Commissioners questioned about breakfast meetings
By KEITH PHUCAS
Times Herald Staff
COURTHOUSE — Two Montgomery County Commissioners denied discussing county business together in an East Norriton restaurant on two separate occasions recently, though a woman reportedly overheard them talking about official government matters and took notes.
When asked Wednesday about whether the meetings of two of the three commissioners may have violated the Sunshine Act, James R. Matthews and Joseph M. Hoeffel said they had not and called the Tuesday morning breakfasts at Jem Restaurant with some of their county staff nothing more than social gatherings.
"We talk about everything from the Phillies to the Eagles to family, food" Matthews said, who admitting being a regular patron at Jem and nearby Ray’s Restaurant.
When pressed about what may have been discussed at the two restaurant meetings, Hoeffel insisted there had been no wrongdoing.
"We’re not discussing county business, these are social gatherings," he said.
Times Herald Staff
COURTHOUSE — Two Montgomery County Commissioners denied discussing county business together in an East Norriton restaurant on two separate occasions recently, though a woman reportedly overheard them talking about official government matters and took notes.
When asked Wednesday about whether the meetings of two of the three commissioners may have violated the Sunshine Act, James R. Matthews and Joseph M. Hoeffel said they had not and called the Tuesday morning breakfasts at Jem Restaurant with some of their county staff nothing more than social gatherings.
"We talk about everything from the Phillies to the Eagles to family, food" Matthews said, who admitting being a regular patron at Jem and nearby Ray’s Restaurant.
When pressed about what may have been discussed at the two restaurant meetings, Hoeffel insisted there had been no wrongdoing.
"We’re not discussing county business, these are social gatherings," he said.
