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This is the third report in an ongoing Wayne Independent investigation of Honesdale borough, Texas Township and the complex web of financial dealings between them in recent years.
In an ongoing investigation conducted by this newspaper, it has been discovered that some planning and zoning records from Texas Township have been — and may still be — kept at the borough building.
The question of why remains open, however.
Also in question is why there were large amounts of money transferred between the two entities and where the records are explaining these transactions.
At this point we still have far more questions than answers, but some facts are clear. One of these is the fact that current Honesdale code enforcement officer Wayne Earley was also a contractor for the township for a number of years.
Records provided on Tuesday by the township indicate large amounts of money were paid to the borough and to Earley in connection with major projects constructed in Texas Township.
For instance, a check dated Aug. 21, 2006, was written from Texas Township in the amount of $18,744.32.
Accompanying that check is an invoice from Honesdale Borough entitled “Payroll Expense.” It breaks down the entire amount including Medicare, worker’s compensation and other fees. The largest expense is entitled “building and occupancy” and is for $17,104.08. No other documents are attached explaining why Texas Township was compensating the borough for the project or for its payroll expenses.
A document dated Oct. 20, 2006 is another invoice from Honesdale Borough to Texas Township and again says “payroll expense,” this one referring to the county prison. This time, the total invoice is $37,025.74, of which $36,260.65 was listed as “building and occupancy.” A copy of a check attached to the document by John Haggarty, secretary for the Township, indicates $12,086.88 was paid to Earley on Feb. 5, 2007.
Another document dated Nov. 15, 2007 is an invoice from Earley to Texas Township for $12,341.91. The description is for “inspection of construction and attendance at meetings.” The document also references “progress payment for Wayne County Prison work.” A check dated four days later in that same amount was written by Texas Township to Earley. The invoice requested the check be sent to Earley’s residence on Torrey Road in Honesdale.
Another Earley invoice supplied by Haggarty refers to the same amount of $12,341.91, but says the “balance due this billing” is $9,256.34. This invoice, dated March 12, 2010, was paid on April 5.
Though this invoice cites the exact same amount as the 2007 payment for work on the prison, this one refers to “progress payment for Wayne County Prison work and R.M. Palmer work to date.”
This is the third report in an ongoing Wayne Independent investigation of Honesdale borough, Texas Township and the complex web of financial dealings between them in recent years.
In an ongoing investigation conducted by this newspaper, it has been discovered that some planning and zoning records from Texas Township have been — and may still be — kept at the borough building.
The question of why remains open, however.
Also in question is why there were large amounts of money transferred between the two entities and where the records are explaining these transactions.
At this point we still have far more questions than answers, but some facts are clear. One of these is the fact that current Honesdale code enforcement officer Wayne Earley was also a contractor for the township for a number of years.
Records provided on Tuesday by the township indicate large amounts of money were paid to the borough and to Earley in connection with major projects constructed in Texas Township.
For instance, a check dated Aug. 21, 2006, was written from Texas Township in the amount of $18,744.32.
Accompanying that check is an invoice from Honesdale Borough entitled “Payroll Expense.” It breaks down the entire amount including Medicare, worker’s compensation and other fees. The largest expense is entitled “building and occupancy” and is for $17,104.08. No other documents are attached explaining why Texas Township was compensating the borough for the project or for its payroll expenses.
A document dated Oct. 20, 2006 is another invoice from Honesdale Borough to Texas Township and again says “payroll expense,” this one referring to the county prison. This time, the total invoice is $37,025.74, of which $36,260.65 was listed as “building and occupancy.” A copy of a check attached to the document by John Haggarty, secretary for the Township, indicates $12,086.88 was paid to Earley on Feb. 5, 2007.
Another document dated Nov. 15, 2007 is an invoice from Earley to Texas Township for $12,341.91. The description is for “inspection of construction and attendance at meetings.” The document also references “progress payment for Wayne County Prison work.” A check dated four days later in that same amount was written by Texas Township to Earley. The invoice requested the check be sent to Earley’s residence on Torrey Road in Honesdale.
Another Earley invoice supplied by Haggarty refers to the same amount of $12,341.91, but says the “balance due this billing” is $9,256.34. This invoice, dated March 12, 2010, was paid on April 5.
Though this invoice cites the exact same amount as the 2007 payment for work on the prison, this one refers to “progress payment for Wayne County Prison work and R.M. Palmer work to date.”
No explanation is included as to why a check for prison work was sent to Earley more than two years after the prison was completed and occupied.
Also included with the documents provided by Haggarty was the jail’s final Certificate of Occupancy, which shows that the county was legally able to occupy the building in August of 2008.
Another eye-opening document supplied by Haggarty refers to Texas Township permits.
It states the amount the county owed the township for building permits on the prison was $114,681.86 as of Oct. 16, 2006.
Another part of the document refers to building permits for the Rusty Palmer building, listing the fee amount as $37,386.96. That is dated Aug. 8, 2006.
Also supplied were copies of building permit applications from Home Depot and the county jail.
However, the Home Depot documents still only include the first four of nine pages. As previously reported, the missing pages should contain inspection checklists for the project.
There are six other pages with the document, including liability insurance information for the company that constructed the building and a PennDOT highway occupancy permit, as well as the sewer connection permit application.
On that document, Home Depot is listed as a new building. Another part of the same page says “proof of compliance with the above stipulations is required before a zoning permit will be issued for building construction by the zoning officer.”
A stamp on the document dated March 24, 2005 indicates the permit was issued that day and stamped by Earley.
At a total construction cost of $4.5 million, the Home Depot paperwork says the company paid a fee of $33,723 for its building permit and $59,440.80 for its zoning permit.
A copy of a check for $18,000 was also issued March 24 from Texas Township Municipal Authority to Honesdale Borough and in the memo it says for “Home Depot Hookup.” No documentation is provided as to why the fee amount to be paid was listed as $27,000 but the check issued was for only $18,000.
Unlike the Home Depot’s paperwork, inspection reports for the county jail are included in the records Haggarty provided. These show inspections beginning in December 2006 and ending in February of 2008. The inspections include everything from pouring of the concrete to testing of the sprinkler systems. All of the inspection line items are signed by Earley.
