Last week, I filed a Right-to-Know request with Northampton County seeking expense reports by cabinet level officials, Executive John Brown and Council members. I've also asked for all credit card purchases made by HR Director Amy Trapp and the amount of money she has spent on her office. RTK Officer Daniel O'Donnell, Esq., filed a timely reply, granting my request, although he is redacting home addresses. It comes out to slightly more than 500 pages, and yes, this will cost me $125.25.
As I pointed out to O'Donnell, elected officials have no privacy rights in their home addresses. Those have to be a matter of public record because that is directly relevant to whether an elected official is qualified to hold office. In fact, I have these home addresses. But I have no interest in stalking Ken Kraft, much as he would like it. I am interested in seeing how government officials, elected or not, spend the public's money.
Though Council members occasionally attend County Commissioner meetings, those are hardly junkets at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas or a trip to New Orleans. They are where you go if you have insomnia. I expect to see no surprises there.
But I have already been shocked by what is going on at the Human Resources Department. I'll have many more details next week.
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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Friday, April 14, 2017
9 comments:
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Years ago a council person once told me about a county commissioners meeting he went to somewhere around Hershey. I must agree Bernie, no Las Vegas. I had a hard time staying awake hearing about the "conference". It certainly did not sound like an exciting or extravagant pouting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for NOT stalking me at home, it's scary enough at the courthouse!
ReplyDeletetwo questions i have are --how would you know if you got all the expense reports and p-card use?
ReplyDeletei believe you will get all of them but what if some were hidden?
8:02, that's why they are compiled by a RTK OFFICER, who has less motive for dishonesty. It can happen but I doubt it. I suspect waste and abuse, but have no reason to think there is fraud.
ReplyDeleteKen, you know you love it!
ReplyDeleteBernie, not everyone is a butt pirate.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bernie. Glad you are on it.
ReplyDeleteSadly, you're a useful waste of space
ReplyDeleteMr. Useful Waste of Space: I love your articles and can't wait to see what shenanigans will be exposed to the light of day due to your diligence. Maybe certain abusive and previously unaccountable Norco department head(s) will use this opportunity to start thinking about how they spend public resources. I can't imagine the inappropriate expenses and abuses that went down in Allentown City Hall under the current Norco HR Director.
ReplyDelete