Under the Sunshine Act, any resident or taxpayer has the right to address a municipal body before they take official action. Last night, and in several meetings over the years, Controller Steve Barron has exercised that right. He is a resident. He is a taxpayer. But if Executive John Brown had his way, Barron would be required to get permission to be placed on the agenda.
Barron raised concerns last night about a contract with C3, the cost control consultant who implemented many of the unpopular health care changes. I'll tell you about those concerns on Monday. For now, I want to focus on the Sunshine Act.
When Barron was finished delivering his speech, Executive Brown stood up to complain that, as a matter of protocol, Barron should be required to seek time on the agenda if he wishes to address Council.
I like 15-minute meetings as much as the next guy, but Brown's suggestion is contrary to the Sunshine Act. Peg Ferraro noted that Barron was addressing an item on the agenda. And Lamont McClure, noting that Ron Angle sometimes liked to step from the dais to address Council as a citizen, added that any citizen - even elected officials - has the right to speak.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Friday, February 20, 2015
27 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Only a pusillanimous putz would maliciously muzzle a bundle of blubber like little Stevie Blunder, time to taper off the tequila and switch to the big fukin Q love the blog Bernie boy se you at the la puerte verde amigo
ReplyDeletebesos
How can someone feel sympathy for Barron Vonfootinmouth? Here you have A guy who is incompetent and unethical. He has abused his office and should have resigned long time ago.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Brown is so screwed up that he actually makes Barron look like the good guy. If Barron winds his race he owes a great deal to John Brown.
Brown feels empowered and thinks this is 1930-1940s Germany!
ReplyDeleteand....it's not Brown's meeting.
ReplyDeletethe hate and jealousy continues from the little man. face it - your horse lost, brown is kicking union ass and you are not wanted. go dream about tm
ReplyDeleteWhen did they change the County Council meeting to the County Executive meeting? While I think Barron is a buffoon, isn't it up to Council to decide how to run their meeting?
ReplyDeleteBrown needs to get his head out of his ass and stop acting like a 2nd grader. You're in the big adult league now John - act like it. You're a total embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteBrown has thin skin and is offended when another elected official questions his integrity. His huffy retort to Barron's complaints about the C3 contract is yet another example of his arrogance.
ReplyDelete@4:36 Once again, the 4:30 in the morning bomber comes here and drops a pile of off topic doo-doo.
ReplyDeleteYou appear to have missed the point of the blog post completely. Barron has a right to speak during the citizen's agenda as a citizen.
Brown's complaint was like a child tattle-tailing on his sibling. Except he was totally in the wrong, and told so.
Barron von Footinmouth should spend more time trying to learn accounting and other skills he lacks while pretending to be controller. The guy can't count to eleven without lifting his kilt. Brown should be challenged. But don't say it with (stomped on) flowers.
ReplyDeleteWhy should Brown care if BVF speaks during courtesy of the floor? The more Barron talks, the further he sticks his foot in his mouth. Just sit back and enjoy the show!
ReplyDeleteKeep plugging away Steve! This is your job and the people elected you to do your job despite the consternation of the county executive. It sucks to be him now. What's important is right now! Not what happened last year or before that. Do the right thing and the people will continue to support you.
ReplyDeleteThis seems like one county west in palumpasitskyville, I didn't get the casino so me and my gang will just make another abreveation tax free zone using the Whole of pa as the development payment base? Adult Play, Ad advertise it as a family oreinted endevor drinks are on the House?
ReplyDeleteredd
patent
The comment which was deleted immediately followed the comment:
ReplyDelete"Brown feels empowered and thinks this is 1930-1940s Germany!"
I am over 50% German and happen to agree with Anonymous 6:44AM. The literal translation of the German is "Silence! The County Executive demands silence!" Isn't that what the article is all about?
Offensive? I don't think so. Or was it a xenophobic reaction?
Brown is a small time tyrant and it is plain as day. Short people syndrome? Maybe. Difficult childhood? Whatever!
ReplyDeleteHe will need a big muzzle. BVF has a big mouth and looks like he gained another 590 pounds.
ReplyDeleteBarron id a joke, as is Brown. They deserve each other.
8:45, Comments about my comment policy are actually a violation of my comments. But I'll explain. I deleted the comment because the cheap comparison to Germans (1) minimizes the atrocities perpetrated on the Jews (Godwin's law); (2) is possibly enophobic to Germans; and (3) the constant quotation of German is a practice engaged in by Rolf Oeler, a mentally disturbed troll who sometimes comments here.
ReplyDeleteWe all await the release of Jim Gregory. he was to help John Brown with decisions in the county. That did not happen. Once Mr. Gregory is back and working with the county executive, most of these problems will be resolved.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete"Jim Gregory. he was to help John Brown with decisions in the county. That did not happen."
ReplyDeleteJim Gregory was found guilty on 6 counts of contempt in association with a PFA. He'll be peeling onions and giving fellow homeless people advice when and if he gets out of State Prison.
His future is so bright he has to wear prison-issued slippers. LOL
Your wish is granted, 12:28
ReplyDeleteBarron's comments make Brown look bad, so Brown attempts to silence him instead of defending his position in an intelligent and thoughtful manner.
ReplyDeleteTypical bullying move. It's easier to attempt to gag an opponent instead of engaging in debate and discourse.
Brown is unable to justify his position, so the best course of action is censorship. That helps avoid the embarrassment of having to admit that he's wrong or that he may not have thought things through properly.
Mocking Jim Gregory is not advisable he receives every single blog post and the comments in nearly real time, Gregory's roll in the Brown admin is yet to be determined most likely outcome is that Brown keeps him under the radar due to recent legal issues.
ReplyDeleteLook at Tom "Scissorhands" Severson, a criminal record did little to diminish his influence over local elections Gregory has way stronger grey matter and movie star good lucks to boot, he's a power player.
"Mocking Jim Gregory is not advisable he receives every single blog post and the comments in nearly real time,"
ReplyDeleteIs this a threat? My God, I am shaking in my boots. What is he going to do, abuse and harass me like he did to the multiple women with PFAs against him?
Gregory has so much gray matter he earned his way to State Prison. I'm so jealous - I wish I were that smart. He's closer to a jackass than a genius. Please send him this message, and tell him I hope his food sucks.
The comment is without question a threat and is made by someone so courageous she does not ID herself.
ReplyDeleteMocking people is never advisable, it is a departure from the "golden rule" far from a threat Edgar more like sound advice.
ReplyDeleteBrown has a lot to contend with in the county shame he has bottom feeding bloggers who chart his every move looking to pad their portfolio of yellow journalism.
obviously, the comment from Gregory's sole supporter is intended as a threat. It's what I expect of criminal defendants accused of defrauding secured creditors.
ReplyDelete