"Good evening, Commissioner. How are you, how is madame and all the little Commissioners?"
I thought of that movie line from The Pink Panther Strikes Again when I heard that some NorCo Council members are interested in having themselves called Commissioners. I guess they're pissed because Lehigh County legislators still call themselves commissioners.
I believe they should start calling themselves Commissioners, but on one condition. They should always be referred to as little commissioners.
Little commissioners with immense egos.
Updated 7/1/15, 12:00 am
Well, believe it or not, it's happening. With all the many problems facing Northampton County, some blunderhead is actually proposing that the Northampton County Home Rule Charter be amended so that Council members will henceforth be called Commissioners. That will require an expensive referendum. It also requires an expensive ordinance.
According to the proposed ordinance, Council members need to be called Commissioners because - get this - "confusion sets in when members of County Council encounter the public." I agree completely. I know confusion sets in whenever i encounter them, but it has nothing to do with their titles.
The real reason why some County Council members want to piss away public money is because some of them feel like ugly step sisters when they go to conferences with real county commissioners who exercise both executive and legislative power.
If they want to improve their self esteem, I'm sure the courts have a list of psychiatrists they can consult. This is a complete waste of public resources and is being proposed without even being vetted by a Council Committee.
If two members of Council really do forward and introduce this nonsense, I suggest they resign, move to Lehigh County, and run for Commissioner there.
It is actually a good idea. It eliminates a lot of confusion at the local level with cities, boroughs and townships.
ReplyDeleteIt may help and does no harm. You don't have to shit on everything your friends don't like.
no it doesn't.
ReplyDeleteThey specifically chose the term "council___" from commissioner. A commissioner is vested with executive power. this differentiates their lesser role
and yes, RTK it!
ReplyDeleteMust be a slow Newsweek for this to be news. Happy Easter Bernie
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't council make sure the clerk first gets up to date with the minutes from the meetings and puts them on line when council receives them, and gets the meeting agendas out to the public when council receives the agenda? Council likes changing job descriptions maybe they think they will get more money too if they are called something else. Ridiculous! You should do the RTK.
ReplyDeleteNorco - the land of little minds. at least you didn't try to pin this on brown
ReplyDeleteWould be a hoot to find out Brown was behind it, after making that comment.
ReplyDeleteRTK it! Usually you will find that Brownstain is leaving another trail of green slime. My money is on his favorite "COMMISSIONER" Seth!
ReplyDelete"Why doesn't council make sure the clerk first gets up to date with the minutes from the meetings and puts them on line when council receives them,"
ReplyDeleteThe meetings are online that night.I agree the agenda needs to be made available far sooner than it is, which is usually the day before the meeting.
"A commissioner is vested with executive power. this differentiates their lesser role"
ReplyDeleteThen council member is perfect. These people appear to have no power at all over Brownstain's incompetent actions.
Don't those maroons have anything better to do with their time? Like questioning why Brownie is dragging his feet in hiring critical county personnel?
ReplyDelete"commissioner" is what you make it. If you can use it in Lehigh County you can use it in Northampton County.
ReplyDeleteCities, Boroughs, and Townships have Council members, they have Commissioners, they have Township supervisors,so no matter what you call a County Legislator it is going to be confusing. County Councilman are their correct titles and as long as you refer to them as "COUNTY COUNCILMAN" there should be no confusion. They are County not City nor any other municipality. Get used to it. It will take a Charter Change to alter the name.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would hold out for Commissar.
ReplyDeleteLOVE Commissar.
ReplyDeleteThey are to be called "Councilman", "Councilperson" or "Councilwoman" or nothing. How about that.
ReplyDeletethis just proves that Brown is a better man than all of them including the two faced prez
ReplyDeleteHow about "suckubus"?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe Home Rule Study Commission held over 50 public meetings and held three "Hearings" in Bethlehem, Bangor, and Forks Township to receive input from the electorate and taxpayers of Northampton County. It was a new beginning in Northampton County Government. It was explained to the people in attendance why the name of "County Council" was being used for the Legislative Body instead of Commissioners. It was out with the old and in with the new. The new form of Government "Home Rule Government" did not resemble the old Commissioner form of government and the name change for the Legislative Body was indeed most appropriate.
Northampton County council should be proud of their name and their recent part in the History of Northampton county. In the first two years of being "County Council" they lowered taxes set by the prior County Commissioners by almost 50 percent. County Council wrote the "administrative Code" that dictates the policies for the everyday operation of our government and it was County Council that promoted "efficiency, economy, and effectiveness" in Government. Council was well respected and everyone knew what a County Council person was in Northampton County.
Changing the name is a ridiculous idea and should be defeated. We are a "Home Rule County" and should have our own identity.
They should be called "those heartless bastards who raised our taxes unnecessarily." Period.
ReplyDeleteGotta' admit, Commissar does have a nice ring to it.
ReplyDeleteLet's really confuse things and go Jersey... call'em "County Freeholders"
ReplyDeleteYou mean County Freeloaders, don't you?
ReplyDeleteIn memory of Inspector Clouseau, let's call them "minkeys."
ReplyDeleteEliminate the Home Rule Charter and go back to a three Commissioner form of government under the third class county code. Let all the jokers in all of the non-court-related elected positions actually work for a living and be held accountable for their actions. Home Rule does NOT work in either county.
ReplyDeleteBernie, like you I have been around for quite some time. I have attended county council meetings on and off since the 1980's. I find it humorous that this current crop of council members feel they should spend money to have this title. Over the 80's, 90's and even the 00's there have been some great county councilmembers. That includes some I didn't even agree with. I saw how hard they worked and believed in issues. I also saw how they would find ways to come to a consensus to get things done. No offense to this new group but they are not quite there yet.
ReplyDeleteWhat say you?
Pure ego.
ReplyDelete