Holy run on title Bat Man! Yes I know but there’s so much right?
So West Vincent Township definitely in the opinion of many not only has a sketchy track record with supervisors (I mean hello? Everything old is new again 2x former manager Jim Wendelgass is now a supervisor, right?) and managers and solicitors? Things might be good or ok for a couple/few years and then it’s a swirling hot mess again, right?
So the newish manager, Tommy Ryan? First of all what kind of shlub later middle aged man goes by the name of Tommy? Does he have a Bobbie Sue and Jimmy John in his family tree too? So Tommy boy (that’s a fitting nickname right?) seems to play municipal hopscotch?
So this post on Facebook, December 8th made me take notice.
Cue the screenshots:
So if the doctor of this Fox Run Road property in question is the same one I researched from California, why would he pick West Vincent for his little real estate project?
So this is at 2 Fox Run Road in West Vincent. It’s 4.4 acres.
Here was a Zillow on it:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2-Fox-Run-Rd-Chester-Springs-PA-19425/54730468_zpid/
Here’s the deed etc:
Here’s the website:
So….the website describes it as a site for micro events and a bed & breakfast?
I have no problem with a bed & breakfast inn but what defines a “micro event” ? Maybe Tommy boy should elaborate on the “gray area”? For a bed and breakfast inn, there is zoning in West Vincent but they had issues with short term AKA Air B n B rentals a while back right? Now I do not know enough about West Vincent Zoning to know if B & B owners have to be on site or not. I know they have a form:
Now I noodled around on the West Vincent website looking for historic commission mentions of this property. Couldn’t find anything and that property and barn did major reno right?
So yes, this is all curious, and might not be a problem if people simply understood what is going on, right?
But then West Vincent Township Manager Tommy Ryan appeared in a second post on Facebook December 9. Allow me to present verbiage and screenshots:
Thank you to those who have reached out to me about the new event venue that West Vincent Township is turning a blind eye to in my residentially zoned neighborhood (its apparently a “gray area” for how commercial businesses can be in residentially zoned spots). But who is this bumpkin that is running the township and making these decisions? Buckle in folks, and let me give you the background i found online about Tom Ryan…. complete with a lie he put on his resume when he applied at WVT (wait… maybe it’s a “micro” lie??).
When Tom Ryan applied to WVT for the manager spot, his resume stated the following jobs:
* 2010-2015: West Bradford Township Manager
* 2015-2022: Worcester Township Manager
* Jan 2023-current: East Cocalico Township Manager
The resume is an item you can RTK as is his cover letter. How do I remember these dates? Because I googled him to see what his history was, and what I found didn’t match the dates on his resume. Odd, isn’t it? And then I had other secretaries and his former coworkers who reached out to me before he started at WVT to “warn” me about him because his reputation as a horrible boss and questionable person compelled them to reach out. If you ever bump into me and want to hear MY stories as one of his employees, just ask. I’ve had many people ask me things, and I have zero-problems giving my impression and experiences (and I wrote down EVERYTHING as it happened).
Back to his work history that can be found online, and what I found that made me scratch my head…
* 4/2008-4/2010 (2 years): Trappe Borough Manager.
This was the SECOND job where Tom worked with WVT solicitor, Dave Onorato (the first place being at Towamencin Township). This was one of the jobs where I received “warning” calls about Tom from previous coworkers and various secretaries. I won’t detail those conversations in writing since legally some of that information was hearsay (although I fully believe this info since various sources told me the same naughty things). However, the information I received about how he treats people and his persona? SPOT ON! And I witnessed those things first-hand when he started (as have many of you). It does not surprise me AT ALL that he was no longer there after 2 years. I’ll leave it at that.
* 4/2010-3/2011 (11 mos): Hatboro Township Manager.
This is interesting because he said on his resume which he submitted to WVT that he was working at WEST BRADFORD in 2010. How is that so?? And he only held this job for 11 months. I found an interesting newspaper article mentioning that shortly after Tom was hired, the solicitor resigned. Here’s a portion of that article:
…..Interesting article, no?
And Tom was gone from that job before his one-year anniversary in March 2011. Sooooo, it doesn’t look like he was in West Bradford in 2010 like his resume detailed.
* 5/2011-9/2015 (4 years): West Bradford Township Manager (this was the job he said he started in 2010, but WBT BOS meeting minutes don’t show him being appointed until mid-2011).
Someone said this is the township where he lived. Hmm, so why leave? Ironically, he resigned when the Public Works Director resigned (accepted at the same meeting). I read some interesting articles about this double-resignation. When a boss and his employee leave like this, there’s always a story. I found out some questionable news about this, but we still have more jobs to cover, so let’s move on, shall we?
* 9/2015-8/2022 (7 years): Worcester Township Manager.
Sure, Tom was here for 7 years. But coincidentally, Tom’s resignation was at the same meeting where a Public Works Laborer resigned as well. A repeat of his last job maybe? The stories about this double resignation run rampant there, too.
* 1/2023-2/2025 (2 years): East Cocalico Township Manager.
Interestingly enough, the tax collector of that township filed a Federal Lawsuit right after Tom left alleging him and others of First Amendment violations. I’m sure the lead-up to this had nothing at all to do with him leaving.
* 3/2025-current (9mos and counting): West Vincent Township Manager.
And now he’s here in WVT. And he’s back together with Dave Onorato who is our solicitor (job #3 with him). OH! And I believe there was a short stint as the VP and Director of Water Services at ARRO Consulting. But I was told by ARRO-peeps that it was only a few-month thing “for obvious reasons” (didn’t ask for elaborations on that… I already got a good picture in my mind).
Now think back to when John Granger was WVT manager (SURPRISE: John also worked with both Dave and Tom at a previous job like three amigos; Tom spoke very highly of John Granger when he started at WVT). People asked about whether background checks were done on Granger. Did anyone do them for THIS hiring? And if they did, did they ask about these things that were found with simple googling? And if so, were all these things just easily explained (although that year assigned to West Bradford seems a bit harder to let go)?
So when I now hear from my neighbors that there is a “gray area” over having a commercial event venue in a residentially zoned neighborhood, I have to look at the man allowing it to happen (and being paid $160k to do so). And ultimately I need to look at the people who hired this man which is our elected Board of Supervisors (and I’m sure they are appointing him to another year as manager come the January reorg meeting). If zoning is open to this much “interpretation”, then maybe we need to get someone who can do a better job interpreting.
And a huge thank you to the county employees who reached out to me today to get more information about my previous post. At least they understand the difference between commercial and residential. I hope the township pays attention when they come knocking to discuss this with them.
Thanks for listening to my history lesson. Again, feel free to keep goggling and see what YOU come up with.
Kristina Casey used to work for West Vincent. So she is a woman who left a municipality this guy managed? Maybe I would not think twice except for this:
Excerpt:
Hatboro’s solicitor, Christen Pionzio, faced with a situation she felt put both the borough and her law firm at risk, took everyone by surprise when she announced her resignation at Hatboro Council’s committee meeting Monday night.
In a prepared statement, she told officials it wasn’t working with the new borough manager, Tommy Ryan, because his way of operating prevents her from protecting the borough, exposing herself and her firm, Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell and Lupin, to liability.
“To continue to represent Hatboro under these circumstances would not only jeopardize the integrity of the borough, but my law firm as well,” said Pionzio, who has been Hatboro’s legal counsel since the winter of 2009.
Ryan, who came to Hatboro last month, declined to comment for this article.
“He told me directly that he has the expertise to identify legal issues and that he would let me know when my services were needed,” Pionzio said. “To have a non-lawyer prepare legal documents that could have far reaching liability for the borough is dangerous.”
According to Pionzio, Ryan will now draft documents, such as resolutions and ordinances. He had also requested Word documents of the easement agreements she had drafted for the borough, which she emphasized was her legal work product.
Resolutions are sometimes drafted by staff and always reviewed by solicitors, Pionzio said, but ordinances have real legal implications, such as granting rights to property owners or taking them away.
So yeah, Tommy boy was in Trappe for 2 years before Hatboro:
Then (plot twist), not even a year after Tommy boy took his job in Hatboro and the solicitor (female) resigned, he leaves:
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/horsham/hatboro-manager-may-resign
Excerpt:
Before some members of Hatboro Borough Council even heard the news, two residents inquired about the resignation of Borough Manager Tommy Ryan.
During Monday’s meeting, a man said the news was already out there and asked when the council would discuss Ryan’s replacement.
Council Vice President Nancy Guenst, who chaired Monday’s meeting, refused to comment. …Ryan, who last spring filled the position vacated by Police Chief James Gardner, told Patch afterward that he has received a “conditional offer” from West Bradford Township in Chester County.
https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/2011/03/07/hatboro-manager-resigning/17053408007
Excerpt:
Hatboro Council will hold a meeting Wednesday at 7:15 at Borough Hall to consider the resignation of Manager Tommy Ryan.
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/horsham/hatboro-to-hold-special-meeting-wednesday
https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/2011/03/09/republicans-blamed-for-hatboro-manager/17148993007
Excerpt:
Two weeks shy of the anniversary of his hiring, Hatboro manager, Tommy Ryan is moving on.
Borough council voted to accept Ryan’s resignation Wednesday night at a contentious session during which Democrats claimed that Ryan was leaving because of the “intimidation” of the Republican minority.
Ryan was not present at the meeting. His last day is March 16.
So then traveling Tommy boy went to West Bradford where it also seemed messy:
Excerpt:
WEST BRADFORD >> Two township employees recently resigned, one being a mutual agreement with the township.
West Bradford Township supervisors accepted the resignations of both Public Works Director Randy Behmke and Township Manager Tommy Ryan during their September meeting. Additionally, supervisors accepted the “execution of a settlement agreement” with Behmke.
During that time, supervisors also appointed Douglas K. Kapp as interim township manager, among other duties.
The Daily Local News obtained the information via a Right-to-Know request, including the resignation letters from both Behmke and Ryan, the settlement agreement with Behmke, and the salary of Kapp….Ryan recently told the Daily Local News that he resigned to become a manager in Montgomery County.
“I resigned my position after being appointed township manager in Worcester,” Ryan said. “I loved my time in West Bradford – great community, great employees, great board (of supervisors). But I was offered a great opportunity in Worcester, and it was an opportunity I could not turn down.”
Excerpt:
Tommy Ryan likes what he sees in the people of Trappe Borough. “I’m impressed with the pride and the passion of the residents, and with the sincerity and dedication of the elected officials,” Ryan, the new manager of the borough, said via e-mail last week.
A native of Boston, Ryan has lived in the Philadelphia region for 15 years and earned a master’s degree at Villanova University in public administration. He comes to the borough from the Heritage Building Group, a Bucks County-based property development company, where he held the positions of planning manager and approvals manager. His resume also includes stints as zoning officer and community planning director for Towamencin Township.
He is no stranger to Trappe. Ryan became familiar with the community through his previous positions, but many of the elected officials he’d come to know have since moved on.
“I previously worked with the borough’s solicitor, engineer, and zoning hearing board solicitor, so this has helped to smooth the transition,” Ryan said.
Then after a jaunt at ARRO, you know where West Goshen Casey LaLonde was for a while, Tommy Boy pops up at East Cocalico in Lancaster County? Tommy Boy gets around, huh?
Excerpt:
What: East Cocalico supervisors meeting, Jan. 12.
What happened: The board announced that Thomas Ryan will serve as the new township manager. He is vice president and director of water services for Lititz-based ARRO Consulting Inc. His start date is yet to be determined pending his notice to his current employer.
The cost: Ryan’s salary will be $130,000, plus a $5,000 annual vehicle allowance and a $1,200 cell phone allowance.
Background: Ryan has served as township manager in Worcester Township in Montgomery County and in West Bradford Township in Chester County. He also worked as borough manager in Hatboro and in Trappe, both in Montgomery County. An instructor for the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Ryan will be allowed five days off per year to attend PSATS.
Quotable: “We have put countless hours into this search. We feel we have found the right person,” said Lorenzo Bonura, East Cocalico supervisor.
Wellll….then it gets spicy, right?
Oh here’s the first filing on the part of the tax collector and it does include Tommy boy, now in West Vincent:
Excerpt:
WEST VINCENT — The board of supervisors has appointed Tommy Ryan as the latest township manager.
The township has been on a bit of a merry-go-round with township managers of late.
On Jan. 1, 2023, John Granger was appointed as West Vincent township manager, but he resigned on June 13, 2023.
So the board of supervisors appointed Jacqui Guenther as interim manager and then on Jan. 1, 2024, they made the job permanent, naming her as the new township manager, but it didn’t last long.
By August, she had resigned to become borough manager of Marcus Hook in Delaware County.
So the township appointed Jim Wendelgass to serve as interim manager, an appointment that was re-affirmed by resolution on Jan. 6. Wendlegass served previously as township manager, but his appointment was not renewed in 2016.
According to the township website, although Ryan is listed as the township manager, Wendelgass remains in the township administration as the township’s treasurer.
According to a press release issued by the township on March 17, “Ryan brings 15 years of management experience to the post, including most recently serving as East Cocalico Township Manager in Lancaster County. Prior to that, he served as manager in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, and West Bradford Township, Chester County.
So Tommy Boy likes to do videos:
But hey now so in October, East Cocalico announced the case filed by the tax collector was over:
But heyyyyy it’s NOT over. it was refiled and here’s what I found:
So do West Vincent residents even know all that their current manager has been up to? What kind of background checks were performed prior to his hiring? Were thing of a litigious nature like this wild case that is not over yet made known?
I found part of his contract and what is he making at West Vincent? $160,000? And he’s the zoning officer too?
So interesting to note, that the lady of the screenshots? Was the township or municipal secretary? Can’t seem to find one so is Tommy boy Jack of all township trades doing that too? Oh no wait for it….found an interesting item in the proposed 2026 budget:
Funding for a part-time receptionist position in lieu of a full-time Township Secretary position, saving an estimated $105,000 per year.
Ok that is SUPER offensive. A township secretary is more than a random office admin. It’s actually pretty specialized. I have had a few friends perform this job, and I actually interviewed for such a position gosh almost 15 years ago out of curiosity but was glad I was first runner up in the end when I realized how late meetings could go in this particular municipality not in Chester County I was peeking at. It’s a very important job for any municipality large or small and can’t just be a spot plugged by a part-time receptionist. If that is what Tommy boy is proposing well then that position will end up being advertised more than filled in my humble opinion.
But I am very curious about this manager. It’s literally intriguing the way West Vincent gravitates to certain kinds or classes of people isn’t it?
And Tommy boy is hardly universally loved is he?
Why is he there and how much of a raise is he suggesting for his position for 2026?
Just when you think West Vincent might stop the madness, they merely enlarge the lunatic asylum there don’t they?
Yikes, pass the popcorn, cue the drama, and good night.
