Kudos to the Mercury for hiring a reporter that can write!

I thought this was one of the best articles on the issue I've seen in a long, long time.

Too bad this guy wasn't hired when The Phoenix was a daily. Cirulation might have improved!

Yes I agree with the first comment. It was a well written article. I was there and this reporter acurately and precisely. Kudos to him. What is wrong with Wagner and who's pocketbook he is in (or so it seems)????????

Thank you for the post ET. Truth be told Skip L had a fair amount of background accumulated including the facts as provided by "Original" SNB members. Yes many of them are scared into what "could" be the consequences if they choose to speak out. How about for once someone taking a look at some facts that ANY respected member of ANY town council could be responsible enough to stop this absolute waste of the boroughs time. Such facts would include the following:

1) Has anyone within Borough Council asked for and reviewed the TWO agreements of sale for the same property?? Why would there be one signed by M. Samilenko, then a second signed by J. Ely ??

2) Has anyone within Borough Council inquired of one John Bilanin how he could execute document providing easement on HG property as the "Grantor" when HG did not own then nor now the property. I for one can advise that AT&T Corp(Atlanta, GA) is now aware that John Bilanin's execution of this easement was improper and they are having the law firm of Dickstein Shapiro LLP(Washington, DC)look into this further as they represented the Railroad Class Action.

3) Where is the request on the part of Borough Council for one James Evans to "Open his books" in terms of affirming where his income truly comes from?? He at one point represented to partial HG parish meeting that neither himself nor Fedornock were making any $$ on this proposed sale and proposed HUD development. Look at his tax returns..Why is it that no less than 4 accounting firms perform audits on his 8-10 companies of record?? Getting interested now Borough Council??

4) Why would Evans, Bilanin and one Kathy Phifer, the PRESENT director of HUD funding for Montgomery County appear as the Notary on the AT&T easement document if this proposed development were to occur in Chester County?? and require Phoenixville Borough members to expend any further time in this at all??

The sum of this appears to be that when "almost" all the dots are connected this is acceptable to SOME members of Borough Council.

In a time when the Borough Council members should be evaluating the means to manange a budget this subject and yes the TAXPAYERS dollars and Council's time are being invested in..dare I say FRAUD??

Stand Up Council..Put this thing to rest..Send Evans and Fedornock on their way to Florida..

Fed Up!!

Who does Clemm represent?

If he represents the best interest of the Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, why is he running up their bill?

Does he understand that money for church maitenance is being spent on him wasting time at EVERY SINGLE MEETING without ever working in the best interest of his true client, HOLY GHOST CHURCH.

Mark Clemm introduced himself to the HOLY GHOST PARISH MARCH 2008 stating many mistruths.

1) Voters were told a car wash would be going in next to church if the sale did not go thru.

2) Voters were told, if they had elderly members in family they would get first priority on a room in the facilty.

3) My own family was promised a room for two members.

4) Families divided, Clemm still speaking for the church and now there are only 40-50 attending each week.

5) This is going to end badly for the church. Get uninvolved now town council or you will be more in debt!

What a mess... again.... council like planning made perfectly clear that the HGB and their SNB have cast doubt of the SNB - Who is the legal owners of record ie true voting SNB who own the land.
That ruling does not make that case for you dear ladies.

Someone representing this group of originala SNB should have been retained and challenged the solicitor by now. This conditional use hearing will be breeze for Evans as he knows the game and will win and you fools will still be asking what just happened.

Due to the cowardly promises that the minority of this group have it in the bag, by that bogus lease, ruling that is interpreted many ways, put you in the loing team. Without a game plan or full understanding of staus to date, this project will proceed regardless of unds being denied by HUD or historical claims.

What would your forfathers have done? By now, you at least could have come out from hiding behind the brave citizens who have sacrificed a lot of time and energy to help your preservation.

Good luck on July 28th as you are going to need it unless you get your shit together soon! Counting on one speaker on your behalf ain't going to win this one ladies. Time to take off the boxing gloves and get the men involved or get testimony from experts, witnesses and people who know how to go up against this hearing professionally without a doubt.

One of the elderly men who spoke out against this project at every juncture was an original SNB member as well as a HGOC trustee for life. Every time he spoke out he was ridiculed by Fedornock, Evans, Clemm, and their cronies. That is why the Original SNB went to the courts and in turn had a ruling in their favor. The HGOC board then stripped the man who spoke out about the project of his "Trustee For Life" status. Since the HGOC board professes to believe in heaven and hell then they better start getting ready to have their weenies roasted by the dark lord for that move. The court ruling still stands, even after the HGOC board appealed it. So now they are in contempt of court. The Judge, SNB lawyer, Original SNB, will still use the courts to their advantage to prevent this ill fated project from going through. The State Attorney General will be contacted and charges will be filed. Wait and watch because the best is yet to come. The bubble that the HGOC board members live in is about to burst.

http://www.ethics.state.pa.us/ethics/lib/ethics/SEC3.pdf


IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION ON THE BEHAVIOR AND THREATS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER JAMES EVANS AND HIS ROLE ABUSING POWER AS APPLICANT ON PROPETY AT 55 STARR STREET; COMPLETE ABOVE FORM.

Dear Ellsworth;
With all due respect and with much gratitude for your efforts on behalf of the citizens at large and parish members trying to save the corner of Bridge and Starr, I implore you to cease any more publicity for their cause. The last comment by "anonymous" 12:05 AM Tuesday, has turned ugly. And we all know God doesn't like ugly!!!!!

Highlight of Evans public participation:

Jim Evans is related to the Reeves family and "they have no underground railroad knowledge nor passageways"

Evans, give us a break!

Next your deny you met with council members on this breaking the Sunshine Act.

I think one of the "highlights" of the meeting last night was having an older woman and resident of Phoenixville tell the council that Father Evans threatened her with a harrassment lawsuit with a Philadelphia attorney, because she let her thoughts be known.

I may be wrong, but I thought this was the United States of America and I thought we still had freedom of speech. But when I continue to watch this play out, one has to wonder.

I am particularly concerned when I see the ethics of thetwo members of the clergy involved in the HG fiasco. Are there any? I am beginning to wonder, because I seeing punishments and threats be handed out to good people.


Could something be wrong with this picture? What a sad and embarrassing day for Phoenixville and for religious freedom as well.

I was at the meeting that Mrs. Johns spoke and accusing her of harrassment is an unfounded charge. She merely read a letter and looked the applicant in the eye a few time. How can that be harrassment?

As for her blog, anyone who follows his knows she posts facts and articles. Never will she allow defamation and he is bullying her for reading that letter.

This man has stated more mistruths on council floor, on tape then any of the other people in this town. He should be getting served papers, not anyone else!

Have any of the members of the church demanded an accounting of the restricted building fund?

Have any of the donors to the fund demanded an accounting since much has been spen to date?

Where did the proceeds from the agreement of sale go? What happens if the deal falls through? How will the chuch officers pay back the monies wasted to date on a project that did not pass as motioned:

1) Hud did not approve funding.
2) Planning DID NOT approve site or overall plan use for this parcel.
3) Building presentation has drastically changed

THIS DEAL SHOULD BE NULL AND VOID.
TIME TO START SELLING MORE NUTROLL AND PAYBACK THE BUILDING FUND!

Planning did OK the plan for the parcel at their last meeting. The building had changed a bit from the first draft.

hey 8:33

Your wrong on why the original SNB went to court. The original SNB was sued by the President of the Holy Ghost Church, Mark Samilenko and the board at that time as advertised in the newspaper. This was called a "quiet title" however they had 20 days to hire an attorney or lose land by not defending. THAT IS WHY this ended up in court with thousands and thousands of dollars of their own money spent to defent...

MEANWHILE the HG board is spending dues of the small number of attendees who put in each week for church pledges. SAD AND A SIN``

The first meeting Planning had, everyone member on record when asked by Clemm stated they were not for the project on this site.

The motion of the church was they had to have Planning approval by JUNE 2008 last year as otherwise Evans would be out of time. That was the reason everyone had two weeks to research, consider and vote on the project, rush rush rush... deadline deadline deadline.

Point is.. Planning had to approve some type of recommendation but went on record in the minutes and newspaper to be against the project on this site/parcel of land.

IMHO the only thing 'church' about this place is a building decorated with religious paintings and the cross of Christ. The way clergy treats these people, especially the older man, is truly appalling and disgusting for someone who claims to be 'ordained by God'
What a joke that concept proves to be.
Clergy: You are showing your God to the entire community here, I'm glad the God the rest of us believe in is so vastly different from the one you created.

Am I supposed to be impressed, awed,frightened,etc. by Evans wearing his clerical collar to speak at the meetings? He resigned his vocation to become a full time property developer in 1989. Like I'm supposed to grovel, swear silence and allegiance in the forgive me this and that unworthiness religions demand for obedience? News to council!!!!Evans does not have the direct ladder to Heaven, nor will he be there to give you a boost up from behind. So voting for his schemes won't get you in the golden gates. Ooops, that sounds like harassment;I'm so not worthy!!!

The parish was fooled into making a rushed decision. Evans was asked to hold off for a year and he stated that could not be done. The President is on record (on tape) as saying "if HUD doesn't approve this project it's done". Yet HUD has denied Evans and yet it goes on.
Fedornock mocks his flock at public meetings, rushes through his sick visits (ya only get one a week and that's if your local), rushes through blessing of deceased members, refuses services if it's not convenient to him and lies directly to members if he doesn't like the question he is being asked to answer.
The parish board is a run away train, acting on issues that have not been approved by the parish nor are in their scope of legal actions under the Board of HGC.
God doesn't like bullies, God doesn't like ugly and God doesn't like his servants to suffer from oppression. LIGHTING DOES STRIKE TWICE!!! God is speaking and some folks need to start listening... either that or start looking for a damn good attorney!

Well, if this priest is found to be acting in an unpriestly way, start taking pictures of his actions and post them on the internet. SMILE....your on candid camera!!!! OR Video it and post it on You Tube!
Let's get those cell phones poised and ready to snap the picture. I think it would be great to get a shot of him sticking his tongue out at people or making those gross faces where he shrivels up his nose and purses his lips!! Hey, let's start a contest!

Why is the priest of Holy Ghost not listing his cell phone in his church bulletin for emergency like every other priest in the diocese?

Many have needed him for emergencies and with summer vaca and youth programs, he is unavailable to everyone but his wife and relative treasurer of church. List his cell in bulletin. We needed him and no luck for days when family ill!

Did Evans get the HUD money or not?

"Many have needed him for emergencies and with summer vaca and youth programs, he is unavailable to everyone but his wife and relative treasurer of church."

Makes a great case for celibacy, LOL.

I recall around April 2008 sitting in a council meeting Mr.Evans standing up to the podium while this issue was on the floor and "I see the damage that this is causing this congregation and do not want to be a part of that,therefore I withdraw my interest in this plan" or something to that effect.I would like to know where that Mr. Evans went?Not the one who turned around five months later and came back to council with guns blazin' and money from the state and attorneys,to where we are today with 50 people showing up for Mass and members being excommunicated and denied communion.SUCH A SHAME.

In answer to the question of why the deal was put back into action after April meeting;once Evans withdrew,the HG church board went back to Evans and begged him to reconsider his offer since they had no other way of raising $500,000 to build a new pirogi factory for the baking ladies.

Evans claimed to be a relative to the REEVES FAMILY who owned the parcel deeded to SAINT NICHOLAS BROTHERHOOD, INC and (get this) "they told me there was not any involvement by our/their family with underground rr or aiding slaves. Those people made this up" - Boro June 23 Meeting statement.

Prior statements on the topic by Evans, Applicant and Clemm, Holy Ghost Attorney, at the lats Planning Commission Meeting:
"A few people who want to stall this project have made this historical claim up"

God Bless you both!

There are at least two dozen 40 something people that ran in and out of those underground tunnels as young teens when noone was looking during picnics, Sunday School recess, yard clean-up,etc. Unfortunately, even if they swore on the Bible,they'd be called liars or druggies. I was one of them. If I'm asked to testify, I will. I stopped attending HG when I witnessed first hand the lies and corruption of the hierarchy.

Supeona Mark Samilenko, President of the HG board when this was addressed initially.

Mark has photo's provided to him when the cottage was restored by his wife who was then Lois Snyder.
The photos show the trap door, damage etc from a storm. She was the President of the church at the time but he was given the photo's by the contruction firm.

Mark also was in the tunnels when we rented this cottage as a sewage leak took place in others areas near the one site of tunnel. Mark was down there with four of us and he is on the HGB side of this matter, and should be supeoned.

He will be forced to tell the truth. No one will call him a druggie or a lier. Everyone knows what an honorable person he is, other then his choices in women.

IF IN FACT THIS IS TRUE... THEN HOW COULD YOU HAVE VORTED FOR THE HUD AT STARRAND BRIDGE STS. The “needs” of the overall community do not outweigh the “needs” of the immediate neighbors, and vice versa. Indeed, the immediate neighbors comprise part of the overall community. Elected officials sworn to “maintain the integrity of existing neighborhoods” must strike a balance by, first, representing the “needs” of their constituents; second, by weighing a project’s impact on the immediate neighbors; and third, by reviewing the impact of a project in the context of existing case law and best practices. An elected body must not allow one’s needs to supersede the other’s.

The borough council minutes from the last meeting skim over the activities.

Evans claimed a lot more then on the minutes ie: related to Reeves. Could this have been excluded due to it being false?

Evans may excuse himself but he speaks out of turn and interrupts personally or thru his lawyer at times he should be out of the room. At least he is not carrying a Bible and wearing his collar lately.

COULD WE BE BREAKING THE SUNSHINE ACT.. EVANS, WAGNER, SPECK, ............ MEETING IN THE CLOUDS, WOODS, AND BARS...
before HG voted on sale for HUD!@
BOROUGH COUNCIL AND PLANNING MEMBER DISCUSSING PROJECT WITH APPLICANT / DEVELOPER?

§ 713. Business transacted at unauthorized meeting void.
A legal challenge under this chapter shall be filed within 30 days from the date of a meeting which is open, or
within 30 days from the discovery of any action that occurred at a meeting which was not open at which this
chapter was violated, provided that, in the case of a meeting which was not open, no legal challenge may be
commenced more than one year from the date of said meeting. The court may enjoin any challenged action
until a judicial determination of the legality of the meeting at which the action was adopted is reached. Should
the court determine that the meeting did not meet the requirements of this chapter, it may in its discretion find
that any or all official action taken at the meeting shall be invalid. Should the court determine that the meeting
met the requirements of this chapter, all official action taken at the meeting shall be fully effective.
§ 714. Penalty.
Any member of any agency who participates in a meeting with the intent and purpose by that member of
violating this chapter commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not
exceeding $100 plus costs of prosecution.

When Evans hit a brick wall called HISTORICAL REPORT-UNDERGROUND RAILROAD and a taxpayer read a letter at the planning meeting, the following meeting of council, he threatened to sue the reader of this letter for harrassment.

How can the ethics commission, borough council and planning commission allow someone such as this character to remain on the floor as voting member?

Evans apprarently is grasping at straws if he now has resorted to threats like the priest from Holy Ghost.

How can clergy, ministers, and priests in this town get away with abuse of power?