Jarvis Resigns from Warminster Democratic Organization
The resignation comes In light of the committee's intention to review the events surrounding her health care benefits.
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In a fiery e-mail sent to members of the Warminster Township Democratic Organization (WTDO) and obtained by WarminsterPatch, Ellen Jarvis announced her resignation from the group, asking for a pro-rated refund of her membership dues.
"Why am I quitting WTDO?" Jarvis writes. "Because the WTDO is neither democratic nor organized."
Jarvis' move comes in response to efforts by members of the committee to schedule a meeting to review the recent revelation that Jarvis had missed the past four monthly premiums for her township-provided health care coverage and her subsequent removal as chairwoman of the Warminster board of supervisors.
"Have your meeting...you'll have to discuss it without me," Jarvis says, "in the usual ranting circles that into which our meetings always degenerate...You can call for my resignation from the Board of Supervisors, just like any other resident can do. I'll be saying no."
In the e-mail, and in other forums, Jarvis contends she did nothing wrong because the payments were voluntary, as per an opinion letter written by township solicitor Michael Savona in July 2010. According to Jarvis, the letter says, "Supervisors can receive medical benefits coverage for themselves and their dependants (sic), without any required reimbursement to the Township for any associated costs." WarminsterPatch is making attempts to acquire a copy of the letter.
During the May 12 board of supervisors meeting, Savona said Jarvis misinterpreted the letter, and her acceptance of the health care benefits without payment of the premiums constituted a pay increase and violated Pennsylvania state law.
"I deeply respect the public trust I have been afforded," Jarvis says in her e-mail to the WTDO. "Those who know me and my values (as I thought you did) would never have to 'discuss' this fact with anyone, ever. I have never, and would never, do anything to violate that trust. Have I made mistakes? Of course; I am human."
Jarvis asked the rest of the board of supervisors to allow her and her husband, John Jarvis, to enroll in Warminster township employees' group health plan in May 2010. Upon her admittance, Jarvis says she made the premium payments throughout the rest of 2010 at a grand total of $12,000. After her husband lost his disability payments and she was laid off from her full time job, Jarvis says she could no longer afford the payments.
She submitted a letter to township manager Bob Tate on April 27, 2011, informing him of the situation. Jarvis says the letter also states she will resume payments as soon as possible. In her e-mail to the WTDO, Jarvis says she did not inform Tate earlier out of embarrassment for her predicament.
"Ellen Jarvis is no longer associated with the WTDO in any way," said committee chairman Jim Brickman. "I know she is going through hard times and I wish her well in the future."
Brickman said Jarvis' resignation has left plans for a review meeting "up in the air."
In the e-mail, Jarvis declared she has no intention of resigning from the board of supervisors and plans to form her own organization, Independent Democrats of Warminster. She ends the letter stating she has found full-time employment, beginning Tuesday.
Pete Krenshaw
1:36 am on Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Now this is a shocker! Ellen has no shame...
Tired of Hypocrisy
4:55 am on Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Perhaps Mrs. Jarvis should use her idle time by reading a book on dignity and good manners instead of penning vile emails and comments to others. Unfortunately Mrs. Jarvis has shown disrespect and a lack of intelligence in her lashing out. Surely her resignation from WTDO is not a loss to the organization and possibly instead of issuing her a "Pro-Rated refund" on her membership, the WTDO could forward the 'refund' to Warminster Township to be put towards the money she owes the taxpayers.
I do hope that the voters realize on May 17th when they go to their polling place, that Mr. Jarvis states on his School Board candidacy literature that he paid for the literature. Obviously there is money in the Jarvis household, however, it was used for personal gain just as they used the Township money for their own personal gain. Mismanagement of township funds and also their household funds, do the taxpayers need either Mrs. Jarvis as a Supervisor managing our funds or her husband as a School Board Director managing our funds? My vote is no for both of them. They need to get off the taxpayers backs and learn to live within their means, while earning and paying their own bills.
JNB56
7:54 am on Tuesday, May 17, 2011
As a Warminster resident, I am disgusted with Ms. Jarvis conduct over the past year. What will it take to remove her from the Warminster Township board?
Itsjustme
9:59 am on Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Per the 2nd Class Twp Code....
Section 503. Removal for Failure to Perform Duties.-If any township officer fails to perform the duties of the office, the court of common pleas upon complaint in writing by five percent of the electors of the township may issue a rule upon the officer to show cause why the office should not be declared vacant. The officer shall respond to the rule within thirty days from its date of issue. Upon hearing, the court may declare the office vacant and require the vacancy to be filled under section 407.
Concerned Warminster Resident
12:22 pm on Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Jarvis is solely responsible to the electorate - not the party who endorsed her to run on their ticket. By law (Section 503) the 2nd Class Township Code allows her to be recalled, but Pennsylvania courts have negated much of that provision of the code. So effectively she can't be recalled.
So unless she is convicted of a felony, or steps down on her own - we are stuck with her until January 2014.
You can keep the pressure on both her, and the Township Manager, who facilitated keeping Ellen Jarvis' non-payment of health benefits secret from the minority members of the board.
Also you if you leave in Region Three, you can vote against Jarvis' husband John - who in spite of claiming being short on funds, actually paid for his own campaign for Region 3 School Board. Do you trust these two to handle any of your tax funds?
Change for the Better
5:31 pm on Tuesday, May 17, 2011
I find it hard to believe Ellen is continuing this farce. It's over. You will never get back the respect you think you had with your peers and constituents. What happened to the Ellen that used to attend BOS meetings before being elected into office. You can go back to meeting minutes where you take the board to task, thus keeping them honest. That record of citizenship is ultimately what got you elected into office. It's too late to get that back so you should just humbly step down and and live your life as a model citizen and maybe gain back some of the respect you lost.
Pete Krenshaw
6:06 pm on Tuesday, May 17, 2011
I couldn't have said it better. Ellen is not the first person who was changed by being on the Board. It seems that some people get this "power" and it goes to their head or the forget why they are there. As a voter we think we know who we are getting and then we end up with an "Ellen"... We really need to do a better job in vetting our candidates and making sure we have the best we can in office, not the best of two evils.
ElleWaller
7:50 pm on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Our township needs to hire a new attorney too. Savona sat RIGHT TO JARVIS' left when she announced she would be taking advantage of the healthcare benefits, and he said nothing then~now he is back pedaling like a fool. She should have NEVER given herself the "pay raise" but he is CLEARLY not a good solicitor. Bob Tate is a decent guy, with a good heart, who just got in over his head. It is our SUPERVISOR'S and the attorney's fault that this happen. Shame on them both. Ellen sure could read when she loop hole voted for her husband's township position that she got to vote for...
Pete Krenshaw
3:04 pm on Thursday, May 19, 2011
All Township staff and professionals should be evaluated on at least a yearly basis with shortcomings being identified and addressed. This includes Mr. Tate as Township Manager and Mr. Savona as the Solicitor. We have dozens of employees and professionals on the payroll and we can not afford to have any of them making mistakes or jeopardizing the integrity of our Township. It is our tax-dollars being spent and everyone needs to be accountable.