tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post3585790449191678485..comments2024-03-28T12:10:27.406-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: A Microcosm of Northampton County at a Gaming Board Hearing?Bernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-2524863755657966702014-08-28T08:26:38.359-04:002014-08-28T08:26:38.359-04:00Bernie-
Most disturbing to me is that neither pap...Bernie-<br /><br />Most disturbing to me is that neither paper sent a reporter.<br /><br /><br />VORAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-28328640375528784792014-08-27T00:37:20.494-04:002014-08-27T00:37:20.494-04:00"News reporters are becoming extinct. - Neith..."News reporters are becoming extinct. - Neither daily newspaper sent a reporter to cover a meeting concerning $1.5 million in grant money." <br /><br />Yeah, but you will surely see the monthly front page story about Sands Revenue and news flash about paving the employee parking lot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-36127391036833718652014-08-26T21:55:51.876-04:002014-08-26T21:55:51.876-04:00And if I might add, it was an excellent presentati...And if I might add, it was an excellent presentation. The fellow who slammed him should try to be more "apolitical", and made very clear who he is.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-35853672650645889582014-08-26T21:45:59.857-04:002014-08-26T21:45:59.857-04:008:11 said: "...The last time I read about a g...8:11 said: "...The last time I read about a grant application for a fire apparatus, I believe the municipality allowed a fire chief to speak on their behalf, and the chief described the need for an aerial truck. That was a waste of an opportunity, as the chief should have focused on the connection of the aerial truck to mutual aid agreements with the city (and thereby providing additional coverage to the casino). Failure to cement that connection led to the rejection of the application--not to mention the fact that a representative of the affected municipality sits on the Gaming Board...."<br />The grant for the aerial truck was not denied because of the person or persons chosen to speak on its behalf. It was denied because it was too large of a request, and would significantly reduce the number of other, smaller, projects that could be funded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-4303727146771938202014-08-26T20:58:23.410-04:002014-08-26T20:58:23.410-04:00"Isn't there a Borough ordnance in which ...<em>"Isn't there a Borough ordnance in which meetings are to be held at a certain location and time? If so, what are our legal rights as citizens to take legal action against council members as individuals? "</em><br /><br />It's called the Sunshine Act, but there is only 30 days in which to sue over a violation. If meeting times are changed, and the meeting is not properly advertised, that could lead to a lawsuit.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-15693709771845797052014-08-26T20:56:35.454-04:002014-08-26T20:56:35.454-04:00" The poster about this subject may not even ...<em>" The poster about this subject may not even know that the Sheriff had he had one can detect firearms under garments at the courthouse for example"</em><br /><br />I am so aware, peter. I was a gun chief on a self-propelled howitzer, and spent time in tank school, looking at and using thermal imaging scopes. I always wanted to borrow one to see how much i could see. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-37940119152870618112014-08-26T20:52:42.358-04:002014-08-26T20:52:42.358-04:00I know who you are. You are the idiot who showed u...I know who you are. You are the idiot who showed up to one meeting and told the Commission you'd be attending them all. You're the expert who hurts the fire companies for whom you advocate with divisive rants like the one you initially posted. You first claim to want fire companies to be able to submit their own applications, and then claim you don't favor changing the state law. You accuse the board or municipalities of being political, when it's obvious that the only "apolitical" board you's approve is one that limits itself to shiny fire engines. You claim to support the law enforcement community, but your remarks give you away. You even slam the one fire company that presented at the meeting you did attend bc the chief did not emphasize what you wanted emphasized. You are divisive, argumentative and give firefighters a bad name. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-90196077180086978472014-08-26T20:11:42.280-04:002014-08-26T20:11:42.280-04:00Regarding fire protection, the municipalities are ...Regarding fire protection, the municipalities are ultimately responsible for ensuring adequate provisions. Since the majority of the municipalities choose to use independent volunteer fire companies, it behooves the administrators to communicate with fire company leaders and assist in the preparation of grant applications for fire company purchases. In your article, Bernie, you did not mention there were applications submitted on behalf of volunteer fire companies. Both your article and related pictures led me to believe that law enforcement were the political subdivisions vastly represented in this round of grant applications. The last time I read about a grant application for a fire apparatus, I believe the municipality allowed a fire chief to speak on their behalf, and the chief described the need for an aerial truck. That was a waste of an opportunity, as the chief should have focused on the connection of the aerial truck to mutual aid agreements with the city (and thereby providing additional coverage to the casino). Failure to cement that connection led to the rejection of the application--not to mention the fact that a representative of the affected municipality sits on the Gaming Board. Ultimately, I view such situation as a breakdown in communication between the municipality and their fire service providers.<br /><br />I'm not advocating a change in state law to permit direct gaming grant awards to fire companies. I'm encouraging the leaders of both the municipalities and their fire companies to effectively communicate and increase their chance of being awarded grants.<br /><br />My half-hour discrepancy in noting the Gaming Board meeting time is negligible, as that's still a poor time for most folks working traditional hours. Nazareth's meeting time is off-topic.<br /><br />Your suggestion that my post in political and divisive is entirely your perception, and not based in reality. I fully support the law enforcement community. I think the other disciplines of the emergency services should be adequately represented too.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-21366940200060269162014-08-26T19:39:35.602-04:002014-08-26T19:39:35.602-04:00"Many of them know that it is just not worth ..."Many of them know that it is just not worth it to apply."<br /><br />How does it feel to be ignorant? Did you <i>read</i> the article? Are we supposed to believe that 2 (two)is "many"? That West Easton and Upper Mt Bethel are leading the train, and didn't fall off at a previous station?<br /><br />This is gambling money, being given away for the taking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86823936485747774492014-08-26T19:30:47.120-04:002014-08-26T19:30:47.120-04:00"This is my last time coming on here and wast..."This is my last time coming on here and wasting my time."<br /><br />Who the hell held a knife to your throat? You aren't even close to being on topic, and just posted to air a person gripe. Good riddance, whoever you are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-25236224409482784982014-08-26T19:11:15.530-04:002014-08-26T19:11:15.530-04:00If I may add - Thermal Imaging devices are a spin ...If I may add - Thermal Imaging devices are a spin off of military technology. First used on M-60 tanks then progressed . The poster about this subject may not even know that the Sheriff had he had one can detect firearms under garments at the courthouse for example. In military applications with dogs they are useful in detection of IED's Peter J.Cochrannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-50553457791584883852014-08-26T19:07:11.235-04:002014-08-26T19:07:11.235-04:00Isn't there a Borough ordnance in which meetin...Isn't there a Borough ordnance in which meetings are to be held at a certain location and time? If so, what are our legal rights as citizens to take legal action against council members as individuals? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-14823296631213243992014-08-26T18:31:58.989-04:002014-08-26T18:31:58.989-04:00The COGs are involved, NAZCOG and Slate Belt each ...The COGs are involved, NAZCOG and Slate Belt each have a member attending the meetings and reporting back, Some of those grants were made to participating COG members. As non contiguous<br />municipalities most of our members have a much smaller cash pool to apply for, but some do well, and good for them. Dottie Niklosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-20157915533705216772014-08-26T17:41:46.845-04:002014-08-26T17:41:46.845-04:00Please. The meetings are at 5:30 pm, after quittin...Please. The meetings are at 5:30 pm, after quitting time. That's an improvement over boroughs like Nazareth, which schedule committee meetings at 4 pm so the public can't be there. <br /><br />Also, many of the applications are submitted on behalf of fire companies, with the municipality serving as pass through agency. The state law as written does not permit direct awards to volunteer fire companies, but many of the applications last night were directly related to their needs. They included radios, breathing apparatus and a firetruck. So far as I know, <br /><br />The volunteer fire companies are not elected officials and have no accountability. I would not favor changing state law to let them apply independently. If that were to happen, municipalities would eliminate contributions currently being made to make up for lost grants. <br /><br />Your thinking is shortsighted and your argument is divisive. If anyone has a political agenda, it appears to be you. The Board is following state law. <br />Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-15057873801780381432014-08-26T16:23:30.326-04:002014-08-26T16:23:30.326-04:00For those municipalities relying on volunteers to ...For those municipalities relying on volunteers to prepare and advocate their grant applications, the timing of these Gaming Authority meetings is poor. Scheduling them at 5:00 PM on a weekday is not going to work for those who have traditional work schedules. Furthermore, how many of these applications were submitted in support of volunteer fire companies? Since the majority of the VFC's are not political subdivisions of municipalities, they cannot pursue gaming grants independently. I believe the grants awarded are very disproportionate. For an entity that's supposed to be apolitical, it's anything but.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-75417779250277235712014-08-26T15:24:35.613-04:002014-08-26T15:24:35.613-04:00Dottie tells me the Chapman Dome is ahead of sched...Dottie tells me the Chapman Dome is ahead of schedule, and should put the Allentown arena out of business. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-50624478811768283072014-08-26T15:19:39.485-04:002014-08-26T15:19:39.485-04:00Does this mean The Chapman Dome project is tabled?...Does this mean The Chapman Dome project is tabled? Perhaps covering the quarry for use as a stadium can be funded with a commuter tax?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-21016429569291076532014-08-26T15:07:15.686-04:002014-08-26T15:07:15.686-04:00That's bc it's not mine. I heard both Call...That's bc it's not mine. I heard both Callahan and Brown speak along these lines during the Exec race. Let's face it. The bigger municipalities have the staff to take care of these things. Smaller places don't, but they may have greater needs. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-49375537128672647022014-08-26T13:39:40.763-04:002014-08-26T13:39:40.763-04:00"Perhaps county officials should offer to pre..."Perhaps county officials should offer to prepare grant requests for municipalities under 5,000 or 6,000. This is also an area in which the COGs could get involved, or RenewLV or even LVEDC. "<br /><br />That's a great idea, Bernie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-26494120167424322012014-08-26T13:32:28.820-04:002014-08-26T13:32:28.820-04:00I hope to have a Nazareth update very soon.I hope to have a Nazareth update very soon.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-60168835851273669572014-08-26T13:29:03.214-04:002014-08-26T13:29:03.214-04:00FT = FIRE TRACHTA
FT = FIRE TRACHTA
FT = FIRE TRAC...FT = FIRE TRACHTA<br />FT = FIRE TRACHTA<br />FT = FIRE TRACHTA<br />FT = FIRE TRACHTA<br />FT = FIRE TRACHTA<br />FT = FIRE TRACHTA<br /><br />Bernie any updates on the Borough council moving to fire Chief Trachta? Sadly I believe since they didn't apply for any applications, they must have enough money in the bank to continue allowing Chief Trachta his cup cake antics. Many law suits have been filed already. How many more can we afford? Of course if they fire Trachta they would save nearly $76,000.00. Just saying! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-45641611694989853862014-08-26T13:15:40.862-04:002014-08-26T13:15:40.862-04:00"t's a shame to see how stretched thin so...<em>"t's a shame to see how stretched thin some of the smaller municipalities are in our area, both financially and staffing-wise. Unfortunately, that leads to a vicious circle of not having enough money and not having the means to go after grants like this."</em><br /><br />This is where the county DCED could be more proactive. It has long been recognized that our old boroughs are in a jam. We can see the problem in West Easton, but most of them have similar issues. Judy Danko put it well. They have an aging population and residents who live on fixed incomes. Not a lot of money, and not a lot of people. During the last Executive race, boith Brown and Callahan stated it is time to reach out to these smaller communities. I think serious consioderation should be given to that objective. Perhaps county officials should offer to prepare grant requests for municipalities under 5,000 or 6,000. This is also an area in which the COGs could get involved, or RenewLV or even LVEDC. <br />Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-23806790636146176492014-08-26T13:10:13.392-04:002014-08-26T13:10:13.392-04:0012:39, I am unable to answer your question bc ther...12:39, I am unable to answer your question bc there was no explanation of the grant request beyond what I have said. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76831767022487648312014-08-26T12:39:29.732-04:002014-08-26T12:39:29.732-04:00Thanks much for the reply. Do you know which Bush...Thanks much for the reply. Do you know which Bushkill fleet, road maintenance or police? They have more cop vehicles than a Steve McQueen movie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-27728645541148739742014-08-26T12:06:17.625-04:002014-08-26T12:06:17.625-04:00Thanks for the reporting, Bernie. t's a shame ...Thanks for the reporting, Bernie. t's a shame to see how stretched thin some of the smaller municipalities are in our area, both financially and staffing-wise. Unfortunately, that leads to a vicious circle of not having enough money and not having the means to go after grants like this. <br /><br />I know Lehigh Township PD could use some of that cash to hire a new officer. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com