Latest news with #ChristianLeinbach
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Berks officials turn over alleged election violations for investigation
Three allegations of potential finance campaign laws violations in Berks County have been turned over to authorities for investigation. At a meeting of the board of elections Thursday, members of the county legal team presented a total of five complaints stemming from the May 20 primary election. Three of the complaints involved candidates who failed to indicate who paid for campaign materials, one involved a letter that appears to have violated the silence period before an election and one involved a text message of unclear origin. Commissioner Christian Leinbach said that in his 18 years in the post he never remembers having to consider five election violation complaints at one time. 'This is not something that happens on a regular basis,' he said. 'If you look at all of these cases there can be no doubt that in some way, shape or form these alleged actions influence voters and that just should not be.' Commissioner Michael Rivera encouraged those who are considering running for office to know the laws outlining the process. He also suggested the Democratic and Republican committees in Berks include training for candidates. 'We want to make sure that candidates are running fair races and that candidates are educated about the process,' he said. 'Do your homework.' The first complaint involved a candidate running for a supervisor post in Alsace Township who failed to include a disclaimer on campaign signs revealing who paid for their production. First Assistant County Solicitor Cody Kauffman said election officials contacted the candidate to alert him of the violation and were told that he would take steps to remedy the situation. However, the office was never notified if he took appropriate action. Kauffman said this action is in direct violation of the finance campaign law and recommended the matter be turned over to the district attorney's office for further investigation. The board agreed, voting unanimously to forward the issue to law enforcement. The second complaint involved a candidate running to represent Washington Township on the board of supervisors who initially failed to include a disclaimer on campaign material sent to voters about who paid for its production. Election officials reached out to the candidate to make him aware of this violation and the candidate took action to fix the situation by posting a disclaimer on Facebook about who had paid for the materials. It was recommended the issue not be sent to the district attorney for further review. The board agreed, voting unanimously to throw out the complaint because the candidate made the effort to remedy the problem. The third complaint involved two candidates running for supervisor posts in Brecknock Township who failed to include a disclaimer on campaign materials revealing who paid for them and did not file the necessary campaign finance reports. Kauffman said after election officials contacted the candidates that they agreed to add disclaimers to campaign signs and file campaign finance reports. However, the candidates were later found to have handed out materials without the disclaimer following the warning from the county. He recommended the matter be turned over to the district attorney's office for further investigation. The board agreed, voting unanimously to forward the issue to law enforcement. The fourth complaint involved an open letter by a resident sent to voters in Robesonia that was critical of some candidates running for mayor and borough council. Kauffman said the letter could have violated the silence period that prohibits candidates, committees and parties acting on their behalf from placing an advertisement in the 120 hours before an election without giving sufficient notice to the opposing candidate. But since the letter was sent by a private citizen, Kauffman recommended the board drop the matter. The board agreed, voting unanimously not to forward the complaint onto law enforcement. The fifth complaint involved an anonymous text message sent to voters a day before the primary that contained negative comments about one of the three candidates running for a county court judgeship. County Solicitor Christine Sadler said the message may have violated the silence period as well as the disclaimer about who paid for its distribution. The challenge, she noted, is that the county is unable to identify who sent the message. She recommended the matter be sent to law enforcement for further review. But since one of the candidates in the race is an assistant district attorney, Berks District Attorney John Adams said he will forward the complaint to the state attorney general's office for investigation. The board voted unanimously to forward the issue to law enforcement.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Berks officials take action to remove vultures
It falls into the category of too strange to be true. The Berks County commissioners on Thursday adopted an agreement with the federal Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service for the safe removal of black vultures from the farmhouse located at the county's youth recreation fields in Bern Township. Commissioners Chairman Christian Leinbach said he learned at the county parks and recreation board meeting Wednesday that the third floor of the farmhouse has been taken over by some homeless black vultures. The vultures have laid eggs there and appear unlikely to move on anytime soon. Vultures are protected by both state and federal law because they play a pivotal role in the balance of the ecosystem as nature's cleanup crew. These scavenging birds are essential for maintaining environmental health and preventing the spread of diseases. The primary legal protection stems from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This act makes it illegal to take, kill or possess vultures, their nest, or their eggs without a permit. According to records of the local Baird Ornithological Club, two species of vultures nest in Berks County— black and turkey vultures. Black vultures are a relatively recent addition to Berks bird life. The first sighting of a black vulture occurred in the Hay Creek Valley in 1952. The first nesting record was in 1985 among some boulders in District Township. Both vulture species have been known to nest in abandoned buildings, according to the Baird club. The Berks County commissioners have an agreement with the federal Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service for the safe removal of vultures from the farmhouse at the county's youth recreation fields in Bern Township. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) Leinbach said the black vultures were discovered by a crew who are in the process of demolishing the farmhouse. 'The demolition had to stop in order to get this permission, and then there is a process whereby they will be removed humanely and safely to some other location,' he said. (Bill Uhrich contributed to this report.)
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Berks officials celebrate National Library Week
Public libraries are the kind of facilities that rarely demand attention. In fact, often they are institutions that tend to go unnoticed by people. But the Berks County commissioners took some time Thursday at their weekly meeting to shine a light on the role that the Berks County Public Library System serves in communities by issuing a proclamation to mark National Library Week. 'Our community libraries are pretty important for many different reasons, but the support that they provide to our county system is very valuable,' said Commissioners Chairman Christian Leinbach. Commissioner Michael Rivera pointed out that the role of libraries has expanded and changed over time. He said they are places where people of all ages can gather for a variety of programs and services. Commissioner Dante Santoni Jr. said he considers libraries to be the heartbeat of the community. 'It's not just about books — it's about being part of the community,' he said. National Library Week aims to bring attention to the institutions that are dedicated to knowledge, entertainment and community programming. It will be observed starting April 6 with special events focusing on the 2025 theme 'Drawn to the Library.' Stephanie Williams, administrator of the Berks County Public Library System, accepted the proclamation and stressed the importance libraries hold in the communities they serve. 'Our 23 library locations are sanctuaries of learning, access points for creativity and beacons of opportunity for individuals of all ages and backgrounds,' she said. 'Whether it's hosting community events, providing digital resources or inspiring young minds with stories, libraries enrich our lives in ways that are often invisible but always vital.' Williams said that in 2024 nearly 200,000 patrons attended programs hosted by Berks libraries. She said the library system experienced a 5% increase in the number of visits to its facilities — bringing the total to 950,000. 'If that trend continues we will surpass 1 million visits in 2025,' she said. 'I challenge residents to visit our libraries and become part of achieving that milestone.' Also at the meeting, the commissioners officially kicked off the planning for the next comprehensive plan that will provide a vision for the county through 2040. David Hunter, executive director of the planning commission, said his team is ready to embark on the two-year journey to develop a new policy guide of sorts for the development of municipalities in the county. The plan establishes a foundation for land use, development regulations and investment decisions regarding transportation, housing, municipal services, public utilities and resource conservation. Ashley Showers, assistant director of the planning commission, said the plan serves as a guide for municipal officials tasked with making land-use decisions that balance economic growth with environmental protection and community interests. She said that over the next two years the planning commission will strive to keep the community informed about the process through meetings.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airport, passenger rail service, fiscal responsibility among 2025 priorities for Berks commissioners
There's going to be a lot happening in Berks County this year. As is the case most years, the county government will be pretty busy trying to meet the needs of the community in 2025. Perhaps even a little more so than typical. Commissioners Christian Leinbach, Michael Rivera and Dante Santoni Jr. took some time during an operations meeting Tuesday morning to lay out their priorities for this year. Here is some of what they had to say. Leinbach prioritizes finances, local airport, passenger rail Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach is shown in this file photo. (BILL UHRICH — READING EAGLE) Practicing fiscal responsibility: Leinbach said the county leadership team has done its best to craft reasonable spending plans that highlight the priorities of the county. While no one wants to raise taxes, he said implementing incremental increases like the nearly 9% increase in 2024 and 8% in the latest budget is more responsible than kicking the can down the road and eventually having a massive hike. Leinbach said he believes the recent tax increase was necessary. He pointed out that since he first took office in 2008 the rate of inflation has increased by nearly 50%, and the county has raised taxes by just under 20% during that same time. 'We are still way below the cost of living, and that is what I celebrate,' he said. 'Not the fact that we had a tax increase but that our spending is dramatically lower than the rate of inflation.' Leinbach also noted that from 1995 to 2008 the county raised taxes three times: by 39% all at once, by 19% all at once and 34% all at once. He said that amounted to an increase of 92% over 10 years. But the inflation rate during that time was around 40%. Growing the Reading Regional Airport: Leinbach said he wants to make the Bern Township airfield the best general aviation airport in the state. He said the airport authority took the first step toward making that a reality last year by becoming the sole provider of fuel and other services at the airfield — a move it is allowed to make based on Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Leinbach noted a study conducted by PennDOT found the Reading airport generates a total annual economic impact of about $78 million. But, he said, that figure could be even better with the moves they are making to attract commercial service and create more leasable hangar space. For instance, the airport authority granted approval last week to proceed with the design of a 24,000-square-foot hangar that Wyomissing-based Gaming and Leisure Properties will lease from Reading Aviation. It is part of a larger $16 million project that will include the construction of three hangars. Restoring passenger rail service: Leinbach said the effort to restore passenger rail service from Reading to Philadelphia is rolling steadily forward. He said the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority has completed the first phase of a federal program that is providing a critical boost to the effort to restore train service and is on the verge of moving to the second phase. The second phase of the Corridor Identification and Development Program includes the development of a service plan that would examine ridership and revenue forecasts, capital programming and an operational analysis. It will also involve continuing negotiations with Norfolk Southern about using existing tracks. The service plan is just the beginning of what is likely to be a long process. Once the plan is complete, the next phase will include preliminary engineering to determine whether the project is feasible. If it clears that hurdle, the project will move onto the implementation phase that includes the final design. Rivera prioritizes fiscal responsibility, efficiency, local economy Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera speaks during an event at Mi Casa Su Casa in this file photo. (READING EAGLE) Focusing on fiscal responsibility: Rivera said maintaining fiscal responsibility has been and will continue to be his top priority. He noted that the commissioners do not take raising taxes lightly, but it is sometimes necessary to ensure long-term economic stability. 'Fiscal responsibility is not just about whether or not we have tax increases,' he said. 'It is about the management of finances in a careful and responsible manner; it deals with making prudent decisions with taxpayer dollars; it is about having a sustainable budget year after year after year.' Rivera said he will continue to work with the Savings and Efficiency Team, which examines what can be done to make a positive financial impact now and in the future. One area of focus is how to implement technology to be more efficient and responsive. Improving county governance: Rivera said he is dedicated to making sure county employees are put in the best positions to serve the community. 'This is more than just staff training and development, because there is a lot more that goes into county government,' he said. River said there needs to be a focus on senior staff development, succession planning, staff training and growth development opportunities and making sure all departments run efficiently. 'How can we be more efficient at the department level?' he said. Rivera said the county needs to have a continuous learning and improvement mindset, always asking how it can make things better for the community. Promoting economic development: Rivera said he wants to continue building on the successes of IMAGINE Berks, a strategic action plan that will guide economic development efforts. He said the plan is a community initiative they hope will result in a positive impact — especially when it comes to the county's need for new housing and redeveloped housing that is accessible and attainable. Rivera said the county will be working with municipalities and its partners to identify ways to build housing units and improve existing housing in Berks. Santoni prioritizes transparency, public safety, agriculture Berks County Commissioner Dante Santoni greets voters outside the Wyomissing Library in this file photo. (BILL UHRICH -READING EAGLE) Promote transparency in the budget process: Santoni said the last thing he wanted to do his first year in office was vote for a tax increase but credited the commissioners for being transparent about why it was needed. He said the county provides certain things for residents like services for seniors, veterans, children and people with mental health issues. The county also has obligations to fund public safety, and a large amount is budgeted for the court system and law enforcement. 'In order to do the right thing, sometimes you have to take a little criticism,' he said. Santoni said he hopes the board can hold the line on taxes in the future but noted that is one of the only ways counties can raise the revenue needed to provide services. So in the meantime, he will continue to press state legislators to give counties alternatives to raise money such as imposing a local sales tax, as officials in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties are already allowed to do. Focusing on public safety: Santoni said he is looking forward to tackling issues that have to do with public safety. One of those is restoring the former Berks County Youth Detention Center in Bern Township. The county is in the process of partnering with Dauphin and Lehigh counties to reopen and operate the former center on County Welfare Road. The center opened in 1990. However, with decreasing numbers of juvenile offenders and an increased focus in the criminal justice system on restorative justice and putting juveniles in the least restrictive environment possible, it closed its doors in 2012. But with the recent increase in juvenile offenders and the statewide lack of space to detain them, there is a renewed need for the center. That's why the county is looking to breathe new life into it by addressing substantial repairs and upgrades it needs to be suitable to reopen. 'These are kids charged with serious crimes that we need to find a place for so that we can keep our community safe,' he said. 'I think this partnership with Dauphin and Lehigh counties will really provide benefits for us down the road when it comes to funding.' Advocating for the agricultural community: Santoni said he hopes to make progress on carrying out the goals outlined in a recently unveiled study to better understand the economic impact of the agricultural community and explore ways to support local producers. The study, titled Growing Berks, is the culmination of a yearlong process involving a diverse group of farmers, agribusinesses, local government officials and community members. It was developed from input from this group and information gathered in partnership with Maryland-based consultant firm Agricultural and Community Development Services. There are six main areas of focus outlined in Growing Berks: update existing farmland protection programs; expanding knowledge and awareness of career pathways in agriculture and its related fields; identifying and expanding training opportunities; supporting technology infrastructure; supporting market development; and increasing awareness of and access to financing resources.
