Allegheny Township supervisor, 2 former officials face charges over toy drive money

A disagreement in Allegheny Township over who should control a pool of money raised to buy Christmas presents for children now is in a district judge’s office.

Charges were filed Thursday against an Allegheny Township supervisor, a former supervisor and the township’s former manager apparently over $10,000 that was transferred from a township account to the Leechburg Volunteer Fire Company for a Christmas toy drive.

Supervisor Michael Korns, former Supervisor John Rennick Steele, 76, and former Manager Gregory Primm, 57, all face summary charges of violating the state’s second class township code. A summary is the lowest level of criminal offense.

According to District Judge Cheryl Peck-Yakopec’s office, they have 10 days to enter pleas. The amount of a fine is up to the judge, but court costs alone total about $100, a representative of the office said.

Steele and Primm each face one count for removal of funds, according to the citations. Korns faces three separate charges of removal of funds, removal of files and removal of property, according to citations filed against him.

Supervisors Chairman Jamie Morabito said the removal of files charge against Korns pertains to files on a township business. Those files were missing and then reappeared, he said.

The removal of property charge accuses Korns of removing a TribLive article that was posted in the lobby of the township’s administration building, Morabito said. The article was from June about Morabito and Supervisor Jeff Pollick voting to launch an investigation into the transferred money.

The multiple charges against Korns “is basically showing a pattern,” Morabito said.

Korns, Steele and Primm could not immediately be reached for comment. Township Solicitor Craig Alexander also could not be reached.

The citations, themselves, do not contain details on the allegations. They were filed by Brenda Troup, the township’s code enforcement and zoning officer, not township police.

It was unclear why Troup filed the charges. The code enforcement and zoning officer typically deals with things such as building permits and land developments.

Troup could not be reached for comment Friday.

Police Chief Dan Uncapher was not working this week, a person who answered the phone at his department said Friday.

In June, Korns had opposed launching an investigation into how a check for $10,000 was issued by the township to the Leechburg fire department. Morabito and Pollick supported it, saying they want the money to be returned.

Korns, Steele and Primm signed the check in August 2023 to transfer funds to the fire department for a Christmas toy drive.

Primm resigned as manager of Allegheny Township effective Aug. 31, 2023, to take a job as Lower Burrell’s city manager. Steele lost his bid for reelection as a supervisor in the May 2023 Republican primary to Pollick.

Toys for Alle-Kiski was created in 2014. It relied on donations from the Kiski Area School District, businesses, service organizations and residents.

Morabito previously said he did not know how money for the toy drive ended up in a township account.

Kiski Area started its own toy drive last year, Kiski Area Toys for Cavs, and withdrew from Toys for Alle-Kiski.

Also last year, township officials approached Leechburg firefighters about taking over Toys for Alle-Kiski. Fire company members voted in favor of doing so and accepted the check, according to fire company President D.J. Zelczak.

Because the check was signed by two supervisors and the manager, Zelczak said his department had no reason to question it.

“We did all of the due diligence that we needed to do when that check was given to us. Since then, we have had strict accounting practices. Every single dime is accounted for,” he said. “Since we received that check, we’ve done what we’re supposed to do, which was to make sure children in these communities got toys.”

Morabito said he met with representatives of the fire department this week.

“I am trying to work with them right now to have some kind of resolution as to how we’re going to handle this. We’re trying to stay out of litigation, if we can,” he said. “We’re trying to work out an amicable resolution that will benefit everyone. If we cannot, then we’ll litigate.

“I feel confident that we’re going to be able to come to some common ground,” he said.

Zelczak said the fire department would “gladly” give the money to a nonprofit covering the Kiski Area, Leechburg Area and Apollo-Ridge school districts and their communities.

“We’re not giving it back to Allegheny Township,” he said. “We are not assured by doing that it would go to all 17 communities.”

Zelczak is concerned that the reputation and image of his fire department, which relies on donations to operate, are being damaged by the township’s internal disputes.

“Whatever happened in Allegheny Township has nothing to do with us,” he said. “All we were trying to do was help children.”