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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Yes, Virginia, There Are Dedicated Public Servants

Paul Weiss
He was at the courthouse at 7:15 on Wednesday morning, preparing for a white collar crime trial that most people don't even notice. Never mind that it involves the possible embezzlement of $830,000 from Bethlehem Township. After a full day of trial, he spent the evening working on his closing, arriving home at 10:30 PM. That's a 15 hour day, and it's not over. If there is a murder or major crime committed, his phone will be among the first to ring.

That's one day in the life of Northampton County DA John Morganelli.

At yesterday's trial, Bethlehem Township Commissioner Tom Nolan sat in the peanut gallery, trying to learn as much as he could. That's how he spent a day off.

Later in the evening, at a zoning hearing, Commissioner President Paul Weiss sat quietly in the back of the room, as he does during almost all planning and zoning meetings.

Commissioner Mike Hudak was probably hiding in the bushes at Housenick Park, making sure nobody littered.

I poke fun at these guys all the time. But they all care, and they all show up.

Fortunately for me, there's enough of the other type or I'd have to retire as a bottom-feeding blogger.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hudak might show but he is still a bully with little regard for anything like a democratic process. The Joe Mc Carthy of Bethlehem Twp.

Anonymous said...

What I find amazing is that BT would give these guys $800,000 with no escrow required for paying PPL

Also, no way does a competent entity pay up front. You pay by milestones of completed work.The other way is percentage completion.

If there were other dissatisfied municipalities with the performance of this outfit, how did they get the business?

zoid said...

I liked the comment about hiding in the bushes!!

Bernie O'Hare said...

Heh, heh.

Anonymous said...

It's not a laughing matter..... Hudak wants to destroy that extraordinary park before it even comes on line.
Some joke.

zoid said...

I have been following the articles about that park, how does Hudak want to destroy that park?? Not according to what I have been reading!!

Lawrence J. Briody said...

In order to understand what Mr. Hudak wants to do to or for Housenick park ,you have to go to the park. Reading about it is one thing,but seeing it for yourself would help you to read between the lines . As far as I can see ,Mr. Hudak has done very little to fulfill the agreement the township approved last year as to how to properly manage this local treasure.
While hiding in the bushes and picking up litter may in fact be the the most productive way for Mr. Hudak to occupy himself,at other times he has stooped much lower by displaying intimidation and harassment techniques towards devoted volunteers that are geared to run them off .It scares me to ponder the future of that marvelous sanctuary,if he is left to exercise his custodial interpretation of how it should be maintained and utilized for the benefit of the public.

Anonymous said...

Hudak is the kiss of death to any collaborative efforts to build and maintain that remarkable resource and extraordinarily generous gift.
Do come to a meeting and see how he runs roughshod over the kindest and gentlest contributors.

Anonymous said...

Our township would be a more enlightened and civil place if Mike Hudak showed up less often.
Never would be ideal.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I do not know for sure if the Lawrence J Briody is in fact the real Lawrence J Briody.

For an elected official, Michael Hudak certainly is no people person and has ruffled a lot of feathers. But to be honest, he has pushed for a lot of the things going on at Housenick. I'm not defending him, just pointing out that he is the Comm'r who has pushed implementation of the approved plan. I have not written about it bc it's mostly been minor stuff like signs.

Anonymous said...

Mike is rude to the big players also. A friend in the administration at the community college informed me of a communication Mike sent the college. It seems he berated them for the most casual interest in discussing possible collaborations regarding the new park.
After that exchange the college was only too happy to back away. A paper trail of this exchange does exist. Their sence was this represented a unilateral action on his part,not sanctioned by the Twp.,but they had no interest in continuing even the most informal conversation after dealing with Commissioner Hudak.
Unfortunate.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Hudak is the kiss of death to any collaborative efforts to build and maintain that remarkable resource and extraordinarily generous gift.
Do come to a meeting and see how he runs roughshod over the kindest and gentlest contributors."


Unfortunately, he does have this tendency.

Bernie O'Hare said...

10:18, This blows me away!

Anonymous said...

Michael Hudak has it in for this remarkable park and for anyone interested in its best use.
For the life of me I can't understand why........ or why the other Comissioners let him get away with his counterproductive and unseemly actions.
Go figure?

Anonymous said...

Trees mean so much to people.
Trees mean so much to all the life around us.

Imagine Easton or Nazareth without trees Bernie.

Anonymous said...

" I have not written about it because it has mainly been small stuff like signs."
And don't forget the lone Job Johnny, stationed like a solitary sentry at the park entrance.

I would think that is exactly the point.

And this while fine people willing to open their pocket books and donate their time and talents are insulted and driven away?

Anonymous said...

If plans for the park can overcome the resistance of a small minded Township official, they still have to overcome the rapacious greed of the governing body of Bethlehem's Central Moravian Church.
That church, obstensively invested in a historic preservation, would love to sell the adjoining parcel of land for the worst kind of high density development, trashing the spirit of the Last Will and Testiment of a departed sister, and placing this beautiful open space next to an apartment complex / bedroom community for New Jersey comutters.
CMC's greed is unconscionable!
Hypocracy writ large.

Anonymous said...

I do not believe a word that is said here regarding the Central Moravian Church.
Mr O'Hare,you went to Moravian Collage,why do you allow such lies to be printed?

Bernie O'Hare said...

I did go to MC, and Moravians more than most understand that people should be able to say what they want.

Anonymous said...

Have you read the will? I am referring to Mrs.Prime's will.If you make the difficult decision to take that daunting step,write back and articulate your thoughts and findings for the benefit of all .

Anonymous said...

Mr. Hudak is a sour,angry fellow. He does not represent the Twp well.

Anonymous said...

It is disappointing,even shocking, to hear this news about Central Moravian Church.
Unfortunately, I can confirm it is true.
With a new pastor there is the hope that they can turn this unfortunate plan around.
I pray that this is so.
God bless in this New Year.

Anonymous said...

How many people visit that so called park in any given year.... 20? Its a waste of taxpayer money. All of those carrying on in this blog should just ask for the land to be given to them. As a taxpayer in Bethlehem Township, the Township should never ever have gotten involved in that low use park and money pit.

Anonymous said...

Bully.

Anonymous said...

Fool.

Anonymous said...

......and there you have it. The foresight of a slug.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Mike.

Anonymous said...

Let's say it's all one big waste, damn the history,damn the open space.......Hudak is no less of a thug.

( Perhaps it could be deeded to the county and get it away from these small minded provincials.)

Anonymous said...

Hey! Give it to Central Moravian.
They could sell it to a New Jersey developer for you.
They have experience in this.

Anonymous said...

Pave it----could be a fine strip mall.

Anonymous said...

@ 7:35

So called park?! I disagree with your assessment that it is a low use park. The reason it is not used more is because the Township has been dragging its feet developing it. The reason it is not used more is because of Township Officials like Mr. Hudak who have discouraged and pushed away anyone who has shown an interest. They disbanded the Houseneck advisory board so there would be no formal forum to help advance and push for further development and collaboration. You have interested citizens who want to volunteer their time and effort to develop this treasure and they are treated with distain. As far as money pit, Janet & Bill Houseneck left a $2 Million dollar endowment. The Township is sitting on the money. I’m sure they are hoping everyone will just go away so they can drop that money right into their General Fund for other purposes. That money could be used as a foundation to seek additional monies through grants, fund raising and donations for further improvements. Shameful! Small minded people with no vision.

Anonymous said...

How can the trustees act on anything when they do not have a good-faith partner in the township?
( One of the trustees has compromised himself again and again. He has major conflicts of interest. Prudence and ethical integrity would mandate his resignation.)

Anonymous said...

In 150 years this gem will be the Central Park of the Lehigh Valley.
Mark my words....... I'll bet ya $10.00?

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking that in 30 years this park rivals Jacobsberg.
But you need a little vision to see that, not much, but a little.

Anonymous said...

It is high time for the trustees to exert some leadership.
(@9:05 Agreed, Brady has major conflict of interest. For all extents and purposes he is an agent of Central Moravian Church. People aren't stupid!)
CMC appears oblivious as to the impact of these deals on their reputation.

Anonymous said...

"....... intents and purposes,......."

Anonymous said...

Hot button issue,eh?

Anonymous said...

The Trust's dollars never revert to the township.

Anonymous said...

Poor Hudak, this park could be his legacy for generations. This could make him a great man--- but the cat doesn't get it.

Call me crazy. I think he could still come around and be a hero here.

Anonymous said...

Very unlikely.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Let's drop the anonymous personal attacks at Hudak and Tim Brady. If there is a paper trail establishing that Hudak acted inappropriately toward NCC officials, it should be produced. As an elected official, Huadak should also deal with some anonymous scrutiny. But this is too much.

Anonymous said...

A years worth of real frustration.

Anonymous said...

"Fortunately for me, there's enough of the other type or I'd have to retire as a bottom-feeding blogger. "

As opposed to working as a bottom-feeding blogger?

Bernie O'Hare said...

No, I'd be retiring as a bottom-feeding blogger.