POINT TOWNSHIP - Point Township officials are expecting word as early as today from the Department of Community and Economic Development about whether a financial controversy involving the state agency and the township is resolved.
Township Chairman Randy Yoxheimer said Monday that he was anticipating the township to be off the hook concerning a $381,000 grant discrepancy with the federal Hosing and Urban Development HOME program.
Bob Yoder, of The Yoder Group in Turbotville, who Point Township officials maintain is responsible for the problem, was cooperating with DCED to provide documentation for them to review.
"We maintained from the beginning it was a paperwork issue. They (DCED) wanted documentation," Yoxheimer said.
DCED originally ordered the township to pay back the money because municipal officials failed to adequately track how Yoder spent the grant, which was intended for use in building low- and moderate-income housing units eight years ago.
Both Yoxheimer and Point Township Solicitor Rick Shoch, also a Northumberland County Commissioner, said Yoder provided the documentation requested of him last week.
"Our indication is that it is the information needed to rectify this thing," Yoxheimer said.
Representatives of DCED were unable to comment on this report.
Ex-chairman's future
Township Vice Chairman Montie Peters resigned as chairman of the Northumberland County Planning Commission last month because of the controversy, but did not step down from the board altogether, as had been requested by Northumberland County Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy. The commissioners will vote at their July 24 meeting to determine Peters' stance on the commission.
Township officials have stated previously that no taxpayer money will be used to pay back the grant and they would take legal action against Yoder if he did not take responsibility.
Shoch's relationship with Bridy and Clausi had soured over the past few months over a number of issues, including Shoch's service as Point Township solicitor, which the other two commissioners said represents a conflict of interest. Shoch does not believe Peters should have had to resign from the chairmanship or the board. He said Clausi and Bridy are targeting Peters because he has supported Shoch.
"We have admitted, we were naive about the grant," Yoxheimer said Monday.