In recent weeks, Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioner meetings have been anti-climatic. The real show is in the weekly budget hearings. Those are usually held in a small conference room. But they have been moved into the regular meeting hall because of a public outcry over a 37.6% tax increase being pondered by Commissioners
On Election Eve, as campaign signs began to dot the municipal complex, Commissioners conducted a brief meeting..Residents like Roy Roth told Commissioners it is "time to cut the fat," but at the same time, demanded to know when Brodhead Road would be re-paved. He told Commissioner Tom Nolan to "wash your ears out so you can hear a little better."
As soon as the meeting was over, he was taking palm cards from Malissa Davis for the election.
It was a bad sign for three incumbent Commissioners seeking re-election.
The next day, according to unofficial results, two of the incumbents were rejected by voters. Though Tom Nolan survived a write-in challenge, Marty Zawarski was handily defeated by Davis, 1,867 to 1,421. Phil Barnard lost out to Kim Jenkins by a scant eight votes, 400 to 392.
Zawarski and Barnard are Republican, while Davis and Jenkins are Democrats.
Davis flew under the "Save Green Pond" banner. A regular at Commissioner meetings, she has been a vocal opponent of the Traditions of America senior housing development planned at Green Pond. She has also been an advocate for more open government.
The official tally is under way and should be completed this week. If it holds, Bethlehem Township will have a Democratic majority. Jenkins, Davis and incumbent Commissioner Michael Hudak, who was not up for election this cycle, are all Democrats. According to Hudak's Facebook page, this is the first time that Bethlehem Township has had a majority Democratic Board. It is also the first time that a woman has been elected to its Board.
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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Wednesday, November 04, 2015
36 comments:
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In a Valleyi chock full of pathetic politicians,
ReplyDeleteHudak is a profile in bad, insulting, and small minded leadership.
The man is second to none.
It's local government, don't confuse the fact that simply because there will be three D's on the Board that it matters, or that Hudak even desires the Presidency. He may try for it?? Past experience, however, says that Commissioner Nolan will be trying very very hard for the title.
ReplyDeleteQuite honestly, while Nolan and Hudak have their own strengths and weaknesses, I really think that Commissioner-elect Davis has the background to easily quick study into the role of President. It is only one of five votes, but some personalities like to make it much more than that. Two new-comers... There were a lot of different reasons people voted the way they did...taxes, Green Pond, traffic, Parks/Rec issues, etc, but much of it can come back to the perception, fair or not, that developers have had undo influence. I personally would hope that Nolan and Hudak would throw their support and years of experience behind Davis, rather than fight over the ego of the title. New blood mixed with experience can actually be a very productive, positive mix. The tone can be changed for BT.
The residents that fought had to get new commissioners on the board will be damned if they let Hudak take leadership of the board. That would be the WORST day in the history of Bethlehem Township. He has repeatedly said he is thinking about resigning. NOW would be the time so that we have a great chance of finally getting some good government rolling in the township.
ReplyDeleteBernie even still you sound like you defend Marty, why????
ReplyDeleteSad to see Phil lose out, he was a solid guy. In my ward he was always available to listen to us and give a good perspective on issues and he supported the hard working non union staff of the township. Good luck Phil!
ReplyDeleteAs lighthouse has said many times before, you get the government you vote for or the government you don't vote for. In this case I think some change is good. Taxpayers need to stay on top of this mess as well as the manager. She is very liberal from what I know and cannot say no to anyone, that is not good!!
ReplyDeleteFurther, who was the brainchild(s) that put the massive proposed tax increase out there a couple weeks before the election, the budget is not final or passed yet. That was a death sentence!!
Zoid
ReplyDeleteThis goes back to the previous BOC's who kicked the can down the alley to get votes.
Why didn't any of them vote to increase taxes??? Had to see this coming for years yet the public gets no good answer as to why. Just continue to spend and you can't blame the manager because the BOC has the final say on what gets purchased.
I am sure you remember the million dollar street light scam is going to cost the taxes payers for the next 20 years, and the issues with the BTCC. The previous BOC's did nothing to stop any of this. You are correct on one thing "you get the government you vote for or the government you don't vote for" that is why the long standing fixtures are slowing being voted out!
Yes Zoid. With the election being so close for Phil, I am sure it was due to the proposed tax increase that was leaked right before the election. The key work being proposed. ...it has not been finalized and I'm sure the board is doing everything they can to prevent such a huge increase.
ReplyDeleteHudak as board chair would not be a bad thing. He has three terms of experience and knows how to get to the point. as lighthouse said, its still only one vote. Why he has not pursued it in the past I dont know but the fact that Zawarski held the post proves that any idiot can do it. The last thing you want is Nolan to have it. With his over-inflated ego plus the obvious fact that he loves to hear himself talk the meetings would drag on for hours on end. I think Davis and Jenkins are smart enough to sit back and settle in before looking to move in that direction. After all I think with no more power as chair then any other commissioner Hudak has proven you can weild a big stick and get your point across regardless of where your sitting.
ReplyDeleteAll in all it dosen't matter who sits where what really matters is we finally have some diversity on that board and that can only be a good thing. Haven't had any back and forth with the manager but I agree with Zoid that she seems to back away from confrontation. Her demeanor does not lend itself to leadership. Hopefully the new members will either spark some guts in her or kick her to the curb. Next two years should be interesting.
I live in Bethlehem Township. I can't take the development, the traffic, and now the taxes. I was compelled to vote for change. Normally, I vote Republican. In this case, I could not.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be terrible. He is a bully and will use his position as Chair in vindictive and mean-spirited ways. I'm not even sure Kim Jenkins has ever even been to a meeting. Malissa Davis is smart, but Hudak is going to walk all over her. Take a look at the comment above, which almost certainly comes from him, to see what I mean. I can't believe he is claiming "we finally have some diversity." You just got rid of perhaps the only black elected official in the LV, outside of Ken Brown. And it is the Democrats who engineered this removal of a moderate. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be bad for government, but great for me.
"Bernie even still you sound like you defend Marty, why????"
ReplyDeleteI liked Marty bc he was transparent and accessible. If I had a question, he answered it. I believe Malissa Davis will be transparent and accessible. I wish her the best and probably am more in agreement with her on most issues than Marty. But the people who put her in office are going to turn on her quickly. All I really care about are transparency and accountability, and I would not replace one transparent candidate with another.
Bernie, you are right. Hudak would make a terrible BOC president. He hates everyone. Rumor has it that he was seen at a polling place Tuesday, rearranging campaign signs to obscure viewing those of the incumbents he disagrees with, in favor of his choices. I find that to be petty and vindictive. Just imagine how he would treat a resident who he doesn't agree with.....oh, wait....he's already shown us that.
ReplyDelete11:09
ReplyDeletewow !! If you believe that I think I saw him on the grassy knoll too.
bernie 9:57
ReplyDeletecalling out Barnards color as a reason he should have been re-elected...
Pretty racist bernie, even for you
@11:24, I have a witness to his actions.
ReplyDeleteWatching Hudak with his multiple personalities based on if he took his meds or not is interesting at meetings.he will either rip your throat out or compliment you. Like I said it varies from day to day. Pat - well he still trYing to figure out which way is up, totally clueless about all issues and the only remarks he makes is about " his cousin, sister, brother and friends and all their tales of woe and hardship". Really Patty give it up and get a life. I still find it hard to believe township residents would vote for someone who lives in a near condemned home (supposedly) and drives a car that seems barely legal. His next stop in living arrangements is an appliance box down by the river. Phil. He is one of the good guys. He did not deserve this. Marty- kick his butt out....he is at times a son of a gun (b#€ch) and I understand that he should be out. Anyway new blood is in and now watch what happens or what doesn't happen. Bethlehem township has huge problems and I don't see things getting any better any time soon.
ReplyDelete@11:51,
ReplyDeleteYou're right about Bernard. He is one of the good guys. I think his loss was collateral damage from the possible tax hike. It was a knee jerk reaction to a plan that may or may not come to fruition. Wonder if the tax hike info was released prior to the election on purpose?
I know for a fact that it was.
DeleteHudak has no positive strengths. He is domineering,petty , poorly educated and packs a mean streak as visible as the markings on a skunk's tale.If he gets any more authority than that which he currently mismanages ,it will be catastrophic for the twshp.
ReplyDelete11:57. Maybe the manager wanted them out ? Ya think. ..???
ReplyDelete957
ReplyDeletesorry bernie, still not hudak. i know you wish i was but he still refuses to read your blog or even your column in the bethlehem press. you know who i am, i've told you a dozen times. im one of his neighbors. i talk to him regularly and yes i respect the guy.
its no secret that you search everyones IP address that post anonymously on this blog so why you keep claiming im hudak is troubling, you know who i am.
Still Obsessed with him??
1151
he rips your throat out if you deserve it and by the same token compliments you if you deserve it. i see that as integrity and not playing politics which is why we support him. and barnard has been clueless from day one. Just a Nolan yes man.
Odd, no opinions on Nolan.....TOM ?
1206
yes he is very open. what you see is what you get. you never have to worry if he's bullshitting you or stabbing you in the back...."brutility" honest and everyone who knows him knows that.
further, as explained to me, the chairman of the board has NO MORE "AUTHORITY" then any of the other guys. just a singular vote like the other four with no authority over anyone. so your statement is pointless.
Howard Kutzler
ReplyDelete12:423, Anyone who hjas listened to Hudak over the years knows that 12:42 is Hudak. In fact either he nor his feigned supporter demoinstrate much honesty when they post anonymously. Also, I only rarely look for the IP of anonymous posters.
ReplyDelete"Brutally ignorant" explains Hudak best.
ReplyDelete"He rips your throat out....."
ReplyDeleteHe's a blowhard punk.
A bombastic piece of shit.
A swaggering dope.
......and a liar.
ReplyDeleteI love the way Hudak struts around.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder even the cops think he has a small weenie.
Look, we might all agreed that sexuality should not matter, but if Hudak would deal with his latent and repressed homosexual issues, he'd be much more effective, and probably happier
ReplyDelete1:56. Bernie it is not Mike. That post is written about his alter ego Joseph or something. Mike has multiple personalities.
ReplyDeleteIf these two ladies investigate the dangerous flooding that occurs during heavy rains and hosts public hearings to ask residents for suggestions, they will have earned their elections.
ReplyDelete@6:24,
ReplyDeleteWhat's there to investigate? Runoff has been a problem everywhere that development is more important than conservation. The Easton Avenue problem has been there for more than 40 years. Everyone knows the cause.
Hudak is a douche.
ReplyDeleteI didn't calculate against Barnard or Zawarski, I simply voted the straight Democratic ticket. You can see the trouble Republicans are causing in this country and we need some positive change.
@9:47,
ReplyDeleteVoting straight ticket is an act of sheeple.
8:31 The Easton avenue Butztown area has been a source of water issues like FOREVER. Not much can be done to help the situation either. It would need a 15 acre retention pond in that area to fix the problem. So where they gonna find the land there for that.
ReplyDeleteSo the only solution. After a big rain stay put for two hours then go out. The flood water will be gone and life will be back to normal.
I guess this is the time to get all the animosity out related to the lame duck commissioners. The bottom line, and hopefully the two Commissioners can have an immediate effect, is to get things in better order in the Township. My worry is that the outgoing commissioners will vote to either cut everything or pass everything through on the 2016 budget which will effect the tax hike. The new commissioners will not have a vote.
ReplyDeleteWe need Mr. Barnard and Mr. Zawarski to do the right thing now for the Township. Let's encourage them, not antagonize them