Questions raised about selection of Lake Delhi trustee candidates

MANCHESTER – The three Delaware County supervisors, after independently reviewing 19 applicants for four appointed seats on the Lake Delhi Combined Recreation and Water Quality Taxing District, selected the exact same eight applicants for further review.

Coincidence? Not according to the supervisors, who said at today's meeting that they were the eight who stood out.

More than a coincidence, said longtime Lake Delhi resident Barbara De Klotz. “It defies the law of averages,” she said.

Next week the supervisors will narrow the eight contenders to the four appointees, who will take office July 1 on a larger and more influential board of trustees that is expected to lead the effort to rebuild the breached Lake Delhi dam.

Of the eight selected, David Fry, Todd Gifford and Steve Leonard are leaders of the Lake Delhi Watershed Committee, a limited liability corporation formed in part to lobby the Legislature for law changes permitting expansion of the board of trustees and funds to help rebuild the dam.

The committee's secretary, Laurie Kramer, also made the cut, along with William Havertape, Joyce Kessenich, Mary Kray and Larry Peter.

The new law that expanded the board from three to seven trustees, with four to be initially appointed by the supervisors, also eliminated the requirement that trustees live within the boundaries of the taxing district, making all district property owners, regardless of their official residence., eligible to serve on the board.

Barbara and Ken De Klotz, who have owned lake property for more than 40 years and lived lakeside for the last 20, said they think the Watershed Committee leaders, none of whom have been elected, “have infiltrated their way into controlling everything.”

Supervisor Jeff Madlom said he had input from all three Lake Delhi leadership groups – the Watershed Committee, the trustees and the Lake Delhi Recreation Association. But none had special influence, he said.

“You have my word. We did not talk about this before today's meeting,” Madlom said.

Supervisor Shirley Helmrichs said her selection criteria included the applicants' skill sets, leadership and time available to serve. Madlom said he was looking for dedication, experience and a desire to work hard to bring the lake back. Supervisors Chairman Jerry Ries said one of his important criteria is the ability to work well with others.

Jim Willey, who reluctantly resigned in March as president of the Lake Delhi Recreation Association, did not make the cut, but he is one of four people on the July 19 ballot for the two seats to be filled via election.

Willey is running against Edward Schmidt, who resigned from the trustees earlier this year after it was discovered he did not reside within the district, for a board position that will run through July 30, 2012.

Incumbent Bruce Schneider is running against Morey Wruck for a three-year term.

Trustees chairman James “Buzz” Graham, whose seat is not up for election, will continue on the board.

Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. at the Delhi Community Center.