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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Brown Restores Hotel Tax Grants Process

NorCo DCED Director Diane Donaher's plan to seize control over nearly $500,000 in hotel tax grants, and hand them out as she sees fit, is officially dead. Executive John Brown told Council yesterday that he is restoring the normal hotel tax grants application process so that groups like State Theatre, Blue Valley Farm Show and Bach Choir could receive some funding to promote tourism. But because Donaher refused to take applications earlier this year, groups like Celtic Classic and the Kreidersville Covered Bridge are going to have a difficult time putting together applications on such short notice.

Council was completely unaware what she was planning until last week's budget hearing, when she went so far as to suggest that she might even hand the entire sum over to Andy Daub's Northampton County Historical Society, and let him decide where that money could be best spent. The top of Lamont McClure's head flew off when she said that, and it's still on it's way to Mars. Daub is a major GOP contributor, and McClure is a Democrat. .  .

Personally, i think she just threw that out there. The person she was really seeking to empower was herself.

Brown is shooting to have these grants voted on at the November 21 meeting. Thanks to Donaher's refusal to accept applications earlier this year, it's  unclear whether applications can be put together that quickly.

6 comments:

Maggie Mae Mason said...

It's a great contest between norco and bethlehem to see which is the least effective C&ED director. I mean you really have to work hard to get so little done. Sadly, the communities are getting screwed and the citizens are stuck paying for outrageous salaries and benefits for these two wannabees.

Anonymous said...

Oh boo hoo. Voice-over artist Donaher's power grab fails. Now her bloated staff will be tasked with reviewing grant applications chop-chop. Unfortunately, that will take them away from more important work, like helping to create jobs in the county. Pardon. To create A job in the county.

Anonymous said...

Brown needs to cut bait and fire DD. It ain't working and she is ruining his reelection chances steadily by the day. Gave her way too much power and she is in way over her head now. Admit the mistake and rethink the DCED situation before it gets much worse.

Anonymous said...

Comparison of the two is fair. One highly qualified and the other with no qualifications at all equals nearly the same results..not much of anything.

Anonymous said...

both should be canned, but then so should their bosses. complete lack of leadership and positive results. if it wasn't so sad it would be funny.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"It's a great contest between norco and bethlehem to see which is the least effective C&ED director. I mean you really have to work hard to get so little done. Sadly, the communities are getting screwed and the citizens are stuck paying for outrageous salaries and benefits for these two wannabees."

Spoken like someone with a personal vendetta.