By Tyra Braden
The Morning Call
Copyright 2007 The Morning Call, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — After a four-month hiatus, the battle between Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Company and its Ladies Auxiliary returned to court. The auxiliary landed the first punch when a former fireman said his name had been forged on numerous checks written to the fire chief.
Donald L. Holland Jr., a member of the fire company’s Ways and Means Committee in 2000-01, testified he did not sign checks totaling $10,249 made out to Chief Tim Frankenfield, part owner of Continental Championship Wrestling Inc. and chairman of the township board of supervisors.
Holland, shown a stack of canceled checks, told Northampton County Judge Paula A. Roscioli he hadn’t signed them. He identified 12 checks written to Frankenfield — with amounts ranging from $60 to $3,600 — that bear what Holland said is not his signature. Holland also identified several other checks, including one for $300 to Ronald Reagle, Frankenfield’s partner in the wrestling venture and the fire company’s treasurer.
The wrestling company organized shows as fundraising events.
The fire company and auxiliary have been at odds since 2005. The fire company wanted to hire outside caterers and book more banquets at the social hall. The auxiliary, which was formed in 1962 and makes the bulk of its money through wedding receptions and dances, objected.
The tiff heated up when the auxiliary refused to give the fire company money for a new truck but offered to write a check to the truck dealer. Firefighters said no, then demanded the auxiliary turn over all its money. The auxiliary refused but offered to increase its monthly contribution from $5,000 to $8,000.
The fire company filed a civil action in court in November 2005.
Roscioli heard testimony in September but halted the proceeding when the state attorney general’s office said it has an obligation to get involved, because nonprofit entities are accusing each other of wrongdoing.
Settlement talks failed, and when the case resumed Wednesday, attorney Ralph Bellafatto of Bethlehem Township, who represents the firefighters, and Bob Sugarman, one of three lawyers in the auxiliary’s corner, began sniping. Roscioli held up her hands. “Let’s just dispose of the all the ridiculous bickering,” she said. The judge admonished the attorneys several times, telling them they were straying from the crux of the legal issues at hand.
Roscioli in October ordered the attorneys to stop accepting payments until the attorney general’s office determines if such spending is proper. At that time, the auxiliary, which had about $217,000 when the fight broke out, had spent about $117,000. Bellafatto, at the time Roscioli put a moratorium on spending, had accepted $5,225 in fees from the firefighters and $3,000 for costs. Pamela Fingerhut of the attorney general’s office is participating in the trial, which continues today.
Certified public accountant Thomas Huff testified the auxiliary hired him in 2005. He said he used meeting minutes, check stubs, canceled checks and invoices to piece together the group’s financial history. Over the years, Huff said, the auxiliary has given the fire company more than $1.6 million. Huff said the women had failed to file annual accountings the Internal Revenue Service requires of nonprofit groups. Likewise, he said, there was no evidence the group had ever filed for tax-exempt status. Huff said he prepared the documents, and all is well between the group and the IRS.