rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — At Monday evening’s meeting, it was announced that 38 West Main Street in Canton will be shut down and apartment tenants will be vacated from the premisses.
The announcement was made by code officer John Raub during his monthly report. He said the owner, Rick Wilson, is planning to remodel the building.
“It needs an upgrade, plain and simple,” Wilson said. “I have to empty it out to remodel the way I want it.”
Wilson noted the history attached to the building and the potential ideas he could have concerning the building’s future.
“I’m not against any ideas coming forward, but I assume it may be an apartment again in the future. I’m open to all possibilities as I move on,” he said.
Tenants have 30 days to vacate the property, but Wilson noted that he will not leave anyone homeless and will work with them until they find other arrangements.
Public comment
Councilman Christopher Schrader began his comment by noting that he was not put on the agenda despite calling the Friday before the meeting, to which Administrator Amy Seeley replied was due to online notification for potential attendees via ZOOM. The borough council must legally advertise the agenda before the meeting by so many days ahead.
“First I would like to state this is the last time I am putting my name on any schedule to speak,” Schrader began. “I am not required to, whether that’s what you want or not, as I stated two months ago. If you don’t like that, it’s just too bad. You can resign and then not have to hear it. Otherwise, you can sit there, shut up and listen.”
“Also,” he continued, “This ‘BS’ where my rights have been impeded on will have consequences to those involved.”
He then referred to the August Borough Council meeting, on where he “spoke of many things that are wrong and have been done and not done for various individuals that work for or have something to do with the borough in some capacity,” noting that he believes no one refuted it because “it was factual.”
“My question is, why is nothing being done?” Schrader asked. “Rhetorical question really, because I have stated why many times and will again here tonight.”
“This council,” he continued, “and its employees, as well as many other committee and boards and even chamber of commerce are entrenched in corruption, so entrenched in corruption they can no longer tell what the truth is anymore,” he said.
Schrader then asked why former borough council president and street department employee David Groover has not had his exit interview.
“You are all incompetent and need to resign,” Schrader added.
Rental ordinances were another topic of Schrader’s speech, stating that they were not sent to borough renters via mail, while blaming codes officer John Raub for the lack of follow-through on the matter.
“This does not count the many times he was belligerent and insubordinate to one of his supervisors - me,” said Schrader.
“Mr. Wilson even threatened me at one point stating ‘You do not want to go there with me, Mr. Schrader.’ When I brought up things that were going on that he was involved in.”
Next, Schrader spoke of Brian Koval, a resident anticipating a seat on council, and accused borough council members and/or employees of suggesting Koval is a “pedophile.”
“In fact, I was asked by Mrs. Seeley if I was OK with pictures being taken of underage girls,” he recalled. “Why? Again, we are the only two actively pursuing justice for the wrongdoing in this town and to remove the problem at its source.”
Councilman Schrader then addressed Police Chief Doug Seeley on a recent report involving a Martha Lloyd client and asked him to recount them.
Police Chief said to look for a police report.
Schrader then spoke of his concerns of what he believes is corruption in other Canton organizations such as the Canton Chamber of Commerce.
He alleges that himself as well as former borough council member Brandon Wilcox were invited to a meeting where multiple business owners throughout Canton met with him to speak to him about “to back off Mrs. Seeley.” The meeting, he noted, included several people, including Frank Watson and Dean Vanderpool, who were present at the meeting.
He claimed that they also told him at this meeting to bring fourth transgressions in a year’s time and they would decide ‘if it had any merit.’
“It has been nearly two years and plenty has been brought forward openly and not only from me, employees as well as citizens from this borough as well,” said Schrader, “where is my backing?”
He then alleges that some of these individuals are in direct communication with Seeley, such as one who will now take place as Mayor, another who owns multiple businesses in Canton and sits on the water authority, even others who work with Seeley on the Canton Chamber of Commerce.
“Also, look at the chamber. The treasurer is Amy Seeley. The secretary was Joe Carreon and is now Rachel Heitzenrater.” He then noted Frank Watson and Dean Vanderpool and their involvement in the community and for chamber events and meetings.
He continued, “Do you see a pattern? They are gripping this town from every angle and if we don’t stop this, it will be this way for as long as they live. New businesses can’t come in because the chamber and borough will not allow it. The owners are too afraid of competition and needless to say, if we removed the problem from the borough, we also need to do so in the chamber.”
Schrader then went to complain about the local newspaper and its “bias” concerning Schrader’s own letters to the editor.
“They have not been posting what I say as well as posting things that billify me,” he said. “As I said, look who is on the chamber.”
He then asked each borough council member “what the Seeleys promised you to get you in on this council and behind them. George, we know you were promised street department head and presidency, but you didn’t get either one,” said Schrader.
“I wasn’t promised nothing Chris, OK?” said Councilman Jennings.
“Screwed you again and yet you’re still stupid enough to think they’re not going to continue to screw you every chance they get,” replied Schrader.
“What about the rest of you? What is more important than your soul? What did you all agree to or what was threatened that is worth more than this town?” asked Schrader.
After a moment of silence, Councilwoman Alyssa Packard replied to Schrader.
“I just want to make it a point that as council members, we are representatives for the borough and we need to be professional and hold ourselves to a higher standard,” said Packard. “Not attack other borough members. You say that we are incompetent, but all that you have done is basically bully the rest of us and you haven’t brought anything to the table.
All he brings is trouble,” replied Councilman Robert Johnson, who noted that Schrader has not brought fourth any evidence to what he is alleging.
“He has a lot of stuff going, but he has no proof,” said Johnson. “And I’m not promised anything, just for the record.
Other news
Administrator Seeley noted that the response was overwhelming for the Point Springs Drive Shaft electronics recycling day last Saturday.
Council was asked for an executive session from solicitor David Brann concerning a proposal from Cohen Law Group, concerning Act 50 small wireless facilities. Council approved a cost total of $3,900 to draft an ordinance for the borough and other related duties and helping the council establish that ordinance.
Council voted to advertise for the part time street department position at a later date, as Curtis Lammy has resigned from the position but the position does not need filled during the winter months. Street Department Supervisor David Wilson also noted there were issues with the street sweeper.
For the fire department, Scott May noted that the next meeting will be in December for the board. There is still no update on the generator as of this time.
Emergency Management Coordinator Brett Neely noted that there will be a code red clinic this Saturday, Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mosser Canton Borough Municipal Building. The purpose of the clinic will be to help those in need apply for and download the app. More information is in a separate press release in this newspaper. The borough also received a thank you from Canton Food Pantry.
For the 2022 budget, council voted to increase taxes by a quarter mill to help offset upcoming costs for items such as street improvements and more.
A fall cleanup was held on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m.
“Thanks everybody that helped with that,” said Council President Michael Shultz.
The annual library fundraiser is still going on as well as Facebook preschool learning time.
The Rialto Theatre is not closed, and are focusing on events more than movies. They will have a Polar Express Adventure at the theatre on Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Discounted tickets can be purchased during the Small Business Saturday event.
Light Night is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 26, with Small Business Saturday on Saturday, Nov. 27. The chamber Christmas raffle will take place this year in November and December.
Early dismissal will take place at the school this week, on Nov. 11, with no school on the 12th for parent teacher conferences.
The next Canton Borough Council meeting will be Monday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. in the borough’s building.