Why The Bachmann Publick House Should Be Preserved

As both The Express Times and Morning Call reported last week, Northampton Couny Council has postponed acting on a resolution under which the county would commit $520,000, over four years, to revitalize Easton's 1753 Bachmann Publick House. Lafayette College is also willing to commit $320,000, but the vote has been postponed. Ostensibly, this is so the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society can consider running the place. In reality, there may not have been five votes to move ahead.

According to Finance chair Ron Angle, more than the historic landmark is being preserved. Two other buildings are included, including a a storefront that sells Bachmann trinkets and another that apparently houses a massage parlor. Angle thinks these nonhistoric properties should be sold.

But the county's first courthouse should be preserved. Easton Mayor Sal Panto, himself a former history teacher, has previously said, "That building is Northampton County and I love it. ... Let's try this for the sake of history." Lafayette's President, Dr. Dan Weiss, has submitted his own business plan. Part of that plan explains why the Bachmann matters, and I want to share it with you.

The General Significance and Meaning of the (1753) Bachmann Publick House

It is important to begin to understand the significance and meaning of the Bachmann Publick House as a valuable public cultural resource. These facets are the following on local/regional, state and national/international levels:

Local/Regional

* The Bachmann Publick House is the only colonial period (up to 1776) tavern to survive in the Easton area, along with a very limited inventory of similar tavern buldings in what was once Northampton County (Now the counties of Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon, Schuylkill, Monroe, Pike, Luzerne, Columbia, Lackawanna, Wyoming, Sullivan, Lycoming, Bradford, Susquehanna and Wayne). Of this limited inventory, the 1753 Bachmann (Tavern) retains the highest percentage of its original historic building fabric. By comparison, the historic Sun Inn of Bethlehem is basically a stone shell with new reconstructed historic millwork.

* The Bachmann Public House was the location of the first Northampton Court of Sessions and county meetings in 1754. These functions were for the area that now includes all of twelve and parts of three counties, forming the Northeast Region of Pennsylvania of today.

Statewide

• It appears that the well preserved Bachmann Publick House is one of possibly only six surviving historic building/locations of Colonial Period (1640 to 1776)county courthouses in the state of Pennsylvania, today.

National/International

• The Bachmann Public House was a significant quasi-govemment building during the October 1758 Easton Treaty conference between British officials, the colonial government of Pennsylvania and Native American tribal nations including the Lenni-Lenape, the Six-Nations of the Iroquois, Nanticoke, Shawnee, Conoy, and others. This was one of the largest gatherings of Native American representatives during the colonial period, and is described by Walter R. Borneman in "The French and Indian War: Deciding the Fate of North America" (published in 2006)as follows:

" The outcome of the conference in Easton was twofold. First, the Iroquois demanded that the Pennsylvanians renounce their purchases, resulting from the Albany Congress, of all lands west of the Alleghenies. These included country around the forks of the Ohio long claimed by the Iroquois through their influence over the Ohio Indians. Pennsylvania's agent agreed, and their acquiescence effectively recognized Iroquois hegemony over the other nations in the region, particularly as the lands were symbolically returned to the Iroquois, not the Ohio Indians.

Second, however, the Delaware and Ohio Indians were appeased by a promise from Governor William Denny of Pennsylvania that despite whatever influence the Iroquois might have over them generally, Pennsylvania would continue to deal directly with them on matters of local concern. These were essentially a respect for past treaty reservations and a resumption of trade once the French were expelled.

This left all parties with most of what they wanted. The Iroquois had reasserted their dominance over the Ohio Indians in external affairs, the Ohio Indians and eastern Delawares had received certain assurances of territorial integrity from the Pennsylvanians; and the Pennsylvanians had won the Ohio Indians and eastern Delawares back into the fold of British influence.

Arguably the most important Indian conclave in Pennsylvania's history, the Treaty of Easton was formalized on October 25,1758. When word of it spread westward and reached Fort Duquesne, those Ohio Indians who had been allies of the French for more than three years quickly melted away into the forest. Suffering from lack of supplies and now deserted by their Indian allies, the remaining French soldiers at Fort Duquesne were feeling increasingly isolated and alone as General Forbes, still in agonizing pain from his illness, considered his next move."

This 1758 Treaty of Easton laid the political foundation and set into motion events that lead to France loosing its hold on Western Pennsylvania and throughout the upper Midwest. This assured that British colonial interests would be dominant in North America, and insured that the legal traditions of Britain would influence the basis of more democratic laws for the future United States of America and Canada. During this 1758 conference the Bachmann Public House would have been a place of numerous formal and informal meetings among the most prominent colonial era leaders of Pennsylvania and the region, and is the best preserved building, associated with this important event, to remain today.

• The Revolutionary War era saw the Bachmann Publick House as one of the more important public taverns in Easton. It was the site of meetings and discussions involving prominent individuals from 1776 to 1783. Gen. John Sullivan and other officers of the Continental Army would have met here. Most importantly Thomas Paine stayed in Easton to meet with at least six chiefs from the various Iroquois tribes for several days in late January 1777. Paine possibly participated in social interactions with local, state and continental leaders at the Bachmann Publick House, as well as at other, now gone, public taverns, where the participants were lodged, ate, drank and participated in important discourse regarding the activities, policies and philosophy of the American Revolutionary cause and struggle.

In a basic popular sense, what does the Bachmann Publick House mean to the general public and how could it function as a public facility? In reflection, Mr. Gary Evans of the working committee offered this following encompassing statement. Mr. Evans observed that the Bachmann Publick House should be, "A place to discuss the democratic values we cherish". There is high value in realizing what this statement could mean relative to the Bachmann Publick House's renewed actual programs and activities.

Easton's Bachmann Publick House Slammed by Imperious Ann McHale

Easton's 1753 Bachmann Publick House, Easton's oldest building, one-time tavern and home to Northampton County's first courtroom, has fallen upon hard times, just like Easton herself. Easton Heritage Alliance, the building's owner, had no money to repay a $500,000 county loan.

The deed has been surrendered to the county, and a determined group of Bachmann believers are working on a business plan that will hopefully allow continued use of this historically significant property as living museum. And at a recent budget hearing, the county revealed it intends to fund an estimated $75,000 for repairs, operating expenses and maintenance of this building from some of the anticipated $1.2 million in hotel tax revenues.

Enter the Imperious Ann McHale. She instructed county administrators that hotel taxes can't be used to fund this Easton treasure because it is not a tourist attraction.

Huh?

Somebody better tell George Washington and Ben Franklin, two tourists who spent time there.

Does the Bachmann Publick House Have a Big Brother?

In late September, a gaggle of Eastonians paraded before county council to complain. Were they concerned about the gang violence? Drugs on the streets? A city falling apart? Nah, their mission was to save Easton's 1753 Bachmann Publick House, Easton's oldest building, tavern and home to Northampton County's first courtroom.

This "living museum" has died. It has long since shut its doors and dismissed its staff. Unable to pay a $500,000 mortgage to the county, Esaton residents tearfully asked for time to develop a business plan.

Sixty days.

"For 1 1/2 years, we have waited. Now at the 12th hour, you come in with a business plan." Everyone kept hinting around about Lafayette College , and the evil Ron Angle pointedly asked whether Lafayette had a check. "You need a big brother at this point, and you don't have one."

That was four months ago, but what the hell.

Big Brother will finally come to county council tonight. According to a letter to the editor conveniently published today, "a plan to reopen the Bachmann as a museum will be presented to Northampton County Council. Dr. Dan Weiss, president of Lafayette College, will tell of the college's involvement."

In the meantime, Abe Atiyeh wants to buy the tavern and lease it to the county for a gazillion dollars a year as a prison treatment center. "It will still be a living museum. We can kill two birds with one stone. I've got shackles and everything," he claims. "We can grab a few inmates or homeless people and put them in the stocks for the kids. Every now and then we can whip one of them and one of the ladies can have a wardrobe malfunction and ... do any of you need any money for office?"

Northampton County Picks Up an Old Bar!

You know, Norco Dem boss Joe Long is right.

Too many illegitimate press members are running around. At last night's Northampton County council meeting, newshawks Sarah Cassi of The Express Times and Joe Nixon of The Morning Call, were ready, pens in hand. Even The Bethlehem Press, a weekly, is now regularly sending a freelancer.

To make matters worse, fellow blogger Julian Stolz was somehow able to sneak into the meeting too. He's a Republican! And even though he was wearing a tie with all these goofy elephants, he slipped past the guards.

Bossman Long will definitely be upset to learn that five different media reps, including two goofy bloggers, were among the thirty who attended last night's county council meeting. He might have to issue another "cease and desist" special to county exec John Stoffa.

Last night's meeting included a procession of eight Easton citizens with something on their mind. Gangs? Drugs? Poverty? Floods? Nah. They're intent on saving Easton's 1753 Bachmann Publick House, Easton's oldest building, tavern and home to Northampton County's first courtroom. The Easton Heritage Alliance, which owns the building, has been unable to repay a $500,000 loan from the county. So last night, county council directed its General Purpose Authority to accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

Led by Phyllis Johnson, the Bachmann believers repeatedly implored council for time to come up with a business plan that allows the building's continued use as a living museum. Easton mayoral candidate Gary Bertsch was one of these supplicants. "History is one way to turn a city around," he lectured council. Volunteer Tracy Hart worried that the county would somehow turn this historic building into a law office, and said Easton should be more like New Hope. Johnson waved a letter from Lafayette College president Daniel Weiss, in which he promises to be a "convenor of an initiative to prepare a business plan."

As person after person rose to speak, a forlorn Frank Flisser, the county council's clerk, was scribbling away, trying his best to keep up. Looking at Frank, one observer quietly asked, "What's he doing?"

"Writing a suicide note."

Councilman Ron Angle was unswayed by the throng. "For 1 1/2 years, we have waited. Now at the 12th hour, you come in with a business plan." He pointedly asked Johnson whether Lafayette had a check. "You need a big brother at this point, and you don't have one."

Actually, last night's decision to take back the deed has little bearing on any attempt to make a go of Bachmann. As Councilman Lamont McClure advised Johnson and her friends, "Why can't we just take back the deed and let you develop your plan?"

And that's exactly what will happen. The county is protecting its interest while Bachmann supporters develop a plan.

How about a massage parlor?

Lafayette College Proposes Bachmann Bail Out

Easton's 1753 Bachmann Publick House, Easton's oldest building, one-time tavern and home to Northampton County's first courtroom, has fallen upon hard times, just like Easton herself. Easton Heritage Alliance, the building's owner, had no money to repay a $500,000 county loan, and has conveyed the property to the Northampton County General Purpose Authority.

Last night, Dr. Dan Weiss, president of Lafayette College, presented a plan to Northampton County Council that just might save the building. Before an audience of about seventy people, he proposed a four-year joint venture including the county, Easton, the college and the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society.

Under this proposal, the college would kick in around $80,000 per year to pay for a curator. The county would pick up the remaining yearly costs, estimated at around $125,000 per year. Although it is cash poor, Easton would agree to supply labor for any maintenance work. Finally, the Historical Society would supply artifacts for exhibit.

The building would derive revenue from admission fees ($10,825), rentals for small groups ($2,500) and special events ($2,000). Once it is up and running, grants might be available that would exceed the $15,000 in projected yearly gross revenue.

Eleven people spoke in support of this joint venture, including Colleen Cunningham Lavdar, Executive Director of the Historical Society and Easton Mayor Sal Panto.

Sal reminded council that he taught history for twelve years. "That building is Northampton County and I love it. ... Let's try this for the sake of history." He later noted, "This city has given the county a lot. You keep expanding and expanding and expanding. Right now, we don't have the resources financially. But we have the staff." He pledged city workers to building maintenance. He also pointedly noted, when Ron Angle kept complaining about losing $500,000, "I would dare say we've lost a lot more than you."

Ron also questioned the business plan, which is a tad shy on projected revenue. "If this is a viable business plan, you're missing a few 0s here and there." He noted that Lafayette College is sitting on $780 million in assets and could easily buy the building. But Dr. Weiss quickly reminded Angle, "You must remember this is not Lafayette College's problem. We're willing to take some risk if others are willing to do so."

Although Angle remained dubious, the rest of council seemed to applaud this proposal. Council member Peg Ferraro said, "This gives us some breathing room," and warned against selling to a private investor. "Before you know it, there are nonconforming uses and deed restrictions can be shot down."

Peg is right. This proposal, while not perfect, is a four year experiment in which revenues are likely to increase well beyond the conservative revenues projected. I suspect the county will support this proposal when it is put to a vote. As Easton city councilman Ken Brown noted, "What better way do we have to bring history alive?"

Update: Veteran Morning Call reporter Joe Nixon has a detailed account of last night's Bachmann presentation.

NorCo Council To Consider $100k Grant to Historical Society for Nation's 250th Anniversary

Tonight, Northampton County Council will consider and vote on a resolution to give the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society a $100,000 grant to help prepare for the nation's 250th birthday in 2026.

The historical society is a nonprofit and is completely separate from Northampton County government. It manages the Sigal Museum, Bachmann Publick House (where Northampton County Courts originally convened), Jacob Nicholas House and Mixsell Illick House. 

Its resources also include several online exhibits, like public health warnings from Roseto Borough in 1910, and links to numerous data bases of interest to genealogists. 

Sadly, the resolution authorizing this grant is the one that Council President Lori Vargo Heffner refused twice to place on the agenda, in clear violation of the county's Home Rule Charter. Astonishingly, she said she "had questions." Rather than pose them publicly, she wanted to do so behind closed doors. 

Her refusal to place the matter on the agenda also betrays a misconception that a Council President is somehow superior to other members of the legislative body. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," Orwell would say. 

The whole point of the Sunshine Act and Open Records law is to insure as much transparency as possible when public funds are involved.   

Sharon Angle, Ron's Wife, Visits Northampton County Council

"Is he like that at every meeting?"

- "No Sharon, he's usually a lot worse. I think he's kinda nice tonight."

That's just one of the exchanges I had last night with Sharon Angle, Ron's beautiful and personable wife, a true class act who is obviously very near-sighted. Like the spouses of most pols, she's fairly apolitical.

Last night was just the second time in Ron's eight years on council that she's been at a meeting. You see, Ron broke his ankle a few weeks ago under mysterious circumstances. Some say he slipped on the ice outside his father's house. But his dad just laughed when I asked him what happened, saying, "I'll finish him off next time."

Last night, Ron was finishing off a few people on his own. He was rolling down the hallway outside council chambers in a wheelchair at about ninety mph - unlit cigar clenched between his teeth - moving like a bowling ball down an alley, knocking people over like pins. These were all pretty much advocates for Easton's 1753 Bachmann Publick House, so Ron was just eliminating some of the opposition. But one wheelchair can only do so much damage. The place was still packed.

Sharon came up a few minutes later and sat right next to me. It was very nice to see her. If Ron has mellowed over the years, it's because of her. She brought a newspaper about the arts and was trying hard to read that during the meeting, but Ron was just driving her nuts.

"Ugh! Did you hear that? He just called Stoffa a ..."

" - ... nincompoop. Yeah, I heard it."

"But he loves Stoffa. Wait till he gets home. I'm gonna' break his other ankle."

That's pretty much the way it went all night. Some county workers like Lorraine Parry, who was sitting in the row in front of me with her own very quiet husband, couldn't stop laughing. Sharon would pretend to read this arts paper, and then just drop it and say, "I can't believe him. What on earth got into him?"

Now don't get me wrong. Ron is mellowing, but he still alienated the entire city of Easton last night, including its very fine Mayor, Sal Panto. After asking Sal a question, he refused to let him answer. I honestly forget how Ron explained his way around that, and Sal did eventually get to speak and was his usual eloquent self.

Usually, during a council meeting, Ron will look in my direction once or twice, and give me a little smile or wink. But not last night. I think he knew he was in hot water with She Who Must be Obeyed.

Towards the end of the meeting, Ron tried to bail himself out. He complimented fellow council member Diane Neiper for the first time in two years, telling her she's been terrific as chair of the Human Services Committee, looking nervously in his wife's direction. He was also gracious to a Bethlehem Township resident, Felicia Miller, who came to voice concerns over a possible work release facility in Bethlehem Township.

And as he rolled his way out of the meeting room, he wanted me to drive him home. But Sharon was having none of that. I suspect that right around now, a cast is being fitted on Ron's other ankle.

Northampton County's 2009 Quality of Life Grants

Northampton County currently imposes a 4% hotel room rental tax. This revenue must be used to promote tourism and community development. For reasons that elude me, these are called "quality of life" grants in Northampton County's 2009 proposed budget. They are detailed below.

Hotel Room Rental Tax Grants	2006	2007	2008	2009 Request	2009 Actual
Agricultural Fairs	$3,000	$3,200	$3,200	$2,000	$2,000
ArtsQuest (Musikfest)	$21,000	$46,000	$0	$23,000	$0
Atlas Cement Memorial Museum	$4,000	$4,000	$4,000	$0	$0
Bach Choir of Bethlehem	$20,000	$20,000	$20,000	$20,000	$10,000
Bachmann Publick House	$17,500	$10,000	$10,000	$0	$0
Bath Borough Log Cabin	$17,500	$17,500	$17,500	$0	$0
Bethlehem Marketing	$2,500	$0	$0	$0	$0
Celtic Fest	$4,000	$5,000	$5,000	$10,000	$5,000
Delaware Shad Tournament	$7,000	$8,000	$8,000	$8,000	$4,000
Easton City (Ambassador Program)	$0	$10,000	$35,000	$35,000	$20,000
Easton Farmers Market	$10,500	$10,500	$10,500	$24,000	$12,000
Easton Marketing	$2,500	$0	$0	$25,000	$0
Gov. Wolf Historical Society	$9,600	$10,100	$10,100	$17,610	$3,500
Historic Bethlehem Partnership	$0	$16,800	$16,800	$17,640	$16,800
Historical Society	$25,200	$30,000	$30,000	$100,000	$30,000
Jacobsburg Historical Society	$10,000	$10,500	$10,500	$10,500	$10,500
Kreidersville Covered bridge	$0	$13,400	$13,400	$82,137	$13,400
Lehigh & Keystone RR Club	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$0	$0
Lehigh Tp. Historical Society	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$0	$0
LV Arts Council	$0	$2,500	$2,500	$12,750	$3,800
LV Convention and Visitors Bureau	$640,340	$744,093	$746,000	$0	$746,000
Lower Saucon Tp Historical Society	$2,500	$2,700	$2,700	$0	$0
Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary	$0	$0	$4,000	$0	$0
Miss Pennsylvania	$0	$0	$0	$10,000	$2,500
Moravian Historical Society	$6,300	$6,600	$6,600	$17,910	$6,600
Nat'l Canal Museum	$16,000	$16,000	$16,000	$17,375	$5,200
North'mptn Area Historical Society	$16,900	$17,800	$18,900	$198,000	$7,200
North'mptn Community College	$75,000	$0	$0	$0	$0
Northern Lehigh Future Focus	$0	$2,500	$2,500	$0	$0
Slate Belt Heritage Center	$2,200	$2,300	$2,300	$2,400	$2,400
State Theatre	$0	$0	$50,000	$55,000	$25,000
SteelStax performing Arts Center	$0	$0	$86,128	$0	$87,800
SteelStax Public Broadcasting center	$0	$0	$86,127	$0	$87,800
Sun Inn Preservation Ass'n	$0	$0	$0	$8,000	$0
Walnutport Canal Ass'n	$5,000	$5,500	$5,500	$28,750	$5,500
Zoellner Arts Center	$0	$0	$0	$33,125	$0
Future Grants	$0	$0	$5,997	$0	$19,000

Tom Harp Appointed Acting Director of Administration

From Northampton County Executive John Stoffa: "In view of John Conklin's departure, I am appointing Tom Harp as Acting Director of Administration effective Tuesday, November 1, 2011"

Who is Tom Harp? I wrote about Tom in 2009, and will repost an excerpt here.

He's a grandfather, a very proud one, too. When I walked into his office yesterday, the first thing he did was show me two pictures of his 8 year-old grandson, a heavy hitter in Catty, who is missing one of his front teeth. That makes him look even tougher. Tom throws little plastic golf balls at his grandson, which this slugger nails with a fierce-looking, orange-colored bat. He's playing Fall ball this year.

Tom grew up in Bethlehem, graduating from Liberty ('67) and Moravian ('71). After that, he started a long and distinguished career in human services. He began by working with the developmentally disabled in White Haven. During his 8 years there, he picked up a Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Scranton.

Tom returned to the Lehigh Valley as a counselor in Allentown's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, helping people with disabilities find work. He was promoted to Supervisor and eventually became the District Administrator, overseeing a staff of 35 people in four different counties. He ended his 35 years in human services as the state's bureau director.

Over this time, Tom got to know Stoffa, who then headed Human Services in both Northampton and Lehigh County. Stoffa recruited him to join the Allentown Kiwanas, which does a lot of work for downtown Allebntown kids with youth soccer, the Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army and some arts groups. Once retired, Tom intensified his work with the Kiwanis and even joined the board at the LV Center for Independent Living.

Stoffa, who had avoided filling the Deputy Director of Administration position in an effort to save the county some money, soon found that he and his staff were overwhelmed. So he ended up recruiting Tom again, but this time to work for Northampton County. Tom accepted a rather low-paying job to help a friend, and this is how he describes Stoffa. "He has the qualities an elected official should have. He's honest. He's a straight shooter. He cares about people. He's very level-headed. He thinks things out. You are attracted to people you can respect."

So just what does Tom do at his do-nothing job?

* He's the county's risk loss coordinator. That eats up half of his time, and the county gets a $8000 annual reduction in its liability policy as a result. He also helps prepare the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for all fourteen insurance policies.

* He's the county's point man for safety, methodically attacking health and safety priorities. He is currently engineering a program to get county workers certified in CPR and the use of a defibrillator. He's also formulating an EMS emergency action plan.

* He writes the county newsletter, which is only distributed internally for now. He tells me a newsletter may soon be made available for the general public, published on the county's web page.

* He is the county's liaison with its thirty-eight municipalities and four Councils of Government (COG). He attends all the COG meetings, which are conducted after hours.

* He is the county's Act 32 coordinator, and is currently setting up the initial meeting for the appointment of a single tax collector.

* He is the county's conduit on the Bachmann Publick House, the county's oldest building. Currently, he is coordinating a transfer of this treasure to the Northampton County Historical Society and Lafayette College.

* Naturally, with his background, he's the county's disability specialist, and is working on a way to make it easier for the disabled to access the courthouse.

* He drafts and researches the issues for county proclamations.

* He initiated and administers the county's prescription drug program.

* He prepared and regularly updates a Directory of County Services.

* He fills in for Stoffa at meetings the Executive is unable to attend.

One thing Tom is not is political. "I don't want to be part of that," he tells me. Clearly, the County is getting its money worth from this guy, described by John Stoffa as a "joy" to be around. If this is an example of cronyism, we could use a few more just like him. He's somebody's grandfather. He's here to help. He works hard. The anonymous shots Tom gets here are totally out of line.

Phil Mitman Tries to Make a Difference With a New LVEDC

As Easton's mayor, Phil Mitman never had a chance. Easton was deluged by three major floods in a twenty month span, and few will ever forget the tragic, accidental, Good Friday shooting death of a police officer by one of his own. It's no surprise Phil decided against seeking re-election.

But when it comes to personality, there are few people finer than Phil. Before last night's meeting of Northampton County Council, for example, he made it a point to come back into the cheap seats and talk to me. He and I previously did some work on Easton's Bachmann Publick House, which has the dual distinction of being Easton's first bar and courthouse. I'll never forget the look of excitement on his face when we found some old court records.

Since leaving the mayor's office, Phil has been the President and CEO of The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. Historically, this nonprofit has been shrouded in secrecy. It has refused to release records to public officials even though public money makes up a sizable part of its budget. At one point, public officials were even subjected to a broadly drafted gag resolution concerning a $70,000 severance package for a CEO who had abruptly "resigned." Express Times publisher Martin Till reacted to this muzzle by leaving LVEDC himself. "To exclude board members from any discussion involving LVEDC is absurd." In the meantime, Council member Ron Angle was begging to be sent there for just six months. "That's a mongoose you'll set loose in the snake pit. Give me six months in the snake pit."

Phil Mitman wants to change all that, and faced a dubious council last night to proclaim a new "climate of collaboration." He assured them that, aside from personnel files, they are pretty much free to inspect records. And he explained LVEDC's role. "We are the Lehigh Valley's only agency paid to market the Lehigh Valley locally, nationally and internationally. We are a one stop resource, a nonprofit that encourages prosperity and job creation."

He reviewed their annual budget, and noted that much of the nonprofit's financial information is now publicly posted on its web page. He even invited Ron to come down and look at their records himself.

He then noted the following accomplishments:

- Over the past two years, LVEDC has helped forty-four companies obtain more than $52 million in financing. This has led to $102 million in total project costs, 1,300 new jobs and 456 retained jobs.

- Northampton County business attracted more than two dozen loans, $29.6 million in financing, $62 million in total project costs, 851 new jobs and 375 retained jobs.

- Over the past five years, the Lehigh Valley has increased jobs at three times the percentage rate in Pennsylvania.

- The Lehigh Valley accounts for 17% of all new jobs created in Pennsylvania over the past five years.

- The Lehigh Valley has added more jobs than any other metropolitan region in the state - 22,000 new jobs over five years.

When all was said and done, some members of council were still suspicious. Wayne Grube told Mitman, "I'm from Missouri and I want to see some projects here." Ron Angle conceded, "You've made some changes. But the puppeteers are still the same people."

Time will tell whether LVEDC is really moving in the right direction. But Phil Mitman is clearly trying to make a difference. Before he left, he made sure to give me a package of materials listing 11 recent success stories in Northampton County alone.

How to Get Free Grant Money - Just Ask.

Northampton County's Community Development Administrator, Lori G. Sywensky, is part of a three person committee that recommends the "quality of life" grants funded by the county's 4% hotel tax. She's trying to instill some professionalism and objectivity in a process that usually has relied on telephone calls and letters.

This year, Lori's committee graded 24 applications, from 1 t0 5, based on answers to these questions: (1) Does it increase county tourism?; (2) Is there a clear budget that leverages other funding?; (3) Does it have an economic or cultural impact on the county?; and (4) Is there a need for the funding requested? All but three applications were approved. Although this committee is a laudable attempt to remove some blatant politics from the process, most of the grants should still be denied or reduced.

County Council Politicizes These Grants

Last week, I published a blog detailing exactly how Council prez Ann McHale is trying her best to squeeze a little more money for Easton's State Theatre. McHale would like to be the next county executive, and realizes that the high rollers and country club types on that nonprofit's board would certainly reward her appreciation of the arts.

McHale is by no means the sole council member who politicizes these grants.

Charles Dertinger angrily demanded to know why only $2,000 was being awarded to agricultural fairs. It made no difference to him that those requests were fully funded - more money should have have been awarded. Why was only $4,000 proposed for the Delaware Shad Tourney? Why not give them the full $8,000 sought? Why no money at all for the Atlas Cement Memorial Museum? Who cares that they found other funding sources? Even the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, echoed some of Dertinger's concerns.

These politicians are pandering for votes, just as McHale is after campaign contributions. I suppose they can't help it. They don't mind using your money to get what they want.

Why Most Grants Should Be Denied or Reduced

Northampton County currently owns Easton's 1753 Bachmann Publick House. Lafayette College is willing to commit $320,000 to that historic building in a joint venture under which the county would agree to spend $520,000 to revitalize that building over four years. While this idea is being batted back and forth, the county is paying for the upkeep of this building from its general fund.

Why?

According to the Hotel Tax Law, the only restriction placed on hotel tax money is that the county use the funds for the "further development of tourism facilities and for community development initiatives, within that county, that enhance regional tourism." Instead of paying $130,000 for the annual maintenance and upkeep of that building from real estate tax revenue, hotel tax should be used. The remaining county "quality of life" grants can be reduced pro rata.

This adds another $130,000 to the till.

Meet Northampton County's Tom Harp

From time to time, Deputy Northampton County Administrator Tom Harp is attacked on this blog as a John Stoffa crony, a do-nothing administrator who is only here because of his friendship with the county executive. These complaints are always posted anonymously. But they sound suspiciosuly like the rants I've already heard from a bitter former Reibman administrator, Bob Daday.

Daday hates Stoffa. On election night, he submitted a resignation letter to then Exec Glenn Reibman, claiming his "principles, values and ethics" would be incompatible with someone like Stoffa. But guess what? If he quit, he'd be ineligible for unemployment. So right before Stoffa came on board, Daday persuaded Reibman to "fire" him. When Stoffa discovered Daday's letter, he challenged the unemployment.

Daday had a radio show at the time, and was already lashing out regularly at Stoffa, Ron Angle, and for reasons that still elude me, Morning Call columnist Bill White. When the unemployment flap hit the papers, Daday quickly left his radio show, claiming he would be spending all his time at Attorney John Karoly's office. He was embarrassed.

But the rants have continued here. Always anonymous. Always mean-spirited. Often blatant fabrications. For all I know, these slams could be the work of someone else. But I find it hard to believe more than one person could be that goofy. A target of these ill-tempered arrows is Tom Harp. I owe it to him to set the record straight.

He's a grandfather, a very proud one, too. When I walked into his office yesterday, the first thing he did was show me two pictures of his 8 year-old grandson, a heavy hitter in Catty, who is missing one of his front teeth. That makes him look even tougher. Tom throws little plastic golf balls at his grandson, which this slugger nails with a fierce-looking, orange-colored bat. He's playing Fall ball this year.

Tom grew up in Bethlehem, graduating from Liberty ('67) and Moravian ('71). After that, he started a long and distinguished career in human services. He began by working with the developmentally disabled in White Haven. During his 8 years there, he picked up a Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Scranton.

Tom returned to the Lehigh Valley as a counselor in Allentown's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, helping people with disabilities find work. He was promoted to Supervisor and eventually became the District Administrator, overseeing a staff of 35 people in four different counties. He ended his 35 years in human services as the state's bureau director.

Over this time, Tom got to know Stoffa, who then headed Human Services in both Northampton and Lehigh County. Stoffa recruited him to join the Allentown Kiwanis, which does a lot of work for downtown Allebntown kids with youth soccer, the Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army and some arts groups. Once retired, Tom intensified his work with the Kiwanis and even joined the board at the LV Center for Independent Living.

Stoffa, who had avoided filling the Deputy Director of Administration position in an effort to save the county some money, soon found that he and his staff were overwhelmed. So he ended up recruiting Tom again, but this time to work for Northampton County. Tom accepted a rather low-paying job to help a friend, and this is how he describes Stoffa. "He has the qualities an elected official should have. He's honest. He's a straight shooter. He cares about people. He's very level-headed. He thinks things out. You are attracted to people you can respect."

So just what does Tom do at his do-nothing job?

* He's the county's risk loss coordinator. That eats up half of his time, and the county gets a $8000 annual reduction in its liability policy as a result. He also helps prepare the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for all fourteen insurance policies.

* He's the county's point man for safety, methodically attacking health and safety priorities. He is currently engineering a program to get county workers certified in CPR and the use of a defibrillator. He's also formulating an EMS emergency action plan.

* He writes the county newsletter, which is only distributed internally for now. He tells me a newsletter may soon be made available for the general public, published on the county's web page.

* He is the county's liaison with its thirty-eight municipalities and four Councils of Government (COG). He attends all the COG meetings, which are conducted after hours.

* He is the county's Act 32 coordinator, and is currently setting up the initial meeting for the appointment of a single tax collector.

* He is the county's conduit on the Bachmann Publick House, the county's oldest building. Currently, he is coordinating a transfer of this treasure to the Northampton County Historical Society and Lafayette College.

* Naturally, with his background, he's the county's disability specialist, and is working on a way to make it easier for the disabled to access the courthouse.

* He drafts and researches the issues for county proclamations.

* He initiated and administers the county's prescription drug program.

* He prepared and regularly updates a Directory of County Services.

* He fills in for Stoffa at meetings the Executive is unable to attend.

One thing Tom is not is political. "I don't want to be part of that," he tells me. Clearly, the County is getting its money worth from this guy, described by John Stoffa as a "joy" to be around. If this is an example of cronyism, we could use a few more just like him. He's somebody's grandfather. He's here to help. He works hard. The anonymous shots Tom gets here are totally out of line.