Last night, a regularly scheduled meeting of Northampton County Council was supposed to start at 6:30 PM. Republican Council candidates Barb Thiery, Bruce Gilbert and Tom Dietrich were sitting in the peanut gallery, waiting for the show. Democratic Council candidates Walt Garvin and Deb Hunter were also in the house.But when Council member Charles Dertinger started things off with the usual prayer, the four Republicans who actually sit on Council were nowhere to be found. Joe Capozzolo, a recent Republican-turned-Democrat, was also MIA.
Northampton County's Home Rule Charter clearly states that "County Council shall conduct no business except in the presence of a quorum," and that requires five members. Last night, only Charles Dertinger, Ann McHale, Lamont McClure and Jerry Seyfried bothered to show up.
Council Prez Ann McHale decided to give the truants until 7 PM to drop in on everyone. "Does anyone want to sing a song? ... Hey what do you think of those Phillies?" She explained that Dowd had some business matter, Ferraro had advised of a conflict earlier, and John Cusik was teaching. But she had no idea why show horse Ron Angle had suddenly turned into a no-show horse or why Joe Capozzolo was missing.
At 7 PM, for the first time since the inception of Home Rule in 1978, Northampton County Council had to cancel a meeting for lack of a quorum. Five of its own council members, including all four Republicans, let the people down.
Reached at his home late last night, Ron Angle told me he received word of the 9.3% tax increase earlier that day, and was too worked up to come in. "Look, we have a Lamont McClure finance committee that never meets, and now I'm supposed to just rubber stamp a 9.3% tax increase? Think again." Angle has been warning of tough financial timees ahead for over a year.
The only truant Council member who really deserves a pass in this disappointment is John Cusick. He was teaching, had the courtesy to notify McHale and spends a great deal of personal time attending seminars about county government.
McHale has rescheduled another meeting for the 22d, later this month, but that meeting will have to be advertised. Angle, Capozzolo, Dowd and Ferraro should pay the bill.
"This is sad," noted Jerry Seyfried.
On the bright side, I'll be in bed before 3 AM.
These are the people you love and defend ohare.
ReplyDeleteOne word - Pathetic.
ReplyDeleteAngle's behavior was reprehensible.
ReplyDeleteYo BO, how do you do those funky two color pictures you were using? You know the Obama type picture you did of Angle and Hirschman.
ReplyDeleteThat is cool.
http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/
ReplyDelete"These are the people you love and defend ohare."
ReplyDeleteExcept for Cusick, I can't defend this.
You always attacked Grube, Heckman and Reibman when they were on Council. They never pulled this crap and were more reliable and dependable than this crowd.
ReplyDeleteYou should be ashamed of yourself.
There is no excuse for this - they owe the taxpayers a genuine explanation. These meetings are on the same day every month - if you are too busy - don't serve - let someone else serve - Shameful
ReplyDeletePoor Ds. It sucks when your big tax increase plans are put on hold. They're like kids on Christmas Eve when they get to vote for higher taxes. Stop Jonesing. You'll get your drugs (tax dollars) shortly.
ReplyDeleteStoffa is more mean and unfeeling toward this county's taxpayers than he is completely fiscally irresponsible and gutless in the face of those he should be laying off.
This increase in these times is sinful. Has this brain-surgeon read a frickin paper lately? People are hurting and he just sticks it to them - WITH A PROMISE TO COME BACK FOR STILL MORE OF HIS DRUG NEXT YEAR.
The contempt for taxpayers is typical, but still shocking. These politicians are simply vicious thieves.
If John Cusick was teaching, what is to say he doesn't teach every Thur night. We do not agree with you that teaching is an excuse. Why accept a govt. position and then take a teaching assign. the same night?
ReplyDeleteRon Angle should have attended, no matter what. Voters believed in him when they sent him back to council. He had a "duty" to attend the meeting. Shame on all of them.
ReplyDeleteThe contempt for taxpayers is typical, but still shocking. These politicians are simply vicious thieves.
ReplyDelete6:56 AM
We agree! Too busy to attend council meeting!
ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL!! And McHale as council president should do her job to make sure a quorum is there. Even is Cusick had to cancel a class or MIA Joe had to be tracked down by constables. There are only two "must attend" meetings a month for these public servants. Other than illness or a death in the family they should be there or resign.
ReplyDeleteWe're certain the swearing-in pledge county commissioners take before being bestowed with the honor of public service includes words such as duty, commitment, integrity.
ReplyDeleteCounty residents deserve a refund.
Double-Dipping. Don't county commissioners get a salary?
ReplyDeleteDidn't Cusick double-dip?
Are the Angle supporters finally waking up to the true Angle, he was probably having his picture taken somewhere, he pulls Joe's strings.
ReplyDeleteI offer no excuse or defense for any of them, except Cusick.
ReplyDeleteCuisck, as I've altready explained was teaching. Very rarely, something from his teaching profession comes up and he must miss a council function. His responsibilities asa teacher should take priority, and he otified the council prez and obviously had no idea there was any danger of ot bering abke to establish a quorum.
I will make no excuse for the oers on the basis of what i've heard. I think they owe us an explanation and apology.
They were all out getting fresh copies of Palin's new book.
ReplyDeleteMike Dowd and Joe Capozzolo were both at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerces' annual Mayors Dinner. Its assumed they told President Mchale. Not the greatest reason for absence, but it was a community service event.
ReplyDeletePS Mayor Walter Neidermeyer of Slatington was named Mayor of the year.Mayor Kay Bucci of Portland won the Best Speaker award. A great time was had by all.
Tony
It's very nice to hear from Tony Iannelli, who hosts Business Matters. keep up the great work, Tony.
ReplyDeleteNotr the best reason for a lack of quorum.
If any part of this tax grab is thwarted because of the delay, Rs will have provided a valuable taxpayer service.
ReplyDeleteAdditional cuts should be made. This is not the time to raise taxes.
One council rep at the chamber event would have been more than sufficient. A poor reason to have nearly one quarter of county council miss their regularly-scheduled meeting.
ReplyDelete"If any part of this tax grab is thwarted because of the delay, Rs will have provided a valuable taxpayer service."
ReplyDeleteTheir failure to attend a county counicl meeting will do nothing but waste taxpayer dollars bc the charter requires 2 meetings per month and that new meeting will have to be advertised. Rather than a service, it was a disservice that will cost taxpayers and will cost manpower.
The failure to produce a quorum is inexcusable.
Re: Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mayor's Dinner.
ReplyDeleteThe 4th annual dinner is attended by chamber members, Mike Dowd is a long time board member. Local Mayors are invited to encourage cooperation and business. Mayor Joe Capozzolo attended in that capacity. No Northampton County representatives were there. Stoffa was invited but was too busy raising taxes to appear.
All we're going to say about this issue is why didn't McHale take a head count day before scheduled meeting to be certain there would be a quorum? How much taxpayer money was spent opening the offices, hiring guards, having govt. officials on hand, electricity, etc. This could have been prevented with just a few phone calls.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:58- gee whiz that explanation solves everything!! I could care less if Dowd is a Board member or Mayor Joe was there in support of his fellow "hizzoners." Their first duty is to the citizens of NC who elected them and expected that they would be attending Council meetings except in emergencies. Attending some chamber event, of which there are dozens a year is no valid excuse. But Queen Ann allowed it and now there is major egg on her face.
ReplyDeletemike dowd isn't on the board of the chamber.. he is employed there so his absense should be lumped into the same category as Cusick's (assuming he notified McHale)
ReplyDeleteJoe was appointed to county council and instead went the dinner, which is not part of his job. If anything, it seems like his unwillingness to step down as mayor just got in the way of his role as a council member. It's one or the other Joe.
The persons at fault are the ones who missed the meeting, not McHale. She is not their mommy.
ReplyDeleteThe absence of a quorum was a lucky break for taxpayers. At least now there's time to raise indignation at Stoffa's failure to reign in wasteful spending.
ReplyDeleteRs get a demerit.
Stoffa gets a failure notice.
The focus should be on the tax grab amid a time of tremendous struggle for county taxpayers. There's a deepening recession going on out here.
You bought into the ohare bullshit, now you have no choice in November.
ReplyDeleteThis is a shameful bunch. i have always said that the Chamber should not allow its employees to infiltrate local governemnt. Dowd, Cusik the entire bunch vote them out this Novemeber. They don't care about you.
Ron Angle is the most shameful, he always claims to be the best and most experienced; and he is to worked up to attend the meeting. His behavior is petty, childish and more like a 2nd grader than a councilman. Voters need to take heed, if Ron does not get what Ron wants, he either A) takes his bat and ball and goes home or B) tells everyone he can not come out to play. This is county business not playground antics. Good old Ronny lost his ability to say he is looking out for NC and District 4, because after all how can we trust him; he may be to worked up to act in the capacity as a County Councilman in the FUTURE. Let him do it once shame on him Let him do it Twice shame on all those who continue to vote for him.
ReplyDeleteAngle is a fraud, always has been.
ReplyDeleteI said at the onset that I can't defend this failure to produce a quorum, and I won't. It was a slap across the face of taxpayers and county workers, who deserve better.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the repetitive anonymous personal attacks against Ron Angle are getting ridiculous. These are elected officials so I allow them to stand, but after the fifth or sixth time, it gets a bit monotonous and actually starts to backfire.
Ferraro, as noted, informed Council of a conflict. She is president of the Blue Eagle Foundation at Nazareth and they had their annual wall of fame induction that evening at 7:00 p.m.
ReplyDeleteYes, Peg contacted me yesterday. She also called the Council Prez. But this induction should have been scheduled another evening. Council's meetings are practically set in stone. It is very embarrassing that, on the day of a 9.3% tax increase, council is unable to establish a quorum.
ReplyDeleteCouncil meetings are always the first and third Thursdays of the month, except for a holiday. You would think The BEF could schedule their dinner on another evening.Abscenses for council meetings should only be for illness or emergencies.
ReplyDeleteThrow out the incumbants, they take these nice paying part-time jobs for granted.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:24 we are all agreed.
ReplyDelete