tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post5541214689222045672..comments2024-03-28T13:41:40.673-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Voters Shortchanged by McClure Refusal to Attend Committee MeetingsBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64844172051613506842011-07-26T23:42:31.722-04:002011-07-26T23:42:31.722-04:00We could use the $60million of taxpayer money Angl...We could use the $60million of taxpayer money Angle/Stoffa is sitting on. Or we can use the money Stoffa wanted to spend on his Drug Rehab Hotel with his pal Attiyah.<br /><br />BrendanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-10463098332696879302011-07-26T21:24:46.472-04:002011-07-26T21:24:46.472-04:00scum breeding dems allscum breeding dems allZornnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-60537183383236854702011-07-26T16:58:22.082-04:002011-07-26T16:58:22.082-04:00No, the ones who lost were seniors at home. No mon...No, the ones who lost were seniors at home. No money for any of them. ANd taxpayers will lose too.Wait till you see the tax hike to pay for all of those pricey capital improvements..<br /><br />The county should seek an opinion from the courts on how to pay for it, since none of this extends to the budget. Did they think we should just pull monopoly money out of a box? <br /><br />TrishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-77192915037627840232011-07-26T15:00:20.163-04:002011-07-26T15:00:20.163-04:00Is trish still posting about selling Gracedale whe...Is trish still posting about selling Gracedale where was she on May 17th. 3 to 1 to keep it so lets keep making posts about selling it and how much better the county would be with out it.<br /><br /><br />You lost get over it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-73451868722933643582011-07-26T13:56:20.669-04:002011-07-26T13:56:20.669-04:00As in the past, not only will Morganelli's sta...As in the past, not only will Morganelli's staff be pressured to donate directly to Morganelli, they will be quietly pressured to attend fundraisers for McClure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-91255645230523031152011-07-26T13:53:47.059-04:002011-07-26T13:53:47.059-04:00Don't worry, John Morganelli will fund his cam...Don't worry, John Morganelli will fund his campaign both directly and indirectly. His do-nothing wife will continue to take a salary from Morganelli and he'll get re-elected as he will have a lot more money and name recognition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-26853079933270270822011-07-26T08:24:52.002-04:002011-07-26T08:24:52.002-04:007:56
Go to any public school and ask for a tour o...7:56<br /><br />Go to any public school and ask for a tour of the special needs classroom which is run by a colonial intermediate unit.<br /><br />You will be shown to one classroom, that has 5-7 kids on ventilators, tube feeds, paralyzed from the neck down. They are in special wheel chairs, and are accompanied by their full time private nurse, one teacher and at least 2 teacher aides. There are about 10 adults in a class with 7 kids. They receive speech, PT, OT for years on end, despite the fact that maximum potential has long been reached. <br /><br />They cost each district about $250K per year, and will never be able to hold a pencil.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-67137928784997116072011-07-25T23:54:07.115-04:002011-07-25T23:54:07.115-04:00Thank you Mr. McClure. Most voters can tell the d...Thank you Mr. McClure. Most voters can tell the difference between Angle's showboating and your hard work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-15369919852161159882011-07-25T19:56:05.699-04:002011-07-25T19:56:05.699-04:00Whatever other faults the school system has, 7.38,...Whatever other faults the school system has, 7.38, there are no vegetative people in it (except maybe at asst. superintendent level and above.)<br /><br />But if there were vegetative people, I'm sure those vegetative students would, when complaining about difficulties others are having with basic English, only use words they could spell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-68140373743646635722011-07-25T19:41:39.219-04:002011-07-25T19:41:39.219-04:00Your right Bill, just look how well the American e...Your right Bill, just look how well the American economy is doing. No jobs but the top dogs got lots of money.<br /><br />How are those 401K's doing?<br /><br />The only thing that even comes close to protecting average American citizens from the modern multi-nations is a representative government. You tri-cornered hat guys keep pretending it's 1800 and you can just go to a different blacksmith. Grow up. We Independents are tired of your craziness. We were angry at the Dem's and voted them out but we sure as Hell don't need a bunch of lunatics in office. Say goodbye to the House!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-80857928657751750352011-07-25T19:38:29.293-04:002011-07-25T19:38:29.293-04:00Americans want everything and are willing to pay f...Americans want everything and are willing to pay for nothing.<br /><br />Sure, we get cheap junk made in China, but who can buy the cheap junk without a job?<br /><br />We spend billions of dollars each year to keep vegitative children in the public school system who will never be able to speak, read or write<br /><br />We also spend billions to keep vegitative seniors alive on tube feeds in nursing homes.<br /><br />We spend billions to incarcerate illegal aliens who can be deported to their home counties.<br /><br />Maybe its time to compromise on wanting everything, and paying for nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-34463914928168577042011-07-25T19:22:01.651-04:002011-07-25T19:22:01.651-04:00Name any successful government run organization or...Name any successful government run organization or department. Everything from the post office to medicare is broke and bleeding money. All indications are that privatizing is always the better alternative.Bill Cokernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-33163073416162625222011-07-25T19:13:33.027-04:002011-07-25T19:13:33.027-04:00The affairs of one small county seem very trivial ...The affairs of one small county seem very trivial now as its congressman and his gang try hard to force the nation into bankruptcy; and seniors to an early grave, which is the inevitable outcome of a slash in Medicare.<br /><br />And unlike most of his R colleagues, who talk to god often and out loud on policy matters and feel bound to act on what he tells them, Charlie doesn't have anyone telling him to do it. <br /><br />Grow up, Charlie, and remember who elected you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-16650511361364357992011-07-25T19:04:21.463-04:002011-07-25T19:04:21.463-04:00How about a recall Lamont petition? Oh wait, that ...How about a recall Lamont petition? Oh wait, that comes in November when the absentee councilman is voted out of office.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-36868593358015100262011-07-25T18:17:32.711-04:002011-07-25T18:17:32.711-04:00Thanks LaMont. Most of us know that you are telli...Thanks LaMont. Most of us know that you are telling the truth. The Angle/Stoffa propaganda machine can't make $60 million tax dollars disappear. Your interpretation of the auditor's report is dead on. You offered a reasonable solution to Mr. Stoffa's press release inspired crying of wolf. With a solution available, he and the rest of the rubber stamp Angle/Stoffa council declined to fix what they claim is broken.<br /><br />The voters will soon fix many things in Northampton County. Maybe even a recall petition on Stoffa is in the wings. It is two months after the primary and John Stoffa is now saying he needs to do things. Sad state of affairs in Northampton County. Even without Stoffa hack Mazziotti twisting the books.<br /><br />DougAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-54421733500657990742011-07-25T17:23:39.784-04:002011-07-25T17:23:39.784-04:00trish, brenda, bernie, whomever, you do not know t...trish, brenda, bernie, whomever, you do not know that of which you speak.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-72085807775418757222011-07-25T15:05:43.635-04:002011-07-25T15:05:43.635-04:00I have not seen Stoffa/Angle motivated to close do...I have not seen Stoffa/Angle motivated to close down Gracedale. I have seen Stoffa/Angle motivated to control the taxpayer funded expenses in a way that will stop the gushing artery on Gracedale Avenue. They are elected to manage funds in the most efficient way possible while providing the best quality of service that they can.Of course this interferes with unions. <br /><br />Selling Gracedale to a private owner would have done that, and allowed for funding of home-care services to impoverished seniors. Government should not compete with the private sector. It has nothing to do with hatred. Its just common sense.<br /><br />trishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-9044447397898364882011-07-25T15:04:13.744-04:002011-07-25T15:04:13.744-04:00Angle has hated Gracedale for years, ask some past...Angle has hated Gracedale for years, ask some past county officials. He has been singing that song for a long time. Stoffa probably doesn't hate Gracedale, he is just not hat good at managing things. He wants to try his new pet social engineering project, a drug rehab lounge hotel. That program will require large sums of money. Whereas Gracedale gets 90 cents back for every county dollar spent, the drug hotel will be at least 90 to 100% county dollars. Up until now Stoffa has been living off the largest cash surplus in county history that he inherited. He needs a large cash influx and ongoing county cash for his pet project.<br /><br />Without raiding the slush fund that Angle wants as proof of his great work when he runs for county Executive, the only other course is for Stoffa to dump Gracedale.<br /><br />It provides money up front that he can give to his pal Atiyah and ongoing money for the "treatment" staff. Remember, the state or feds will not reimburse this money so it will all be on the backs of the county taxpayer. Also, this is not a mandated service.<br /><br />That in a nutshell is part of the deception that is being played out. Everyone in the courthouse is aware of it. The press won't write it because it is not a Stoffa press release, but there it is.<br /><br />Your Ears in the House!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-12406613103528063712011-07-25T14:25:52.830-04:002011-07-25T14:25:52.830-04:00I would like someone to explain the motivation Sto...I would like someone to explain the motivation Stoffa and Angle would have to shut down Gracedale. I keep reading from critics that they are personally motivated to have it closed. What is the reason they hate Gracedale so much?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57022747288731856742011-07-25T13:03:42.972-04:002011-07-25T13:03:42.972-04:00If the county wishes to rob its saving account to ...If the county wishes to rob its saving account to pay for things, my suggestion is to restore the loss of funding to the county office on aging. According to Marcus at the last meeting, there is now a waiting list for the waiver program which allows impoverished seniors the dignity of remaining at home, with the help of a home care nurse's aid. <br /><br />Plowing more money into gracedale at this point makes as much sense as inviting new passengers onto the titanic.<br /><br />This is why it should have been sold. No need to create hardships to seniors in their homes because a flamethrowing, union goldbrick group wanted to preserve their outrageous salary/benefit packages. <br /><br />TrishAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-65104112975553280082011-07-25T12:50:16.039-04:002011-07-25T12:50:16.039-04:00Lamont,
In the past, you have routinely referred...Lamont, <br /><br />In the past, you have routinely referred to the $60 MM plus fund balance as a slush fund. Now that you have apparently looked at an actual balance sheet, I am heartened to see that you do recognize that there's next to nothing for fun and games.<br /><br />You apparently now agree that $14 MM of that sum is needed to pay off the swaption, which comes due next year.<br /><br />You apparently now also agree that we must keep $25 MM as a stabilization fund.<br /><br />You also agree that the $7.1 MM needed to balance the budget should stay, and that's a good thing bc the Cty no longer has Fiscal Affairs Director Vic Mazziotti. <br /><br />Suddenly, that $60 MM "slush fund" is down to a mere $14 MM. And you propose draining nearly all of that to pay for capital projects at Gracedale. <br /><br />Are you out of your mind?<br /><br />If we did that, we'd have NOTHING left. This is NOT the purpose of the unassigned fund balance. It is there to pay the bills at times when the revenue stream is inadequate. It is there when a new union contract calls for retroactive pay increases. It is NOT there for capital projects, and not there when I am certain that the County is going to have to dip into it to pay operating expenses at Gracedale before the year is out. <br /><br />Your proposal is financially irresponsible, and I doubt any accountant would endorse it. <br /><br />I do not think you are out of your mind. But I do think you were grandstanding. <br /><br />I could understand a philosophical difference over Gracedale, or over the size of the fund balance. But proposing that it be emptied is irresponsible. You would know that if you attended a few more meetings. In fact, I think you know it already.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-22050111204557062542011-07-25T11:21:59.243-04:002011-07-25T11:21:59.243-04:00If McClure isn't attending meetings, I'm h...If McClure isn't attending meetings, I'm hoping he's attending the gym. I need help.<br /><br />Always,<br /><br />Mr. McClure's Council Chambers meeting chairAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64180139625298540042011-07-25T11:14:18.949-04:002011-07-25T11:14:18.949-04:00Bernie,
With respect to the arguments you routine...Bernie,<br /><br />With respect to the arguments you routinely make about the fund balance, there are couple of necessary points to make. The first is that you consistently refer to the need to meet "unexpected" expenses. Were you aware that in 2010 the Administration in the Budget that was passed predicted that we would need to access $14.5 million of the fund balance to balance the budget ? Actually, for 2010, the County budget finished $352,854.00 in the black and required no fund balance to balance the budget. Therefore, you can anticipate that most of the $7.1 million assigned to "subsequent years budget" will not be needed. Additionally, the whole point of the $25 million(which is approximately $4 million too much) in the "stabilization fund" is to have money set aside for "unexpected expenses." So, that concern of yours that the County will be caught flat is more than adequately provided for and with redundancy to boot.<br /><br />As I've said, I don't want to have the old argument. Keep the $14 million for satisfying the swap as well as the $25 million in stabilization funding. Additionally, don't touch the $7.1 million for the "subsequent" years budget. Eventhough, there is probably an additional $12 million dollars here that could be used. I won't touch it.<br /><br />Just merely look to the "Unassigned" portion of the fund balance. The County Administration has identified $13.3 million in capital projects at Gracedale that it says are "High Priority." My plan is simply to transfer that money from the unassigned portion of the fund balance to fix what the Administration says is broken. These types of projects are exactly what the "Unassigned" portion of the fund balance is for in this context. Afterall, what is a fund balance ? It is more tax revenue taken in, than is necessary to run the government. As I said at the meeting, this is a plan that addresses immediate capital concerns at Gracedale without a tax increase or the necessity to borrow the money. <br /><br />LamontAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-77732974016748682512011-07-25T10:55:12.444-04:002011-07-25T10:55:12.444-04:00This was one of the arguments for sale. County gov...<i>This was one of the arguments for sale. County government will always have competing demands. Gracedale wlll need things, but so will the jail and the courthouse and this or that bridge. For years, and when Gracedale was profitable, it was ignored. This was not out of malice but is just the way it works. <br /><br />Council passed a resolution demanding a separate account for Gracedale money, but it might be too late.</i><br /><br />They could have simply raised taxes to take care of our obligations. But they'd rather let things decay then face losing an election.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-10231090423315683542011-07-25T10:54:37.483-04:002011-07-25T10:54:37.483-04:00Bernie,
Below find the designations of the "...Bernie,<br /><br />Below find the designations of the "Unserved Fund Balance" from the County's Financial Statements. The information can be found on the County website at page 69.<br /><br />GASB Statement No. 54, Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions<br />County Council enacted Ordinance No. 526, effective December 19, 2010. The Ordinance contains the<br />necessary provisions of Government Accounting Standards Board’s (GASB) Statement No. 54 - Fund Balance<br />Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions. This will result in a change to the government-wide<br />financial statements and note disclosures as of January 1, 2011. The General Fund’s fund balance would be<br />presented under GASB Statement No. 54 as follows:<br />12/31/2010<br />Committed to:<br />Future obligations (swaption) $ 14,065,951<br />Financial stablization 25,000,000<br />Assigned to:<br />Subsequent years budget 7,096,656<br />Unassigned 15,978,742<br />Total fund balances $ 62,141,349<br /><br />LamontAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com