Bank voiced concern about former Warrington tax collector over alleged threats

Two years ago, a First Citizens Community Bank branch official wrote to Warrington Township leaders “in hopes something can be done regarding” former Township Tax Collector Millie Seliga’s “behaviors/interactions with this bank.”

The letter obtained by The Independence alerted the township in fall of 2023 to Seliga “consistently us[ing] the Warrington Township relationship in hopes that we will waive any fees for her accounts.” 

According to the October 20, 2023, missive by then Easton Road FCCB Branch Manager Brian Turner, the unseated Democrat and eventual 2025 candidate wouldn’t drop the subject over a five-month period. Yet Seliga’s tenure with her local government came to an end nearly two years beforehand when she lost to Republican Deb Dixon.

“I have explained that her account is not tied to any banking relationship we have with her, but time and time again she tries to tell me it is,” Turner told municipal officials. “She has threatened to go to [then township Chief Financial Officer] Barry Luber and put words in my mouth, stating that she will let him know the bank does not value Township accounts. This is unequivocally false, something I have never actually said, and a view that I would never purport to a customer.”

He noted the bank had discussed her concern that the account she maintained for local tax collection could incur fees due to bank product changes. While he did not wish to comment in his exchange with Seliga, township lawmakers said the bank explained that she also sought fee waivers for her personal account with FCCB. 

Four days after Turner penned his letter, Supervisor Vanessa Maurer (R) wrote to Warrington Police Chief Daniel Friel requesting an investigation into Seliga’s conduct. She said Turner expressed concern as to whether the township may sever its relationship with FCCB “due to these threats from Ms. Seglia [sic].” (At this writing, Warrington still does business with the bank.) 

“Both myself and [Supervisor] Mike Diorka [R] have listened to numerous complaints from township businesses stating that Millie Seglia misrepresents her status as an elected official, and her influence over township business relationships to extort free goods and services,” Maurer wrote. “[H]owever, [Turner’s] is the first we have received in writing.”

On November 2, Friel replied to Maurer, Diorka, and Luber that his department was investigating the matter. He wrote that township finance staff recommended Seliga close her tax-collection account, which she soon did. The chief, whose office did not return a request for comment, stated in his initial response to the supervisors that his department concluded the issue “does not rise to a criminal level.”

Nevertheless, Maurer told The Independence she found Seliga’s actions during these events “wildly unprofessional” and “a perceived abuse of power.” 

“It’s unfortunate that she felt the need to do that,” Maurer said. “I understand that she’s upset and she didn’t win reelection but I think if she had conducted herself with a little more restraint and professionalism, she would probably find herself in a better position with us where Mike and I wouldn’t have had to get ourselves involved, because she ended up pulling our employees and township vendors into this unfortunate debacle.” 

Diorka thought similarly.

“I think it was very unprofessional and misleading,” he said. “She lost and we had a tax collector who was elected by the people. It’s pretty basic.” 

Neither Seliga nor the Warrington Democrats answered emails asking for comment. According to several accounts, she attempted to hang on to her public status as a township tax collector despite no longer holding office. 

“She wanted to continue to be a member of the [Bucks County] Tax Collectors Association as a former tax collector,” said association president and Township Tax Collector Tammy Sutton (R-Newtown). The group’s rules allowed that at the time Seliga lost her position but they have since changed to forbid non-incumbent membership. Sutton recalled that when Seliga attempted to pay dues and sustain membership this year, she was denied. 

Sutton rebuked Seliga’s use of the term “re-elect” on her materials while campaigning this year to retake the tax collectorship from Dixon, phrasing which Warrington Republicans have called improper and illegal. 

“I heard that; they already didn’t ‘reelect’ her,” Sutton said. “So you can’t be ‘reelected’ to an office you don’t hold. That’s absurd.” 

The association chief added her group has experienced no problems with Dixon nor heard any grievances about her. 

“To the best of my knowledge, she’s doing a fine job,” Sutton opined. 

Earlier this year, Maurer filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, bringing to their attention Seliga’s request — stated on her campaign signs and handouts — that voters “re-elect” her. Maurer said she based her view of the matter on Title 25 P.S. Elections & Electoral Districts in Chapter 14 of Pennsylvania’s Election Code. At this writing, the ethics commission has not made a determination on the legitimacy of Seliga’s campaign verbiage.

“This is misleading voters,” the complaint reads, describing her word choice as “a violation of campaign finance law.” 

Warrington Republican Committee Chair Joann Baer echoed the supervisor’s characterization of Seliga, saying she confronted local Democratic committee officials on the subject but found them unwilling to address it with either the public or with their candidate. 

“She’s lying to her constituents before even getting into position by saying ‘reelect,’” Baer lamented. 

Mauer’s filing furthermore alleges Seliga “used the township solicitor [Terry Clemmons] as a private citizen to seek legal advice.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: The first paragraph of this article was corrected to reflect Millie Seliga’s former title of township tax collector.

Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.