Did Tom Vickery use his influence as a Bradford Township
supervisor to make $75,000 on a real estate deal? Or was he simply
a shrewd businessman taking advantage of an opportunity while
bringing a new company into his township?

Allegations of unethical conduct have been raised by township
residents against Vickery, who doubled his return on a piece of
land he sold to Universal Wells Services Inc. by purchasing a
9-acre parcel from another township resident for $75,000 and then
selling it to Universal for $150,000.

Those transactions were recorded minutes apart, both on July 7,
at the McKean County Courthouse, according to representatives at
the McKean County Recorder of Deeds and Tax Assessment offices.

Court documents indicate Vickery bought the parcel from David E.
Walters and his family, with the legal process for the sale in
June, although it was not recorded until July 7.

Some township residents say they feel Vickery used his status as
a township supervisor to orchestrate the sale and to expedite the
permitting process that will allow Universal to set up shop in
Bradford Township.

For example, a township resident at the July supervisors’
meeting questioned why the municipality had paid for engineering
work related to that parcel of land, implying it was not
township-related work. Vickery responded that the work was being
done in accordance with state Department of Environmental
Protection mandates.

When asked about his role in bringing Universal to Bradford
Township, Vickery said he was concerned that the company would
relocate outside of McKean County, or worse, outside the state.
That being the case, he “went out looking for a location” for
them.

“I worked for five and a half months to acquire and resell that
parcel,” Vickery said when asked about selling the land to
Universal. He went on to say that he was offended by being asked
about the financial ramifications of the sale.

He did say, however, that the $75,000 difference did not
accurately reflect the profit made in the transaction.

“If you actually knew how much I really made on that deal,”
Vickery said, “you’d probably want to shoot yourself.”

He went on to say the situation with Universal’s problems with
its neighbors in Foster Township was well-publicized, implying the
same opportunity was available to everyone.

Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, told The Era recently he was
contacted by Vickery “a few months ago” to help secure DEP permits
for a site on Rutherford Run.

“As far as I was concerned, he (Vickery) was a township
supervisor trying to keep a company in Pennsylvania and spur
economic development,” Causer said.

“When he (Vickery) contacted me,” Causer went on to say, “he
said (Universal) was talking about leaving and possibly moving into
New York state. So there was a need to keep them here.”

As such, Causer said he contacted the DEP to help expedite the
permit process -ða common request by supervisors, he said. To the
best of his recollection, Causer said, the permit Vickery asked
specifically for help with had to do with “wetlands.”

Causer said he was not aware at any point who owned the
property.

“He (Vickery) contacted me as a supervisor seeking help with
securing permits for a site in Bradford Township,” Causer said,
adding he would have given the same assistance to any
constituent.

At least two state Department of Environmental Protection
permits have to be issued on the property before construction can
start at the new site, according to Bradford Township engineer Al
Vanderpoel of E&M Engineering.

Vanderpoel also told The Era he was working on a permit
submitted by Bradford Township for culvert repair on Rutherford
Run. That project, he said, is not related to Universal’s
relocation. He went on to say that a separate “wetland mitigation
permit” project is in the works for the plot recently purchased by
Universal. The project for Universal, he said, is being handled by
another engineering firm – Lake Engineering out of Edinboro.

Vanderpoel said Vickery initially asked E&M Engineering to
provide services needed for both permits, but officials at E&M
felt that was “a conflict of interest” with Vickery being a
township supervisor.

Art Kuholski, owner of Lake Engineering said last week he was
involved with a project at the intersection of High Street and
Rutherford Run, and is working on an environmental permit
application for that client, Universal Well Services Inc.

“I encouraged them to use (E&M) for all of it because we are
two hours away,” Kuholski said, adding he was unsure why Universal
insisted on using his services instead. “I guess they felt more
comfortable with us because we do more environmental work.”

“We’re working in the southeast corner of the roads on wetland
mitigation,” Kuholski said, adding Todd Fantaskey did the
remediation. Fantaskey is the sewage enforcement officer for
Bradford Township, working for Northwest Soil Services out of
Warren.

“I was introduced into the project by Tom (Vickery),” Kuholski
said. “He was my first contact when the project got started.”

He also said he was “within weeks” of submitting the permit
application to the DEP. “I have to complete the application, and
before I send it (to the DEP), I have to send copies to the county
and township for comments. It’s a fairly complicated process.”

The residents of Foster Township, specifically those on Olean
Road near Universal Well Services’ current location, have been
complaining for the better part of a year to their township
supervisors about the dangers and annoyances of living next to
Universal.

Vickery attended a special meeting about Universal March 1 in
Foster Township and reportedly told the supervisors and Universal
officials, “I have a building they (Universal) could move into
tomorrow … the old Corning building” – referring to the former
Bradford Electronics Inc. building at 550 High St.

Vickery told The Era he attended that meeting primarily to
research residents’ reaction to changing how a property is zoned
relative to a situation in Bradford Township with the Pennhills
Club.

While he was there, a Foster Township resident suggested
Universal relocate to Lafayette Township, and it was only then,
Vickery said, that he considered helping the company relocate to
Bradford Township.

Walters told The Era Vickery approached him during the second
week of March, asking if he (Walters) was interested in selling the
lot.

“Vickery came to me and wanted to know if I wanted to sell (the
land),” Walters said. “I didn’t know who was going to buy it until
a month after Vickery first approached me asking about it. I had no
idea they (Universal) were even looking in the area.”

Walters added that he was “happy” Universal decided to stay in
McKean County, saying he was told by Vickery the company might
relocate to New York.

Roger Willis, senior vice president of Universal, confirmed
Friday that it was Universal’s intent to relocate their operation
to the Rutherford Run plot in Bradford Township, saying Universal’s
business at its current location expanded much faster than anyone
there had anticipated.

“We want to be good neighbors,” Willis said. “We stressed not
only the land, but the neighbors, who have been super people.” That
being the case, he went on to say, company officials started
seeking a location with the “proper zoning,” not only for their
current operations, but also so they can keep expanding.

He said Universal “looked at every square inch (of available
land in the area) and that (the Rutherford Run plot) was the best
piece we could find.” He said only that Universal purchased the
plot from a local individual.

“We’re in the whole process of taking care of permits,” Willis
said. “We’re hoping we can start construction this fall if
everything works out.”