NorCo's EMS is Code Red

Just before Christmas, I told you that Executive John Brown had named Todd Weaver to the EMS Director slot that had been vacant for 18 months. Because this is a career service position, no Council approval was needed. But Brown wanted to give him a Christmas present, and needed Council, to approve a wage hike from 76,351.81 to $91,051 per year. That way, at the beginning of this year, Weaver's wages would shoot up another two per cent to shoot up another three percent to nearly $93.000. Council granted Brown's wish, and Weaver saw a 22% raise in just two weeks.

At that salary, the County probably could have held onto Bob Mateff, the person whom it allowed to get away.

The Weaver selection comes at a time when the county is considering a merger for 911 with Bethlehem and is no reason for joy in the Christmas City

Weaver, incidentally, was a member of a selection committee that found everyone else unqualified. Weaver ostensibly had no interest in the position but conveniently allowed himself to be persuaded to accept it. Among those rejected was a highly recommended person from this area who actually had a master's degree in the field, and did emergency emergency management in the private sector. Another applicant was a high-ranking public sector emergency management employee within this area.

Brown's first choice for this job flew into town, took one look at whatever had been set up from him by Weaver, turned around and flew home. Thanks, but no thanks.

Then the selection committee refused to consider any of the qualified people who had previously applied.

Another member of this selection committee, incidentally, is Cathy Allen. She and Weaver have known each other for years.

as I told you in December, Weaver was engaged in what clearly appears to be a conflict of interest under the state ethics act. Cathy Allen apparently told him it's OK, though she's hardly an expert,has numerous tax liens and has a home in foreclosure. He was approving payments to the nonprofit fire school in Washington Tp for training. His father is an instructor there. His daughter is the Secretary. his wife runs the concession stand.

Not only does Weaver get to make these payments, but he gets to decide which outfits will not be used. Clearly he won't select a vendor that might compete with his fire school,whose reputation is such that many of the fire companies in the slate belt prefer to go to Monroe for training.

Though Hayden Phillips was troubled by these ethical problems, which were raised by Controller Steve Barron, the vote to give Weaver a 22% raise was still unanimous.

This department was supposed to expand and had the money for that purpose, but the bid came up a little short. Instead of finding the Money, Brown gutted the planned expansion and plowed the money back into the general fund.

Bethlehem's taking a closer look at ethics these days. Bob Donchez announced a gift ban. Olga Negron-DiPini and Michael Colon have proposed a local ethics commission. Willie Reynolds will unveil his own ethics proposal on Tuesday. As much as they need to merge with somebody, that somebody is not going to be NorCo if ethical shenanigans continue.