Published Wednesday, December 11, 2002
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Herald Staff Writer
Tuesday night Greenville council members blasted The Record-Argus newspaper of Greenville for reporting that the borough manager filed for personal bankruptcy in 1997.
But at the same time, the family of a deceased councilman accused current council members of some unfair criticism of their own.
Councilman David P. Henderson faulted Tom Davidson, Record-Argus news editor and author of the piece published Tuesday morning, for printing a story on Borough Manager Kenneth S. Weaver's personal bankruptcy filing.
"That is the most inappropriate story I have ever read in my life," Henderson said. "Speaking for me and me alone, why would you print it, other than to incite public outcry?"
Davidson said only that the bankruptcy is public record.
Weaver did not comment.
After the standing-room-only meeting, council members Pete Longiotti and Robin Douglas and Mayor Clifford Harriger said what the newspaper printed was true and they believed it to be of interest to residents.
Since Weaver took the job, the cash-strapped borough became Pennsylvania's 18th financially distressed community under Act 47 and has already borrowed $660,000 through the program.
Tom D'Alfonso, father of former Councilman Michael D'Alfonso, who died late last year, took offense to council members' comments in the story, implying that his son had done an incomplete job in a background check on Weaver.
According to D'Alfonso, a Greenville Municipal Authority board member, his son died before completing the background check and never had a chance to make a recommendation.
Council President Bryan Langietti said there wasn't time to complete the check after D'Alfonso died. Council went with the lone candidate who was interested in the job and did not live too far away, he said.
Marty D'Alfonso, Michael D'Alfonso's wife, said the files and information her husband collected were at her home, but no one from council approached her to get them.
"He spent the last week of his life working at what he thought was a very important job," she said. "From what I read, there was a lot of contradiction between now and what council said then. Why wasn't it finished?"
Borough solicitor Warren Keck III said a personal insolvency or bankruptcy cannot be used in the hiring or firing of an employee.
Weaver is nearing the end of his one-year contract. Council said it would be evaluating him.