Rumors about accepting gratuities are false, a B.J. Alan Co. executive says.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LIMA — No B.J. Alan Co. executives own property in Florida, said a company official who was rebutting influence allegations involving Beaver Township zoning inspector Michelle L. Swope and the company, which is trying to locate a new facility here.
Swope was asked at a recent public meeting whether she had accepted gratuities from a B.J. Alan executive and whether her parents had stayed at his Florida condominium recently.
Swope denied the charges, as did William Weimer, B.J. Alan's vice president and general counsel. At that same meeting, Weimer said the rumors are false and apologized to Swope for having to respond to them.
Swope's current employment status with the township is unclear.
On Monday, officials hired Richard Martin, a retired township police lieutenant, to serve as interim zoning inspector until a permanent replacement for Swope is hired. They would not confirm whether Swope has resigned or has been terminated, and Swope has been unreachable.
Granted permit to build
The Beaver Township Zoning Appeals Board ultimately granted B.J. Alan Co., which owns Phantom Fireworks on Market Street, a conditional-use permit to build a fireworks warehouse off East Calla Road, despite residents' opposition.
The trustees have declined to disclose why they hired someone new, except to say the township zoning office needs someone to handle the workload in Swope's absence.
Trustee Ron Kappler said the township is waiting for documents that were to be provided by Swope's attorneys late last week. He said he expects a second meeting on the matter to be held within the next week.
Swope has worked for the township about 10 years, serving first as part-time zoning inspector before being promoted to full time.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Rumors about accepting gratuities are false, a B.J. Alan Co. executive says.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NORTH LIMA — No B.J. Alan Co. executives own property in Florida, said a company official who was rebutting influence allegations involving Beaver Township zoning inspector Michelle L. Swope and the company, which is trying to locate a new facility here.
Swope was asked at a recent public meeting whether she had accepted gratuities from a B.J. Alan executive and whether her parents had stayed at his Florida condominium recently.
Swope denied the charges, as did William Weimer, B.J. Alan's vice president and general counsel. At that same meeting, Weimer said the rumors are false and apologized to Swope for having to respond to them.
Swope's current employment status with the township is unclear.
On Monday, officials hired Richard Martin, a retired township police lieutenant, to serve as interim zoning inspector until a permanent replacement for Swope is hired. They would not confirm whether Swope has resigned or has been terminated, and Swope has been unreachable.
Granted permit to build
The Beaver Township Zoning Appeals Board ultimately granted B.J. Alan Co., which owns Phantom Fireworks on Market Street, a conditional-use permit to build a fireworks warehouse off East Calla Road, despite residents' opposition.
The trustees have declined to disclose why they hired someone new, except to say the township zoning office needs someone to handle the workload in Swope's absence.
Trustee Ron Kappler said the township is waiting for documents that were to be provided by Swope's attorneys late last week. He said he expects a second meeting on the matter to be held within the next week.
Swope has worked for the township about 10 years, serving first as part-time zoning inspector before being promoted to full time.
Friday, April 6, 2007
No B.J. Alan Co. executives own property in Florida, said a company official who was rebutting influence allegations...
