For the past three years, I have personally spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars trying to see the Tri-County records to justify our high electric bills.  On June 30, 2003, Judge Dalton ruled in our favor.  Since the ruling, several attempts to see the records were made; they finally allowed another co-op member, Bryn Hammarstrom and me to access a small portion of the records in the presence of Tri-County’s attorney for 1 hour and 45 minutes.  Nothing in our original request for information other than the Penn Lines magazine and a few other items was at our fingertips.  I requested to come back for three more days; I was denied.  At this point, I am more convinced than ever that information that we have been seeking has been hidden. 

To give you an example of Tri-County Electric’s deceptive manner, I’d like to refresh your memory about a letter you received from Co-op President, Ferd Irish.  Mr. Irish stated that the Cooperative has spent $150,000 of your money for legal representation against Henry Wood.  However in my allotted time of 1 hour and 45 minutes, the documented legal fees representing the co-op against Henry Wood was listed for a grand total of $978.75. 

Are you familiar with the 5.5% rate increase due to the infamous New Year’s Day storm?  Storm costs figures were distributed to members attending meetings at Whitneyville.  In our 1 hour and 45 minute meeting, they refused to show us the itemized figures to justify these numbers they presented to us.  Here are just a few examples of the $715,295 bill to our members. 
 

• MEALS -$11,121   At the annual meeting, CEO Toombs said and showed a slide that the men ate subs.
• LODGING -$14,025   Don’t any of our employees sleep at home?
• MISCELLANEOUS -$11,741   In that meeting, CEO Toombs said that this amount represented $100 watches for all the people involved with this storm. 
• PAYROLL -$311,783   When questioned, CEO Toombs admitted this amount included the employees' 40-hour workweek.  We would have had that expense whether or not we had a storm.

PROVE TO THESE BOARD MEMBERS THAT YOU DO CARE ABOUT YOUR RATES!  PROVE TO THEM THAT YOU WANT ACCOUNTABILITY!

These people have created many misconceptions about me to the members and general public.  I assure you that these accusations are lies.   I am seeking your vote; I will continue to represent you to the best of my ability.  I have fought a long, hard battle; it is not over yet.  I want our rates lowered; I want honest people in our boardroom, not CEO Tombs’ puppets.  I want the books and the boardroom meetings opened to all members. This is our company, not just the directors and CEO Toombs.   An honest board member should represent your interests. 

Thank you for your supportive e-mails, letters, and encouraging words!
Sincerely,    Henry W. Wood       Candidate for District 4
 

Because our request for information is lengthy, this is our attachment. We do not want employee names listed.  Names can be coded for confidential purposes.  Your attorney stated in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on December 3, 2002 all of this information is available to me upon completion of this form. 

1. All directors’ expenses, including without limitation, hotel, travel, meals, education, insurance packages, cellular phones, computers, fax machines, and entertainment expenses itemized by year starting 1993 to present.  This will include not only directors’ expenses from Tri-County Rural Electric Cooperative, but also, all other boards related to Tri-County.  Example:   New Century Enterprise, Wellsboro, C & T, Citizens’ Electric, Valley Energy, Allegany, Soyland, PREA, NREA, etc.

2. All CEO and affiliate CEOs’, managers’, key staff people, and officers’ expenses, including without limitation, country club dues, travel, hotel, meals, and education and entertainment expenses.  This will include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

3. All management personnel bonuses and raises to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

4. All officer and employee incentive pay, bonus and retirement payments to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

5. All CEO, officer and management personnel vehicle expenditures to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

6. All CEO, officer and management vehicles purchased and expenses to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

7. All charitable contributions to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

8. All cellular phone expenses to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

9. All costs and expenditures related to Roatan, Honduras to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1. Example: employee and directors’ costs, equipment (to include trucks, materials, etc.), shipping expenses.  Needed information to include how many vehicles have been shipped and a full inventory of materials and the values of such.  Also needed are the reimbursement figures from the government to help support this operation.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

10. All employee travel expenses, including without limitation, meals, hotels, entertainment, travel and education expenses to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

11. All campaign contributions, including those reimbursed to directors, officers and employees to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

12. Detail of all severance packages for retired or terminated officers and employees to include confidentiality payments. to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

13. All financial statements to justify moving all employees from Tri-County to C & T.  All payoff amounts for all companies to make this transaction.

14. All policies and by-laws from 1993 to present detailing changes or additions individually.

15. All records pertaining to CEO Robert Toombs purchase of Chevrolet company car for personal use. 

16. All records pertaining to employees or directors of purchased vehicles from Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

17. All management contracts, signing bonuses, incentive bonuses, etc. to include Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1.  To be itemized individually by year and name from 1993 to present.

18. Contracts and agreements of all companies purchased by Tri-County since 1993 to present.

19. All scheduled board meetings, committee meetings, conferences, and events to include location and dates for 2003.  This information to include all directors and management for Tri-County and all other companies related to Tri-County as stated in number 1. 

20. Our payoff debt load for Allegany and the year expected to be paid off.

21. The proper form is needed for the removal of Craig Eccher as CEO of Wellsboro Electric.  Your attorney spoke in Harrisburg that the highlighted charge against me was the purchase of UGI stock, since Craig Eccher is the one that told me about him and his father purchasing this stock, he should also be removed from Tri-County and all affiliates as stated in number 1.

22. Request for 2003 Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association Directory.

23. Request for the balance of Berwick Nuclear Power Plant debt and how many more years our cooperative must pay this debt.

24. Request for the exact amount of winter storm cost that resulted in our 5% increase.

25. Examine Tri-County Rural Electric books.

26. Annual cost of Penn Lines magazine to members; to include income of writer, printing cost, and mailing cost
 

On June 30, 2003, Judge Dalton ruled that the members of Tri-County Rural Electric would be allowed to view the books.  To Judge Dalton, the Tri-County attorneys stated that the members could see the books ANYTIME during regular business hours.  Even with the judge’s ruling, it has been almost impossible to see these books.

• June 30 – Judge Dalton rules that members will be allowed to view books.
• July 11 – Called Tri-County to see books.  Bryn Hammarstrom could also go to Mansfield office on that day.  I was told to reschedule next week due to annual meeting on the 12th.
• July 12 – Annual meeting.  Alex Hartley says to schedule meeting anytime next week.  If he is not there, he will brief Barbara Johnson as to how to handle the request.
• July 14 – Call Tri-County to schedule meeting; call not returned.
• July 14 – Call Tri-County again at the end of the day to see books.  Alex Hartley was not in his office so I talked to Barb Johnson.  I told her that we would be there on the 22; Barb said she would have to get with the attorney.
• July 18 – Talked to Alex to set up meeting.  He said we had a choice of Wednesday at 1:00 or Thursday at 9:00.  I told him that we’d be there on Tuesday at 1:00.  (The lawyer told the judge anytime during business hours.  HA!)
• July 21 – At 10:00 A.M., I gave them written notice that we would be there at 1:00 on the 22nd.
• July 22 – I arrived at 1:00.  Alex handed me mailing labels, Tri-County Bylaws, 1 policy change 5-5, Form 990 for 2000, 2001, 2002, Articles of Incorporation.   I asked for the rest of the information.  Alex told me that he couldn’t give it to me.
• August 18 – Alex confirmed that we could have an appointment on the 19th.
• August 19 – Bryn Hammarstrom and I had a 12:00 appointment.  We waited for 25 minutes for Tri-County’s attorney to arrive.  We had to wait in the lobby for his arrival since we weren’t allowed to look at the records without his supervision.  We were there 1 hour and 45 minutes.  At that point, I asked the lawyer for more time; we had to come back.  He asked me how much time we needed and I responded that we needed three more days.  The lawyer told us that we would not be allowed three more days to search these books. 

REBUTTAL TO THE JUNE 9TH LETTER SENT BY TRI-COUNTY

1. It is said that I violated federal regulatory laws by buying and selling stock—why hasn’t the SEC prosecuted me?  The stock that I purchased was advertised openly on the internet.  Craig Eccher, an  employee of the company, told me that he and his father had just purchased UGI.  I had my broker from Dean Witter look into it; I purchased some stock.  Approximately two months later, I was to a board meeting of New Century Enterprise in State College, when the discussion of purchasing UGI came up.  I did my fiduciary duty and divulged the fact that I owned stock in that company.  Why hasn’t Craig Eccher been removed from his position as CEO of Wellsboro Electric?

2. Coffeepot – After three months of asking the secretary to restock the bottled water, I was told by her, “He won’t let me.”  There was no one in the room, but the secretary and me.  I started toward the coffee pot when Al Teeter entered the room.  I said, “Are you having coffee today?”  He said, “Yes.”  I said, “I don’t think so.”  I dumped the coffee down the drain.  Nothing was smashed; nothing was spilled.  The coffee went down the drain.  He then said, “Why did you do that?”  I said, “If I can’t have bottled water, I’m not going to sit and watch you swill coffee all day.”  Incidentally, the same coffee pot was in use the next meeting!!! 

3. Demands on employees: This never happened. Our employees are the backbone of the company and I would not jeopardize any of their positions by getting them involved.  I’m sure that CEO Toombs would fire them in a minute if he thought one of them was getting me information.

4. Hearing: Approximately 2 ½ months prior to this hearing, I asked the directors to please change the date due to a scheduled commitment with my daughter.  They didn’t have an answer so they called Attorney Niemic.  He said unless it was a matter of life or death, be there.  Whether I’m your board director or not, my family has always and will continue to come first!  I did ask my attorney if he should attend, but his comment was, “It’s a kangaroo court; they already plan to have you removed.  I  (the attorney) don’t need to be there.”

5. All expenses were DOCUMENTED AND TURNED IN!

6. $100,000 demand – In February, the board offered to pay me the $7,100 they owe me for director expenses in exchange for the following:
   a. I would not attend a board meeting
   b. I would not attend an annual meeting
   c. I would not run for director
   d. I would drop all lawsuits
   e. My wife would also have to sign and comply with these rules.
Our lawyer responded on March 3, saying we are giving you five days to either pay $100,000 or hand over the sought after information.  Bottom line, we want the information!  I would not have fought this case for almost three years for you members if I didn’t believe that Tri-County Rural Electric was hiding information.  THERE IS NO LAWSUIT FOR $100,000.  Why would they spend $150,000 to keep the information out of our hands?  The audits are true and correct; all information is justified.  But the information that we are asking for is not broken down individually to the auditors.  The majority is hidden costs to us the members.  That is why they do not want us to see the books. 

7. Contacted the offices of Sen. Arlen Specter, John Peterson, Roger Madigan, Rural Utilities Services:
Yes, I did.  I was seeking any help to see why there is no regulation for the co-op. The response was all the same--- the members regulate your co-op.

8. This group of directors has removed all your voting rights.   They change bylaws at will.
I have been asked, “Why do you put yourself through this?”  To me, I was elected to do a job for the members.  I was also told, “You will not be able to change the system.”  I always represented my members’ best interests.  Running the company $50 million dollars in debt and now raising our rates 5 ½ % is not my opinion of our best interests. 

Henry W. Wood
RR1 Box 818
Knoxville Pa. 16928
570-376-3711
e-mail: blueprints@hotmail.com