Hamm was fired by Exeter for attempting to blackmail the Supervisors
Document sent to the Examiner proves the case we made before about blackmail in connection to Hamm
In documents sent to the Exeter Examiner by a source that wishes to remain anonymous for fear of damage to her well being by the Township, proof is laid out that the thing we’ve published in these pages before are fact. Exeter Township fired current Supervisor and former Public Works Director Clarence Hamm from his job in PW for several offenses, one of which was trying to blackmail the Board of Supervisors (BOS).
In a letter dated May 19th, 2022 from former Township Manager Betsy McBride to Hamm, McBride lays out the fake reason for getting rid of Hamm, as well as the actual reasons.
The letter starts by telling Hamm that a restructuring is occurring, and that is what the public will be told is the reason for his dismissal, then leads to the fact that he’d taken unlawful actions in trying to blackmail the BOS. “As you are aware, the Township entered into an employment agreement with you on or about January 7, 2021 that allowed the Township to terminate your employment at any time for any reason and for no reason. While the Township is classifying this termination of your employment as a restructuring, the Township would otherwise terminate your employment for cause for the reasons listed below.
Specifically, it has come to the Board's attention that you attempted to retrieve video footage of three Supervisors touring various Township properties for the purpose of alleging that the Board in some way violated the Sunshine Act by doing so. As you could not download the video footage on your own, you solicited the assistance of another Township employee as well as a member of the public. Such conduct is inimical to the interests and image of the Township.”
The letter goes on to state that he’d enlisted the aid of a resident to “get” one of the Supervisors. “Additionally, on May 11, 2022, you corresponded with a member of the public for the purpose of encouraging that individual to "go get" Supervisor David Hughes in connection with the posting of correspondence sent to the Board by that individual. As a Township employee, you owe a duty to the Township and its elected officials, and, by encouraging a member of the public to ''go get'' a Township Supervisor, you have violated such duty.” That citizen is believed to be Vinnie Biancone, with whom Hughes had a contentious relationship. Early in Hughes’ Supervisory career, he published threatening emails on his personal blog, exeterunited.com, from Biancone that were sent to Hughes’ Exeter Township email address.
The third reason for his dismissal may be the most damning of all. “Finally, you instructed a contractor to perform work to install handrailings outside of the Dunn Center and the Reading Country Club without first notifying and getting approval from the Board for that purpose. As a result, your actions have forced the Township to incur expenses that the Board has not approved.
Taken together or separately, your actions are inimical to the interests and image of the Township. Nevertheless, the Township will classify your separation as a restructuring of the Public Works Department and will not contest your eligibility for unemployment compensation benefits. Your last day of employment will be May 19th, 2022.”
The letter is then signed by McBride, who at that time was the interim Township Manager.
So what we have is a sitting Supervisor who committed two illegal acts as a township employee, and behaved very poorly in promoting dissension against the BOS. The two illegal acts taken were attempted blackmail, and approving repairs and spending money without proper authorization from the BOS, whose job it is to approve purchases.
At the time of the firing, there were only three BOS members, Hughes, George Bell, and Michelle Kircher, after the sudden resignations of Carl Staples and Diana Reeser in the previous month.
Combine these two illegal actions with the act of placing Bell on the Board in an illegal fashion last year while knowing that doing so was in fact illegal, and we have a portrait of a BOS member who shows complete and utter contempt for the laws that he has sworn to uphold, both during his term as Supervisor and before as an employee. We also have proof once again that Exeter Township is about covering things up first, and transparency only when you get caught.
Bell and Kircher should answer to the public for why they didn’t tell us about this, and above all, Hamm should resign in disgrace.