Jerry Seyfried, in his first committee meeting as Northampton County's newest council member, is already making a difference. Perched next to the Northampton County Bulldog, Seyfried immediately displayed his deep understanding of the Home Rule Charter, noticing something that seems to have been missed by everyone else.
When Northampton County Council adopted its ordinance establishing its own gaming authority, it decided to make some appointments on its own. But according to Section X of the Home Rule Charter, that's the Executive's job, as Seyfried pointed out.
Seyfried also had some good advice for the Executive's new Director of Corrections, Bob Myers, who comes from the ranks of career service. "Get a letter from the administration that you have a right to return to career service if you do not like his job." Seyfried later noted that this "has already been tested in the courts and it works."
He explained that, in the private sector, union workers would be fired after being appointed to exempt positions, and suggests this safeguard was built into career service regs.
Seyfried spoke with obvious respect to the administration and fellow council members. But County Council Prez Ann McHale did her best to continue the dysfunctional mess with cracks like "Ron, act your age, will you?" and "Don't tell me what to do."
In addition to Seyfried, Angle and McHale, today's meeting was attended by Peg Ferraro, John Cusick and Joe Capozzolo.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
23 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Poor Ann, she was outnumbered by the Angle posse.
ReplyDeleteSo now we not only get to read undying love tomes to Stoffa and angle but to Jerry as well.
Oh well, lets see how functional this body is over the next five months.
Angle's Solicitor Tony Martini wrote an opinion indicating that under state laws Council can appoint and when state law and the charter conflict, state law wins.
ReplyDeleteSorry anon 7:44, if Yale Law School scholars Angle and Jerry disagree they must be right.
ReplyDeleteO'Hare will soon be attacking you for being so stupid. Never question O'Hare mancrushes.
Dummy!
The council solicitor is Anthony Martino, and I don't think he considered this specific question. I also don't think the state law preempts the charter in ths instance bc it is silent as to how members are named. But obviously, Anthony Martino is the person whose advice should be sought. I am just glad council has someone who looks at issues like that one.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that Jerry's short Pygmalion presence will help train the others (especially Anna) as to how professional educated sane adults operate in grown up society. Let's think of it like a 5 month political charm school and see who graduates and who doesn't.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't McClure and Dert go? They're not in jail, are they?
ReplyDeleteDespite the mean-spirited rants coming from McClure and Dertinger, it was nice to see a class act on council. It reminded me of a different time when we all looked up to them.
ReplyDeleteThere was a land of Cavaliers and Cornfields called the "Old Northampton County." Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. Here was the last ever to be seen of Knights and their Ladies Fair, of Civil Democrat and Polite Republican. Look for it only in old minutes, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a Civilization gone with the wind...
ReplyDeleteMargaret put the damn bottle down.
ReplyDeleteAnna had a sememster of college, one more than the "professionally" trained Jerry.
Buy a clue, maroon.
Another of what will undoubtedly be many Bernie blogasms over Jerry. He sure does like giving bloghead to career compilers. Jerry's election campaign starts here.
ReplyDeleteOh God! Oh God! Oh God!
Ahhhhhh.
Got a light?
Doesn't the Queen get any? She does seem overly miserable lately. Her failed political aspirations signs still seen near Martins Creek..overgrown with weeds..how appropriate!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of meetings, can you give us an update on the workhorses of council. Mcclure seems to boycott alot of meetings.
ReplyDeleteDowd, McClure & Dertinger were noshows at yesterday's committee hearing. I can't remember whether Cuisck or Angle started with this, but the 6 council members present yesterday expressed their unhappiness with lamont McClure for his failure to schedule a finance committee hearing. Once again, McClure has dropped that ball on what is probably the council's most important committee. Even McHale, who appointedd him, expressed her frustration at McClure's failure to schedule meetings.
ReplyDeleteMcClure is following Obama's Senate example of getting elected and not showing up to actually do the job.
ReplyDeleteHe's a smooth operator. He probably forming an exploratory committee prior to running for POTUS.
Run Lamont Run!
Dan says: Only 3 members showed up for the groundbreaking of Wayne Grube park tuesday. Lamont boycotted, Charlies dog ate the telegram, Ann gave bad directions to Jerry and Mike, etc...
ReplyDeleteThat's really sad, especially since Dertinger made them change the date so he could be there for his campaign.
ReplyDeleteI've never taken a dime of the taxpayers' money. When will they name a park for me?
ReplyDeleteI propose we only permit governmental bodies to name sewage treatment plants after politicians.
Now who could this be :-) ???
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteO'Hare if you had integrity or class you would delete the last entry. You scream about personal attacks. That last one was one of the worst I have read.
ReplyDeleteI have no class or integrity, but the comment is over the top and I should have deleted it. I honestly hadn't noticed it until you drew my attention to it. You are right.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr. O'Hare.
ReplyDeleteEvery comment posted here is emailed to me. I either read them or listen to them via a reading service I have w/ my ISP. The deleted comment was read to me and I only heard the part about education. I should have been more careful and apologize to anyone who was offended.
ReplyDelete