Letter: RiverWinds and Audit Problems Need Solutions, Not Excuses
More needs to be done to fix what's wrong, says Republican township committee candidate Jeff Hansen.
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To the Editor:
“The golf developer is not happy,” says former township administrator Gerry White in a recent article.
The people of West Deptford aren’t happy! Our past administrator seems more worried about a golf developer that left RiverWinds and West Deptford with a $9.9 million bill than he is about the residents of West Deptford.
The comment by Mr. White was in response to the most recent articles about the audit and redevelopment reports presented at the West Deptford township committee meeting on June 14th.
I was at the meeting on June 14th and was totally floored by these reports, along with most of the others in attendance.
This isn’t an issue about Republicans and Democrats as pointed out by Gerry White and Committeewoman Denice DiCarlo; this is an issue about what’s right and wrong.
Mr. White, how can you blame Fulton Bank and not know how the township’s money was being allocated? The township secured a $9.9 million loan and didn’t know who was getting the money?
The auditor, Mr. Cimino, as well as the people of West Deptford, are just asking, “Where did the money go?” If it’s somewhere Mr. Cimino hasn’t looked, maybe you or Mr. Weinstein can direct him.
Mr. Cimino says he has been asking for months. It’s not a smear campaign or a finger-pointing game as insinuated by Denice Dicarlo. Missing funds of $4.5 million and a nonexistent general ledger are no game—if the money is accounted for, then great.
It still doesn’t change the fact that RiverWinds Golf Course was a bad business deal: Spend $9.9 million to build the course, then grant a 90-year lease for $2.1 million.
That’s a $7.8 million loss with a PILOT program attached to it that eliminates any contributions to our school system.
The right way is to identify the problems, put together good solutions and fix it. You don’t just ignore the problems and say you’ll try to do better—that is what got us in this $130 million hole. We need to cut our ties with the people who put us in this mess. It’s not a party issue, it’s a people issue.
It’s amazing that the Wednesday, June 20th Gloucester County Times editorial asks for an independent look into West Deptford and RiverWinds accounting and finances; Committeeman Sam Cianfarini has been saying this for almost a year. It was documented when he asked Governor Christie at a town hall meeting last year to perform an independent audit of West Deptford.
Mr. White and Mrs. DiCarlo: please don’t insult the people of West Deptford with excuses and accusations. The fact is there are real problems here in West Deptford.
It’s unfortunate that previous audits didn’t raise a red flag; if they had maybe we wouldn’t be in this crisis today. Take off the political hats and be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Jeff Hansen
Republican candidate for West Deptford township committee
canodit
7:12 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
Not long ago, Mr. Hansen graced us with a different letter. In his previous letter he claimed that the Democrats hesitance to back the tax appeal settlement without asking questions amounted to nothing but politics. Denise and Donna persisted in asking questions despite his opinion and as a result, an additional million dollars was saved for the taxpayers of West Deptford.
Now in this new letter, Mr. Hansen is saying that when his party is the party asking questions, it's not politics. Well, Jeff, you can't have it two ways. You can't pretend that one side gets to question things but the other can't.
Denise and Donna's questions and requests for continued negotiations had a positive gain for WD. What will your questions yield?
Once again, the Republican establishment shows it has no new ideas to help WD. Their only strategy is defamation with implicit accusations and half truths. It's ugly that you have to stretch the truth by trying to tie Denise to money spent a decade before she was on the committee.
WDNeedsHelp
11:32 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
You are a drone aren't you? Lets take your comments at face value:
"Denise and Donna persisted in asking questions despite his opinion and as a result, an additional million dollars was saved for the taxpayers of West Deptford."
Well if you take that money and finance it over 20 years you end up with about 550K not one million in savings. Do your math.
"Mr. Hansen is saying that when his party is the party asking questions, it's not politics."
Well, where is the 4.5 million???? Legitimate question by any sane person.
"Once again, the Republican establishment shows it has no new ideas to help WD."
The ENTIRE settlement deal was crafted by Cianfarinin as the Financial Chair, not Donna or Denice. Denice demanded to have her name attached to the winning settlement in order to buy her vote, nothing more in that scenario,
"It's ugly that you have to stretch the truth by trying to tie Denise to money spent a decade before she was on the committee."
Please visit www.wdtruth.org and see her petition letter. She asks everyone to meet at Mike Angelini's office to make calls. The same Mike Angelini who is being investigated for pension fraud.
See http://wdtruth.org/wd-truth-article-archive and there are documented articles on Angelini's pension investigation his associations with the losing team of Kintzing and Dicarlo and his bills to WD for his so-called legal services.
Dicarlo has tied herself to the old administration through her OWN words and ACTIONS.
Bryan Littel
11:57 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
It's not entirely accurate to say Cianfarini came up with the settlement deal on his own - a similar one, at least with Sunoco, was being considered last fall.
WDNeedsHelp
4:47 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Bryan, can you produce that deal for us? Funny, I am a stickler for details and I really don't believe things unless I see proof.
Bryan Littel
4:58 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
I don't have a copy of it, but I'll take the word of the township officials who confirmed it around the same time as the first (voided) agreement to the settlement.
seekingthetruth
8:43 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
Well Canodit, Do you just make this stuff up or what? Where did Mr. Hansen tie Denise to these funds? I think he said it shouldn't be political and all should want to get to the bottom of it. No where did he tie Denise to it. But, since you brought it up.....you think it is ok if we tie Donna to this? Wasn't her worlds of wisdom around during this time frame?
I also think he was just stating facts. you like all the democrats, including Denise, like to imply what someone says and not repeat what they say. Never was it said that someone stole or misspent the $4.5MM, Cimino even stated he is not saying wrong doing, he just can't prove where the money went. I think it is amazing that this is going on and people are refusing to help as in township emplopyee's and at the Bank. Are we hiding something?
How do you feel about the audit findings? Mainly the lack of a general ledger? Do you think that should cost our CFO his job or is everything just an accident in the utophia of West Deptford Democrates?
Occupant
7:00 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
Canodit, You do realize that this is your money also. It's everyone's money and you should be wondering what happened to it and how it was spent. Unless you are somehow benefiting from this misuse of funds, Don't throw rock in a glass house.
WDNeedsHelp
10:22 am on Monday, July 9, 2012
That is unless Candoit's livelihood or someone in his family's livelihood depends on the ill-gotten gains of the previous administration.
The only reason not to have a general ledger is to cause chaos and confusion because you are hiding something. That also falls in line with the missing 4.5 million, Where is it ? Accountants who are on the "up and up" have all their books and ledgers pristine and crystal clear. That obviously did not happen under the watchful eyes of Mr Gerry White and in the larger picture then Freeholder and West Deptford resident, Steve Sweeney.
Just doing what's right
2:40 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
As a West Deptford taxpayer and concerned citizen of this township, (I claim loyalty to neither the Republican Party Nor the Democratic Party), I want to know where the 4.5 million dollars was spent. This has nothing to so with Mr. White, Mr. CImino,, Mr. Hansen or Mrs. DiCarlo, this is about accounting for a large sum of money that was spent to develop Riverwinds.
wdbs
4:37 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
how come some of our past political leaders in this township have a free pass to riverwinds when I have tp pay to use the facility even tho my tax dollars paid for it.
my tax dollars paid for a library and that's free to the public.
besides do you need all those employees at riverwinds.
25 years the residents had to put up with the corruption of the democrats.all they do is take and take some more.
understand there is a petition going around to remove shields name from the community center
al henry
6:01 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
wdbs,..Well said. Where is this petition to have Shields name removed? My entire family would sign for sure!
WDNeedsHelp
11:34 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I can get about 2000 signatures today !!!
Bill Mansen
6:12 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
How is Jeff Hansen's membership drive at RiverWinds going. I heard they were only able to sign up 18 family memberships out of the 450 they anticipated. That's a 4% success rate, nice going Jeff. Will you bring that same success to the committee if elected in November?
Bryan Littel
7:50 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Haven't had a chance to update it since the first check of new memberships, but it's at 88 memberships - most of which are seniors - out of a push for at least 250, not 450.
http://westdeptford.patch.com/articles/riverwinds-membership-up-in-first-3-weeks-of-expanded-enrollment
WDNeedsHelp
11:07 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Great attempt at a deflection Bill. Bravo !!! Let me ask you, Have you seen my 4.5 million laying around the West Deptford Democrat Headquarters or the Gloucester County Democratic Headquarters anywhere? Seems your boss Steve Sweeney is silent on the subject as are his cronies and puppets Gerry White, Dave Shields, Anna Docimo and all the other previous Dems who wrecked this town. Still waiting to hear the answer "WHERE IS DA MONEY !"
BTW, at least Jeff and the Republicans are trying to move the town in the right direction, unlike you and the ilk like you who attack for no legitimate reason other that you were told to by the dunce pulling your strings.
Samantha McCall
7:14 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Wow, I cannot believe some of the things that people say on this blog! Are you for real Bill Mansen???? That is all you have to offer????? You and candoit have to be township or county employees, I guess you think you owe them something for your job, I cannot figure out the loyalty to these people? (And I am not saying every township or county employee). They have taken from everyone in this township, including you. They don't care about you or anyone else, let me say it again, they only care about your vote!!! Look at the big picture, where is the money, and why hasn't there been a ledger? Why is this an insignificant fact? These are huge!!! Not the Riverwinds memberships! Re-evaluate your loyalty, because their loyalty is to themselves.
redneckwillie3
7:09 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
better check the facts 90 memberships so far.plus more military memberships have signed
Bill Boner
12:13 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
88 memberships for the seniors at $62 per membership equals a whopping $5456. Great job guys. Here's another question regarding missing money. How were Sam and Ray able to eliminate 20 million dollars in debt in only 6 months? Before they took office WD owed 150 million, remember WD=Harrisburgh. Now according to Mayor Chintall the town owes 130 million. These guys were miraculously able to eliminate 20 million in 6 months. At this rate there should be nothing to worry about because the entire town will be out of debt in less than 3 years. Great job Sammy
WDNeedsHelp
4:38 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
As always you are WRONG !!!! (Boner, I get it, the name fits you PERFECTLY) Mayor Chintall refereed to the Debt quotes posted on www.wdtruth.org that are taken directly from the reports filed by the WD Committee to the State of NJ (That's Docimo, Szymborski, Daws, Garrison and Cobb if you were confused by the long words) The debt as of 12/2009 was 142 million and the debt as of 12/2012 was 134 million. (Please remove your shoes and do some counting to get the correct numbers) that would be a reduction of 8 million, not 20 genius. As a matter of fact that 8 million is questionable too, since one of the write-offs of 4.5 million (why does that number keep coming up) is not properly accounted for. Hope this clears up your confusion, probably not though.
http://wdtruth.org/wd-truth-article-archive/
WDNeedsHelp
4:45 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
OBTW, that $5000+ dollars is $5000 more than what we had if the old administration was still running things.
Repubs= Right Direction
Sweeney Dems=Wrong Direction
See the difference???
redneckwillie3
3:25 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
some people on here just won't give up.DEMS YOU LOST amd ur sinking faster than the phillies.no matter what the debt is it was created by the greedy dumocrats.
4.5 million how much did docimo pocket or daws shields and the rest of the CROOKS
WDNeedsHelp
4:41 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Willie, you are having a battle of wits with an unarmed person, truly unfair on your part :-)