Cut Down the Shade Tree Commission
POTTSTOWN, PA – As we stated earlier this week while looking over Pottstown Borough Council’s agenda for this past Wednesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, there were some interesting items up for discussion.
And one of them was the future of the borough’s Shade Tree Commission.
Today’s Mercury fills in the details:
Pottstown council eyes new trees rules that may make Shade Tree Commission obsolete
One piece of key information that was omitted from the article is the fact that Trees, Inc., the non-profit organization run out of Shade Tree Commission Chairman Thomas Hylton’s Chestnut Street home, has net assets close to $100,000. Much of that money is taxpayer contributed funds from the Borough of Pottstown from the years 2003 to 2007. Hmmm. The amount of money the Borough freely handed over to Mr. Hylton (almost $105, 000) is about $8,000 more than the amount in Trees, Inc.’s coffers. It looks like it’s time for the borough to do a little asset seizure.
For those number crunchers out there…here is Trees, Inc.’s IRS Form 990 from March of this year which is posted on their website:
As we’ve said several times before, the Shade Tree Commission is really of no use to the borough and its residents. It doesn’t work with residents to solve tree issues. Its Chairman is belligerent and self-righteous towards borough residents and simply shrugs his shoulders (and says they have no money) when asked to take action. And why should he have to answer to anyone…he’s only sitting on close to $100,000 to do with as he pleases.
Here are some past posts we shared with you on the Shade Tree Commission:
Where Have All the Good Trees Gone?
It’s time for Borough Council to do what’s best for its taxpaying residents. Toss the Shade Tree Commission into the wood chipper and be done with it.
I agree. We need an accounting of the money that has been spent and the Borough is owed the money that is available.
Yes – please do get rid of this ‘so-called’ extension of council. Council serves the town and the people and I just don’t see how this group of people has helped the people that have taken issues to them. I think, at the inception, the group had a purpose and a mission and it has been lost over the years and it was lacking vision in the beginning to survive through the growth and development of the tiny trees that were planted.
It is a known fact that trees grow and the extent of the STC involvement should have grown accordingly as an active part of council to manage Borough trees. Tag the bloody trees so that people know which are theirs or the Boroughs – permits I’m not so sure about because I can think of instances where they could be good for all. All that aside, the STC hasn’t proven to stand the test of time and grow to meet changing needs. We need to get rid of it and find a more up-to-date system that is sensitive to the residents and is self-funding. Depending on a non-profit for emergencies is bad business and puts the Borough in a precarious position and all the while the residents are left to pay the bill (unless you were one of the lucky ones given money from Trees Inc.).
There is, in my opinion, something wrong with the finances nd I think a great deal of the money belongs to the Borough. Whether or not they get it back I think they should have the assets frozen and an extensive audit to clear the air and put the matter to rest.
PS
Don’t forget when you cut a tree down it is important to grind the stump out, too. By doing this it returns the roots back to the earth quicker and more efficiently and leaves nothing to trip over at the surface. OH, you can’t replant in exactly the same spot either – you have to make an adjustment in location for a new tree to grow and prosper (if I understand the horticulture of it all…). I think this is what the Boro is trying to do – remove the current problematic structure and adapt with consideration of what’s left behind.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!! Let ‘it’ come to pass (on Monday)!!!
My question, after doing some poking around at Trees Inc., is about the money and assets. According to the information (as of 6/30/2010), $86,602.64 are the total assets listed. Of the assets, $2,916.62 are in a checking account, $21,064.00 are in Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities (1638 shares) AND $62,622.02 are in a CD (maturing 1/8/2011) SO: What’s the plan for the money?
It’s all well and good to list assets, checks paid out, incoming donations and show tax records and reports but what is the intention of the organization beyond all that? What are people to believe about the work they are doing now when the money runs out? How long (in years) will the current assets continue to fund the services Trees Inc. currently provide the Borough?
IF the STC no longer exists and there are no ties to Trees Inc. will this organization see fit to continue the work they began OR will they claim that the Borough has ‘kicked their can down the road’ and effectively hold these assets and investments over the Borough and ‘take the money and run’ once the CD matures in January 2011? Will the organization ‘donate’ this money to another cause or non-profit?
If the Borough believes ANY of this money is truly tax payer money from years past then I suggest they act BEFORE this CD matures. I am skeptical that it can be proven (as link to actual letters from Mr. Hylton on Borough letterhead state) that all the money the Borough handed over to Trees Inc. was spent. Who is to say that money paid out was privately donated money or money donated by the Borough unless the money was donated and spent immediately. Once the money became co-mingled it is anyone’s guess and I think this is why the Borough should scrutinize the assets of Trees Inc.
There is a sidewalk near me that could use some help and my neighbor has unsuccessfully sought help from STC and permission to cut the tree down a few times in the past – so I say move to a new system and create a fund so that lack of money doesn’t compromise safety.
Another question is what were the contributions made from 1988-2003?
OR were there none and thus little thinking about sustaining this organization? The organization was established to plant and maintain trees BUT one can’t maintain without a constant source of positive cash flow. I am confused how this fiscally responsible organization was supposed to fulfill their mission by spending all the money and having none come in.
It is not the Borough’s fault that they were unable to continue to donate $20,000 (or more) to this organization and yet the website would have people believe that without Borough money no maintenance assistance could be afforded to residents.
Is the cerified arborist paid for his time or is that a donation?
When the boro gave Trees Inc. the $21,000 per year, Jack Wolf was Council President, and on the board of directors of Save our land, Save our Town, and that money was a donation. Which means that any money donated to a 501c is then controlled by the 501c. If anything should be looked into it is the interweaving of Mr. Hylton and his several non-profits and members of boro council, the Planning Commission, and the school board.
i still don’t understand how jack wolf, former borough council president and current board member of hylton’s save our town 501c, could continue to give money to hylton all those years. isn’t that a huge conflict of interest???
there is a lot of interweaving between hylton’s several non-profits as east1ender mentioned. and it’s always the same cast of characters: geo/dennis wausnock, jack wolf, hylton, someone from the planning commission (that fetterman guy or karen weil). it’s all a little fishy if you ask me.
it would be nice to have a borough of state group investigate hylton. whenever there’s money exchanging hands, it’s always important to follow the money trail. especially when that person is constantly telling people how to live within their means. i could live within my means too if i had a $100K nest egg (courtesy of the taxpayers of pottstown) to use as my personal atm.
Hylton’s Trees,Inc. has collected well over $700,000 in donations since its inception which includes the donations from the borough(taxpayers $$$$). He continues to refuse to make public the audit from 2009 which should be made public since taxpayers $$$ was invovled. An investigation into this non profit as well as all his other non profits should be forthcoming as should the Carousel and Preservation Pottstown. 422er is absolutely correct,it is and has been the same cast of characters+ involved with all the money flowing but where has all this money been flowing to and for what. I also agree that a clear conflict of interest was present when the borough began giving taxpayers $$$ to Trees, Inc. as well as Hylton being chairman of the Shade Tree Commission. Why did the Carousel ask council for $50,000 for a roof which was swiftly denied as was Hylton’s request to be in charge of a possible available grant for sidewalks. Go Council! Common sense points out that a roof is the first thing to secure when building or renovating! Where did all the money go from the “let’s not follow the rules” bike racks that Preservation Pottstown collected, $500.00 per side for advertising per year? Hmmmm!
Please let’s not condem the ENTIRE Shade Tree Commission. There are two current members, one brand new and one only a few years in who got themselves appointed in an effort to bring some common sense to the Commission. Unfortunately, TH had the upper hand. He is – soon to be “WAS” I hope – the chairman of the committee and had the two remaining “incumbent” members in his hip pocket. Jody Rhoads and Kathleen Bortz, who became the reasoning voices on the committee and NOT beholden to TH, were never able to accomplish much beyond being burrs under TH’s saddle because they were the minority “vote”. It irks TH to no end that he can’t control these two, but since he has the majority, he pretty much ignores them just as he has ignored the residents of Pottstown for so many years. I thank Council for finally showing some common sense themselves and taking control of the tree situation!! We don’t need Tom Hylton running the show anymore! He’s hurt us enough!
informus,
I believe, since changing hands, Preservation Pottstown will be found in order and above board. There has been very little money coming and going.
Of interest, in addition to the 2009 audit of Trees, Inc., is the Carousel. It has been mentioned that the Homeowner’s Initiative monies for 2008 was closed to new homeowners, ostensibly due to lack of participation, and the remaining funds were given to the Carousel.
How much money are we talking, here?
It was posted: “Why did the Carousel ask council for $50,000 for a roof which was swiftly denied… Common sense points out that a roof is the first thing to secure when building or renovating!”
IF common sense doesn’t prevail w/ this ‘braintrust’ it seems ONLY natural that some other things have been done that aren’t up to snuff, either!! It’s like a connect the dots puzzle that has no clear picture when all the dots are connected!! I’d suggest that, my friends, is completely by design!!!
How much good will can these ‘promises of grandeur’ drain until something is returned to the community with pure intent? There are just too many commonalities of mismanagement and poor decision-making to not investigate all these groups and their operations!
Why must all these little known facts be seemingly hidden from the community? These ‘Kings of Loopholes’ need to be held accountable for their impact upon the town – isn’t that what open government is all about? Oh wait, loophole lesson #1: privately held non-profits and groups established for the betterment of the town need not subscribe to the same rules as the rest of us mere mortals BUT they have the divine right to call anyone else ‘to task’ to further their goals and, sometimes, manipulations…silly me!!
I believe you would find potential homeowners, and one that I am aware of that was directly stung by this decision, who strongly disagree with……..It has been mentioned that the Homeowner’s Initiative monies for 2008 was closed to new homeowners, ostensibly due to lack of participation, and the remaining funds were given to the Carousel. Ostensibly…being the key word! Plesae look at the sitting council at the time this decision was made. The Homeowner’s Initiative was a popular and successful program not to mention it supported ONLY single family homes. By all means let’s give the money to a nonprofit instead of taxpaying citizens. Make sense, not at all.
monkeybizness, the amount of taxpayers $$$ given to Trees, Inc. from 1999 to 2006 was $134,189.00. In 2006 the previous council decided the budget did not have any funds to give to Trees, Inc. and the funding of taxpayers money to Trees, Inc. stopped. However, the previous council failed to stipulate how the funds should be utilized. This was not a smart move because if funds aren’t stiputaled for their use, it’s open for the nonprofit to do as they wish with the funds. I personally believe with the current councilors on board and Jason, Pottstown is slowly starting to move forward. Keep up the good work! You are very correct regarding…IF common sense doesn’t prevail w/ this ‘braintrust’ it seems ONLY natural that some other things have been done that aren’t up to snuff, either!! It’s like a connect the dots puzzle that has no clear picture when all the dots are connected!! I’d suggest that, my friends, is completely by design!!! It is so good that people are starting to question a wide variety of things that have occurred in our community for years and “Save Pottstown” I thank you for opening the much needed dialogue within our community. Keep it coming!!!