http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120923/NEWS01/120929762/montco-grand-jury-probing-pottstown-code-enforcement-office

So the Mercury had it wrong too?

What is his “real” annual income; after all, being Boro Mgr is career #2! Will there be a move to an even higher level of gov’t should Mr. Castor run for Governor and should he get elected?!?!? Perhaps Mr. Castor fought (or intimidated) so strenuously for Mr. Flanders since he needed to “beef up” his resume for a potential future job in Harrisburg?!?

Just a thought!

Either way, to me, it seems silly to give this man the job at a higher salary then the last guy and then give him back an Asst., too!!! Is that a reflection on his inability to do the job w/o a 2nd in command? Perhaps, it is strictly to set up a patsy to take the fall for his inexperience – I’d watch out, Erica!

I don’t think Council is sending a positive message to “tuned in” residents! Perhaps the new mission statement should simply say ‘You get less for more in Pottstown!’.

SAD, indeed!

http://www.philly.com/philly/jobs/10_Jobs_in-demand_where_you_can_make_at_least_100K.html

In his commentary, “Pottstown Codes Dept. gets reprimand by state” Evan wrote:

“Flanders told the Mercury on 12/18 that it is his ‘understanding’ that many of the inspectors cited in the letter have or are close to obtaining many of the certifications that the letter indicated are lacking among the codes staff.” (Sources indicate that is completely not true, not everyone is capable of getting certified).

Flanders reply sounded way too nonplused and laid back, especially when there’s so much b.s. going on in that department and it is, potentially, a very important piece of the “Pay to Play” culture that is becoming part of the county / borough landscape.

For one, as you point out SP, there are RV&B connections to members of council and the school board, the first red flag….and now, consider this theory:

Council gets 100% behind Flanders for boro manager, lining up weeks before the vote, they tossed a political favor in the general direction of the Axis of Evil because, (unbeknownst to the average taxpayer at that time), Bruce Castor is nurturing thoughts of running for governor, as he announced early December-ish.

So, Castor, whips out his legal saber to fend off the adversaries of his most excellent pal, Mark Flanders, touting the long friendship between them and threatening defamation lawsuits to protect his buddy’s smooth, uninhibited access to the borough manager’s position. Flanders relationship with RVB is important to Castor as he lines his ducks up in a row – Remington, Vernick & Beech are BIG political campaign contributors.

The P.town codes department has become a pawn, in a broader political ploy to get Castor elected governor. For that matter, all of P.town could become a pawn. Assisted by his buddy, Flanders, and the P.town boro council, the “Pay to Play” sandbox just got larger and so did the price of admission. It’ll come as no surprise if RV&B become a permanent feature here, at least until they screw up, (hopefully that won’t happen before the governor’s race).

In this scenario, D.A. Ferman, (also a friend of Flanders), is happy to tip toe quietly away from the investigation of the codes dept., it’s too messy and sources say, the D.A. is fully aware of the evidence of corruption. Hmmm and, maybe, Frank McLaughlin will become a campaign contributor too, he sure as hell didn’t have to spend any time in prison for thieving, $$$ gratitude may be expected.

If this scenario is more than an overactive imagination, could we expect to see more of Bruce Castor and Risa Ferman spreading “light and love” in Pottstown? If so then please…

Don’t forget to have a word with MontCo Voucher Housing about how not nice it is to crap all over this community with their unregulated voucher housing schtick while their friends, the investors, get paid handsomely to dump on us too. We’d be appreciative…

In fact, voters in Pottstown might be so thankful they could even be convinced that Bruce Castor would be the BEST choice for governor. If you’re gonna pawn the borough for political gain, do it really, really well ‘cause the thoughtful, taxpaying residents would like to reap some benefit from it too.

How sweet and fluffy “I SAVED POTTSTOWN” would look on Castor’s resume in preparation for a gubernatorial race!!

Mark Flanders did mention re-organization of the codes department in our interview.

It was first referenced, in regards to the letter from Labor and Industry, in this Dec. 20 post:
http://evan-brandt.blogspot.com/2012/12/uncertified-inspections-and-reviews.html

Further, I wrote a separate story regarding the re-organization of the administrative offices which was slated to run as an accompanying story to the profile that ran today. Not sure why it’s not on the web site as I have been off for a few days.

Nevertheless, the content of that story was already posted on my blog at this link:

http://evan-brandt.blogspot.com/2012/12/borough-re-organization-underway.html

So I’m afraid it is inaccurate to say he did not mention codes reorganization during the interview.

He did.

In essence, he said he would be waiting to see what recommendations are made by Remington, Vernick and Beach before taking any action.