An innovative new feature at Northampton County Council meetings is the County Executive's Report, which serves three purposes. First, Exec John Stoffa provides a progress report about ongoing projects, or can announce new directions. Second, concerns raised by citizens during Courtesy of the Floor can be addressed publicly. Third, Council members can ask questions about county affairs.1) In response to Lower Saucon Tp resident Stephanie Brown, who had asked whether there was any way that Northampton County could save the Meadows Bridge, a beautiful stone arch bridge built in 1858, Stoffa was very dubious. Although beautiful and historically significant, Stoffa noted that the bridge was constructed from rubble, and would be "extraordinarily expensive" to repair. "I wish we could save it. I don't think we can without spending oodles and oodles of money." Council member Ann McHale later suggested that Stoffa apply for federal grant money, and Stoffa agreed to try.
2) The jail's food service provider is losing $2,000 a week, and will end its contract within the next nine months. "They claim the staff eats too much, and that may be true," noted Stoffa, who explained that county workers inside the jail are provided meals free "because you don't want people leaving the building." The County may be forced to go back to its former food service provider.
3) The County is getting $1,000 worth of trees from Harleysville National Corporation, which will be planted at Gracedale and Louise Moore Park.
4) Repairs at Bridge #69, in Bushkill Township, are complete.
5) The Gracedale windows project was supposed to be finished by May, but the project is nearly finished now and is slightly under budget.
6) The Juvenile Detention Center expansion should be finished by April or May, and it "looks like we may be able to add that on without having additional staff. The courts are working on that with us right now."
7) The Louis Moore Pine estate has donated $2 million to maintain Louise Moore Park.
8) In response to a question from Council VP John Cusick about a treatment center in West Easton, Stoffa explained that would be in addition to the one planned for Bethlehem Township. "It's not our responsibility to say yes or no. It's West Easton." Council President Ron Angle, who attended a meeting about the concept, said it would be primarily a work release center for drunk drivers. He told Cusick, "The neighbors were worried about people escaping. Every morning they let you out and you get in your car and go to work, Why the hell would you escape when all you gotta' do is wait until 7:30 AM and you can drive away."
Re (2), if there was a "former food service provider" there was already a baseline of how much food is consumed, that I am sure would have been worked into any RFP for the current contract. How can you be that off? It seems a stretch to accuse staff of a newly acquired ravenous appetite.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the prison food service provider is being sent packing. A half million dollar waste as the quality was putrid and the inmates got less and we the tax payers paid more. Lesson learned hopefully.
ReplyDeleteLighthouse, I know there has been complaints about the quality of food, as Dave has noted, and that may be the real reason why the food service provider has decided to leave.
ReplyDeleteAngle has no clue....if you get in your car and "drive away" at 730am and do not return that is considered an escape. That's it, no more, no less an escape is an escape. It happens ALOT at NCP work release as it is now, so I can understand the concern of the West Easton residents. And lets not get into the fact that Atehya(spelling) is in the mix.
ReplyDeleteThe John Stoffa Report; I have nothing to report! Why does he need to report on having accomplished nothing.
ReplyDeleteStoffa's been a fairly decent nuts and bolts executive who's been prevented from executing his larger schemes - most of which were/are patently ridiculous. As long as he's kept in check to handling the small stuff - and prevented from making the poor choices of another pensioneering, career politician on larger initiatives, NorCo will be best served. The system is ugly, but has worked. Stoffa's a better executive when held somewhat in check. That's not bad for a county that's supposed to be solidly blue.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, Stoffa is incompetent. He will be remebered as the most inept in the County's history.
ReplyDeleteAround 3 AM, when the witchesm, ghosts and vampires are about, you'll find Bob Daday the troll. He's a former Reibman hallwalker who went bonkers when Stoffa cut his unemployment. So he comes here anonymously, like the little coward he is, and alams Stoffa, sometimes even making up lies. What he does not erealize is that he just ends up making Stoffa look better and himself look all the more petty.
ReplyDeleteI guess Bob Dady was Reibmans Tom Harp, an unnecessary hallwalking buddy who needed a job.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a post about Tom harp, a Stoffa assistant who actually works. You had your chance to get rid of Stoffa. You failed.
ReplyDeleteCommunication is good.
ReplyDeleteI hear Stoffa is only in the office half the time.
ReplyDeleteAround 3 AM, when the witches, ghosts and vampires are about, you'll find Bob Daday the troll. He's a former Reibman hallwalker who went bonkers when Stoffa cut his unemployment. So he comes here anonymously, like the little coward he is, and alams Stoffa, sometimes even making up lies. What he does not realize is that he just ends up making Stoffa look better and himself look all the more petty.
ReplyDeleteBernie I do not believe every person that cites Stoffa issues is Dady. I know you love Stoffa and hate Dady but you are starting to sound a bit crazy yourself.
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a few people, particularly in the Courthouse who think Stoffa is not very competent.
Around 3 AM, when the witches, ghosts and vampires are about, you'll find Bob Daday the troll. He's a former Reibman hallwalker who went bonkers when Stoffa cut his unemployment. So he comes here anonymously, like the little coward he is, and alams Stoffa, sometimes even making up lies. What he does not realize is that he just ends up making Stoffa look better and himself look all the more petty.
ReplyDeleteThere are also deputy sheriffs who hate him bc he won't kiss their ass and fights workers comp claims by deputies who claim they somehow get injured pulling up their pants in the men's room of the law library.
But the late night whacko is Daday.
There are also attorneys that treat their clients properly and with the respect they deserve. And then there are the attorneys that get disbarred for serious violations on their clients.
ReplyDeleteAgain not Daday!!
One thin is certain. Like Daday and Villa, you're an anonymous coward, afraid to put your name behind your words.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that matters is if my words are the truth. And I ask you, are they?
ReplyDeleteNo. You lie! Repeatedly, bitterly, insanely.
ReplyDelete