Last night's meeting of the Lehigh Valley Health Commission, scheduled for Allentown, lasted all of 92 seconds. Only four members of Northampton County Council bothered showing up, so there was no quorum. Several elected officials, unwilling to do their jobs, have forced these unfortunate consequences:* Health professionals left busy practices for nothing.
* The LV Board of Health's Initial Budget remains unadopted.
* A financial intermediary who can accept some generous donations from the private sector remains unauthorized.
* The appointment of two members to the LV Board of Health will have to wait.
* Advertising costs for this meeting, which come out of your pocket, have been wasted.
* Missing Northampton Council members demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the time of Lehigh County Commissioners.
An unusually subdued Norco Council Prez Ann McHale announced, "This is embarrassing." Hey, that's Northampton County!
How did this happen? Council members Diane Neiper and Mike Dowd, to their credit, told Prez Ann McHale they would be unavailable. Rev. Dowd is recovering from pneumonia and Neiper is preparing for a move to Cumberland County. So they get a pass.
But where the hell were Council members Charles Dertinger, Lamont McClure and Joe Capozzolo? They never bothered to show. They also lacked the courtesy to call in advance. Some say they were at the casino. Others claim that Lamont and Charles were strolling up and down Hamilton Street as mariachis.
Lehigh County Commissioners sat with quiet looks of astonishment on one side of the room, but Northampton County Council members on the other side were a little more vocal. "Hey, I made it here driving on a donut," groused John Cusick. "That's why Lamont and Charles don't want payraises," noted Peg Ferraro. "Lamont and Charles are afraid to come to Allentown," explained Ron Angle.
Lehigh County Commissioner and Chair Percy Dougherty offered his apologies and suggested a "healthy discussion" among those members present. But Angle, no great fan of a bi-county health board in the first place, quickly put a stop to that notion. "In my opinion, you're having a workshop that wasn't authorized. I make a motion we adjourn." LC Comm'r Bill Leiner quickly seconded Angle's motion, which passed unanimously.
Game over.
20 comments:
McClure and Dertinger were at the Stonewall slow dancing.
I agree with you on this one O'Hare. I am no fan of Angle or the Health Department but not showing up is anpther black mark on Northampton County.
I remember going to meetings now and then over the past 16 years and dispite not always agreeing the council members appeared to take their job seriously. These guys have to be the most unprofessioal and worst members ever.
I cannot think of another group worse than some of these jokers. How many Lehigh County Commissioners showed?
You know it's bad when McHale is even embarassed. That's the most shocking part of this article.
Seven of nine LC Comm'rs showed. The two who were absent - McCarthy & Roman - cleared that in advance with Percy Dougherty.
I'm sure that by tomorrow night, both McClure & Dertinger will have excellent excuses.
Will it take McClueless and Dirtingirl as long to figure out an excuse for missing this meeting as McHale is taking to explain the missing signs or congratulate Stoffa?
The nutty professor is like, "See what I mean?"
These dudes are boyscouts compared to Congress. But the Nutty Professor would probably addd this to her quiver.
We need to remember this on election day for His Eminence, Sir Charles.
Bernie,
This is very interesting. says a lot about commitment. how ever are we going to combine school districts.
Charles top vote getter doesn't draw any votes from Lehigh County. To hell with them!
Told you Joe Cap is a no show mayor and now the same thing for NH county council! I rest my case!
And some of these very same politicos complain about voter apathy!
Pathetic
Bossman Long warned them not to attend...
Joe Cap was at Angle's farm cleaning pig sties for Ron. Somebody's got to stay and keep things running.
Why can't we elect people who act with some dignity.
During the primary I attended a candidates night at the Grover and hosted by the Dem. Women. The local folks hemmed, hawed and mumbled on and on saying nothing. Then a well put together woman got up to speak and blew everyone out of the water, elegant and elequent, smooth yet down to earth. The room sat in attention and soaked in every word. She was Judge Lazarus from Phiadelphia. What a difference those 60 miles make.
I agree McClure. Council salaries should coincide with their worth, in which case salaries should be reduced to $0 and probably the LongDems, "Honey Girl" barmaid McHale included should pay the COunty a fee for the right to screw things up for the taxpayers.
The point was made before and it is a good one. No one twisted anyones arm to run. There is never a deficit of candidates for office. There is no correlation between the amount you pay an elected official and quality.
Finally, all these folks knew the pay when they ran. If they think the pay is unfair leave.
That won't happen because we have career pol's who have friends wanting those nice County contracts.
County Council complains about Administration salary increases but blows up inflated rats to get the unions 10% increases every years. Dertinger doesn't even work, his whole salary is union money from New York.
Don't like the pay don't run. Simple and affordable. But not to career politicans.
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