West Easton Borough Council has appointed Paul James to replace Louis Niko, who resigned earlier this month. James has previously served West Easton as a member of Council and as Chair of the Zoning hearing Board.
Tricia Mezzacappa, a constable who had threatened to seek Niko's seat, instead asked Council to appoint her as what I would call some sort of Code Enforcement or Parking Enforcement Officer, claiming she could issue parking tickets.
Blogger's Note: My source for this story is Matt Dees. I skipped the meeting. His story is located here.
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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Tuesday, May 24, 2016
38 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Poor Trish. That woman just isn't welcome anywhere, and for some unknown reason she doesn't get respect. Or maybe the reasons are very well known.
ReplyDeleteTrish the dish, you had the perfect wing man in the slab and let him go. He was the yin to your yang an enforcer who could diffuse almost any dangerous situation with his silver tongue but if need be employ his extensive martial arts training.
ReplyDeleteHaving spoken with the man slab it is clear there would be a chance to reconcile, please do the right thing he could be the perfect compliment to your budding law enforcement career consider the time he spent in Hellertown and despite being wrongfully terminated has the chops to get right back in the mix.
Do not be discouraged if they don't grant your wish of being the code enforcement officer the academy will take you and once that is complete I can see you wearing blue for any department.
It is a shame that Ms. Mezzacappa was not given a chance. She could have been a breath of fresh air on that council. She wants to serve the citizens of West Easton.
ReplyDeleteWhat is really sad is how she is attacked and defamed on this blog. The haters make all kinds of statements against her and it is allowed. Why are defenders silenced? There are many people who support her tenacity in the face of adversity and wish her well. Jim is a good friend of hers and hopefully can help her reach her full potential and get past this latest attack on her integrity.
God Bless!
you didn't skip the meeting, you tucked tail and hunkered down in the hovel with a tattered old computer print out of the Ridge St Stunner clutched in your wrinkled pale claws wondering where it all went wrong...
ReplyDeleteIts no surprise that you got your facts wrong again. Mezzacappa never applied for the council seat, or the Code Enforcement job. Just a reason to add more slop to your blog, because a jilted psycho is indeed a very nasty person.
ReplyDeleteConstable work is not paid for by Boroughs, so essentially it is a free service to the citizens, if she decides to move forward with it. Looks like your low info counterpart in West Easton has a fragile ego just like yours. Must have been her remarks at the council meeting that got his feathers in a bunch. Cartoons characters have no place on a Borough website, and the staff at Borough Hall should remove it.
Is this one of those trick pre-employment challenges?
ReplyDeleteTricia Mezzacappa, a constable who had threatened to seek Niko's seat, instead asked Council to appoint her as a Code Enforcement Officer, claiming she could issue parking tickets.
Of course a code enforcement officer doesn't (or does she?) issue parking tickets.
Mezzacrazy is a constable now? When the heck did that happen? Yikes.
ReplyDeleteNever trust a man with two first names, see James Gregory.
ReplyDeleteAre you living in Mezzagoofy's house yet?
ReplyDelete4:22 - She's a lunatic and this blog has no reason to give equal treatment. Get your head out of your ass.
ReplyDelete"Mezzacrazy is a constable now? When the heck did that happen? Yikes."
ReplyDeleteShe managed to get 10 people to write her name in last election cycle, so she is an elected constable and was at the polling place in the primary to glare at her enemies as they voted. She even operated the machines, I'm told, which is totally improper. But aside from working the polls, I don't see her getting any other work. I doubt any magisterial district judge would trust an intemperate person like her with serving papers or executing warrants.
She did want the Council job, and posted anonymous comments to that effect here. But what she really wanted is to be able to write parking tickets in West Easton. Se would have to be appointed as a code or parking enforcement officer for that purpose.
I doubt she has much of a chance, especially since she is suing the Borough again.
At the meeting last night, she did object to Matt Dees' posting a picture of Alfred E. Newuman on the West Easton Borough webpage in the profile information about him. If voters are not amused, they can vote him out.
Dees has a story up about this situation. http://westeastonpa.com/mezzacappa-seeking-borough-work-as-constable/
I have been anonymously taunted, either by her or by the Blog Mentor, for skipping the meeting. Had I gone, I would be accused of stalking. But that's not why I skipped. Last night, I wanted to write the story about Hanover Armed Forces Day. Believe it or not, it takes me about four hours to put a story like that together. I opted to do that so I could go to bed at midnight.
4 hours? Wow. Thanks for doing this.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time writing happy stories. I also have a hard time when I have lots of pictures.
ReplyDeleteShe is NOT certified with PCCD to do any court work in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Meaning she has ZERO liability insurance, and likely no bond to work as a constable. You do not need to have PCCD certification to do just election day duties. (Election Day is the only mandated duties for a constable).
ReplyDeleteSo there is no way legally any Magisterial District Court could even issue her work. She couldn't be legally paid. Not to mention any MDJ who would okay her getting work is unfit for the bench.
If she is carrying a firearm as an un-certified constable on Election Day, she is in violation of the county's no weapons policy. Only constables with PCCD certification can carry their firearms in the polling place, as they have liability insurance that covers them for it.
You can look up every constable who is PCCD certified to work in the Commonwealth here: https://www.pccdcis.pa.gov/CCETS/Public/ConstableFinder.aspx
You can just look by counties.
Also the author of the blog you linked to--has no real understanding of the Commonwealth's court system. The constables are VERY needed. As the Sheriff's office has enough trouble dealing with the Common Pleas court needs and in some counties the jail. So it is highly irresponsible to say the office of constable is "un-needed".
ReplyDeleteBut, there are only so many constables needed in a county for the number of MDCs. While the excessive number of un-neccsary Boroughs in Northampton County creates an excess of constables to work (since Boroughs and cities have constables for every ward. Which is needed for Election Days). And let's be real, some of these rinky dink little Boroughs would be at best unincorporated villages in many other counties. I mean, West East, Wilson, Rosetta??? Boroughs? Do they have 10 whole blocks?
The problem is too many villagers wanted to be bigger than they were.
But, MDJs need constables to do evictions, serve warrants, and civil process (and in some courts levies). The Sheriff's office can't handle that added work load in addition to the Common Pleas courts. As well as the issue with only having county wide jurisdiction when often MDCs have issues with residents a short distance across a county line. Judges have to constantly have deputy sheriff's re-appointed with temporary jurisdiction for their court to do, what a constable in the area already has legal jurisdiction to do for them (as long as they are PCCD court certified).
Also, the MDJ get an added bonus of having more control and say over how things are done and who does their work--which is lost when using a Sheriff's office.
The President Judge is able to remove someone from office who should not hold it(as well as anyone who legally can no longer or ever hold office). That could be done if needed with the Wicket Constable. Who has zero legal ability to issue tickets. Regardless of what the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Constables may claim.
Sheriff Andy, The author of the blog to which I linked did NOT say constables are un-needed. He said they are not needed in West Easton, and they aren't, because there are enough certified constables to handle the load. Thank you for your perspective.
ReplyDeleteI am uncomfortable with any constable carrying any weapons in a polling place. In fact even a real armed police officer should only come into a polling place if it is absolutely necessary.
ReplyDeletePolice officers must b law stay awaty from the polling place nless their resence is requred by the elections judge. By law, there must be a constable or an appointed deputy at the votingprecint. In most caes, the constable is unarmed.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what a Constable is (is this Tombstone City) but if Mezzaloopy is one, she has no rights to carry a firearm does she? I thought she lost her CC permit? That should disqualify her from carry a gun in a profession too.
ReplyDeleteNot clear. If she becomes certified, she does not need a LTC.
ReplyDeleteSheriff Andy and Bernie,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct in your assessment of the adequate number of certified constables already in Northampton County. They outnumber those in Lehigh County by nearly a 2:1 margin.
B.O. Rumor from the District Attorney's Office investigating Kelly Gross and Tom Nodoline.
ReplyDeleteActually, if there are polling places in a municipality (which all have) constables are needed by law. As Act 120 police officers do NOT have the legal authority to man a polling place to keep the peace. Nor does an Act 2 sheriff's deputy. So a constable is needed in West Easton. Problem is, they ended up with an imbecile. Which reflect poorly on West Easton's voters.
ReplyDeleteThe ONLY thing mandated a constable MUST do is Election Day. Working for the courts is optional and at their own expense and will.
ReplyDeleteDang computer posted before I finished.
Anon 4:50
ReplyDeleteHere is the thing, a fully PCCD certified constable who has to do 20 hours of yearly firearms re-certification is the ONLY first responder for polling places if an armed mass shooter shows up.
I might point out if you look over several of the most infamous mass shooting over the last decade, many were specifically politically fueled. Add to that, the rapidly growing violence at political events, and we have an increased risk factor. An armed constable is there to protect the voters and allow them a safe voting place. To say they should not be armed is opening up the door to allow unchallenged nuts to bring their guns and do as they please.
Anon 11:02
ReplyDeleteAnd the Lion's share of that work from MDCs in Northampton go to constables who can be counted on one hand. How many boroughs does Northampton county have versus Lehigh? The constables of city and borough wards is a big problem.
As is the recruiting by the PA Fraternal Order of Constables, who are getting more people to join their "cause". That cause by the way is this silly business of calling themselves the "state constable police". They think that centuries old case law allows them to use red and blue lights, wear patches that say police, and issue tickets. All of which is grossly incorrect.
Some of these guys love to buy old police cars, put ten old CB antennae on them and wear all sorts if crap on their faux uniforms. The belts on some of these guys would put Batman's utility belt to shame.
ReplyDeleteOne guy near Easton would drive slowly through the neighborhood with his dark glasses and Captain Kangaroo moustache starring ominously at people.
No offense but some of these guys look like they should get more emotional and psychological screening than gun training.
1:06, that is not s rumor from the DA's office. That is a rumor from someone who lacks the courage to ID herself. I put it on the same level as the false claims that Mezzacappa made on her now defunct blog about Kelly Zgross collecting disability when the truth is that she never applied. The only one trying to get involved in West easton who has been convicted of anything is Mezzacappa. Twice.
ReplyDelete1:06: I heard the same thing about her Daddy paying the bill and trying to cover it up! RTK bills paid.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:44
ReplyDeleteYou say that like all the people with Act 120 are playing with a full deck. Ask people about Steve Homoki, long time member of Easton PD. The guy brags he loved killing people in 'Nam.
And you can thank people like him for also doing PCCD training for constables.
Constable Mezzacappa was recently spotted at a local shooting range with a large backpack of Ammo. Repeat target bullseye from 500 yards puts her in standing to be a PCCD certified instructor. She will rise from the ashes of scorned psychos , and establish a constable police force in the tiny Borough of West Easton. Patrol pigs will accompany the sharp shooter to scare usual predatory individuals back to their hovels of despair and rejection.
ReplyDeleteAnd also Anon 2:44
ReplyDeleteIf you force constables to do psych evaluations you have to do it for: city council, judges, mayors, and state legislators. As they all too are elected officials. Hence, it will never happen. The banditos who work in the state capital will never submit to showing they are mentally fit. Many are not mentally strong.
Looks like the Wicket Constable posted at 4:36.
ReplyDeleteShe should stop her crazy rants. PCCD firearms instructor qualifications do not require shooting at 500 yards. NO act 49 constables shoot further than 25 yards on the range for qualifications. (Nor should anyone ever engage a target with a handgun beyond that distance). There is no long gun use or certification for constables. They are only authorized to use handguns, and only the hang gun(s) they qualify with on the range with the specific duty ammo they qualify with.
Constable Mezzacappa was seen firing a Class 3, M4, full auto capable carbine, and a 14.5 inch barrel that has cuts to allow mounting of an m203 grenade launcher. She spares no $$ when choosing her weapons, and I must say, has very nice taste. I hope she had the permits for that beautiful rifle.
ReplyDeleteThe Wicket Constable of West Easton is an embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteHey Sheriff numbnuts. The other elected officials are not brandishing badges and guns. Get your self psych tested.
ReplyDeleteHey anon coward 1:09--less on the insults, more on the proper grammar and facts. It's yourself not "your self".
ReplyDeleteAlso, check the facts. In most of the commonwealth's 67 counties a sheriff is an elected official. I see plenty of them these days wearing a piece.
Sorry. I issed that comment.
ReplyDelete