DPW Honesdale, part 2
-by Mark Casner
Interview with Mark Daniels Sr.,
former worker Honesdale DPW
We spoke to Mark Daniels Sr. who was one of the workers who quit the Honesdale DPW on April 10. Mr. Daniels is 64 years old and was employed there for 20 years. According to Mr Daniels, former Councilors Dan Brown and Joe Rullin were both good supervisors. Both “ Dan and Joe are gone now and the Zoning guy, has just quit the other day.” We asked about how workers were treated on the job and he said that Judith P was the problem. Dan Brown “had to sit with her all day” he said. He is now gone. Mr. Daniels spoke of going to a meeting right after Joe Rullin quit, to discuss work matters, and dreading it. When he sat down, he said, she “came at me”, pointing her finger and demanding that he do the Apple Grove job, “gotta do the stage”, do the park. “Always demanding” he said. No threats, but the constant demanding. Mr Daniels said he believed some of former workers would go back if there were a raise but he would not. He mentioned selling his apartment, moving his van to another town and living there. He said he has had enough. Another worker, who is quite a bit older, would not go back either.
DPW Workers, vandalism investigation etc
Mark Casner
Interview with Mark Daniels Sr. 5/30/2024 (2nd interview)
Mark Sr.said that he and others were asked to come into the police H.Q. for a polygraph test and that this test would take three hours.
Mark Sr. was already interviewed by borough police in connection with the investigation into to the alleged vandalism. That took place at his home. He was shown a piece of pipe and was asked by police chief “Do you know what this is?” He picked it up and told them he had not seen this before, as he was picking it up. The reply was “It is a piece of pipe from the pool, now your fingerprints are on it”.
The pool house
Mark said he and another DPW worker were inside the pipe water works house the one time in March or early April of 2024. This was before the water was turned on. He said the Director Kevin was with them at the time and this was the one and only time they were in there.
He also related another recent incident with director Kevin in which the crew were asked to scrub down the pool with “acid” They were getting sick from the fumes, but they were yelled at and told to keep working.
Mark Senior has already spoken to the police once and he said he has no intention of going into the police H.Q. for this polygraph without an attorney.
We called several former DPW Workers and left messages.
Someone picked up the phone at Wm Corcoran’s home. The person answering phone called him and she relayed his message which was “ No Comment”.
Interview with Mark Daniels Jr.
We spoke to Mark Daniels Jr. He said he had tried for a number to years to get a job with the borough, and it was only after Joe was hired as director that he got a call back and was considered. Former Director Joe was aware that he, Mark Jr had experience in plowing and contracting work, and he was hired.
The pool house. He said that Judy Poltanis, sometime in March of this year, told them to go to the poolhouse to check on the pump. He said he went there as instructed with a few other guys. The found the door unlocked and the cord running out the window.
The last time he was at the poolhouse was with the others, to unload benches.
He also confirmed the incident described by Mark Sr. occurred, although possibly with Rick Stoney supervising.
The investigation
Mark Jr said that when spoken to by police he was told “We need you guys to come down and take a polygraph, just to get his out of the way” .
He said no, but he would think about it. The workers had already been interviewed and had denied any knowledge of vandalism.
Mark Jr said “Why us?” “They are treating us like crap”
Dignity On The Job, and the Union.
He said that Judy Poltanis had come over and hung paperwork up and said “Now you guys are union” but no banners or union cards were received. No confirmation of the change in status.
We asked “Would you go back to this job?” He said “yes if she was gone” (a reference to Judy Poltanis) and “if they would agree to our request” .
Mayor Derek Williams – Tel: 570-253-0731, ext. 18; Email: walking4mayor@gmail.com.
Message left with Police Chief Richard Southerton (Honesdale Police Dept)
Message left today. We had previously interviewed Chief Southerton on this matter,
But left another message today in order to clarify the newest information, allegation of invite to come in for polygraph without attorney present.
Mayor Derek Williams
Regarding the ongoing inquiries into the situation of the departed DPW Workers, we spoke today to the Mayor Derek Williams. He acknowledged that the timing of the invitation to the former DPW crew to come and do a polygraph was “a weird look”. He said he has spoken to Mark Jr and is aware that he and others are pissed.
Further he said it was currently an open investigation so he could not comment while such a thing was ongoing. He denied that the borough is engaging in retaliation, but the vandalism did in fact occur and now that the police have been notified, it is their responsibility to try and finish the criminal investigation. He did say for the record once again that the laborers expertise was valuable and would be missed and that the borough has to make do without them. Further he said the borough was trying to bring the level of services back up to speed.
We are aware that the borough was hiring and was looking at contractors and using some kind of volunteer prison workers. These plans have been discussed elsewhere and there is likely to be further news in the near future.
(by Mark Casner 5/31/2024)