Cumru Township: An Economic Development Plan Built on Silence, Firings, and Familiar Consultants

Commissioner Greg Miller proposed and voted to hire Delta Development Group for $63,000 to shape Cumru's economic plan—a firm tied to a $1.4M federal repayment scandal. Days earlier, top officials were fired in closed session. Taxpayers deserve answers.

Part 2: Following the Money, the Firings, and the Unanswered Questions Cumru Township officials unveiled what they described as a long-overdue economic development plan during a public meeting Tuesday night. Framed as a forward-looking strategy to stabilize finances and attract investment, township leadership says the plan is meant to correct years of stagnation and put Cumru on more equal footing with surrounding municipalities. But taken in full context, the rollout of this plan raises serious and unresolved concerns—concerns rooted not just in economics, but in governance, transparency, and accountability. RESIDENTS PAID FIRST — DEVELOPMENT CAME LATER Cumru Township recently approved a tax increase , citing rising costs and persistent budget shortfalls. Township officials acknowledged that development has remained largely stagnant for years, leaving residents to absorb the financial burden while neighboring communities such as Spring Township, Wyomissing, Exeter, and Muhlenberg experienced steady commercial growth. Only after increasing taxes did township leadership move to unveil a development plan they say has been "a long time in the making." That sequence matters. Economic development is supposed to broaden the tax base before residents are asked to pay more , not after. THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN: ZONES, PROMISES, AND UNKNOWN COSTS According to township officials, the plan proposes four mixed-use development zones that would combine commercial and residential uses. Target areas include: Two sections along Route 10 near Flying Hills The Route 222 corridor (Old Lancaster Pike) An area near Gouglersville , close to the Route 222 exit Commissioner Greg Miller has publicly stated that Cumru has fallen behind neighboring municipalities over the last several decades and that this plan is intended to change that trajectory. Yet the plan remains largely conceptual , with major components unresolved: Rezoning has not occurred Infrastructure funding has not been secured Developer commitments have not been finalized Instead, township officials continue to point to state and federal grants as the primary mechanism to move the plan forward. GRANTS ARE NOT FREE MONEY Township leadership has openly acknowledged that much of the proposed development depends on outside funding. Grants often come with: Long-term compliance and reporting obligations Federal or state oversight Land-use or housing requirements Financial clawbacks if terms are violated When municipalities pursue grant-driven development without strict safeguards, taxpayers carry the downside risk. This concern is not theoretical— it is supported by documented cases across Pennsylvania . THE CONSULTANT DECISION THAT TIES IT TOGETHER Central to Cumru Township's development strategy is the selection of its consultant. Commissioner Greg Miller proposed and voted in favor of hiring Delta Development Group for a $63,000 consulting engagement to develop the township's economic growth strategy. This decision places Miller not only as a vocal proponent of the development plan, but also as a key decision-maker in choosing the firm responsible for shaping it . Given Delta Development Group's documented involvement in municipalities facing audit findings, grant misuse, and federal repayment orders, this decision warrants heightened public scrutiny . Residents deserve to know: Why Delta was selected over other firms What safeguards are in place to protect taxpayers How accountability will be enforced if recommendations expose the township to financial or regulatory risk A FAMILIAR NAME IN A TROUBLING PUBLIC RECORD Delta Development Group has maintained a long-standing consulting relationship with River Valley Transit (RVT) in Williamsport. MULTI-YEAR AUDIT (2021–2025) REVEALED: Significant financial irregularities Misuse of state and federal transit funds A "shell game" in which transit money was diverted to non-transit projects such as downtown buildings and streetscapes During the period under investigation, Delta served as the consultant for funding and compliance . While primary responsibility was placed on former city management, Delta's role was not incidental— it is a matter of public record . In February 2025, the Federal Transit Administration ordered the City of Williamsport to repay $1.4 million in misspent funds. Despite this, Delta was later retained to help correct the very systems that failed under its guidance. Why are consultants associated with failed oversight repeatedly rehired—and quietly embedded into new municipal projects? ABRUPT FIRINGS AND CLOSED-DOOR DECISIONS Just days before the development plan was publicly discussed, Cumru Township commissioners took extraordinary personnel actions . On January 5: The board unanimously terminated Public Works Superintendent Bob McNichols Voted 4–1 to terminate Township Manager Jeanne Johnston Conducted an executive session lasting over an hour Provided no public explanation beyond "personnel issues" Commissioner Lisha Rowe was the lone vote against terminating the township manager. No performance evaluations were released. No public justification was offered. No transition plan was explained. Residents were simply told to accept the outcome. GOVERNANCE BY SILENCE IS NOT LEADERSHIP When senior officials are removed without explanation, major development initiatives are advanced, and consultants with controversial track records are hired, transparency is not optional . Silence fuels distrust. Closed doors invite suspicion. And rushed decisions create long-term consequences. This is not about personalities. It is about patterns . PATTERNS RESIDENTS CANNOT IGNORE Taxes raised before development Heavy reliance on grant funding Consultant-driven planning Closed-door executive sessions Sudden termination of top staff Limited public disclosure Individually, these actions may be defended. Taken together, they demand scrutiny. WHAT CUMRU RESIDENTS SHOULD DEMAND NOW Before rezoning begins or grant agreements are finalized, residents should insist on: Full disclosure of consultant contracts , scopes of work, and compensation Independent fiscal impact analyses showing who pays if grants fall through Developer-funded infrastructure requirements , not taxpayer bailouts Public explanations for senior staff terminations Open public hearings before rezoning , not after decisions are made Economic development done right strengthens communities. Done wrong, it creates dependency, debt, and distrust. Cumru Township does not lack opportunity. It lacks transparency. And until that changes, residents are right to ask: Who benefits, who pays, and why are the most important decisions happening behind closed doors?