When yesterday's combined meeting of Northampton County's Personnal and Finance Committee got underway, it looked like it was going to be a pretty quick meeting. Council members John Cusick, Wayne Grube and Diane Neiper raced through an agenda of appointments with practically no discussion. That's the way most local governments work. Quick meetings. Little discussion. Dog and pony shows.But that's not what happened. He was late, but the Northampton County Bulldog - Ron Angle - was in the house. Cusick and Grube were dressed in coat and tie, just like nearly everyone else. Ron was sporting an old farmer's hat, dirty T-shirt and paint-spattered shorts held up by three inch wide Erkel suspenders. As he made his way to the dais, an unlit stogie was gripped between his teeth.
But in a matter of moments, there was little doubt about who was in command. Although the trio of other council members had already approved appointments to the Revenue Appeals Board, the Bulldog had questions.
"Aren't these people realtors?" he asked. "They have a vested interest in real estate. Is it good or bad to appoint realtors?"
He also groused about the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. County Exec Stoffa and Council Prez Ann McHale were being appointed to participate in the shenanigans there, and Angle has always been irritated that this nonprofit, which accepts county money, would close its books to him. He glared at Stoffa, who was defending the LVEDC.
"Can you tell me that you and I can go there tomorrow and they'll let me look at the books?"
Stoffa smiled and said, "Will you be dressed?"
"People didn't elect me for my wardrobe, by the way."
Ron's next victim was the prison, where we heard for the 26,874th time about the problems with new timecards for the corrections officers.
"In the world they live in, they don't want you screwing with their hours. It's their own little world."
On a roll, Angle's next volley was delivered at the sheriff's department, which was there to explain its attempt to become the first sheriff's department in the whole wide world to ever be certified by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Committee. They hired a lawyer and everything.
Ron asked Sheriff Hawbecker, "Isn't it reaching a little too far to say sheriffs are in law enforcement. Basically, it's an arm of the courts. The sheriff's primary mission is not law enforcement."
Sheriff Hawbecker: "97-98% of our work is generated by the courts, there's no doubt about that. We make about 12 criminal arrests per year."
The Bulldog: "How many firearms do you collect every year?"
No one had a quick answer, and then Angle asked Controller Steve Barron, "When have you last audited the firearms?"
Audit Manager Frank Kedl: "That's the first I'm aware they have guns."
Sheriff Hawbecker: "In 23 years, I've never had anyone from the outside come in and conduct an audit."
The Bulldog: "If you have several thousand guns, it's very easy for four or five to go home."
From the Revenue Appeals Board to the sheriff's department, Angle fired away. But was he content to stop there?
Nope.
His final grenade was at Bethlehem Township, which has apparently asked the county for some of the unused bond money that's lying around collecting dust. Noting how Bethlehem Township zoners have rejected the proposed county treatment center out of hand, Angle had some comments for the "stupid people in Bethlehem Township." "I never in all my years seen a planning commission say, 'Don't come back here, we're not giving you a treatment center.' Are we no better than them? In the real world I live in, that's how it goes. Screw 'em. I wouldn't transfer 15 cents to the sons of bitches."
County exec Stoffa told Angle, "We'll get it." Ron just laughed and said, "How old are you? It's a tainted planning commission and a tainted zoning hearing board. They'll string you out for five years."
A meeting that started at 4 PM finally ended at 5:30 PM.
It was The Northampton County Bulldog at his worst.
It was also the Northampton County Bulldog at his best.
As he was leaving for his bunker up north, Angle snarled at me and said, "Stop laughing, O'Hare. You dress worse than I do."
True, but I'm so much more diplomatic.
26 comments:
Sheriff Hawbecker: "In 23 years, I've never had anyone from the outside come in and conduct an audit."
Can the Sheriff of Northampton County even compute simple math? He's been employed with the County since 1994. That's 14 years in my book. Working with Ron Angle must age you.
So much for the residents of one of the largest communities in Northampton County and what Council thinks of them. Maybe Bethlehem Township should succeed from the County! Get ready for a war I guess. I find it apalling that my County tax dollars are going to fight the Township over a stupid project like the work release.
Anon 3:35,
I suspect that Hawbecker is referring to his years on the state police force.
Anon 7:58,
It's not council. It's much worse than that. It's Ron Angle.
"...'Screw 'em. I wouldn't transfer 15 cents to the sons of bitches.'"
Sounds like he's either bribing or extorting the township. Shameful.
I agree the township has acted in bad faith, but Angle showed not only a lack of class but extremely questionable character with that comment.
I love it. It's honest.
extortion or bribery in a public meeting is the same crime as extortion or bribery behind closed doors. It's a complete violation of public trust and a misuse of taxpayer dollars.
I have respect for you Bernie, but Ron is way off base here. He deserves to be called out in public by other members of council for his comments directed toward the twp. This will do nothing to help the treatment center move forward and it undermines the twp's confidence in county gov't. Normally Ron is all about the watchdog responsibility. He's not doing that on this issue.
Normally Ron is all about the watchdog responsibility. He's not doing that on this issue.
Ron is representing Northampton County, who was treated like garbage in Bethlehem Tp. I saw that myself. Although I don't think the ZHB was tainted, there is little doubt in my mind that the ZHB solicitor was pushing them in a certain direction. The application, which will eventually have to be granted, was dismissed w/o a word of testimony. And then Beth Tp comes to the county for money? This also is the same body that refused to fund homeless shelters.
Did Ron speak bluntly? Yes. Is he right? Yes. He is looking out for the county. Like I said in my post, it was Ron at his worst and at his best. I can think of no other person in the LV who is willing to get at the heart of things like Ron.
Yesterday alone, he raised a number of excellent questions:
1. Should realtors sit on the Revenue Appeals Board?
2. Is the LVEDC now an open body?
3. Are prsion guards playing games with time cards?
4. Does the sheriff's department really need a certification?
5. Shouldn't there be an independent audit of all the guns it maintains and confiscates?
6. Should Beth Tp be rewarded after screwing the county with shoddy treatment when it applied for a special exception?
Not one of those questions would be asked if Angle were absent. He'll tell you himself he's a bastard. But we need bastards.
Does the sheriff's department really need a certification?
13 reasons -
1. Establishes a credible framework for evaluating agency practices and procedures
2. Reduces agency risk and exposure to lawsuits
3. Decreases some liability insurance expenditures
4. Improves law enforcement—community relations
5. Increases employee input, interaction and confidence in the agency
6. Enlarges the outlook and viewpoints of managers, officers and employees
7. Identifies and highlights the capabilities and competence of the agency
8. Furnishes a solid foundation for the agency to build upon for further progress
9. Provides reliable methods to improve essential management procedures
10. Extends agency accountability to the public and elected officials
11. Enhances planning and innovative activities by all agency personnel
12. Develops improved methods for providing services to the community
13. Encourages problem-solving activities within the agency
"Shouldn't there be an independent audit of all the guns it maintains and confiscates?"
Shouldn't there be an audit of all evidence maintained by all offices within the County?
I never knew town council meetings could be so enertaining. I gotta get int politics. (smile)
Alfonso
"I never knew town council meetings could be so enertaining. I gotta get int politics. (smile)"
Alfonso, Angle is the best show in town. They should sell tickets.
Isn't Angle in Real Estate? If this is the case,shouldn't he recuse himself from any dealings with land in the County? Didn't he just screw the Stine's out of their farm and transfer it to a waste transfer outfit from NY? Yeah, you're right, this is Angle at his best. He was probably dressed like he was because he just finished a back door transaction with Lambo.
Anon 10:24,
In the power point presentation made yesterday, there were only 4 reasons. My, how the list has grown!
As Angle points out rather clearly, being certified is not going to reduce the number of lawsuits filed by prisoners with a lot of free time on their hands. For example, Sheriff Hawbecker tells us that, on his return from vacation, a lawsuit is on his desk informing him he is a kidnapper. Those ridiculous suits will still be filed.
Given the differences between what sheriffs and other police departments do, Angle questioned whether that will really reduce liability insurance.
He also questioned the real reason for this - does the sheriff's department want to be a police force? Hawbecker denied that.
Having said all of that, I think certification is a very good idea for many of the reasons you enumerate. The strongest advantage i see is that it increases a sense of professionalism. And to be honest, I think the sheriff's department should be moving more and more in the direction of a regular police department. Most of the deputies are former polioce officers and would undoubtedly prove to be an asset.
Isn't Angle in Real Estate? If this is the case,shouldn't he recuse himself from any dealings with land in the County?
He is, and would be required to recuse himself from any matter in which he has a pecuniary interst that directly relates to him. He has recused himself before.
As far as screwing poor Clayton Stine is concerned, the stump dump king has been screwing people for years. His dump (it's no farm) was sold in a federal foreclosure because Stine has not been paying his federal mortgage. That has nothing to do w/ Angle. Nor is he the person who bought the property.
As far as the insinuation concerning Lambo is concerned, it's a good thing you're anonymous. Ron would laugh, but Lambo does not like sheep jokes.
Bernie --- normally I don't disagree with you and Ron. But on the Bethlehem Township matter, it sounds like the County is trying to ramrod an ill conceived project through them. All of the comments by the County and you sound like what disgruntled developers say about the Townships. For one, I am proud that the Township is making sure that all the rules are being followed by the County. Would anyone have it differently?
But is the Township playing by the book? That's the point Angle makes. His concern is that NIMBYs are imposing their will on the rest of the county.
Why is the project, a treatment facility for minor offenders, ill conceived? They must be housed somewhere.
Angle's noisy but irrelevant. His closest political ally is the other party's turd in the punchbowl. Sometimes Stoffa gets his way. Some times the D majority gets their way. Either way, Ds run the show and fart in Ron's general direction.
I like the guy and like the fact that he's not a notoriously sleepy spendthrift incompetent like Wayne "Over-Expenditures Are Groovy As Long As The Result Is Nice" Grube and his ilk on council.
The Iron Curtain fell but we still have a County Central Committee that is in no jeopardy of losing its stranglehold and has enough sway to laugh at their own party's taxpayers, let alone the irrelevant opposition's.
Ron is just as Bernie stated. A show.
The Treatment Center is a Prison Work Release. There was just a story in the paper about one of these'nonviolent' offenders in another County breaking into a house near the Center. Part of this Center is for Social Experimnets with persistent drug offenders.
It is not so much the Center as the lies and half-truths as well as the underhanded way Stoffa and Company broached the project. Sort of loke the Health Department.
Angle should be screaming at Stoffa for handing over half the casino money to Allentown and Lehigh County before we even see a nickel. Bethlehem Twp. has every right to apply for a grant. The rules are clearly laid out in the legislation on lottery funds.
Angle is and always has been a showboat who is a notorious attention whore.
Exactly, I think that qualifies Angle to run for President. Talk about real change. I'd vote for him...Do you think by saying that, it subjects me to the wrath of "Lambo"?
LAMBO is lurking somewhere.
The people of BT pick rubes like Angle from their stool.
You go, people of BT!
But Ron fights dirty. He'll bring LAMBO.
"The people of BT pick rubes like Angle from their stool."
I'm not sure I'd brag about BT folks' compulsion to pick through their stools. It explains the odor, though.
I'm not sure I'd brag about BT folks' compulsion to pick through their stools. It explains the odor, though.
That's the smell of a tax base.
Regarding the Rehab Facility in Bethlehem Township, there is a drug rehab (meth clinic) right down the street from the proposed facility on Brodhead Road. People (read: drug addicts) came and go all day long. This was passed very quietly and I would bet most people who live in BT do not even know it exists.
In regards to BT asking for money from the county, please keep in mind that BT has been taking money from the State for 20+ years for a recycling program that doesn't meet State standards. It is reasonable to conclude that they do not deserve the funds, yet they have continued to take the money knowing they were not completing the requirements for the funds. Putting aside the fact that BT appears to be terrible stewards for the Earth, would taking the money be considered fraud or theft?
As for the Sheriff's Dept., this is a group that is completely out of control and needs to be reigned in and not given more power and, God forbid, the ability to become an active police force. The Judges have too much power in the County as it is. Do we really want to give them a police force as well?
Anonn 8:01, other than an infomercial commerical for Abe Atiyeh and John Stoffa what is your point?
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