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Monday, December 28, 2015

The Lauer Lynching

When he was a member of Council, Ron Angle first suggested Phil Lauer as Solicitor. Phil expressed his gratitude by ruling against something Angle wanted to do. Instead of telling Council members what they want to hear, Phil has instead been guided by the law. As exasperating as that might be, Phil has been undefeated in Court on any issue involving Council. He's the kind of guy you want on your side. Unfortunately, Mat Benol wants to get rid of him.

He's been heard droning on in parking lots about Lauer's inability to get back to him immediately when he has a question.

I got news for Benol.

The Council Solicitor does not represent him. He represents the Council as a whole, and should not do any work that is not authorized by a majority.

Benol, who incorrectly views himself as some sort of constitutional expert, has reportedly recruited Hayden Phillips, newcomer Matt Dietz, John Cusick, and Glenn Geissinger. It's unknown whether any of them is biting.

Hopefully not. Both Cusick and Phillips would like to be Council president. They might give Benol something in exchange for a vote.

I've heard one very ridiculous name as Lauer's replacement, but won't repeat it here until I check it out.

Perhaps Benol  wants Council to do way with its own solicitor because having to listen to another opinion makes his head hurt.

All this palace inrtrigue is precisely why I did not want to see Cusick back in office. Instead of trying to stick a knife in a good lawyer's back, Benol should try to represent the people he was elected to serve and update his Council Facebook page more often than once every 18 months.
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25 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 12:18 AM

    Benol has the support of our region's largest grass roots political movement in the 9-12 Project, he is guided by a collective conscious which contains several very astute legal minds who have tried to work with Lauer only to be met with an indifferent attitude and distance. It was foolish of Phil to behave in the way he has but now there is no turning back and he will be replaced, ginger people frequently exhibit character traits which make them problematic in a workplace setting he is a prime example.

    Earl Grey

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  2. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 12:29 AM

    No doubt Phil is a good attorney but he has represented cases against the county (and a lot of them )to me which is a conflict of interest.

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  3. Bernie O'HareDecember 28, 2015 at 12:31 AM

    He represents Council, not the County, so your anonymous assessment is flawed.

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  4. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 12:46 AM

    Mr. O'Hare, you fail to understand that the Lehigh Valley Tea party is now in control of Northampton County government. We will make changes necessary to the well being of the people of the county. There is no room for Godless liberal or spineless moderates. Mr. Lauer may be fine for some but he does not pass our test for strict constitutional purity.

    If you are unhappy with our leadership we suggest your move to another county.

    Don't tread on us!

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  5. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 2:23 AM

    Wrong Bernie he does represent clients against the county. Check the records on this one.

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  6. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 4:59 AM

    Phil is a good man and excellent lawyer. Another example of the nuttiness of the teabaggers. Please vote them out in 2017.

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  7. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 7:02 AM

    Could you have ever imagined a day when good legal advise was not heeded and the only thing that is needed is radical tea party sentimentality to get a job in NORCO? Phil only gives solid legal advic, BeenHole never did like it when he was confronted with facts and not opinions, maybe he is incapable of distinguishing between the two

    Republicans t bangers firing a republican lawyer, good none BeenHole !

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  8. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 7:13 AM

    Not sure I should post a suggestion under a heading titled "Lynching" but here goes.
    What if on January 1st you have an open column that invites readers to enter only positive, constructive, suggestions for local, county, and the state government agencies. How each could do better. PemmDOT for example rings a bell. Lots of folks have recommendations that would make driving safety and traffic control more efficient.

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  9. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 8:36 AM

    This is an issue of certain County Council Members not liking what their legal counsel tells them or advises them.The law is "the law". The administrations lawyers on the other hand have cost the taxpayers over a million dollars from poor advice given on recent personnel issues and that number is rising quick. Legal fees and (federal Court) settlement costs alone are close to one million dollars. County Council needs a lawyer that will interpret for them "the law" and not tell them what they want to hear. Yes Phil's a big boy and serves at the will of Council and he will take his leaving as the good gentleman he is, however, that doesn't make Council right and they will pay a price further down the road for their stupidity and poor judgement.

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  10. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 9:45 AM

    Sounds like a job for Scomillio!

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  11. Bernie O'HareDecember 28, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    7:13, If you want to make a suggestion, post it on Opinions Online orr send me an email. . I really find OT comments insulting.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    Phil has done a great job while representing council. Maybe that is what Benol is upset about - that there is someone there doing a good job and making wise interpretations and giving good advice?

    Perhaps he wants something more like the solicitors who have represented Brown.

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  13. Bernie O'HareDecember 28, 2015 at 12:05 PM

    I have deleted and am re-posting a comment from someone who left a huge gap at the beginning and end of his comment. That kills a comment thread. Do not do that, please.

    "Its amazing those who sit here and bash him would be ringing his phone if they or one of their own was in trouble.
    He is a very very god lawyer and one of the best around and he has NO reason to be replaced. When you see the makeup of this bunch on County Council why would you change teh lawyer that keeps you out of trouble and on the right path when you have a John Brown and company in the executive Office.
    I support Attorney Lauer. He is about one of the few of this stupid bunch we have in Easton that has common sense and a good head on his shoulders."

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 12:06 PM

    Nothing wrong with replacing a solicitor every few years. Phil is probably tired of the melodramatics of council anyway. Vic Scomillio on the other hand would be a dynamic, hard-working asset to council. He could help them stick it to his former boss Brown.

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  15. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 12:09 PM

    I don't have any lawyer jokes....they're pretty much all jokes by themselves.

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  16. Bernie O'HareDecember 28, 2015 at 12:20 PM

    Until you need one.

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  17. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 2:14 PM

    I support Phil. 100%

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  18. TeaPartyFootSoldierDecember 28, 2015 at 3:02 PM

    I used to support Phil but the way he bungled the Ridge St Stunners case was inexcusable as it ruined her promising political career.

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 7:15 PM

    Who is in charge of the tea party? When i voted i saw dems and gop.i did not see any selection/candidate listed under the tea party.
    What exactly does this tea party stand for and how do they differ from the gop or the dem party?

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  20. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 7:50 PM

    The teabaggers now run the Republican Party. They are blind fanatics that will only pull the Republican lever no matter what.

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  21. AnonymousDecember 28, 2015 at 10:49 PM

    True. Just like the red sheep that they are. Mindless level pullers at the direction of the FOX propaganda machine.

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  22. AnonymousDecember 29, 2015 at 5:22 AM

    The Bernie Sanders wing got busy on this post. Between calling for a zillion dollars in debt spending to protect the three-dick spotted cockroach, and determining that cervical cancer is caused by not being raped enough, they manage lots of time calling Charlie Dent a tea party fixture. They're more dumb than crazy. But they're still crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousDecember 29, 2015 at 4:05 PM

    Teabagger humor?

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousDecember 30, 2015 at 6:48 PM

    Get Scomillio _if you give him a chance he can cost the County a million dollars in cost for more substandard legal advise.

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousDecember 30, 2015 at 6:58 PM

    Get Scomillio _if you give him a chance he can cost the County a million dollars in cost for more substandard legal advice.

    ReplyDelete

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