Trappe Borough Shenanigans again

Caught wind of this email, and was able to get a hold of it. Please read.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Trappe Borough Council Foists Fraudulent Process On Residents
Council conducts sham interviews as it prepares to appoint
twice defeated and current President Stewart Strauss to a Council vacancy

TRAPPE , PA – After a special meeting last night at which Trappe Borough Council reviewed the credentials of residents who expressed interest in a recent Council vacancy, one member of Council called the entire vetting process "fraudulent."

A consistent critic of Trappe Council’s majority faction, Councilman Matt Watson expressed his belief that the entire process was staged to give legitimacy to the appointment of current Council President Stewart Strauss by his Council allies to the remaining two years of a term left vacant by the recent resignation of Councilman Mark Carrig.

"The plan to appoint Strauss has been in the works for month. The entire community knows that," said Watson. "The entire process, from advertising the vacancy to conducting interviews is a sham designed to intentionally deceive Trappe voters and taxpayers,"

"Stu Strauss has been handed two decisive electoral defeats in the last six months. The voters of Trappe spoke loud and clear in the primary and general election and they don’t want Stu Strauss. Clearly, Stu can’t take the hint!"

Strauss was soundly defeated in the 2007 Primary by Fred Schuetz, Paul Edwards , and Lew DiPrete. After running a write-in campaign for a two-year term in the General Election, Strauss was again decisively defeated by Matt Watson, 513 to 193, or 73 percent to 27 percent.

As recently as last week, Strauss expressed ambivalence about the prospect of continuing to serve on Trappe Borough Council. A story in the November 21, 2007 edition of the Pottstown Mercury reported, "Strauss said Tuesday [November 20th] that he had not yet decided whether or not he will apply for the seat." The same story also noted Strauss remarked, "’I’m just not sure if it’s worthwhile or not.’"

"This has nothing to do with trying to make Trappe a better community, and everything to do with Strauss using every means – ethical or not – to hold on to his seat on Council," said Watson.

"For the last two years as Council President, Strauss has shown no regard for the sentiments and opinions of the community, so it’s no surprise that he doesn’t care that the voters have rejected him, not once, but twice in the last six months."



"The majority of this current Council," said Watson, "has either been defeated or chosen not to run for re-election. To make anything other than an interim appointment, and leave to the just overwhelmingly elected Council the ultimate responsibility to fill the vacancy demonstrates a complete lack of respect for this community and its residents. This intentionally deceitful process only compounds their reprehensible behavior and further insults the intelligence of Trappe residents."

Trappe Council will vote next Tuesday night, December 4th, to fill the vacancy. The council meeting begins at 7pm and will be held at Trappe Borough Hall, 525 W. Main Street .

Watson encourages all Trappe residents to attend to express their displeasure. "Stu Strauss and his Council allies need to hear Trappe residents say ‘We will not tolerate this. We will not permit you to foist this sham process on us.’"