Apr 2, 2006 3 min read

I read the “irony of ironies” concerning Uniontown Hospital’s helipad plans. A resident named Harry Kaufman brought a petition bearing his and nine other signatures from the neighborhood. He wants the hospital to listen to 10 citizens and not build their helipad. Is this the same Harry Kaufman who ignores 75 taxpayers at a Uniontown Area School Board meeting, plus countless others, who don’t want him spending $43 million on a high school few want and none can afford? It seems more like the 1997 Harry. Pro-realignment board members lost the primary, so “that” Harry said the citizens’ voices needed heeded. So why can’t “helipad” Harry and “the realignment” Harry get through to the $43 million “Taj Mahal Harry”? That Harry simply replies, “We’re moving ahead with this project.”

Perhaps the hospital’s Mr. Paul Bacharach might say the same thing to him. I live in Mr. Kaufman’s neighborhood. I am on his side with the helipad, but nonetheless suggest a strategy to the hospital to get Kaufman’s cooperation.

Harry Hughes asked architect Mr. Mark Altman how many classrooms are in the high school and how many are gained with the $43 million building. He couldn’t say, but Mr. Kaufman was sure it needed built.

I asked for the square footage of: the 1910 section, the wing Altman he wants to replace it with, and Central School’s 21 rooms to be relocated to the third floor of that new wing. Altman was given a month, but in March, he didn’t know the 21 rooms’ footage. He states that the 1910 section has three times the needed space. Altman might not have his figures, but Kaufman knows that Altman’s school needs built.

Altman wants the gymnasium demolished because it’s not big enough. Harry Hughes proved the basketball court is actually too long for regulations. Regardless, Mr. Kaufman is sure that we need to build Altman’s new triple gym (and his food court).

Kaufman knows that architects are remodeling classic schools, but he’s still with Altman. He oversaw the spending of $25,000 for a study recommending remodeling the school for $10 million, but he’s still wants Altman’s $43 million wonder. He hears board members suggest alternatives, but he’s for Altman’s palace. Fellow board member Bill Rittenhouse warned him about tax increases, but he still says, “Whatever it takes.”

Altman has the Ben Franklin and Lafayette schools’ “life expectancies” expiring by 2010. Taxpayers will pay again, but Kaufman wants what Altman wants. He hears pleas from elderly taxpayers and answers them with his usual “let them eat cake” attitude. He is going to build Altman’s school!

If the hospital wants to silence Kaufman’s helipad opposition, they should get Altman to design it. Then, perhaps, Mr. Kaufman will again reply, “This project is moving forward.” He seems willing to do anything that the man making $3 million plus on this project wants. There’s your solution, Uniontown Hospital. Team Altman and Kaufman up, and you’ll get your helipad. How foolish of me to give you this strategy when I don’t want the helipad either!

Show up at the April 18 school board meeting, taxpayers. They’re signing contracts that night.

Rev. Peter A. Malik

Uniontown