Mr. Thomas N. Flannery

Thomas FlannerySecretary

According to reports, Thomas Flannery, a long-time volunteer with the Mahanoy Creek Watershed Association (MCWA), has been ordered by his employer, the Commonwealth of PA, to curtail activities with the Schuylkill County environmental organization.Flannery volunteers with the watershed association and works as a mining inspector with the DEP's Pottsville District Mining Office.According to Roseann Weinrich, MCWA president, the surprise action stunned and outraged members of her group when they learned just days ago that Flannery, their valued secretary, was asked by his employer to "limit his activity" with the Ashland-based environmental group.
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Weinrich said Flannery has been an important and respected member of the watershed association.
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"Mr. Flannery has served as our secretary since our inception and has been an essential member of our organization throughout his tenure.
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This directive is also inconsistent with the policies of the former DEP administration, including Secretary David Hess and Mr. Bob Dolenz, who appointed Mr. Flannery to work with both the Swatara Creek Watershed Association and the MCWA and commended him on several occasions for his dedication and service to both."
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"Mr. Flannery is a tax-paying citizen of the Commonwealth and should be able to spend his spare time in whatever way he chooses."Mr. Menghini has charged Mr. Flannery with showing partiality to the MCWA.
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Mr. Flannery may be a bit more involved with our watershed as he resides in the watershed and has witnessed firsthand the pollution of the Mahanoy Creek since his childhood and has committed himself to remediation efforts beyond what is asked in his duties as an employee of the Commonwealth."This has not, however, prevented him from serving as secretary of the Swatara Creek Watershed and participating in their projects and activities as well."It is our belief that he is actually living up to the mission statement of the PA DEP which states that 'The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's mission is to protect Pennsylvania's air, land and water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety of its citizens through a cleaner environment.We will work as partners with individuals, organizations, governments and businesses to prevent pollution and restore our natural resources.'"That being said, we cannot think of any individual who brings this mission statement to life, acting as a liaison between the state and the community, more than Mr. Flannery has.Mr. Flannery exemplifies the essence of what a DEP employee should be."We have to wonder when Mr. Menghini last dirtied his hands while sacrificing a Saturday to do a cleanup in a polluted stream or drove his own vehicle to deliver fish food to a trout nursery during his free time."Mr. Flannery does not receive pay from the PA DEP nor from MCWA when he donates his free time to assist our association on our projects or any other worthwhile organization."Each member of our Board of Directors brings unique talents to the table and Mr. Flannery's contributions have been invaluable.His affiliations with various members of the mining industry have gotten many donated services on behalf of MCWA.Without his help, we would not be able to accomplish half of what we do.It is unthinkable that Mr. Flannery is being punished for choosing to spend his spare time on projects which serve not only our non-profit organization, the Swatara Creek Watershed, the respective communities lying within those watersheds, but also benefit the DEP in the public eye.It is unfortunate that Mr. Menghini chooses to single out Mr. Flannery in what is apparently a willful act of discrimination.

According to reports, Thomas Flannery, a long-time volunteer with the Mahanoy Creek Watershed Association (MCWA), has been ordered by his employer, the Commonwealth of PA, to curtail activities with the Schuylkill County environmental organization.Flannery volunteers with the watershed association and works as a mining inspector with the DEP's Pottsville District Mining Office.According to Roseann Weinrich, MCWA president, the surprise action stunned and outraged members of her group when they learned just days ago that Flannery, their valued secretary, was asked by his employer to "limit his activity" with the Ashland-based environmental group.
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Flannery has served as our secretary since our inception and has been an essential member of our organization throughout his tenure."In our opinion, the reasoning behind Mr. Menghini's directive is illogical, self-serving, unconstitutional and a direct contradiction to the mission statement of the DEP.This directive is also inconsistent with the policies of the former DEP administration, including Secretary David Hess and Mr. Bob Dolenz, who appointed Mr. Flannery to work with both the Swatara Creek Watershed Association and the MCWA and commended him on several occasions for his dedication and service to both."Weinrich said members of her group are shocked over DEP's stance.
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Flannery is a tax-paying citizen of the Commonwealth and should be able to spend his spare time in whatever way he chooses."Mr.Menghini has charged Mr. Flannery with showing partiality to the MCWA.
...
Mr. Flannery may be a bit more involved with our watershed as he resides in the watershed and has witnessed firsthand the pollution of the Mahanoy Creek since his childhood and has committed himself to remediation efforts beyond what is asked in his duties as an employee of the Commonwealth."This has not, however, prevented him from serving as secretary of the Swatara Creek Watershed and participating in their projects and activities as well."It is our belief that he is actually living up to the mission statement of the PA DEP which states that 'The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's mission is to protect Pennsylvania's air, land and water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety of its citizens through a cleaner environment.We will work as partners with individuals, organizations, governments and businesses to prevent pollution and restore our natural resources.'"That being said, we cannot think of any individual who brings this mission statement to life, acting as a liaison between the state and the community, more than Mr. Flannery has.Mr. Flannery exemplifies the essence of what a DEP employee should be."We have to wonder when Mr. Menghini last dirtied his hands while sacrificing a Saturday to do a cleanup in a polluted stream or drove his own vehicle to deliver fish food to a trout nursery during his free time."Mr.
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Flannery does not receive pay from the PA DEP nor from MCWA when he donates his free time to assist our association on our projects or any other worthwhile organization."Each member of our Board of Directors brings unique talents to the table and Mr. Flannery's contributions have been invaluable.His affiliations with various members of the mining industry have gotten many donated services on behalf of MCWA.Without his help, we would not be able to accomplish half of what we do.It is unthinkable that Mr. Flannery is being punished for choosing to spend his spare time on projects which serve not only our non-profit organization, the Swatara Creek Watershed, the respective communities lying within those watersheds, but also benefit the DEP in the public eye.It is unfortunate that Mr. Menghini chooses to single out Mr. Flannery in what is apparently a willful act of discrimination."In closing, words cannot express our indignation with the 'leadership' in the Pottsville District Mining Office.

Mr. Menghini has ordered Mr. Thomas Flannery, Mining Inspector, Pottsville District Mining Office to "limit his activity" with the Mahanoy Creek Watershed Association (MCWA) as per a DEP directive.
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Mr. Flannery has served as our secretary since our inception and has been an essential member of our organization throughout his tenure.
...
This directive is also inconsistent with the policies of the former DEP administration, including Secretary David Hess and Mr. Bob Dolenz, who appointed Mr. Flannery to work with both the Swatera Creek Watershed Association and the MCWA and commended him on several occasions for his dedication and service to both.
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Mr. Flannery is a tax-paying citizen of the Commonwealth and should be able to spend his spare time in whatever way he chooses.

Mr. Menghini has charged Mr. Flannery with showing partiality to the MCWA.
...
Mr. Flannery may be a bit more involved with our watershed as he resides in the watershed and has witnessed firsthand the pollution of the Mahanoy Creek since his childhood and has committed himself to remediation efforts beyond what is asked in his duties as an employee of the Commonwealth.This has not, however, prevented him from serving as secretary of the Swatera (sic) Creek Watershed and participating in their projects and activities as well.

It is our belief that he is actually living up to the mission statement of the PA DEP which states that "The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's mission is to protect Pennsylvania's air, land and water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety of its citizens through a cleaner environment.We will work as partners with individuals, organizations, governments and businesses to prevent pollution and restore our natural resources."

That being said, we cannot think of any individual who brings this mission statement to life, acting as a liaison between the state and the community more than Mr. Flannery has.Mr. Flannery exemplifies the essence of what a DEP employee should be.We have to wonder when Mr. Menghini last dirtied his hands while sacrificing a Saturday to do a cleanup in a polluted stream or drove his own vehicle to to deliver fish food to a trout nursery during his free time.Mr. Flannery does not receive pay from the PA DEP nor from MCWA when he donates his free time to assist our association on our projects or any other worthwhile organization.

For reasons unknown to us, Mr. Menghini appears to have a personal vendetta not only against Mr. Flannery, but our watershed as well.
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Each member of our Board of Directors brings unique talents to the table and Mr. Flannery's contributions have been invaluable.His affiliations with various members of the mining industry have gotten many donated services on behalf of MCWA.Without his help, we would not be able to accomplish half of what we do.It is unthinkable that Mr. Flannery is being punished for choosing to spend his spare time on projects which serve not only our non profit organization, the Swatera Creek Watershed, the respective communities lying within those watersheds, but also benefit the DEP in the public eye.It is unfortunate that Mr. Menghini chooses to single out Mr. Flannery in what is apparently a willful act of discrimination.

According to Thomas N. Flannery, secretary of the watershed association and an employee of the state Department of Environmental Protection, agency, the Shenandoah Creek meets with the Little Mahanoy Creek in Girardville to form the Mahanoy Creek, which flows into the Susquehanna River.

"Our main goal is to get it back to fish life, down to the Susquehanna," he said.
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Flannery said that though education and publicity, the stream may one day become a place to fish and benefit the community.

Poor weather conditions, Flannery said, deterred some from volunteering for the cleanup.