For the past four years, I've been posting an annual committee attendance record of Northampton County Council members, showing the workhorses and showhorses. This year, for the first time, I also posted a blog about the 2009 committee attendance of Lehigh County Commr's.Lehigh County Comm'r Andy Roman 56% attendance record measured poorly against Dean Browning's 100%. That's something Gloria Hamm mentioned when she decided to vote for Browning over Roman as the new Chairman. I happen to agree with her.
Andy Roman has eloquently explained what I consider a poor attendance record, and in fairness to him, I'll post it here.
Congratulations to Dean & Dan on their election to chair and vice-chair respectively. I will support them fully in 2010.
We all know the REAL WORK for 2010 begins with doing research, phone calls, on-site visits, interviews with County workers, conference calls, communication with other counties, acting on Home Rule Charter responsibilities, and other "leg work" to get something done.
The other public "meetings" are perfunctory in nature and everyone knows it, but most won't admit it.
So the Workhorse/Showhorse analogies are backwards and upside down.
The idea that "grunt work" is done only at committee meetings which average 15 minutes in duration is comical and uninformed.
So I will continue to do the work behind the scenes and let the rest argue over who is actually doing something for the good of the County.
I measure success with results, you can measure success by appearance, attendance and good intentions, that's up to you.
Maybe he'll persuade some of you. He did not persuade Gloria Hamm.
Who gives a shit what Ham or you think.
ReplyDeleteIf I were Roman, I'd give a shit what Hamm thinks. She was able to cast a vote against him, based in large part on his attendance record. That was accompanied by the votes of 5 other comm'rs. it would have been 6, bu leiner was absent.
ReplyDeleteIn a democracy, you give a shit what others think.
This is not a democracy it is a Republic, dipshit!
ReplyDeleteThose attendance ratings are inaccurate because Commissioners do not serve on every committe, thus not required to attend every committee meeting.
ReplyDeleteIf they did, then it would be a Committee of the whole which only occurs at budget time.
Commissioners serve as Chair of one committee, Vice-Chair of another committee and "member" of another committee. 3 total.
Just thought you'd like to know the facts before passing judgement on Roman...
he's actually quite effective...
ever heard of the Home Rule Charter change that the voters approved in 2007 which consolidated the Row Offices and saved taxpayers over $300,000 dollars to date?
That was Roman's work.
Someone rolling up their sleaves and serving the taxpayers and not afraid to tell the truth! How refreshing!
ReplyDeleteWhat has Hamm done anyway? She needs help carrying her oxygen tank.
wow...it appears roman supporters are mean sobs.
ReplyDeleteYeah, some real mean bastards. I especially like the slam at a woman who must use oxygen. Real classy.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to the supposed substantive attacks:
1) The attendance records ARE very accurate. As in NC, every comm'r is encouraed to attend every meeting, whether or not he actually serves on a particular committee. I pointed that out in my original post on attendance. Incidentally, his attendance at Comm'r meetings is not the best, either.
2) I don't consider the Superclerk idea an improvement. I doubt it has saved anything, despite the claims. It definitely has negatively affected employee morale. I'm sure Cunningham & Eckhart and the comm'rs who voted to put this on the ballot will all be surprised to learn this was all Roman's work. He doesn't get a damn thing done by himeself. he needs 4 other comm'rs to join him. That won't happen if he's not around.
A few other points:
ReplyDelete1) In Lehigh County there are 8 standing committees. Each Commissioner (other than the Chairman) is Chair of one committee, vice chair of another and serves on TWO other committees for a total of 4 (not 3). A quick visit to the County’s website will confirm the number of committees and who serves on each.
http://www.lehighcounty.org/Departments/Commissioners/CommitteeStructure/tabid/296/Default.aspx
2) The committees that Andy served on during 2009 and his attendance for each is as follows:
Planning, Chair – attended 12 of 18 meetings for 67%
Administrative, Vice Chair – attended 15 of 24 meetings for 63%
InterGovernmental and Appointments, Member – attended 14 of 18 meetings for 78%
Judiciary and Corrections, Member – attended 7 of 14 meetings for 50%
His overall attendance for committees where he was member was 65% (48 out of 74).
3) If you just look at the committees where he is chair or vice chair, his attendance is stillnot that great.
4) His attendance at regular Board meetings was just 78% (21 out of 27). What was he doing behind the scenes then?
5) Commissioners are hired by the public to do a job and paid a salary to do so. Andy often likes to equate the government to the private sector. No private sector company would keep an employee who only came to work 70% of the time no matter how effective they claimed to be outside the office. And by the way, I sure the Administration, the District Attorney and the Sheriff would all dispute how effective Andy is outside the office.
Why does he even want to be
ReplyDeleteon that board if he can't attend meetings?
Andy is half right. It is true, the real work is the investigatory homework accomplished outside of the Committee. That said, attendance at a Committee Meeting is not grunt work. Proper attendence is the appointed duty of the elected official. On the other hand, I know of several officals who only attend meetings, but fail to do their prequisite investigatory homework. Those few add NOTHING to the Board, Committee or to Government. Watch the newbees sink or swim there.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Roman or his supporters posted those late night remarks. The swipe at Hamm, in particular, is shameful, and has diminished my opinion of Roman. His attempt to justify his lackluster service as a Comm'r and back room dealing is tragic. I hope this is brought out in the next election.
ReplyDeleteWaaaahhh! I'm Andy Roman.
ReplyDeleteAndy Roman is your typical conservative Republican blowhard, but he is true to his beliefs, I'll give him that.
ReplyDeleteFor example, since he obviously believes in limited government he has scrupiously made sure to limit his attendance at governmental meetings.
Ohare has once again applied his notorious double standard to a new elected officer.
ReplyDeleteAnfy is a hard worker who gets things done but he won't kiss O'Hares ample ass like some pol's do.
"Ohare has once again applied his notorious double standard to a new elected officer."
ReplyDeleteAnd by that you mean an "elected officer" who doesn't show up for the work he was elected to do?
Anon 7:22 or BO, you know exactly what he meant. Anyone who reads this blog knows what he meant.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun blog to read and comment on but Ohare entries cannot be confused with facts.
"This is a fun blog to read and comment on but Ohare entries cannot be confused with facts."
ReplyDeleteAhh, do your tender sensibilities get abused because someone points out facts?
How does he compare to the other Commissioners? What were the agenda items on the meetings missed? Anything substantive?
ReplyDeleteAndy compares poorly to other Comm'rs, in the bottom three.
ReplyDelete