"I'll be honest, I was out of line with what I said to the Executive a couple of weeks ago."Those are the words of Northampton County Council President Ron Angle, who on October 7 publicly lambasted Executive John Stoffa's "budget of choices" as a "piece of crap" during a County Council meeting, and even told him to "be quiet" when he tried to explain it. Stoffa walked out, and so did the rest of Council. But when the Finance Committee met on October 20, Angle did more than make amends for his outburst. He added that Stoffa is "an honest man, a decent man, a good human being who's trying to do what's right." He then distributed amendments to Stoffa's budget that will eliminate a tax hike next year. He also introduced a firm that just may bring between five to seven hundred jobs to the Lehigh Valley.
No Tax Increase Budget
At a Committee Meeting attended by eight of nine Council members, with only Peg Ferraro absent, Angle explained that he sat down for several hours with Council Clerk Frank Flisser, Fiscal Affairs Director Vic Mazziotti, and Budget Administrator Doran Hammon. Together, they slashed $10.8 million in spending. They also recognized $700,000 in additional revenue from the Deeds office and Bethlehem TIF agreement. Finally, they decided to take $4 million form the fund balance. After hammering out these changes, Angle met with Stoffa, who agrees with most of the recommendations.
Where are the cuts? Angle proposes staffing reductions in the Solicitor's, Sheriff's, Recorder's, Assessment and Court Services Department. He will slash all but $500 thousand in open space funding, but will restore the funding once County nursing home Gracedale is sold. The Court's budget is reduced by $300,000, but lets judges decide specifically where they want to cut. Court Administrator James Onembo, who attended the meeting, stated that judges will try to do more with less. $1 million in renovations to the 1871 jail will be put off another year. Cuts will be made in 911. The rest of the savings presumes Gracedale will be sold in the first six months of 2011.
Unhappy with the process, Council member Ann McHale complained to Stoffa, "You're supposed to do the budget." She also wanted to know why Mazziotti, the County's top finance maven, never signed off on Stoffa's budget, something he did with four previous budgets.
Mazziotti explained that he's decided against signing it because it is a "policy document." His job is to execute and support that policy, but not to make it.
Angle's Bulletproof Vest
McHale also had questions about the 5% reduction in spending for Sheriffs. worrying whether there was enough set aside for uniforms and bulletproof vests. Sheriff Randy Miller, Bethlehem's former Police Commissioner, told McHale that 27 bulletproof vests will have to be replaced next year, but there is currently no problem.
"Maybe I should have a bulletproof vest," wondered Angle.
"We have some expired ones," wisecracked Sheriff Miller.
Federal Detention Center For Illegal Aliens in Slate Belt
In their fiinal item of business, the Finance Committee considered a federal detention center proposed for 2,000 illegal aliens in Upper Mt Bethel Township. This privately run facilty will produce 350 local construction jobs and another 500 detention jobs for 2,200 people facing deportation.
Gloid Shuler, a VP with GEO, told Council that his company is the largest provider of corrections and mental health facilities in the world, employing over 17,000 people. He believes the slate belt is an ideal location for a self-contained detention center because of its proximity to New York, Newark and Philadelphia. He explained that the people hired wold be paid wages comparable to that of a police officer.
Every job created at the detention center would spark 4 to 5 jobs within the community, claimed Shuler. "You're pushing 10% unemployment. I'd like to help you solve that problem."
"Thank God for illegal immigrants," whispered a County lawyer.
Wait, wait, wait...so we round up illegal aliens and instead of deporting them, we put them in a camp and make them work the same jobs they got arrested for doing illegally? THAT deserves its own post, Bernie! What is that? Is that legal? I think it would be much more profitable to arrest drug dealers and put them in a detention center and then let them just go back and sell drugs under the supervision of the detention center and let the taxpayers get some of the profit!
ReplyDeleteBernie, what are the cuts being made at the 911 center, Carol
ReplyDeleteSo Angle proposes a no tax cut budget that is 1)Based on the sale of Gracedale....which is far from a sure thing. And 2) Delays spending until next year?
ReplyDeleteNone of this makes sense, why would you base a budget on a sale that is 50-50 at best? What if it isn't sold?
Once Angle risks his own life doing the job of the Deputies then he can make smart ass comments about a life saving piece of equipment. That jackass doesn't have the guts, nor the intelligence to to that job.
Lastly we have Angle introducing a plan for a detention center in an area where he happens to own a large amount of land, that at the very least borders the proposed site. He may even own some of the land involved. So yet again Ron could gain personally from this, therefore he should not be involved in it to begin with.
My guess is this company will choose Pike County. Due to the fact the cost of living is cheaper. They will pay far less building it there.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason they were brought in to this county was for Angles own gain.
Carol, They are some 911 enhancements that must wait a year. i do not know he specifics.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I spoke to your former Council colleague, Greg, last night.
"Wait, wait, wait...so we round up illegal aliens and instead of deporting them, we put them in a camp and make them work the same jobs they got arrested for doing illegally?"
ReplyDeleteThey will stay in a detention camp an average of 50 days until they are deported.
"None of this makes sense, why would you base a budget on a sale that is 50-50 at best? What if it isn't sold?"
ReplyDeleteIt will be sold next year.
"Lastly we have Angle introducing a plan for a detention center in an area where he happens to own a large amount of land, that at the very least borders the proposed site. He may even own some of the land involved. So yet again Ron could gain personally from this, therefore he should not be involved in it to begin with."
ReplyDeleteAngle does own land in and in fact lives in Upper Mount Bethel Tp. But he owns none of the land under consideration and Rich Grucela is another of the participants in this deal. Do you want to attack him, too?
It was nice to see Ron eat some humble pie at the meeting yesterday. Hopefully he will offer the same olive branch at tonight's council meeting. He is sincere in liking and admiring Stoffa so it is good to see him willing to right some wrongs.
ReplyDelete"It will be sold next year."
ReplyDeleteAnd you know this how?
Again I ask, what is the point of Angles "no tax hike" budget when you make everything wait a year? All that means is taxes will be raised 2 fold next year. I think the taxpayer would rather a couple small increases, rather than a large on next year in order to make up for the piss poor "no tax hike" proposal on the table.
ReplyDeleteAlso, AGAIN how much does Angles proposal stand to save Angle? Loads of money I am sure!! Hmmm seems fishy to me!!
So Ron "Atilla the Hun" Angle apologized for being rude, uncivil and discourteous. That's a first step on his march of a thousand miles toward becoming a respected pubic official who acts with the public's best interests in mind and not his own personal agenda.
ReplyDeleteRegarding budget cuts, could his desire to cut the solicitor offices budget have anything to do will the one of the attorneys advice regarding the disqualification of his version of his father's will? Of course not , right?
"what is the point of Angles "no tax hike" budget when you make everything wait a year?"
ReplyDeleteYou have aptly named yourelf sick and tired. The point of waiting a year is that next year, we will have plenty of money.
"could his desire to cut the solicitor offices budget have anything to do will the one of the attorneys advice regarding the disqualification of his version of his father's will? Of course not , right?"
ReplyDeleteIf he were acting out of spite, he'd nail the DA, but Morganelli's budget is untouched even though he wants more money. If the spending can be justified, he'll support it.
Stoffa does not agree w/ Angle re the Solicitor's office and will have an opportunity to make his case. He might convince Ange, but if he does not, Angle must convice five Council members to go along with him.
The point of waiting is that next year we'll have plenty of money..
ReplyDeleteWow, that's great news..From where? If the gracedale question goes to the ballot and wins, then where will "we" get plenty of money...This Republican council is shirking their responsibility just as last years Democratic council did by not considering a small tax increase to help pay for the County's services..It is irresponsible now and it was so last year..Stoffa was right to call for modest increase last year and again in one of his budgets this year..Council chose the wrong budget because Angle doesn't want his property taxes raised since he owns so damn much property.
"we will have plenty of money."
ReplyDeleteDo you know something we don't? We will be right where we are now, if not worse. A modest increase makes sense. Lets get things on track.
Angle wants it to look like he is doing us all a favor with no increase, when really he is the one that benefits the most!! He saves a ton of money, and also looks like (dare I say it) the good guy.
I apparently know plenty that you don't. We will sell Gracedale in the first six months of next year, ehch will solve the swaption as well as eliminate the need for a tax hike.
ReplyDelete"If the gracedale question goes to the ballot and wins, then where will "we" get plenty of money."
ReplyDeleteGracedale will not make it onto the ballot, and if it does, it will fail.
"Gracedale will not make it onto the ballot, and if it does, it will fail."
ReplyDeleteIs this inside info you got from Angle and the company he is in direct contact with about its purchase?
As always you fail to touch on the fact that Angle is the sole person in the county that will greatly benefit from a "no tax hike" budget. Therefore it is no mistake that he proposed such a thing.
ReplyDeleteAngle will be exposed!!!!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/19/leftist-bloggers-sordid-past-raises-questions-real-intent/
ReplyDeleteBernie, I read this headline on fox news, and I thought you had made national news!!
This is a way for Angle to make some money. He will sell out the slate belt for a few bucks. Of course he will sell anybody and do anything for a few bucks. That's his history. Ask the Snyder's.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that when I read the article in this morning's Express, while glad to read of someone taking the bull by the horns, a cynical fleeting thought was that the past few weeks were almost planned as a display of Angle's budgetary leadership to lay early groundwork for an eventual Executive run...
ReplyDeleteI am talking about the budget, and meeting with everyone in order to come up with it, not the proposed Slate Belt prison.
ReplyDeletewhy sell a 30 million dollar asset ? from everything said here it appears you know the buyer bernie .... atyiegh perhaps .... what does selling gracedale accomplish ? not raising taxes for a year ? then raising them 20 percent the following year ... gracedale should be saved and i hope it is . bernie you underestimate the power of the people ~
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing that people think that Gracedale will be sold at the price the county thinks its worth. BTW, it will be sold for a third of what the County thinks it worth. The place is outdated and houses welfare patients. There is not much profit margin in warehousing welfare patients and any company buying this white elephant realizes that. Candidly, those in the industry would want the County to pay THEM to take Gracedale. Gracedale is what it is. A county home for the indigent. Lots of luck Northampton County. Hope your budget really does not count revenue from the "sell" of Gracedale, otherwise, prepare to open up the budget in June and lay the smack down tax increase on us residents.
ReplyDelete"I find it amazing that people think that Gracedale will be sold at the price the county thinks its worth. BTW, it will be sold for a third of what the County thinks it worth."
ReplyDeleteOnce Angle gets his cut, what will that leave?
Wow. An anonymous expert. The County will throw its study in the trash.
ReplyDelete"a cynical fleeting thought was that the past few weeks were almost planned as a display of Angle's budgetary leadership to lay early groundwork for an eventual Executive run..."
ReplyDeleteI don't think Angle has an interest n the exec slot bc he'd have to separate himself from his private business. Right now, I'm not even sure he wants to stay on as Council Prez.
"I'm not even sure he wants to stay on as Council Prez."
ReplyDeleteThat's because he sees the writing on the wall. He won't get re elected, so play the I don't want it anyway card. I like it.
I like the prison thing.
ReplyDeleteIt will bring jobs
Although it will be a net zero for job creation after he fires all the Gracedale employees.
And as a bonus Ron can probably arrange to serve his sentence there. That way his wife won't have to travel so.......oops!!!
she'll be there too
that way Bernie won't have to travel far to visit him
oops!!! again
them
Somehow Angle will "wet his beak", on this deal. Just as he is lining up the buyers of Gracedale it is no coincidence he has this deal moving on the fast track.
ReplyDeleteYet another anonymos and really vicious personal attack with absolutely no substance. If you are so convinced Angle is taking kickbacks, contact the FBI. This is a federal deal. But remember law enforcement does not look too kindly on false reports, which is why you're anonymous.
ReplyDeleteListen people...(and this will be deleted) why are those of us who disagree and complain about what O'Homo says here keep commenting on this one sided blog?
ReplyDeleteHere is what we do...don't comment at all!!!! You know why? Because without US!! He has no forum!! He only post subjects which he thinks will get him great "hits" such as Angle and Gracedale.
Most of the post on those topics have responses from people who disagree with O'Homo. In fact I would say 80% of the responses are against his one sided hypocritical views. So why should WE play into that?
WITHOUT US HE HAS NOTHING!!!!!!!! I SAY LET'S TAKE AWAY THE ONLY THING HE HAS LEFT IN HIS AWFUL ALCOHOLIC DISBARRED LIFE!!(HIS BLOG)
Do not respond to any of his topics if you disagree, and he will go away..he has only a few followers and a ton of people who disagree. I will lead the boycott...you follow me!!
All of you "goons,trolls, and kooks" DON'T POST AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!