NIZ Board Rubber Stamped By Allentown City Council

Before they voted on nine NIZ Board nominees last night, I asked Allentown City Council to table the matter. No matter how qualified these selections might be, I am concerned that State Senator Pat Browne's involvement as a member of the nominating committee could taint the entire process, especially if it is eventually determined that used the authority of his office for the private pecuniary benefit of his lobbyist wife.

I was politely ignored.

Although each nominee was voted on individually, the votes were perfunctory. In fact, the only issue they really droned on about  (and boy did they beat this to death!) was when Donald Snyder's term should expire. It got so bad that Snyder tried to pull his nomination, but he was confirmed anyway.

After having unanimously voted on Sy Traub and Alan Jennings, a little light went off in Council member Jeanette Eichenwald's head. Wait a tic! "These nine individuals can benefit directly from participating in the NIZ," she suddenly realized.

Some lawyer brought in specially for the occasion, Marc Feller, told Eichenwald there's "nothing specific in the state law" to prevent that from happening. They could place a prohibition in their by-laws, he lamely suggested.

"We're appointing people with the hope they do the right thing, by what I perceive to be the right thing?" she continued.

Feller assured her most board members do a lot of "self-policing."

I feel better already.

When they came up for appointment, nominees solemnly promised they would recuse themselves from any matter in which they have a direct financial interest. Bill Grube, for example, said, "I have no dog in this hunt other than to rebuild the City."

And drive business to his restaurant.

The only NO vote cast, for any of the nine candidates, came from Jeanette Eichenwald. She thought Mann's status as an elected official might run afoul of a codified ordinance that prohibits elected officials from sitting on boards. City lawyers assured her that ban only applies to elected officials who hold a City office, but Eichenwald thought it was a "fine line."

Council member Peter Schweyer, who has likely returned to his position as Mann's Chief of Staff, recused himself on the Mann vote. But Michael Schlossberg, who worked for Mann six years ago, felt he had no conflict and voted for her. He explained his relationship with Mann, a "friend," was "more of an asset than a conflict of interest," whatever that may mean.

Michael is a very "honorous" man.

Later in the voting on nominees, Eichenwald claimed to be "concerned about the vetting process."

That's why I asked Council to table the vote.