You'll find the disclaimer for harmartownship.com at the bottom of the Web site's homepage, shortly after you encounter a reference to "Stupidvisors" and a political endorsement.

Until that point, the page looks like the township's official site, ripe with information about government officials, taxes and population, and links to local services.

Visitors are greeted with a banner that reads, "Welcome To www.HarmarTownship.com The Community Website."

The disclaimer, however, states that the site is not affiliated with the official township government, although there is no direct indication of who maintains it.

But an Internet search reveals that Bob Seibert Jr., a Republican candidate for supervisor, owns the domain and the rights to harmartownship.org and harmartownship.net. Each address links to the same Web page.

The site endorses Seibert, Republican running mate Jim DiPalma — both former supervisors — and incumbent candidate for tax collector, Pat Janoski.

Seibert refused to comment. DiPalma and Janoski didn't return calls for comment.

Meantime, current supervisors and other officials expressed their displeasure with the site, primarily because many of the posts under a community news link include comments from DiPalma and Seibert supporters who bash the opposition.

Incumbent Supervisor Kim Toney and runningmate Jerry Chalmers, both Democrats, are running against Seibert and DiPalma for two open seats on the board.

Toney said some of her supporters attempted to post comments on the site, and none of those comments appeared.

There are few, if any, pro-Toney and Chalmers comments on the site, which states that posts are subject to a review only for "verity."

Moreover, the site pokes fun of Toney's husband, police Capt. Rick Toney. Certain posts that criticize the officer include a link that opens a picture of Simpsons character Clancy Wiggum, police chief on the animated TV show.

"When you visit the site, you think you'll find the information you need," Kim Toney said. "But all it amounts to is a personal vendetta against me and my husband.

"It's just very childish, actually. They should grow up."

Kim Toney suggested that Seibert launched harmartownship.com and bought the similar domain names to sabotage the township's effort to launch its own site.

"We were doing this in the best interest of the community," she said. "It's a shame that people running in the election will take the (domain) name like that and portray themselves as Harmar Township."

According to whois.net, Seibert created the domains in January 2006 through Yahoo.

It was unclear when the township started to build its own site. A similar search revealed that the township's official domain — townshipofharmar.net — was created last week.

Township Secretary/Treasurer Annette Dietz and Solicitor Chuck Means said the township's "real site" is under construction. They couldn't say when it will go live.

Asked if there is any basis for legal action, Means said township officials have contacted "the appropriate state and federal agencies," but wouldn't elaborate.

Rick Toney said he might pursue a defamation lawsuit but indicated he'd rather take the proverbial high road.

"We do have legal counsel looking into it," he said. "But we'd like to keep the board proactive and the town moving forward."

David Regoli, a criminal attorney and Lower Burrell councilman, said that while there could be a case for libel, it might not be worth pursuing. Libel cases can be costly and often don't result in substantial damage awards, he said.

"You would have to decide if the damages would be big enough to justify prosecuting the case," he said.

Regoli is not representing any of the parties involved. He had not seen the site prior to being interviewed.

Toney said Seibert should be ashamed of his decision to create harmartownship.com.

"These are just his normal tactics," Toney said.

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