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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Rumormill: Cathy Allen Nephew Hired in Northampton County

Northampton County Executive John Brown must think he has this County thing down. On the day after he announced his bid for state auditor general, he cut class. He skipped Council's Personnel and Finance Committee. He's obviously chasing votes across the state. But not to worry. The County in the capable hands of his right-hand man and Deputy Administrator, Cathy Allen.

Allen has already used her position to hire a few friends here and there. Nothing wrong with a little cronyism, they say.

It's not like she was hiring her nephew.

Guess what? Several sources tell me that's exactly what happened. Her nephew will be starting soon in the maintenance department. I am unable to confirm this rumor at thos junctre, but heard it from enough people to repeat here

Northampton County does have a fairly broad nepotism policy, which does extend to nephews. But it would apply only if there is a supervisor-subordinate relation between Allen and her nephew. So there's probably no violation.

And I'm sure he was hired because of his amazing talent.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

If true, the circumstances of his hire should be investigated. If there was a test, did he score in the rule of three? What were his qualifications? Who interviewed and recommended him for the job? What influence did Allen have in his hire? These are plum jobs with career service protection. Allen has proven that she is unethical. The hiring of her nephew is likely just another abuse of power.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I don't have the answer to these questions. i don't even have this guy's name. But I've heard the same story from enough different people to believe it is happening. And I will find the answers to these questions.

Anonymous said...

you don't have the answers. You should not have printed this garbage without them. Just shows what a spiteful little man you are.

Anonymous said...

Follow the trail of cigarette smoke....it leads to Allen and the facts.

Anonymous said...

12:11 is right on target. Some one please help me with this issue.......did the Dems hire relatives of County Executives or Chief ADMINISTRATORS? There must be one out there somewhere.

Anonymous said...

Same thing happened with certain Allentown City Council members getting their kids jobs......

Anonymous said...

Allen should thank God every two weeks when she is given a fat paycheck for having a cushy job she is woefully unqualified for. But that wasn't enough. She cheated on her travel expense report and never apologized. Insread of beung disciplined, she was rewarded with use of a county car, and a private parking space. She then used her influence to have friends hired at Gracedale, and now possibly her nephew. Allen is tje biggest embarrassment of this administration, and a major reason why her mentor, John Brown has zero credibility.

Anonymous said...

With her position with the County, isn't she basically everyone's supervisor? This is nepotism at its finest.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Not really.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Same thing happened with certain Allentown City Council members getting their kids jobs."

I have written about it several times, ao you are saying nothing new. But the situation is different. I do not think the legislative branch which is PT, supervises anyone except its own clerk. I also don't know what the nepotism policy is in Allentown.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"12:11 is right on target. Some one please help me with this issue.......did the Dems hire relatives of County Executives or Chief ADMINISTRATORS? There must be one out there somewhere."

Nepotism has been a problem at NorCo for as long as I can remember. Not sure that any Executive has every engaged in it, but administrators have. Hence, Stoffa's 2007 nepotism policy, which was promptly ignored by his own Solicitor.

There is no nepotism, in my view, if there is no boss-employee relationship.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"you don't have the answers. You should not have printed this garbage without them. Just shows what a spiteful little man you are."

I feel fairly comfortable raising the specter of nepotism, which is often hidden from public view. Give Cathy Allen's track record and unwillingness to response to other inquiries, i feel the best approach is to go public now.

Anonymous said...

She should've hired him to fix her house in Bangor- looks like its ready to fall down. Its in such deplorable condition, the bank is lucky to get $50k at the sheriff sale.

Anonymous said...

I'm one of the Supervisors who interviewed the young man and yes he was hired for his
knowledge of maintenance work. Before or during the interview I did not know he was Cathy's nephew.Never did I receive a phone call from Cathy or anyone else before the interview that we must hire him.There was three of us who interviewed him and he was the second one we chose out of 6 being interviewed for the position. I know many employees who have relatives and spouses working for the County.During my nine years
as a Supervisor I had many County employees call me and said they had relatives applying for a job and I told them they had to pass the test in the top three to be interviewed. Then when being interviewed we ask a series of question relating to the open position.We then the three Supervisors decide who is best fit for the position.
hopefully this answer your question about a young man who is well qualified for the job.