About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, April 14, 2014

DeSalva Out at Northampton County

Steve DeSalva, Director of Public Works under Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, is apparently no longer with the County. Employed with the County for over eight years, DeSalva was responsible for the completion of a controversial courthouse expansion and juvenile detention facility that had started under Glenn Reibman. He was the sole engineer employed, and was often the scapegoat for cost overruns and nightmares at the aging Wolf Building and Gracedale campus. Known for sixty-hour work weeks, nobody ever questioned his work ethic.

DeSalva was replaced as Director of Public Works by Allentown's Richard Young late last month. It was thought that he would remain as a Deputy under Young. But according to highly placed County officials, Steve is gone.I have no additional details.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

DeSalva can say he was a hard worker, and tell the masses that he brought everything to the attention of Stoffa, who turned a deaf ear and a blind eye.

Problem is, in the real world, this doesnt cut it. Go along to get along, pass the buck a few ball fields away, and make excuses that there just wasnt money. It gross incompetance , and a person with a professional engineering license owes a greater level of duty to the county, the wokers, and the taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

He worked hard, nice guy, blah, blah blah. At the end of the day its a political appointment. Over the years many good people have lost jobs due to new administrations, why should Stoffa's people be any exception. His were not the best, in fact far from it, if you go by competence and accomplishment.

michael molovinsky said...

young administered the painfully slow construction of the 15th street bridge in allentown, which still hasn't had it's sidewalk completed. he's also responsible for the snail paced replacement of the union street bridge. and responsible for the broken concrete rubble desecrating the robin hood bridge piers in allentown's lehigh parkway. northampton is welcome to him.

Anonymous said...

But why? Something Bernie we don't know.

Anonymous said...

Young will fit right in for Northampton County. We haven't had a really good Public Works Director since John Gieson left the county.

Anonymous said...

As long as he didn't take a job with a county vendor, farewell. Is there a new Director of Administration, Finance, or a Sheriff yet?

Anonymous said...

Michael, painfully slow was the slogan of the past eight years so I think Young will fit in very well.

Anonymous said...

I hear there's an opening in Lehigh County

Anonymous said...

The guy was useless. Good call by Brown, now dump Harp.

Anonymous said...

Young doesn't fight..... he does what he is told.

Anonymous said...

Not sure about dumping Harp, but if he had anything to do with approving the consstruction of the new highly touted Emrick building for Human Services, which was put up at amazing speed, the leaks yesterday with rain pouring into windows and making workers leave their desks, does not speak too well for him. Glad the tour of dignitaries, including you Bernie, happened before the sponges were stuck to windowsills and the buckets catching the rain appeared.