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| Amy Trapp |
The chief proponent of timeclocks, which have cost Northampton County over $30,000 already (I'll haveallthe details Monday), is HR Director Amy Trapp. She had one installed outside her office within weeks of being hired. I think timeclocks are wonderful for what I'd call an encapsulated workforce like the jail, Gracedale or even the Juvenile Justice Center. The staff at those places stay at the facility and only work there. But it's foolish for the county courthouse or the human services workers. Assessors, Deputy Sheriffs, probation officers community and economic development staff and caseworkers and even clerks all have business that require them to work at remote locations. If forced to punch a clock, they would actually cost the county far more money in overtime than the $30,000 it has already flushed down the toilet.
Yesterday, I was told that Amy Trapp insists on installing time clocks and has threatened to hold up the pay for people who refuse to use them. I didn't believe this until I received a comment yesterday afternoon at 5:07 pm.making the same threat. The comment was quickly deleted, but I receive email notifications of all comments posted on my blog, even those that are deleted by the author. This one came from Dan Trapp.
HR Director Amy Trapp's husband is a fellow named Dan Trapp. Now he might have been the poster.But I know of couples who use only one person's name and I know wives who use their husband's accounts. So this could have been from Amy Trapp using her husband's account. One of them posted a comment, but forgot to do so anonymously. This is what came from "Dan Trapp":
Is this a serious article? Are you kidding me!? Hourly employees don't want to use a time clock? And there is some rule, law or document somewhere stating that hourly employees don't have to use a time clock? Seems to me that anyone putting in an honest day's work wouldn't have a problem punching in or out. As a taxpayer in Northampton county I'm glad that there will be proof of an employee being at work. These entitled spoiled brat government employees need to get on board. If they don't want to punch a clock at the Northampton county courthouse let them quit and punch a clock elsewhere. Hey, here's an idea. Don't punch the time clock and when there's no money in your account on pay day, bet they'll start punching a time clock! And as for Morganelli maybe he has more important things to be concerned about. And to the person who made the idiotic statement " it is dehumanizing" get a grip! Millions of people punch in and out every day!The comment was quickly deleted when "Dan Trapp" realized that the Trapp name was used. Either Dan Trapp or Amy Trapp, using her husband's account, posted a comment that disparages county employees who oppose timeclocks as "entitled spoiled brat government employees who need to get on board."
I'll tell you about these entitled spoiled brats. Many are single mothers. Many of them work two jobs and even three jobs to make ends meet.
This comment, which comes from the HR Director herself or her husband, is outrageous. It also includes the same threat that had earlier been attributed to Amy Trapp.
I informed Trapp about this comment and she blamed her husband. She said that he posted it. She asked me to remove his name, but incredibly, failed to apologize for what the message said, even after I sent her a verbatim copy. She never said she was sorry for insulting the very people that Executive John Brown has called the county's most valuable asset.
She did apologize to me, but I am not the person she offended.
If John Brown has even an ounce of respect for the county workforce, he should insist that she make a full apology to the entire county workforce. He should also consider asking her to resign.
It's very simple. You work by the rules your employer lays out to you. If you don't like them, either buy the firm or work elsewhere. So stop whining.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think county council will react to this? Do you think they will have something to say to the Admisntration about this? They love attacking Steve Barron, yet will they take on the Brown Admisntration, we will see.
ReplyDeleteAmy also lied to the DA saying in her email to him she new nothing about it. Looks like she remembered to be annomous at 3:13 am today as well.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many free lunches she got from the clock salesman?
ReplyDeleteWorking in the private sector and bitching like that gets you outside looking in fast
ReplyDeletecrybaby bureaucrat is all this is
ReplyDeleteCounty employees sign in /out each day and it costs the county 0 dollars. We swipe a stupid tag every day. So why the punch clocks? Our time in/out is monitored, lateness is addressed, so why the overkill? The comment made by whatever 'Trapp' is the attitude the current administration has for all employees. This is why those who don't have unions have not had Step increases. Those without unions have had health care cuts. Those without unions who are expected to ensure the policies are followed are treated like crap. So if management does not need to punch a clock we still need to document our time, swipe the stupid card and we can leave if we don't like it, cause they can get someone 'who will make the same salary' starting salary as worker who has been there for 5 years. The time clocks don't make sense since everyone won't be able to use them. Both management and non management are treated like crap from this administration! And I don't believe an apology will change that.
I think a majority of voters agree with the spoiled brats description.
ReplyDelete6:28 am If you say it enough it might become an alternative fact.
ReplyDeleteHere is idea have all Mangers including Trapp start punching a clock
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will see the tones change on this issue.
Wonder why Allentown showed her the door???
They stand by their window from the HR Suite and look out watching people leave and comment about how could they be leaving at 4:30 PM when they are already in the parking deck. Did you ever think that they started before 8:30 AM. Worry about your own time and employees (including management)running out of the building!!!! Oh let's see if they put in 8 hours on Fridays.
ReplyDeleteWait until someone doesn't get to the time clock on time and it is only 1 minute over the 7 minute grace, it will start costing the taxpayers because budgets will be increasing where employees would have not charged the County.
ReplyDeleteFor someone who claims to be so smart, she appears to make policy and does not really think them through. Like the recent change to having to use 1 hour increments instead of 1/4 hour and the PO time change that allows new workers hired in November to be entitled to 48 hours of personal time to be used by December.
ReplyDeleteYou will read this new policy and You will like this new policy or You will be terminated.
ReplyDeleteThat's how it works in the private sector buttercup.
Chin up snowflake, there is a cold, hard world outside of your coddled government job. Just imagine if you actually worked for a business that you needed to make a profit.
@7:10
ReplyDeleteIs that a fact? Never heard of any business or government agency using a 1-hour increment policy because it is a double edged sword. 1-hour also has to be given for a few minutes beyond the work day.
Personal Time being "Use or Lose" I am familiar with. That's done so employees don't have weeks or months of unused personal time accumulated that is used all at once before retirement or having found another job.
The Allentown retread couldn't accomplish her lavish goals there, so why not try it at a county level where the administration is the least transparent government in NC and has a blatant history of walking on the employees. The Brown/Allen/Trapp power structure, that cares about themselves only, must removed from power as soon as they can. This troika has no respect for workers, [union or non-union], and believes they are better than anybody.
ReplyDelete@7:34 am aka one of the Trapp Family:
ReplyDeleteThere is checks and balances in a government. This policy flies in the face of other elected officials who have the ability to run their office. Once this policy was realeased almost immediately the controller reminded Ms. Trapp he could manage his staff as he chose and would not be subject to this change in his office. I assume that e-mail was not to go to the entire county, but the administration believes they are they have absolute authority. They do not. People elected Mr. Barron during Brown's mid term to be a check over him. Council was elected as the same. The people are also represent by them. Brown and Trapp would do well to learn that sooner rather than later!
Well Dan, Your ***** of a wife is one of those employees. Guess you are now sleeping on the sofa! lol This idiot needs to go! Now we know why Allentown is so screwed up ! Fed Ed's rejects have come to Norco.
ReplyDeleteDid the timeclock ( sorry, finger id system) go out to public bid or is this another no bid contract by the administration???
ReplyDeleteIs management & administration at the courthouse M-F , 8:30 -4:30? Sure they are. They lead by example. lmao. I can also sell you some cheap swamp land in downtown Easton. And these idiots would actually pay double for it.
ReplyDelete@8:06 am: the county has a time management system. I'm sure the market is limited for the devices that will work with the system. So this is not a no bid contract. It is more of purchasing a system that will work with what the county has. Still a needless $30,000 down the drain.
ReplyDeleteThis clock thing feels like it is a personal vendetta of some sort at this point. It's been poorly communicated. When the DA doesn't know what's going on that suggests no departments do. She was even allegedly shocked to see them being installed.
ReplyDeleteYou'd think that there would be memos circulated to employees talking about the clocks long before this. Appears there are none. For a fairly pricey project of $30,000 you'd expect to hear about long before some maintenance guy took a saw to the drywall.
Threatening people's pay is not cool at all. I hope that isn't true. If so, the County needs a new HR director because you can't tolerate one employee (Trapp) doing that to other employees.
"crybaby bureaucrat is all this is"
ReplyDeleteThe timeclocks are one issue. The other is a matter of respect. No HR manager in the private or public sector should ever refer to the employees in a disparaging manner. NoHR manager should tolerate his or her significant other doing so, either. If husband or wife makes that kind of remark,it is almost certainly the result of what he or she has heard from his or her spouse.
Amy Trapp, either directly or through her husband, referred to county workers as "entitled spoiled brat government employees." If John Brown believes that the county worker is the county's biggest asset, this kind of statement has no place.
In addition to being insulting, it is untrue. Many of the people Trapp wants to punch a clock already work two jobs. I know one who actually works three jobs. In addition to her county job, she waits on tables and cleans offices. I see others, including a person from John's office, working in a department store.
As bad as the statement itself is,I am even more troubled by Trapp's unwillingness to apologize for the statement she or her husband made.
If Brown does not fire her,and this is something he should seriously consider, he should require amass email from her to the county employees, apologizing for that false and degrading statement.
If he fails to take action, Council should at the least demand she resign.
Boy, has Trapp fallen from your grace, O'Hare. When she was appointed you were gushing about her qualifications and professionalism. Now she is a scrub who should be fired. What a fickle fan you are!
ReplyDeleteHR Mgr with full fledged disrespect for workforce.
ReplyDeleteResignation is logical remedy.
9:36, Referring to employees in the way that she or her husband did will do that to people like me.At the very least, she needs to apologize to the workforce. If Brown fails to take action, his buddies on Council should call on her to apologize or resign. I am very disappointed in her.
ReplyDeleteTrapp is obviously an anal retentive despot who has no respect for the county workforce. Her bloated salary is 3 x the average worker's, but that doesn't stop her and/or her dimwit husband from insulting the lowly masses. Brown will never fire one of his cronies. Especially one who shares his distain for hourly workers.
ReplyDeleteBrown will suffer at election time he forgets it is the county employee who makes or breaks the election of county executive no one else out in the real world really cares about the county executive''s office ,but the employee's certainly care about the powers that be. Trapp should be fired it's very evident that she finds the county workers beneath her ! an apology won't change that!
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteI seem to REmember your first article about her and my comment being deleted, her own issues should be a good sign that she is unfit for the position. This falls under the catagory of the bearded fatlady that participated in the rape, murder and dismemberment her addoptive daughter that also just seemed to work in the same public sector?
The triboro county carnival circus's traveling band of deatheaterZ a subsect of the soul sale sectors infection process design by the RElocation process implimented!
REpublican redd
humanist by design
O'Hare's defective ego on full display here, in his never ending vitrol, and daily display of attention craving crap.
ReplyDeleteThis is the mind of a delusional troll who actually believes Trapp and the County workforce glue themselves to this fiction
Wake up day for O'Hare sadly never arrives. A complete basket case with no fans except himself and Ronny boy.
Ronny boy is going to drag down the entire ticket all on his own, and errand boy O'Hare is always first in line to do his dirty work. Everyone knows Ronny wants Brown out. That is why he is running for Council..the DEMS will come out in large forces this year, just what Ronny and O'hare want
We see through the fiction...from now until election day the bottom feeder will be spewing his vitrol so Brown loses. But Ronny boy has no chance at winning....and Ronny boy knows this well. Ron is fake news.
@ Is that a fact? Never heard of any business or government agency using a 1-hour increment policy because it is a double edged sword. 1-hour also has to be given for a few minutes beyond the work day.
ReplyDeletePersonal Time being "Use or Lose" I am familiar with. That's done so employees don't have weeks or months of unused personal time accumulated that is used all at once before retirement or having found another job.
Yes it is a fact. An employee must use hr increments and the county cannot 'NOT PAY' the worker for time worked.
And I understand the use it or lose it Personal Time, but giving an new hire 48 hours to be used (or donated to someone who needs time due to illness) is just plain stupid. Oh, the comment from the higher ups when the policy was questioned, you don't have to approve the request to be out. Historically PT could be used without prior approval. I.E. Emergancy. So now the bad guy manager has to say, well you have it but you can't use it. LOL. Just not thought through on ANY LEVEL!
ReplyDeleteSorry I should clarify the above. A person hired in November will be eligible for 48 hrs PT to be used by 12/31 of that year.
The fact is, both in the private as well as public sectors, is that employees are the rungs on a manager's ladder to success - don't hesitate to step on them
ReplyDeleteRedd, the reason you get deleted is bc you post gibberish. Stop doing that and your comments will last longer.
ReplyDeleteThis surprises you Bernie?? Mr. Brown and his Admin don't care about the workforce. All they care about are themselves. This was quite apparent with the healthcare costs and the lack of step raises and yet his staff secretively received special behind the door raises. Mr. Brown is devastating the workforce like no county Executive has ever. I feel sorry for Mr. Brown. He will one day be gone from the county and all he'll have accomplished is that he destroyed lives of so many.
ReplyDelete11:59 is Tricia Mezzacappa, who has nothing substantive to say but feels obliged to attack me and Ron Angle, though this story has nothing to do with either one of us. It's about timeclocks and county officials who disparage the workforce, something you regularly do.
ReplyDeleteAlmost like a recent incident where the local township manager sent her updated resume to the wrong printer and into the wrong hands.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteSometimes I have to do that style of writing, but that historical writing was very derogatory and deleted!
As for the crazy lady, you need to talk to Ron about some of his attack shitfly's to solve that issue.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment crosses the line. Leave her parents out of this, please.
Delete"Brown will suffer at election time he forgets it is the county employee who makes or breaks the election of county executive no one else out in the real world really cares about the county executive''s office, but the employee's certainly..."
ReplyDeleteOh really? You folks always say that, then on election day you sleep in. How do you think Brown and his anti-employee county council got elected. Stop bitching and start voting for real!
Why cant an hourly employee punch in and out? They are paid with my tax money. Even the Townships and Borough employee's punch in and out. It also protects the employee from someone saying they were not at work-
ReplyDeleteThat's a bunch of bull that they cant punch in cause its de-humanizing.... oh ok.. lets get a vagina costume and picket the courthouse now?
ItZ a vagina hat, and that all infamous one that had a hairy ungroomed one under her armpit. Some of this stuff is too damm hillarious, especially to be gazed upon with morning coffee!
Deletei always VOTE!
ReplyDeleteO'Hare loved this woman. She gave him the time of day and a wink. That is how women can get O'Hare on their side. He is so easy to manipulate, people joke about it. Women in particular know his number. However, when a mancrush like Morganelli get between them the woman will suffer.
ReplyDeleteMost people knew what this person was while Bernie was gushing about her. She has RBF.
OMG, Amy Trapp needs to go! "Entitled Spoiled Brat Government Employees". Doubt her husband wrote this. If he did, maybe he forgot the huge pay scale raise his wife received courtesy of us employees and tax payers. New system saving the county money, yeah right. If the county was so concerned about saving money, why do they still give employees $1,500 each that opt out of the health benefits. Wonder how many administrators get that perk? They have a blind eye to that. That may be an interesting number for us tax payers to know. How many county employees receive the $1,500 not to have coverage and who are they? I spent my lunch hour on the phone trying to negotiate payment terms with 4 different medical providers just so that they don't go into collection and the county is wasting tax dollars? Say, there are 60 employees that receive that nice $1,500 and I had heard it is more, could you imagine the money that would be saved. Some county employees are married to each other and one gets the $1,500 even though the county still pays to have them covered, some are married to state employees within the county and have exceptional benefits, etc... All the extra $1,500 could go back to the county or even at the least to maybe the employees that have the lovely high deductibles now. On another note too, ever wonder why we get emails from Trapp late at night on a Sunday? As head of HR, is there a county computer off county property with our SSNs on it or a computer that can access such date? Admin needs to look closer to home when looking to save money and be productive. Thank God the election is coming up.
ReplyDeleteThis issue of time clocks worked out very well for blue collar worker like myself who once worked in manufacturing. However this makes no sense for others like inspectors, family/domestic, judicial, animal control and social workers who have to accommodate outside hours for the people they serve in all kinds of locations.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why some people insist on comparing these jobs to the private sector. Government services are entirely different. People services are unlike those you'd find in the for profit private industry. This is as it should be.
An audit was done by Steve Barron's team and THEY said "there should be time clocks"
ReplyDeleteand Council said they wanted them and voted to pay for them
You do not want Amy Trapp to go. Allentown has gone to hell since Amy moved on. Unless you are union, A-town employees no longer have anyone advocating for them. There is no focus on management training or staff development.
ReplyDeleteAmy would not have allowed a Bureau Manager to slap a clerk in the face with no repercussions.
The open door policy is long gone. The current HR manager wants to build a wall. How does someone gain entry into the HR office- through facial recognition computer software. If someone on the inside knows you, you may be buzzed in.
Hourly employees will benefit from time clocks if they work any overtime or need confirmation of hours worked.
It's a shame the progress Amy made for Allentown has stalled, it's now interim directors eating their way to the top and all energy and resources being put into into 30 second infomercials.
I have recommended time clocks in locations around the county. However, none of my audits have ever said that time clocks were a good idea throughout the entire county. I have heard Cathy Allen say almost exactly what anon 4:04 has said. This simply is not true!
ReplyDeleteThis is an terribly idea rolled out by an administration that clearly did not have buy in from major stakeholders within the government.
I don't disagree with time clocks at Gracedale or at the Jail. It makes sense there if there are policies and procedures in place for their efficient operation and usage.
However, prior to being controller I worked for a DP/MH provider running group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. I know and understand that in certain diverse work forces time clocks will not work. LVCI hit the nail on the head. It does makes sense in certain areas, but is largely a waste in the courthouse as a whole.
If you visit the controllers websote and review the audit reports there you will see I never make such a bold claim that all hourly county workers should punch in. I know full well it won't work in several places, and think this current time clock idea is a waste of money and will largely cause more problems than it fixes. Had the administration asked me I have several ideas about savings and suggestions about managing the workforce that won't hurt moral or cause havoc with the important day to day tasks these workers perform, but they don't ask for anyone's input as is clear from this current time clock mess.
I feel though that the level of disrespect shown here towards the taxpayers as well as the employees in this situation is tragic. You have an administration who has wasted almost $30,000 on these clocks not to mention the costs ongoing to maintain the time clocks and the software to run them. That is taxpayer money down the drain. You also have an administration that belittles the frontline workers that the citizens rely on to help them get a dog license, pay a tax bill, renew a gun license, etc... as a taxpayer I want a workforce that feels valued and respected. That way they provide good customer service to the people they see on a day to day basis. The workforce concerns over time clocks are valid and have very little to do with accountability or time keeping. They have to do with efficiency and extra cost added if time clocks are forced on employees in certain departments.
Please don't mistake my support of using timeclocks in certain places as support for this current plan. I don't not support it and there is no audit report currently or forthcoming that endorses it.
I'd just like to point out the use of a double negative in your conclusion: "I don't not support" technically translates into I DO support it... subconscious slip?
Deleteat anon 4:47, you can gladly have her back!
ReplyDeleteLet's make a trade!
DeleteTake the $30K out of Amy's bloated salary. Since she won't miss it when she leaves early every Friday if she even comes in.
ReplyDeleteYes, unless she resigns, punish her with a $30 K reduction in salary. She is an arrogant Brown flunky who could care less about the lowly hourly employees. Her childish hoverboard stunt should result in her termination. She has become toxic and has to go.
ReplyDelete4:47, I heard nothing but good things about Amy in Allentown. But after the Calais remark which was made either by her or her husband I am very disappointed so far as I know she said no apology to Connie employees today for that reason I would ask her resignation if I were the executive
ReplyDeleteI imagine the comment was made in haste or the anonymous option would have been selected. Amy may have been advised not to respond publicly. She will make good on the wrong
DeleteThe problem with time clocks is that they demoralize a work force, as though big brother is watching you. People (employees) want to be treated as adults and therefore with respect. In sum they turn out to be more work to monotor than they are worth.
ReplyDeleteIt can also be a tool. Suppose the person responsible for payroll in an office was fluffing their own time and maybe a "friend's" time so that it appears overtime was earned. Reports from the time clocks can be run to see edited times. I don't think tax payers should pay for cheaters.
DeleteShe's a NASTY woman isn't she folks.
ReplyDeleteYes she is the definition of arrogance
Delete"Entitled Spoiled Brat Government Employees" are still working on Fridays while Amy and her cabinet leave early or don't come in at all. They should be made to clock in and out so taxpayers know their time and don't tell me they work more hours. That's bull and they should be there during core hours Monday through Friday when they are needed by others to get their work done. Fire her and her cabinet that take after her!
ReplyDeleteApology will not be accepted by the employees. She has broken too many policies that employees would have been fired for. Fire her!!!
ReplyDelete@ 6:14 and 6:22 OK Cathy Allen or Amy Trapp, whatever you say... The payroll employees don't fluff time and it could be checked by the dam swipe card or the sign in/out sheets. She showed her colors so you can stop trying to clean it up. Who comes to work and rides a hoverboard? Do you see that any job? You can try to clean it up as much as you want, but the truth is this administration does stupid things and try to say it is for the benefit of the tax payers. These are you tax dollars at work. The punch clock does not solve the problem. If an employee is cheating, you should look at the manager. There are already checks/balances in place and they should be used. If there is a problem, then deal with the problem and stop throwing money on things that won't make a difference.
ReplyDeleteWoah..turn it down. I wasn't referring to Northampton County, there are other municipalities..with active investigations..
DeleteMaybe Sal will offer her a job in Easton. They both have no idea how to troll the internet.
ReplyDeleteBO & SB, why are the time clocks a good idea at a place like the prison? If I don't show up for work or show up late then the person I'm relieving doesn't go home. It's actually probably the last place in the entire county where a time clock is actually needed. Just a waste of taxpayer money. We punch in, check in with our LT's and then relieve our fellow officer so it's a triple check in theory.
ReplyDeleteI am no fan of time clocks. Doesn't work for the department I work in. And my supervisor holds people accountable without the need for a punch clock. But..... I love how everyone blasts management on here. Many of us put in over 40 hours every week without compensation. Many make less than the people we supervise. We are available even when trying to take time off. Don't lump every person in management in with the few who aren't the best. And as for HR.... policy changes never go over without complaint. People do not like change. I was one who hated the change to healthcare. Still do. But I know I still have it better than many who have much higher costs. Also, while everyone is ripping apart HR for whatever reason they feel is necessary, I have had several positive interactions. For the first time I was able to speak to someone about my benefits unlike when the previous person was in charge of benefits; when I had questions about an issue with an employee I received guidance rather quickly from various HR staff. And when I questioned something, HR staff would tell me point blank if I was out of line with my thinking even if I didn't agree with it. They have defended employees in my experience but also assisted management which is something we haven't had in the past. I agree that some things can't be across the board due to the varying work each division does. And people have a right to say what they wanted about elected or appointed officials. Freedom of speech. But someone on here made a personal attack against Amy's parents which I think is a low blow. They aren't County employees or public servants and don't deserve to be brought into the matter.
ReplyDelete9:42, I completely agree with your point about the inappropriate attacks on her parents and deleted that comment ten minutes before your own observation. I should have deleted it sooner, but the comments were coming fast and furious and that one took a while to sink in with me. I am also happy to hear you have had positive interactions with HR. But the slam that either she or husband took at the county workforce, combined with her refusal to apologize, has condemned her in my eyes. If it were up to me, she'd now be looking for another job.
ReplyDeleteShe was looking for another job the day she started. It will be no surprise to hear that she is moving on.
DeleteBO if the County fired everyone for comments that people didn't like, there would be a lot of vacancies. Just playing devil's advocate.... why is it that you are ok with the constant attacks on management (not meaning JB or anyone in his cabinet)? People rip us apart on your blog all the time. And we have to just take it. we aren't appointed people or elected officials. The comment was said. Does it change the fact that I will still go to work on Monday and do my job...no. I can see how people can be offended but as someone who has been attacked by public comment in the past, I can also see how a person can react. You say she's condemned in your eyes. You also condemned the controller in the past for his outside work. Sometimes you are quick to jump on people to get a story and stir the pot. You tend to flip flop. The only one you haven't flip flopped on is JB or Mr. Stoffa. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAmy sure knows how to take the "human" out of "resources." Sad...
ReplyDelete10;13, If the devil hired you to be his advocate, he better get his money back. It's not even clear what you are talking about. When I attack someone, it tends to be over policy or transparency, and I sign my name. It is not personal. You suggest I am quick to jump on people just to stir the pot. That is nonsense. If I wanted to have lots of readers, I'd be writing about something other than local government and certainly not county government. What I do is inform people in an age in which one daily newspaper is so pitiful it does not even attend county meetings. I do not get paid for this, except the stories I write for a weekly paper. It is a public service,, except that unlike you, I do it out of a desire to be helpful and not to butter my bread.
ReplyDeleteI attacked Barron when he was clearly violating the HRC, and supported him as he matured and became a very effective controller. I supported Amy when I thought she was trying to make changes that needed to be made in the HR department. But I am going to condemn any county official who disparages the workforce in the manner that she or her husband did, and when she refused to apologize to the people she insulted, I'd fire her.
She has crossed a line.
I generally do not go after people personally. My readers do. I delete the comments unless the person is an elected official or high-ranking public official. You also seem to think that I am bound to always regard someone as evil once I have been critical or always regard someone as a saint since I have leveled praise. That is ridiculous, too. I can and do praise and condemn Ken Kraft on different posts within the same day. The world is not black and white. And my praise or criticism is usually about policy. He gets that. Why don't you? Probably bc you view the world in black and white. This is not flip-flopping. This is an independent response to various issues. I might think Ken is absolutely right about one thing and absolutely wrong about another.
Brown started out as a terrible Exec, but I did have praise for him in his second year. Then in his third, he put the county on autopilot to run for state auditor general. When Stoffa fired two ladies for changing naughty emails, I was brutal to him bc it was wrong.
If you don't like how I cover people, don't read the blog, or start one of your own and maybe I'll learn from you.
Time clocks are 'we need to keep them honest"'. Without calling anybody out . HR - should be the most important office for the county structure. The HR office should be developing and mentoring not having to 'keep track of ' who they hire . It comes to a mindset that says - Do They Trust Me ? Rather than 'I love my job and I trust my supervisor.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteI have woken to have redd if this article about the most important function within the government was going to reach the level of team snakoil sales people from wence it cometh before infecting northampton co!
These RElocated infections are more like war criminals on American soil commiting crimes not only against the public who they suposidly serve they also commit henious crimes against there co-workers all in the name of progress. This falls into another catagory too as it came from, failing to do service by doing a disservice to the workers it serves!
This is a new learned type of work force, public and private yet one in the same. The subs out in the feild do as little as possible just to slim under the radar, and the ones in official seats doing the outsorcing are the very ones that incubate theZe workforce illZ? ItZ all wrapped up into the triboro design and the arcaic saying of order out of chaos, no thought process of oneZ self, just the same old county circus carnival gerbal wheel duplicated by thoZe infections from the BIG CESSPOOL recreating the same within all city coreZ to use the insurable peril shitstew upon head count against the very inhabitants!
FAilures one and all, butt keep acting as if your efforts do something to move forward back to the darkages!
REpublican redd
humanist by design
I will gladly return from the bedbug, cockroach ridden house I just spent an hour in to clock out. Maybe even stay at my desk awhile..let them get used to their new home.
ReplyDeleteConclusion to this "your Fired"😎
ReplyDeleteNot in Brown's world. He will give her a raise and say he wishes he had ten more of her.
ReplyDeleteIsn't Brown and county council doing exactly what we elected them to do? Why do you progressives always think that the majority think like you? Brown is doing a great job. The majority of county council is doing a great job. They are running a conservati8ve government. We have it at the local level just like we put it in place at the national level. We are on the road back to good government like it used to be.
ReplyDeleteAre these government workers overpaid and have tons of benefits and big pensions? Come on how bad do they have it? Mr. Brown is not evil.
I was unaware that only progressives oppose timeclocks. I would suspect that numerous conservatives oppose them as well, especially when they end up costing money and result in more overtime. Also, i was unaware that Brown and Council think it's ok to slam NorCo staff as "entitled spoiled brat government employees." Thanks for clarifying.
ReplyDeletePareto's Principle, aka the 80/20 Rule tells us that 20% of effort achieves 80% of desired results, and 80% achieves just 20%. The interpretation in the business world is that 80% of an organization do very little. Government is no different. In fact, because it's more difficult to fire government employees, the number of goldbricks is likely higher. Keeping the honest, honest is not the point. There are a lot of do nothings in private and public jobs.
ReplyDeleteHow about applying that principle to HR? I'd suggest that 0% was put into this idea. Tapp and brown both know that time clocks are very unpopular in NorCo. If they did any research, they'd learn that it took many years to get the jail, where even i support a timeclock, to use them. They'd know they are no absolute rulers in this matter. They'd know that both the judges, DA and the controller are independently elected officials who resent interference in their offices, as they should. They's know that the implementation of this timeclock would be very uneven and would just breed resentment among lower paid employees forced to use them. Thus, it would be imperative to build a consensus. Instead, the county spent $30,000 on an idea they likely will be unable to implement. They began hammering away drywall outside the DA's office, court administration and at other places,without sitting down and discussing the matter wth them. In short, they started a war. Sun Tzu's Art of War makes clear that "The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." They chose to fight and did so without knowing their enemy. "If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. " Sun Tzu
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with the way it is now??
ReplyDeleteHas there been anything to point to misuse or fraud?
Will the time clocks be placed at the Magisterial District Courts as well?
I see a revolt coming.
Sounds like "Pareto's Principle" is another piece of convenient psycho-babble. I think another term for it is bullshit. Please, what a crock of nonsense, if it can't be proven it is just another tool to screw over the masses. The fact that regular folk abide by their jailers terms is what is really sad. Workers of the world unite, you own the keys to your own chains!
ReplyDeleteIf John Brown wants any County Employees to vote for him he needs to fire Amy and clear House in HR of all who she brought in From Criminal ridden FBI investigated Allentown or we will be next to be investigated by the FBI.Just saying!
ReplyDeleteWhy, exactly? As far as I know, there are only 1 or 2 people who are from the outside. Everyone else in HR has been there or moved there from other county offices.
DeleteShe brought Mike Twining from the City of Allentown. He is the Deputy Director, and he also spoke on her behalf in front of Norco council when she was nominated.
DeleteOk, so that's one. The word "all" implies multiple. Has he done something that would warrant his dismissal?
DeleteHow long before I start seeing hilarious memes featuring me all around the courthouse right above the clocks?
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Admiral Ackbar
The Clown administration strikes again! His Blundering Herd of incompetent administrators couldn't get wet if they jumped out of a boat.
ReplyDeleteBernie, how come it seems as if for theZe typeZ of imbacliZ they all have a four day work week and think there ideaZ are brighter than the suns rays of light upon there failing idiocies!
ReplyDeleteThan there is the simple fact that the tansiant traveling curcus carnival is just that, some sort of circus shell trix played with funds that are and should be public assets.
From the sights of it it looks to be of professional level, what level and job description is left to the imagination? This one allmost makes for a close run with the snake oil sales people it colluded with whence it came, or who it followed as takers stick together!
REpublican redd
humanist by design
Of course not. I do not subscribe to the view that everyone who was brought her by Trapp must go.But she should. Her refusal to apologize for those arrogant words about the county worker, have done her in with me.
ReplyDelete"But I know of couples who use only one person's name and I know wives who use their husband's accounts. So this could have been from Amy Trapp using her husband's account."
ReplyDeleteYeah, and it could have been from Vladimir Putin, too. Your fairness, accuracy, and reasonableness bring me to this blog on a regular basis, but this post does not rise to your usual high standards, Bernie. There isn't a shred of evidence that she posted the comments; the foundation of some couples using each others accounts is beyond flimsy. The rank speculation in the headline could just as easily be "Trapp or Her Husband or anti-Trapp Union Members..." The only story here, if there's a story at all, is that someone using a Google account with a name matching Trapp's husband posted a comment attacking opposition to time clocks.
@Self-appointed LVR Ombudsman
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am not the biggest fan of Bernie, he did state earlier that she put the blame on her husband. So unless you consider an admission "beyond flimsy" you are off base on this one.
"There isn't a shred of evidence that she posted the comments; the foundation of some couples using each others accounts is beyond flimsy."
Yes, Trapp told me it was her husband. I have it in writing, too. So it was either him or her, using his account. I suspect it is the latter, but can't prove it at this moment. This much is clear.It was either her or him. She was given several opportunities to apologize and failed. Had she done so,I might not have even run this story. But her refusal to apologize tells me she has no respect for the workforce. I'd demand her resignation. Brown has not, which tells me he has no respect for the workforce, either, despite his claims to the contrary.
ReplyDeleteSo, she admitted her husband posted it. Therefore it is not "either her or him," it was HE who posted it. Why exactly does she need to apologize for her husband's opinion? Just because my husband thinks Deadpool is the greatest superhero in history, doesn't mean I agree with him (because I don't). He is an adult and entitled to his opinion. Had she apologized for his behavior or remark, some would say it was done tongue-in-cheek or insincere and still call for her head! It's like this lady is damned if she does, damned if she doesn't.
DeleteMake rules/policies, she sucks. Enforce old policies, she needs to make new ones and she sucks. Do something to monitor time, she sucks. Not monitor time, she sucks. Take a minute and blow off steam on a hover board and proving she is human and can smile and laugh, she's juvenile. Is fully professional, well then she has RBF and is a c*nt. Send emails in the weekend, she's breaking rules. Not available for something that happens on the weekend, she's irresponsible. Like, what can she do????
What people fail to realize is that rarely does HR at any level actually MAKE rules. They get to be the face of "the boss's" policy adjustments. Their job is to try to keep a company out of legal trouble by suggesting routes of action. The company can choose to follow the advice or not.
She could've "instructed" her husband to never read or comment on this blog, but he did. And at least she admitted that! She could have very well went the route of the Putin comment above and denied the entire thing!
Give the lady a break! Geez, it's like you have this personal vendetta or something!
It was Amy she is the one with insomnia and sends emails in the middle of the night. Not Dan
DeleteThe comment was posted at 5:07 PM. To whom is that considered the "middle of the night?"
DeleteThe funny thing is that the words used by her husband are some of the same things county employees heard her say. So as I previously stated, those remarks may actually have been made by her. And if these remarks do not reflect her beliefs, she needed to make that clear to the county workforce and apologize for the insult to them and to the DA. But I think they do reflect her beliefs. When you've already dug a deep hole, time to stop digging.
ReplyDeleteAmy Trapp typically generates radically differing opinions from three kinds of people: 1.) People who humble themselves and respect and adhere to her logical mission to maintain that ALL county employees are held accountable for the work they've done, 2.) People who have a prideful, distorted, and grandiose view of their own entitlement, and 3.) People who dislike her and will slander her name no matter what she does. The opinions people hold towards her unmistakably reveal their pride, their submission to authority, and their work ethic.
ReplyDeleteAmy Trapp is a self-absorbed person who fails to recognize that she has an obligation to the employee and not just John Brown. I gave her ample opportunity to apologize for the degrading statement she or her husband made about the county employee and John Morganelli. Had she done so sincerely,I might have never published that comment. But she was too caught up with herself to recognize how wrong that was. I certainly don't respect her and no one should be obliged to humble himself or herself around her. Who the hell do you think she is? Also, I am no county employee and hence necessarily am unable to have a warped view of my own entitlement. I neither like nor dislike her, but I am not going to allow her to get away with what happened and could never consider her a friend. I have no intention of defaming her, unless you consider the truth to be defamatory. I will not allow vulgar comments about her, but you can't expect people you call spoiled brats to like it.
ReplyDeleteAmy Trapp typically generates radically differing opinions from three kinds of people:
ReplyDelete1.) People who humble themselves and respect and adhere to her logical mission to maintain that ALL county employees are held accountable for the work they've done,
2.) People who have a prideful, distorted, and grandiose view of their own entitlement, and 3.) People who dislike her and will slander her name no matter what she does. The opinions people hold towards her unmistakably reveal their pride, their submission to authority, and their work ethic.