Commissioners Pull Back from Poorman Signage Agreement
LOCK HAVEN—The Clinton County Commissioners in their capacity as trustees for the Susque-View Home have apparently backed off an earlier “endowment” agreement with Lock Haven resident Stephen Poorman.
The Record had reported earlier this week that the previous board of commissioners last year had entered into an agreement with Poorman which would provide for naming rights at the county home. The same report said a truck with Poorman’s name on it had gone to the home earlier this year but was turned away.
The commissioners had been asked to comment on that report and promised a response. Today they released a statement in their capacity as the “board of trustees, Susque-View, Inc.” It is printed verbatim:
Re: Susque-View Home, Inc. Capital Campaign
“In December, 2015, the previous Board of Trustees of Susque-View Home, Inc., entered into an agreement with Stephen Poorman that provided for a generous endowment to Susque-View Home, Inc. as part of a capital campaign which was under consideration. The Agreement provided for name recognition at an appropriate time.
Beginning in April, 2016, the current Board of Trustees of Susque-View Home, Inc. hired a consultant to do a research study on the prospect of launching the capital campaign for physical improvements to the facility to improve the services that Susque-View provides to its residents. The Trustees are currently analyzing several options for the use of any funds raised. As a result of the study, however, the Trustees believe, in general, that a community based approach is most compatible with the proposed capital improvement plan and have reconsidered the details of Mr. Poorman’s proposed endowment.
The time table for the campaign is yet uncertain, and gifting options and donor recognition policies have yet to be established, but we hope to launch a capital campaign by the end of 2016.
Mr. Poorman has been very generous to Susque-View and we applaud his philanthropy to Susque-View and the community. Once the campaign is initiated and the guidelines for participation, gifting levels and any naming rights have been determined, we will be inviting Mr. Poorman, together with all other members of the community to participate in the Susque-View Home, Inc. capital campaign.”
The statement carried the names of the three commissioners, Jeff Snyder, Susque-View trustee chairman; Pete Smeltz, trustee vice-chairman; and Paul Conklin, trustee secretary. Also included were the names of home administrator Jamie Aurand and home solicitor Paul Ryan.
The Record had asked to see the minutes of recent board meetings but Ryan said as a non-profit, the minutes are not public record and would not be provided.
The commissioners emailed their statement at the end of the work day today and efforts to contact trustee chairman Snyder have so far been unsuccessful relative to any additional comment beyond the statement.
The naming matter with Poorman follows a recent flap between Poorman and the Lock Haven Salvation Army. The local executive board moved last week to have taken down signage reading “Community Center, Supported by Poorman Family.” Board vice-chairman Joseph V. Sanders III said at the time, “The people are spiritually destroyed.”
Poorman promptly had the lettering covered and said he would work to resolve any differences with the local Salvation Army board.
