Most small businesses have a petty cash fund for incidentals. Many families still keep that proverbial cookie jar, too, and raid it now and then for pizza or the movies. But did you know that both Lehigh and Northampton County have similar funds? This is a tale of two Counties, and how each legislative body manages its own petty cash fund. It became a hot issue on December 9, when Northampton County Council met for the last time in 2010 with $98,000 burning holes in the pockets of some Council members."Cookie. ... Cookie."
In Lehigh County, this fund is called an "operations account," is usually funded with no more than $35,000, and exists primarily so that Commissioners can hire a lawyer for serious disputes with the Executive. It's never been used. No cookies.
In Northampton County, where County Council has its own lawyer, it's called a "contingency account," has often been funded with over $1 million and is raided all the time. It paid for $640,000 in renovations to Council chambers just two years ago. It bought $10,000 worth of laptops for Council members, although few are ever seen with one. Another $10,000 went to a YMCA located in Catasauqua, outside of Northampton County. Ann McHale, when she was President of County Council, briefly suggested using it to help Bethlehem's Christkindlemarkt, though that's still actually in Lehigh County.
A fund established to deal with unforeseen emergencies has been increasingly used to fund the pet projects of Council members.
"Cookie ... cookie."
At their final meeting of the year, there were three proposals to spend a total of $105,000, but Council President Ron Angle signaled a change in attitude. "You people want to give away money we don't actually have," he warned. He argued that most of this money should be rolled right back into the general account, and expressed disdain for what he called local "earmarks."
Tom Dietrich, who happens to be a volunteer fireman and an EMT, wanted to spend $50,000 for five chest compression devices at Bethlehem Township's Volunteer Fire Company. "Me not *take* cookies, me *eat* the cookies," he argued. Peg Ferraro stated this is "out of our realm." John Cusick added, "If we were to grant this request, it opens up the door for numerous other volunteer fire companies and ambulances to come to us and ask for funding." He also asked, "Where is Bethlehem Township on this?" Dietrich's proposal failed 6-3, with only Lamont McClure and Ann McHale joining him.
Bruce Gilbert wanted $50,000 for The Butterfly House, a new transitional living center in Easton for female jail inmates. "You give them their life back," argued Gilbert, noting this would reduce recidivism and save money. But founder Anne Houston had previously stated publicly that the center would run independent of taxpayer dollars. Council voted to table this request because of Houston's remarks, zoning concerns and uncertainty about Easton's support.
Lamont McClure asked for just $5,000 for Stephen's Place, a Bethlehem halfway house for men coming out of prison. Peg Ferraro noted that this kind of project "that has great merit, even in desperate times." Council, including Angle, unanimously voted to support this grant.
County Council will finish 2010 with $93,000 remaining in its cookie jar. It finally killed the cookie monster.
35 comments:
Silence from the Tea Party crew? What's that you say, Gilbert and Deitrick really are conservatives? What's that you say, ear marks are only pork if a Democrat proposes them.
I see... that's how this all works.
isn't bethlehem township the group that motherfucked the county for years on the drug treatment facility?
ideology aside....old school politics says they lose.
Bernie
Maybe this is why Sussman resigned. After this expose, perhaps no one will be visiting his new Bethlehem residential special variance granted guest house.
"The use of Taser, stun gun or like weapons against patients is not permitted," the Pennsylvania Department of Health concluded.
As of Oct. 15, LVH security guards were no longer armed with stun guns, the report says.
In a statement, LVH disagreed with some of the department's conclusions, saying the incidents were "law enforcement" matters, "not related to patient restraint in the normal course of care." LVH spokesman Brian Downs did not answer specific questions about the incidents. In response to a reporter's question, Downs did say the report and the CMS survey were not connected to Sussman's unexpected resignation last month.
Without public statement, Sussman stepped down as president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Health Network after 17 years at the helm. A message left at his home Thursday was not returned.
Good decision on the funding for Stephen"s Place,I know a young man right now that is sitting because he has no address to be paroled to and I am glad to see that Council chose to reserve judgment on the halfway house for women.But I,like council am curious as to just who is funding this project??? Is the City of Easton or the United Way? I know Ms.Houston is passionate about what she does and I applaud her for the efforts But who is going to pay the bills? And I am assuming this facility must have some kind of clinical aspect to it for it to be recognized as a facility that is labeled"Treatment". The only other option would be a self governing house based upon the 12 Step principals like the "Oxford House" system,where the house operates on it's own with the addicts or residents ruling the roost themselves through house meetings which can turn into a dwelling where it is strictly voluntary and potential for success drops due to no "Charles in Charge" or Certified staff in the treatment of Addiction. So Kudos to Ms.Huston but fill me in on the details,so I can make an educated decision on support for the project.
"isn't bethlehem township the group that motherfucked the county for years on the drug treatment facility?"
Yes it is. It is also the Township that refused to provide any funding for the homeless. This was something some Council members talked about after last night's meeting.
Shame on all who proposed spending money that is not theirs, and that really not exist. If the Rs can't be counted on to control profligate spending, it's over for taxpayers. We'll all be on the dole soon, thanks to this bunch of phonies.
Gilbert was the strongest advocate for the Butterfly House. He did a college thesis on halfway houses. Frankly, I believe that supporting efforts to reduce recidivism is a conservative approach bc the net effect is to save money.
When you come right down to it, two of these projects - the halfway houses - will probably be positive things for the County. And although I still do not support the misuse of the contingency fund as a cookie jar, I'd have to agree that Gilbert and McClure's proposals are relatively innocuous.
But the Bethlehem Tp deal was blatant pandering by Dietrich.
Too bad council didn't get any balls last night and kill that bi-county health bureau idea. How long is that thing going to stay on life support until someone finally says enough is enough.
Christkindlmart is actually in Lehigh County? Really? Wow, that's interesting. Do you have a map to show it?
Yeah I carry maps of Christkindlmart with e everywhere It is moving to south side Bethlehem net year, and will then be in Northampton County. But right now, it is in the LC portion of Bethlehem, under the Hill-to-Hill bridge, west of the Sand Island entrance.
Bernie is correct. Christkindlemart is barely in LC since it is on the west bank of the Monocacy Creek.
Dietrich reminds me of Elmo.
Great picture!
I enjoyed your remark about Bethlehem. Like I said in the past, Bethlehem spends what they want and beg for what they need.
Now it appears that Bethlehem will opt out of their 911 and finally join Northampton County 911. I hope the County makes them pay for their earlier refusal to be a team player.
"When you come right down to it, two of these projects - the halfway houses - will probably be positive things for the County. And although I still do not support the misuse of the contingency fund as a cookie jar, I'd have to agree that Gilbert and McClure's proposals are relatively innocuous."
So create funds that service providers can apply and receive based on a competitive process. How do we know there weren't better alternatives to Gilbert and McClure's pets. The cookie jar approach is horrible. The services may very well be fantastic, but let some system of merit show that to be the case.
Agreed.
"When you come right down to it, two of these projects - the halfway houses - will probably be positive things for the County. And although I still do not support the misuse of the contingency fund as a cookie jar, I'd have to agree that Gilbert and McClure's proposals are relatively innocuous."
Respectfully disagree. Spending from a contingency fund (i.e. money that really isn't there for a financially struggling county), is rather noxious.
Bernie,
I can't get out of my mind the fact that you endorse Ron Angle. A man who changed party affiliation to maintain office, a man with no beliefs other than his and last but not least, a man who will never under any circumstances let facts get in the way of his opinion.
The county has failed on many agendas and most of them are because of Ron Angle. If County Council would be made to have all positions run as at-large, he would not be on the council any longer. I have to ask the question. Where does that leave you? Will you still be this passionate when your brother is no longer on the council? What will be your drive if that was to happen?
I have seen Angle destroy many things in his time as council member, and his continued destructive process only prevails because of a flaw in the system. Angle only prevails because of his minions that are on the county council. They unfortunately know that he has to help them in passing their agenda. He has monopolized that council to the point that we now have one person representing over a quarter million people in Northampton County. I sleep better every night knowing that Angle has a say in my life.
As Americans, why do we allow this to continue? People have fought and continue to fight for freedoms in which we have inherited to simply take for granted. People are willing to complain, but do little after that.
Because of this blog being more inaccurate than it is correct, I will start my own blog as Northampton County Watch Group. Don’t worry Bernie, I will make sure to let you know where you can come and do some fact finding for once. Hope this wasn’t personal, but rather informative so as we can have a constructive debate about this. I guess if it is not, nobody else will read it.
Post the address of your new blog
I need some fresh air
Our blog can be located at the following address.
http://northamptoncountywatchgroup.blogspot.com/
1:25 PM here:
*shrugs and looks for something else to do*
Morning Call Article:
Angle's motivation questioned on job
Council president wants to eliminate court position; others suspect he's exacting revenge.
Good story. No surprises, though. Angle wins a lot. But he's a nasty, bitter loser when he doesn't. Money without power and influence sucks. Angle desperately craves power and influence - even on the personal destruction level.
Anon 2:38, You tell people to come to your new bog for the facts for the facts, but don't bother to even identify yourself. I can see how this is going to play out.
Anon 7:20, I think you meant it was the County that motherfucked the Township for years on the drug addict prison.
ideology aside, of course....
Anon 3:16, Ron Angle is both a nasty loser and a nasty winner. he never forgets and will spend his dollars to take down anyone he perceives as standing in his way to have his way.
some question why John Stoffa even bothers to show up the few times he is at the Court House. Everyone knows one person runs Norhtampton County, Ron Angle.
For better or worse.
Bernie
I think you meant blog.
Maybe you did mean bog.
Either way I've noticed quite a few
mispells and grammar errors on your part lately. I hate to point this stuff out as I am not without sin, however, I saw where you recently called someone in here out for the same infraction. You know the POT/KETTLE thing is a MF.
Doesn't anyone else feel uncomfortable with BO posting so many photos of young children on his blog?
Not anyone who knows BO
"John Stoffa even bothers to show up the few times he is at the Court House. Everyone knows one person runs Norhtampton County, Ron Angle."
This is complete horseshit and amazingly comes from people who claim to be interested in facts. John Stoffa, a man in his 70s, regularly puts in 12 hour days as County Exec. And HE, not Ron Angle or anyone else, makes the calls when it comes to the Exec branch or the direction of the county. Yes, he sits down and works with Angle, but Stoffa has the final say in everything that happens, and nobody can interfere with that, not Angle or anyone else.
What really bothers anonymous cowards like you is that people like Stoffa can't be bought. He's not a hack, he is not tied to any party machine, and simply does what he thinks is right. Does he get some things wrong? Absolutely. But NC was long overdue for someone who would restore integrity, and Stoffa has done that. That means something to him. It obviously means nothing to you, or you would not anonymously post these lies.
"Doesn't anyone else feel uncomfortable with BO posting so many photos of young children on his blog?"
I imagine a pedophile might feel that way. Why don't you seek help ... and a spine? Only cowards post these kinds of anonymous attacks.
The trolls got an early start this weekend. I detest the time I waste deleting this anonymous and mean-spirited nonsense, so the ability to comment anonymously has been removed this weekend.
I will neither link to your hate blog no will I allow any comments from you here. You are anonymous. That makes you immediately suspect. You have made your agenda very clear on this very blog, and then try to pretend you have none. You are an Angle basher, and will stop at nothing to discredit him. You even bash his son in an effort to get at him. You bash me as well. Stay off my blog. You claim to be factual and provide links to nothing. You even get one of the most basic facts about Gracedale - its date of acquisition by the County - wrong. Anything you post here will be deleted, and I do not link to hate blogs.
Stay classy Bernie!
I will. I won't link to 2 hate blogs.
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