Pocono Township commissioner resigns mid-meeting after delivering a prepared speech attacking the board majority — two weeks after calling residents “idiots” from the dais.
Pocono Township, PA — Commissioner Mike Velardi resigned from the Pocono Township Board of Commissioners during the June 16, 2026 regular meeting, delivering a lengthy prepared statement in which he accused the board majority of driving the township toward financial ruin through anti-development governance and personal politics.
“Our township is at a critical point,” Velardi said. “We can either continue saying no to everything, making development impossible, pushing away revenue, and then acting surprised when taxes go up — or we can have honest conversations about what it actually costs to run this town.”
A Pattern, Not a Moment
The resignation speech was polished. It was clearly prepared in advance. But it shouldn’t be mistaken for a principled stand by a composed public servant. Velardi’s final two weeks on the board tell a different story.
At the June 1st meeting — just two weeks ago — Velardi threw a tantrum from the dais when the board pushed back on a restrictive protest ordinance he supported. He said “this is bullshit,” called residents in the audience “idiots,” told the board chair he didn’t care that he was out of order, and declared he was there to “protect you people” — whether they wanted it or not. A resident in the audience shouted back: “Resign, Mike.”
Tonight, he took their advice.
At that same meeting, Velardi also volunteered an unsolicited defense of data center water usage during his commissioner report — an agenda item where nobody had asked about data centers. He compared data center cooling to a car radiator and told residents not to worry about water consumption, while residents on Ruby Lane and Kevin’s Way — directly adjacent to the Core5 site at 246 Warner Road — were in the room describing blackened well filters, construction blasting damage, and missing survey markers. His defense of Core5 came at the same meeting where the board was actively working to remove data centers from the township’s zoning overlay — a measure the board voted tonight to schedule a public hearing for on July 20th.
Between meetings, Velardi has also been a regular presence in the Pocono Review’s Facebook comment sections, leaving aggressive responses to coverage of his conduct and township governance. For a commissioner who closed his resignation speech demanding people “come out from behind your computer,” he’s spent a notable amount of time behind his own.
And there’s a deeper irony worth noting. Velardi told his critics to show up in person — “be an adult” and “tell me to my face.” But residents did exactly that two weeks ago. They showed up. They sat in the audience. They raised their hands and voiced their concerns about the protest ordinance to his face, in a public meeting, on the record. His response was to call them “idiots” and declare the proceedings “bullshit.” When people came out from behind their computers and told him what they thought, he couldn’t handle it.
It’s also worth reading the speech he prepared with that context in mind. Velardi spent several minutes lecturing the board about professionalism, ethics, and reputation. “Professionalism matters. Reputation matters,” he said. “The way this township conducts itself affects how we are viewed outside of this room.” He accused the board of “government by grudge” and said they couldn’t “talk about ethics, professionalism, and accountability” while ignoring bad behavior. This from a commissioner who violated the township’s own decorum policy from the dais two weeks earlier, berated the residents he was elected to serve, and spent the time between meetings picking fights in Facebook comment sections. The speech reads like a man describing the standard he expects from everyone else — while exempting himself from it entirely.
Commissioner Long’s response to the resignation referenced the pattern directly. Rather than expressing shock at the departure, Long said he expected Velardi to use his time at the microphone to “apologize for calling his constituents idiots.” He didn’t.
The Speech
Velardi, who said he has been involved in Pocono Township government for 15 years across roles on the planning commission, UCCC board, zoning hearing board, and as a commissioner, framed his resignation as a matter of conscience.
He cited rising costs from union contracts — estimating $120,000 in annual raises alone — alongside budget overruns in IT and solicitor spending only five months into the fiscal year. He argued the board’s posture against development was eliminating the tax base needed to absorb those costs.
“You can’t slam the door on revenue and then wonder why the cupboard is bare,” Velardi said.
He pointed to what he characterized as an exodus of experienced personnel: a police officer departure, the loss of former Township Manager Jared Belvin, three planning commission resignations, and other members declining to return. “When boards, staff, and volunteers start walking away at the same time, it’s no longer a coincidence,” he said. “It’s a warning light on the dashboard. And right now, they’re not just ignoring the warning light. They’re popping out the bulb and pretending the car is fine.”
Velardi also alleged that Belvin was subjected to a “two-year personal vendetta” and that an email containing “sensitive personal information belonging to him and his family” had been sent — which he called “reckless, inappropriate, and a serious breach of trust.” He offered to provide Belvin with a copy of the email.
He criticized the board’s handling of MCTI, the Monroe County vocational school with what he described as a waiting list of nearly a thousand students, accusing the board of “creating roadblocks” rather than working toward solutions. He also noted the township failed to receive LSA grants from casino funding for the first time in years, attributing it to damaged relationships.
“Grants don’t just happen. Relationships matter. Professionalism matters. Reputation matters,” Velardi said.
The speech turned personal near its conclusion. “Abusing my family is not acceptable,” Velardi said. “If you have a problem with me, be an adult, come out from behind your computer and tell me to my face. Otherwise, keep your pie holes shut, cowards.”
He closed by announcing his immediate resignation: “I can’t in good conscience be a part of a board sending our town down this dangerous path.”
The Response
Commissioner Long responded shortly after Velardi’s departure: “I didn’t know he was going to do that. I thought he was going to apologize for calling his constituents idiots, but he didn’t do that.”
Long also challenged Velardi’s fiscal narrative, stating that the current board inherited “a nearly $2 million deficit that Commissioner Velardi keeps rejecting the reality of,” and called it “ironic” to blame future budgetary issues on the new board under those circumstances.
What Happens Next
Township Solicitor Leo confirmed the board has 45 days from the date of the resignation to appoint a replacement to serve the balance of Velardi’s term. The position must be publicly advertised, and all interviews must be conducted in public session.
If the board cannot agree on a replacement within 45 days, the vacancy board chairman would convene a meeting. If that process also fails after 60 days, the township must petition the court.
The board directed Acting Township Manager Pat to post the vacancy on the township website and Facebook, with applications accepted through the end of June. A special meeting was tentatively scheduled for July 14 at 6:00 p.m. to conduct interviews and vote on Velardi’s replacement.
The resignation reduces the board to four commissioners — Gnandt, Long, Leap, and Keep — until a replacement is seated.
Full Transcript of Commissioner Velardi’s Resignation Speech
The following is a verbatim transcript of Commissioner Mike Velardi’s statement delivered during the June 16, 2026 Pocono Township Board of Commissioners meeting:
This is not an easy statement to make and it’s not one I make lightly. I have been involved in Pocono Township for the better part of 15 years. I have served on the planning commission, the UCCC board, the zoning hearing board. I serve now as a commissioner and two years ago, I even joined the volunteer fire company. Over that time, I have seen disagreements, tough budgets, difficult decisions, and heated meetings. But I’ve also seen progress.
And unfortunately, I’ve never seen Pocono Township operating as poorly as it is right now. So, let me say this clearly. Our township is at a critical point. We can either continue saying no to everything, making development impossible, pushing away revenue, and then acting surprised when taxes go up. Or we can have honest conversations about what it actually costs to run this town.
Just on union contracts alone, the township needs to come up with around $120,000 every year just to cover the raises. We are entering public works contract negotiations and police negotiations are coming up soon. The IT budget is already heavily spent only five months into the year. The solicitor budget is in a similar situation. At some point, the math has to matter.
And here’s the reality. If we stop creating ratables, if we say no to smart land development, if we create an environment where no one wants to invest here, then the burden falls directly back on the residents. And you know what that means? Higher taxes. And when that happens, don’t be shocked. You can’t slam the door on revenue and then wonder why the cupboard is bare. Our township is in a county with some of the highest taxes in Pennsylvania and is one of the higher tax municipalities in the area. If we continue down this road, residents are going to feel it. Not in theory, in their wallets.
Unfortunately, what we are seeing now is not leadership. It is reaction. It is personal politics. It is saying no for the sake of saying no. It is chasing headlines instead of solving problems. And frankly, this is costing this township staff, morale, opportunities, and money.
Look at the exodus we are seeing. A decorated police officer has left. A township manager is gone. Three planning commission members have resigned and others are choosing not to return at the end of their term. Experienced people are walking away and that should concern everyone in the room. When one person leaves, maybe it’s personal. When several, it’s a pattern. When boards, staff, and volunteers start walking away at the same time, it’s no longer a coincidence. It’s a warning light on the dashboard. And right now, they’re not just ignoring the warning light. They’re popping out the bulb and pretending the car is fine.
I also want to address the treatment of former township manager Jared Belvin. Whether people agreed with him or not, what happened should concern anyone who believes in basic professionalism, fairness, and good government. I witnessed what I believe was a two-year personal vendetta against him. And I believe that vendetta damaged this township. Even more concerning, an email was sent containing sensitive personal information belonging to him and his family. In my opinion, that was reckless, inappropriate, and a serious breach of trust. We cannot talk about ethics, professionalism, and accountability while ignoring something like that. And Jared, if you’re listening, I can provide you with that email just in case you need it.
We also cannot continue being poor community partners. Look at MCTI. We have a vocational school with a waiting list of nearly a thousand students. Students who want to learn skilled trades, build careers, and stay in this region and open businesses in this area. Yet, instead of working towards solutions, we keep creating roadblocks. We talk about helping the kids, helping families, and helping future, but our actions don’t match the speeches. That’s not leadership. That’s just lip service.
We went from a board that produced tax reductions, successfully negotiated union contracts, encouraged smart development, pursued grants, built this town hall, and worked to build ratables to a board that seems more interested in stopping everything than building anything.
I find it very concerning that for the first time in years, we didn’t receive any LSA grants after casino funding. That shouldn’t be ignored. Grants don’t just happen. Relationships matter. Professionalism matters. Reputation matters. Whether people want to admit it or not, the way this township conducts itself affects how we are viewed outside of this room. You can’t burn bridges and then complain that nobody is sending help.
At this time, I can no longer stand by and pretend that what is happening is normal. I can no longer be in favor of a direction that I believe is financially irresponsible, professionally damaging, and unfair to the residents who will ultimately be handed the bill. And let me be very clear about that bill. I’ve worked hard my whole life. I have a good job. And when taxes go up, I should be able to absorb it. I might not like it, but I think I can handle it. But can every resident say the same? Can the senior on a fixed income afford it? Can the young family trying to buy their first home afford it? Can the working class household already dealing with county and school tax increases, utilities, groceries, insurance, and everything else. Can they afford it? That’s the part that bothers me the most.
Some of the people making these decisions may not feel the impact the same way the rest of us would because they don’t get a tax bill. It’s very easy to vote for higher costs when you are not the one sitting at the kitchen table trying to figure out how to pay them. If we’re going to run the township into higher taxes, fewer services, lawsuits, staff cuts, and lost opportunities, then at least be honest with the public about what’s coming. Don’t dress it up as transparency. Don’t call it fiscal responsibility. And don’t pretend that saying no to every opportunity is a plan, because it’s not.
To the residents. I know some of you may not agree with everything I’ve said or how I said it. That’s okay. But I hope you understand that my intentions have always been to protect this township, protect you taxpayers, and push for decisions that make sense beyond the next meeting. And I want you all to know that abusing my family is not acceptable. If you have a problem with me, be an adult, come out from behind your computer and tell me to my face. Otherwise, keep your pie holes shut, cowards.
To the office staff, public works volunteers and committee members who continue showing up and doing the work. Thank you. You’re the ones who keep this place moving even when politics make your jobs harder than they need to be.
To my fellow commissioners, I sincerely hope you understand the seriousness of the road ahead. This is not a game. These decisions have consequences. The budget, lawsuits, lost staff, lost development, and lost trust has consequences.
Pocono Township cannot afford government by grudge, budget by wishful thinking, or transparency by press release. I hope the residents are paying attention. I hope they ask questions. I hope they look past the slogans and start asking what the plan actually is because saying no is not a financial strategy. And when the tax bill comes due, everyone should remember how we got there.
I can’t in good conscience be a part of a board sending our town down this dangerous path. I’ll be stepping away from this seat. However, I care too much about this town to stop paying attention. I have served this community in several roles over the years and remain proud of that service. With that, I hereby resign from the Pocono Township Board of Commissioners effective right now.