? You could be all three. Just not in the same meeting. If you’re in a SB meeting and you’re on the SB, education comes first.
Pottstown Guy
your last comment made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I too believe that we have town leaders who give a damn. The direction that they have taken, to date, by initiating the Ward meetings and beginning to address the ULI report are big steps in the right direction.
Perhaps as they set the example the SB will follow.
PtownNative20 — I agree…
Education comes first!