Township Manager Daniel Miller is now the arbiter of information in Allegheny Township.
Supervisors agreed to put Miller in charge of what goes on the township’s bulletin board, outdoor electronic sign, website and other means of communication as one official, Supervisor Mike Korns, awaits his day in court. Korns is charged with tampering with a TribLive article posted in the administration building.
The TribLive story detailed an investigation launched by Supervisors Jamie Morabito and Jeff Pollick in June into how $10,000 for a Christmas toy drive was transferred from a township account to the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company. None of the money is missing, and the fire department now is running the toy drive.
Earlier this month, Korns was charged with and has since pleaded not guilty to one summary count each of removal of funds, removal of files and removal of property — all violations of the Second Class Township code. Former Township Manager Gregg Primm and former Supervisor John “Ren” Steele also were cited by Brenda Troup, the township’s code enforcement and zoning officer.
The citations contained few details, but Morabito has said most of the charges are related to the transfer of funds and removal of the news article.
According to Korns, he recently advised the manager to develop a policy about township communications. What resulted was not entirely to Korns’ liking, but his motion to delay the vote by a month failed to get a second.
Miller was out of town and did not respond to requests for comment. All three township supervisors said Miller is the only person who could provide a written copy of the policy.
Morabito said township communications will be reserved for legal notices, construction schedules, upcoming events and other information that concerns most or all citizens.
That excludes newspaper articles, according to Korns.
Pollick said the policy should be leveraged to move the township in a positive direction. By developing these rules, Miller is showing a commitment to making that happen, in Pollick’s view.
“He’s just going to be the filter,” Pollick said. “This township needs as much stability as it can get. I believe he’s the person to offer that.”
