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Posted on 05/26/2009 12:09:13 PM PDT by jazusamo
A $15,000 federal grant for police computers in one Monongahela Valley city slipped unnoticed past council and was awarded without competitive bids to a firm run by the son of then-Mayor Ken Cole, city officials said today.
The contract is one of dozens under scrutiny by federal investigators who are looking into defense firms with ties to U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown. Mr. Murtha, who chairs the powerful House Appropriations defense subcommittee, was instrumental in securing millions of dollars in grants through the Department of Justice to upgrade communications systems for small towns.
In one of those towns, Monongahela, the current mayor and police chief contend that their predecessors did not inform the city council of a $15,000 grant in 2005 and spent the entire amount with one firm -- J.K. Networking, which was co-owned by Ken Cole Jr., the mayor's son.
"It should have gone through council," said Bob Kepics, a councilman who succeeded Ken Cole Sr. as mayor of the Washington County town.
Mr. Kepics said suspicions were raised after agents from the Inspector General's fraud detection unit served a subpoena on police chief Brian Tempest last fall, asking for any records concerning MountainTop Technologies, a Johnstown company hired to administer millions of dollars in federal grants to police departments. MountainTop, which also holds the federal contract to oversee the John Murtha Airport in Johnstown, has received $36 million in earmarked defense contracts through Mr. Murtha.
Mr. Kepics and City Clerk Carole Foglia said they learned the grant was handled through Mayor Cole and then-Police Chief Dennis Mendicino.
"One thing I don't do is I don't lie to anybody. Was this bid? No, I believe not, no," said Mr. Tempest. "Did we get computer equipment? Yes. Did we get $15,000 worth of computer equipment? I don't know...
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
To be added to the Murtha Watch ping list please notify myself or RedRover.
Not surprising in the least. Crooks and corruption have run Monongahela (my hometown) into the ground.
It’s truly shocking to learn that Murtha has been behind some of it. /s
Dennis Mendicino has been a lying snivelling jerk-off his whole life. He left Cheif Tempest (a great cop and citizen) a full plate.
Nothing will happen, least of all to the oozing pustule of corruption known as John Murtha.
I suspect that if any competent media organization dug into the whole “earmark” game...they would find a vast game with no-bid contracts being the norm.
My guess is that both parties are running this racket...and we need a dozen senators to do jail-time to bring this game to an end.
It’s at least good to know they have an honest Chief in Tempest.
Wasn't BHO brother involved in something like this?
True, that! Show me the bids of ACORN and other competitors to perform census work!
I don’t doubt you’re correct.
It seems Murtha got so arrogant about pork the feds are finally investigating some abuses of companies that just by coincidence have had strong ties to him, even though he and his handlers say it’s not about him.
The Cole family has always been linked to this kind of corruption. It’s only coming to light now, unfortunately.
Most of the former police chiefs and the former Mayor have been letting this stuff happen for years. If they went back further, they’d probably find a lot more than $15,000. They were in cahoots with the local magistrate, too, until he was put away for running and illegal gambling ring.
Small towns are rife with corruption. I swear it’s where the pigs like Murtha get their practice, kicks and money because no one cares about Joe Schmoe from SmallTown, USA.
Like I said, it’s no shocker to learn money was getting put in the wrong places and that Murtha’s name is attached to it.
“My guess is that both parties are running this racket...”
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My guess, based on past incidence history and known comparative safety from prosecution, is that Democrats FAR outweigh Republicans involved in this corruption, and that it is not even close.
hello, I am typing and looking out my window at the Gazebo.
Wow! Small world, eh?
I live in Finleyville now, but grew up in Mon City. Lived up by the hospital all my life!
“What the hell has happened to Pennsylvania?”
Democrats. The liberal idiot ones.
tought I was the only conservative left in the valley!
Used to think the same thing until recently.
We have more friends than we think. We’re just quieter than the opposition, I suppose. And we live out in the country areas, not so much down town.
I think it’s the school district that makes us (at least me and my family) think that way. Being a semi-recent product of the Ringgold School District, I felt very, very lonely for most of the high school days.
Though the corrupt Murtha has been in office over 35 years there’s still a lot of good people in the 12th District. Over 40% voted for Bill Russell last year and he’d just moved into the district.
“Democrats. The liberal idiot ones.”
What a shame this time of the year it is beautiful but the Rats killed it that is a crime.
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