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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, April 24, 2017

Brown's Expense Reports Show He was MIA in Much of 2016

Brown at State of County Address
Until medical conditions dictated otherwise, Executive John Stoffa refused to accept a special parking place that is coveted by so many other county officials. He marched up the Seventh Street hill daily, trying to set an example. During his eight years in office, he also refused to submit an expense report for the numerous functions a county Executive is expected to attend. John Brown is another story.  He filed expense reports for everything, including political trips. He, along with then Deputy Administrator Cathy Allen, were surcharged $1500 by Controller Steve Barron. To their credit, they both reimbursed the County. But what about Brown's expense reports for 2015 and 2016?  Do any look suspicious?

As part of a Right-to-Know request filed with Northampton County, I sought Brown's expense reports for 2015 and 2016. I am still awaiting some records, and told the County to take its time as I wade through the 500 pages produced. They include Brown's expense reports from 2015 to 3/25/17. During that time, he has been reimbursed $4,378.48.

Here's what I can tell you about Brown's expense reports:

1) In his first two year in office, Brown billed 151 trips. He billed for for 75 trips in 2015, mostly for travel to different functions here in the Lehigh Valley. But in 2016, he only went on 38 trips. That's about half as many as in 2015 or 2014. Why? It's because in 2016, he was too busy running for state auditor general to have much time for the county. Instead of running the county, he was trying to unseat incumbent state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. His absence created a vacuum.

2) Brown billed us $644.46 for six round trips to Philly in his unsuccessful effort to defend his termination of Ass't County Solicitor Jill Mancini without first affording her due process of law. Mancini was awarded $94,232 for the due process violation, along with $217,452 in attorney fees. The decision was affirmed by the Third Circuit, which tacked on an another $31,433.15 in attorney fees. I see no reason why taxpayers should reimburse Brown for a mess he created.

3) During his tenure, Brown has had three overnight stays at hotels, all in connection with County Comm'r Assn of Pa (CCAP) conferences. On November 22, 2015, he stayed at the Hersey Hotel for a room rate of $254.19, even though the Hampton Inn only charged Public Works Director Stan Rugis $130.67. In March 2016, he spent two nights at the Harrisburg Hilton for a CCAP conference, at a room rental rate of $317.48 for both nights. In November 2016, he was back at Hotel Hershey, which dropped its rate to $204.24. Brown was unable to state at the April 20 Council meeting whether the County even attempts to get discounted rates like the state and federal government.

4) Brown never charges for meals, even when he has meetings at restaurants. So either he is paying his own way, which is to his credit, or he is dieting so he can look as svelte as i do.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stoffa was seen parking in the deck on numerous occasions and always had an excuse. You just can't let the guy's BS go, can you?

Anonymous said...

Would not get to excited. When it comes to Stoffa, Bernie has never been able to separate his mancrush love form reality. So even Jesus Christ suffers by comparison.

Anonymous said...

a wee bit nit-picky, no?

Anonymous said...

Big Bad "Leroy" Brown, 2nd only to the rotund one, Slick Eddie Pawlowski, is a master spin doctor who is always out for a government grab. With political aspirations other than County Executive, [Auditor General], he is the second coming of our beloved ex-mayor for life "Fed Ed". Just as his days are ending, Brown's day is coming soon also. Time to dump these narcissistic a-holes!

Bernie O'Hare said...

5:45, no. His expense reports prove he was MUS much of 2026

Bernie O'Hare said...

5:14, when it comes to Stoffa, some people have an irrational hatred.

Anonymous said...

1:03 Stoffa hater. FACT - Stoffa never had a designated parking space, and if he parked in the deck behind the courthouse he did so like any other employee, by driving around to find an empty space. FACT - arrogant Brown and his dim-witted croney Allen both have private parking spaces in the deck. Another example of their "let them eat cake" attitude about county employees.

Anonymous said...

One other possibility is that someone else is paying for his meals.

Anonymous said...

While not a Brown fan by any means, not going to knock or crucify the guy for the hotel stays. CCAP organizes and schedules the events at locations that can provide rooms and meeting space large enough for all attendees. Half the stuff that gets done or started at these events occurs in the hallways, meals and bars.

Anonymous said...

While not a Brown fan by any means, not going to knock or crucify the guy for the hotel stays. CCAP organizes and schedules the events at locations that can provide rooms and meeting space large enough for all attendees. Half the stuff that gets done or started at these events occurs in the hallways, meals and bars.

Scott

Bernie O'Hare said...

Scott, I am certainly not knocking him for three hotel stays at CCAP. I believe his expense reports are unremarkable except for the lack of them in 2016. I believe their absence in 2016, when they exist in other years, is an indication he was not doing the job he was elected to do in 2016 bc he was too busy running for state auditor general.

Anonymous said...

At many of the CCAP conferences, meals are included. That may account for the hefty room charges.

Anonymous said...

JB is a grifter in the same mold as his idol..trump. All smoke and mirrors and he governs by consultant because that is what he claimed was his former profession. He has no political skills and hides behind his cronies who he pays to run interference for him. He has not changed one iota since walking on to the political stage in Bangor nearly 8 years ago. It is all bravado and no substance for the most part. He should have gone hollywood cause his acting skills are better than most.

Anonymous said...

The Northampton County dummies will re-elect this clown and his clown accomplice county council with big numbers. He is a Republican and that is all that matters. I heard some local folks talking about it ad they said he is terrible but at least he is not a Democrat. This is what years of Fox noise and Gubber Walsh on hate radio has accomplished. Unthinking hate.

Also for all their bitching the county employees and retirees will sit home on election day or stupidly vote for this guy and his cronies again.