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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Favoritism in Allentown Golf Course Restaurant Deal?

On Tuesday, I told you about Allentown's recent decision to dump Robert Stanley, the ten-year proprietor of the Sand Tap Grille at the municipal golf course. He is being replaced by the Allentown Brew Works (ABW), operated by the Fegleys. They happen to be Pawlowski cronies.

King Pay to Play Pawlowski claims "there have been no 'special favors' granted to the Brew Works or any other individual or business in the City of Allentown. I will work and do work with all individuals and businesses that bring such positive attitudes and attributes to our efforts."

Well, he sure as hell has refused to work with Robert Stanley. In fact, it is becoming increasingly obvious that King Edwin worked against Robert Stanley and for ABW. Last night, someone who calls himself "Disgusted" made these observations.

"This story goes a lot deeper than even the videos showed. The Director of Golf told the former owner [Robert Stanley] that he had been awarded the bid on December 6th. He also told other course workers that the Sand Trap was returning. Prior to the bid, he contacted both PPL and Lehigh Valley Propane in an effort to get the Sand Traps expenses for the year. Obviously, [this was] an attempt to answer questions from the ABW that might affect their bid. These facts are eminently verifiable.

"The real shame is that this guy was on the selection committee!!!

"I am trying to get the score sheets that these people used to quantify their results. According to Stanley, not one person wrote anything down. They already knew the result.

"This Councilman (Schweyer?) said that at least four tournaments refused to come to Allentown because of the facilities. The largest tournament possible is 144 golfers, which can and have been handled by the former vendor. I can name at least four tournaments that WON'T be returning because of exorbitant prices being charged by ABW, as verified by the bid submitted.

"Weddings? This is the biggest farce of all. Not a chance there will ever be a wedding at Allentown Muni. Wait, maybe Mayor Ed has some kids that may be getting married.

"Bottom line, a guy did a great job for over ten years, never had a problem, NEVER had a complaint from either tournament sponsors or restaurant patrons. By the way, the Mayor was effusive in his compliments for their handling of the Annual Mayors Tournament.

"Thanks for the efforts Mr Stanley, by the way, you have eight days to sell all your equipment and vacate the premises."


If this can be established, and Disgusted claims it is "eminently verifiable," people within the Pawlowski administration were clearly funnelling confidential information to give Pawlowski pal ABW an unfair advantage. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a special favor. King P2P also claims there are "committees and objective review criteria for major contracts as to not have even a hint of impropriety." But it appears that a member of the committee may have been supplying information to one of just two bidders. How about that? Doesn't it seem just a tad peculiar that there were only two businesses interested in this project, and that one of them just happened to be ABW? What kind of "objective review" occurs when selection committee members don't even note answers to questions? Council member Peter Schweyer's comments are another screaming siren. Why would he, who was not even a member of the five-person selection committee, claim to have spoken to four different tournaments? It is very clear that the King and His Men wanted to rid Allentown of Stanley. There is much more than a hint of impropriety.

Perhaps the ABW should serve up bullshit burgers at their new golf course restaurant. They can call them King Edwins.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why are cities in the golf business in the first place? Perhaps they should master basic municipal functions first? Just saying ...

Bernie O'Hare said...

There's a thought.

Anonymous said...

This reminds me of the way Stoffa manuvered a long time County Service provider out of the cafeteria business and installed campaign buddy Bill Brackbills Nazareth Catering buddies to run the Northampton County Cafeteria.

A great behind the curtain shell game was played there too. Political favors beat out fairness and decency to a blind womans company.

Anonymous said...

Keep us informed. Sadly, this is not a surprise. Imagine representing a city for 10 years and then being given days to get out and lose $20,000 for one's efforts. If it is true insider information was relayed to ABW
what can be done? Who can afford to sue a city? Just maybe the
golf outings cancelled because of Allentown's crime influence.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes, just doing your job isn't enough.

Change is constant. Let this guy gather his equipment and move on. Allentown was forced to step it up to remain competitive after Bethlehem had Starters move in.

Anonymous said...

Just because Starters brought in a few plasma TV's and hung them on the wall does not warrant keeping up with the Jones's.

Both cities should sell these business as should Bethlehem Twp and it's un-profitable community center.

Let the professionals manage professionally and let the government accounting software manage the taxes.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Anon 1:46 is full of shit. The cafeteria contract at the courthouse was nothing like what Pawlowski did. There were no political contributors, no cronyism. The cafeteria owner did not even bid. Stoffa inisisted on a provision in the contract that guaranteed her a job for life.

Bernie O'Hare said...

" If it is true insider information was relayed to ABW
what can be done? Who can afford to sue a city?"


Since Pawlowski can't even be consistent with his own words, the first thing I'd do is dump him. For those of you you can't stomach Phillips, there will be a primary challenger, I'm told.

But Mr. Stanley really should ask the DA to look into this.

Anonymous said...

They guys contract was up. The city had the right to dump with no explanation whatsoever.

The world is a tough place, you gotta keep up.

Bernie O'Hare said...

He had the right to be treated on an equal footing with the only other bidder. He had the right to expect that city workers would not feed his confidential information to the only other bidder. He had the right to know what the city wanted. Pawlowski supporter Jeanette Eichenwald, after listening to everyone, called it an "injustice." She's right.

Anonymous said...

Would someone get this information to the Feds? The D.A. won't even go after a fraudulent campaign finance report because he doesn't want to 'rock the boat'.

This stuff has to be stopped.

IRONPIGPEN said...

"The world is a tough place"

Wow, what compassion!

Always, always remember, what comes around, usually goes around...

But, hey, what the hell would I know?

I can offer up lots of people who would say, "Nothing."

One of these days, I gotta start listening...

Anonymous said...

A job for life. You are really up Stoffas butt. she has a low paying job while the county contracts with them. Ask her how she really feels, oh don't bother because she won't confide in you, Judas.
By the way the next Executive is going to dump the Cozy Cafeteria contractor and end that pay to pay game.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Pay to play game? Stoffa got nothing from that deal. The former cafteria owner was begged to submit a bid and refused. Stoffa insisted on a provision that guaranteed she would have a job. She refused that, too. She'd rather sue. I don't care how she feels. I care about what's right and this was handled very fairly.