Poggemeyer Reveals A Second Conflict Of Interest
Poggemeyer Design Group recently stated that it has, a previously unrevealed, second contract with Owens Corning. In a response to questions by The Granville Press, Poggemeyer wrote, “PDG was hired by Owens Corning in April of 2008 to analyze the OC Science and Technology Center site for possible funding scenarios and developablity as an expanded R & D site, and potentially a JRS site.” Until now, the public was only aware of the contract between Poggemeyer and Owens Corning to prepare an Ohio Jobs Ready Site grant.
In its statement to The Granville Press, Poggemeyer claims that, “Before PDG entered into a contract with OC, PDG cleared this with the Village (Don [Holycross, Village Manager], Constance [Barsky, Member of Council], etc.) and then with the Steering Committee.”
Poggemeyer also wrote, “In May of 2008, PDG was further engaged to prepare a State of Ohio Job Ready Sites (JRS) grant request (Due May 15).”
Poggemeyer stated, “PDG informed the Village that the grant request called for Southwest Licking as the primary sewer provider. Several discussions with Don Hollycross and Constance Barsky as well as Steve Mershon [Member of Council] addressed this issue.”
However, some of the facts don’t seem to fit Poggemeyer’s statements:
On or before April 25, 2008, Poggemeyer clearly was working for Owens on a JRS grant application. David Selhorst of Poggemeyer Design Group contacted Donald Rector, General Manager of Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District and asked him to provide a commitment letter to provide sewer service to the Owens site. Selhorst sent Rector a sample letter dated April 25, 2008.
While Poggemeyer states there were two contracts with Owens, they, contrary to their statement, were working on the JRS grant in April.
The Planner goes on to state, “Because the Village was unable to produce a resolution of commitment for sewer service to the OC site, nor any cost estimates prior to the grant submittal, (which was prepare two weeks before the deadline) there was no other option available that would allow the application to move forward.”
However, Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District was approached by Poggemeyer in late April for a letter of commitment. Granville Village was not contacted until May 6, 2008 (Email: Habig to Holycross and Email: Sargent to Hartfield, Holycross). The Village delivered a signed letter of commitment on May 9, 2008.
Poggemeyer should not represent both the township’s largest land owner and the township on zoning issues.
Poggemeyer should not represent both a large developer seeking Southwest Licking sewers and Granville Village, which wants to supply sewer.
Poggemeyer should examine the American Planning Association’s “Ethical Principles in Planning” and the “American Institute of Certified Planners Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.” For example, AICP’s ethics standard A;2(c) states:
“We shall avoid a conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest in accepting assignments from clients or employers.” [emphasis added]
It does not matter if a Granville official recommended that Poggemeyer help Owens on the JRS grant. A conflict is a conflict. The genesis of the conflict does not cleanse the conflict. Poggemeyer has the burden of avoiding conflicts. It has not done so.
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See previous stories about Poggemeyer, Owens, the Township and the Village:
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How much was Poggemeyer paid by Owens?
Some facts would help shed light on the conflict problem.
1) How much was Poggemeyer paid by Owens Corning? How much was the company paid by the Township and the Village? The amount of cash changing hands says something about loyalty.
2) Does Poggemeyer have any paperwork showing it told the Village upfront it was working to bring Southwest Licking sewers to town? Professionals document such communication in letters or memo. Unless it never occurred.
3)When does the Township Zoning Commission meet to discuss the Comprehensive Plan? Granville Press indicates that a meeting or two have been postponed but doesn’t say when the new meeting is. Maybe Poggemeyer can answer questions in this forum.
4) Why don’t the Trustees…? Oh, why even ask?
What?!!!!!!
“distractions of nosey do-gooders who have no capital at risk”….what a bunch of BS. We all have contributed TAX money that is being used …many of us have businesses in town and homes/properties.The Council and Trustees make decisions that effect the their value.
As far as RISK is concerned the Trustees and some Council members are our biggest risk at this point.
Poggemeyer's conflict worsens
Poggemeyer’s new revelations about its conflict are so damning that it’s hard to call its 5-page statement a defense. The company (hired by Granville Village and Granville Township to do the Comprehensive Plan) admits to having not just one, but two contracts with Owens Corning, Granville’s largest land owner.
Poggemeyer details its view that the special breaks given to Owens Corning were not the result of the conflict. They were just good policy. Maybe. But that’s why we avoid conflicts. So we can distinguish between favors and good policy.
Poggemeyer’s timeline shows it granted Owens Corning several key requests, THEN getting hired. That doesn’t exonerate the company. It deepens the problem. Poggemeyer dished out favors to Owens both BEFORE it was hired and AFTER it was hired. I call them favors and bad policy. Poggemeyer says Owens requests were nothing more than good policy in the course of everyday business. It is INDISPUTABLE that the work for the developer constitutes a conflict of interest and has severely damaged the credibility of the Comprehensive Plan.
For Poggemeyer to think it can now write the zoning laws that cover the Owens property is outrageous. It’s bad enough that the Township Trustees are in bed with every developer around — Lucks, Kraner, Owens, etc. But for the outside planner to profit from these conflicts is just not right.
Remember, Poggemeyer also was employed by Granville Village. The planner has worked expressly and explicitly against the Village’s interest by bringing Southwest Licking in as a competitor to the Village in supplying water and sewer. It does not matter if Poggemeyer thinks bringing Southwest Licking sewers to Granville is a swell idea. The company had been retained by the Village — before it worked for the developer (officially, at least) — and its first obligation is to Granville Village.
It is jaw-dropping arrogance to see Poggemeyer repeat the false claim that Southwest Licking was brought in only because the Village dawdled in writing a letter offering sewer. The public records — detailed on this site — show it’s not true. Appointed Township Trustee Bill Habig, who has been hostile to the Village from the beginning (as his emails show), originated this claim, forcing the Village to produce the paperwork showing it was false. Poggemeyer needs to remember it works for the Village, too. Poggemyer shows its stripes by taking sides with the developer that employs it and the developer’s best friend, Trustee Habig, and going hostile on the Village.
Hiring Poggemeyer was a mistake. The Comprehensive Plan is the most amateurish of Granville’s five plans and updates dating back to 1964. Granville has historically had very high planning standards. Poggemeyer was not up to the job. Its irresponsible conflicts — and its behavior after the conflicts were revealed — have damaged the community it was hired to serve. Its efforts to rewrite the Township zoning code, notwithstanding its conflict, is an example of how little Poggemeyer cares about either Granville or the integrity of a community-wide planning process.
Question for Buknut
Does the term Sunshine Law ring a bell?
I get it.....
We were wise and smart enough to vote for these boneheads but not smart enough to be included in the decisions they make on our behalf……thank you, thank you, thank you for saving us from ourselves.
Holycross, Barsky and Mershon Knew!!!
So, if you believe Poggemeyer, it looks like Village Manager Don Holycross, Council member Constance Barsky and Council member Steve Mershon knew that Poggemeyer (for Owens) was asking for Southwest Licking sewers and maybe even water.
Whose side are they on?
Maybe “buknut” is right - not only are the township trustees operating behind closed doors, but also are the members of the village council and that’s how things get done.
I’m really ready to quit - I trusted those people and apparently they are just like the trustees: corrupt.