Center Township Supervisor John Bertolino and his wife Rosemary were ordered to pay fines and court costs in connection with a citation for an ordinance violation concerning a carport on Cherry Alley.
The hearing was held this afternoon in front of District Judge Susanne Steffee. The township was represented by Mike Supinka, their solicitor, who said that Bertolino’s request for a permit came after the carport was built. The building was an open air carport in 2016, but was closed in in 2017 to become a garage. Bertolino was represented by Attorney Wayne Kablak. Kablak tried to get the case dismissed, saying that the ordinance enforcement officer Andy Szentmikloski was not a duly sworn ordinance officer, that the township had disobeyed its own ordinance for time limits, and finally echoing Bertolino’s claim that the road was not a township road. The charges were not dismissed, and Bertolino took the stand, saying that he had his own carports on the road for 35 years and had not been told to move before, saying it all came up now because he was a Township Supervisor.
In her ruling, Judge Steffee said that Bertolino “should have known” the rules and also said “you’re not exempt from the law”. She ordered a fine of $100, court costs of $127.80 and another $40.25 in costs.
Supervisors chairman David Smyers gave his reaction to the hearing, and said they were not surprised.
John Bertolino said that he respected Judge Steffee.
Bertolino has said that they will appeal.
