Politics & Government

Accusations Fly in Sewickley Hills

Longtime treasurer and a councilman faced separate accusations, which have since been resolved.

Fingers were pointing earlier this month at a Council meeting, where a longtime treasurer stood accused of mishandling W-9s -- an issue that has since been resolved -- and a councilman stood accused of starting a construction project without a permit -- an accusation he denied.

Councilwoman Kim Holzer said over the years vendors who were paid more than $600 from the borough haven’t been receiving 1099 tax documents from Sewickley Hills. Those people include Solicitor Art Leonard, Holzer said, even though the law requires the borough to provide the 1099s.

Sewickley Hills is working to rebuild its financial coffers as the borough faces lingering costs, such as fixing crumbling roads and other projects. 

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The 1099 issue has since been resolved. Councilwoman Cindy Phillips said O’Neill was following direction from the borough’s auditor about who should get a 1099 and who doesn’t, but will now issue them differently. 

Tom O’Neill, borough treasurer for 15 years, said when he started in Sewickley Hills, the borough had two accountants but currently there aren’t any.  He said the 1099s were never an issue before. He said the borough has been audited every year and finance information has passed through DCED, all without any issues.

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Leonard said he was aware that attorneys are supposed to receive 1099s for their services, but Leonard said he doesn’t know which firms or clients send them since they go through the firm's accounting department.

“I wasn’t aware until this issue came up that Sewickley Hills wasn’t sending a 1099,” Leonard said.  

Phillips said, "I think it was unfair that some of our council members were criticizing our solicitor."

OTHER COMPLAINTS

Secretary Betsy Rengers said she received formal complaints from neighbors that two properties were moving dirt without permits, including property belonging to Councilman Noah Fardo. Four complaints, one of them formal, accused Fardo of performing grading work behind his house.

Rengers said two separate neighbors complained that Fardo was putting in a baseball field, had brought in dump trucks full of dirt and had taken out a couple trees.

Phillips said there is a reason the borough requires residents get permits before performing work. When someone moves dirt around, for example, she said the borough wants to make sure runoff isn’t carrying sediment into a waterway and killing fish or wildlife.

She said Fardo shouldn’t get any special treatment because he’s on council.

“We need to treat Mr. Fardo the same way we treat everybody,” she said “If people need permits to move dirt, then everybody needs a permit.

Council President Tom Klixbull asked Fardo directly whether he'd ever moved dirt on his property.

 “Yes, I have a tomato garden,” Fardo said.

Fardo wanted to know who his accusers were, but Leonard said the information is to be kept private if the complainants wanted to remain anonymous.

Fardo said no work is being performed at his house.

“For the record, I do not have a baseball field,” Fardo said.  

Sewickey Hills Council work session meeting is cancelled tonight.


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