Career service was created when the Home Rule Charter was adopted. Its purpose in theory was to reward and promote employees based on merit and ability, as opposed to who they know. Shortcomings in that system have led to unions, and 75% of the county workforce is now organized under 11 separate unions. But union or not, the chief advantage of career service is that you are given a property right in your job. You can be fired only of there is "just cause," and are entitled to due process, i.e. notice and an opportunity to be heard, before that happens.
Exempt employees are completely different. They were also established under the Home Rule Charter so that the Executive would have an inner core of staff in whom he can confide and set policy. Unlike career service employees, who are protected in the Home Rule Charter from termination without "just cause," exempt employees serve at the pleasure of whomever appointed them.
All judicial employees are exempt. Even if they unionize, a judge can send them packing.
When Executive John Brown was sworn in, he became the Lord and Master of a gaggle of county employees that extend beyond his cabinet. Each cabinet member has an exempt employee. Assistant county solicitors and part-time public defender are also exempt.
His cabinet is listed below,along with their salaries.
Director of Administration Cathy Allen - $93,626.00. Allen has no education beyon a high school diploma and had no county experience prior to being selected. There were several outstanding tax liens filed against her, and at one point, her home was in foreclosure. Call me cRaZy, but I think McClure will let her slip away.
DCED Director Tim Herrlinger - $85,392.53. Herrlinger is well educated but his prior career is as a fundraiser. Personally, I'd repurpose the department to focus on community development. But McClure has said he'd really like to create some jobs in the slate belt.
Corrections Director Dan Keen - $106,842.94. Keen is a glorified corrections officer who promised to move here, then didn't. His proposal to build a new $185 million jail, and most likely at Gracedale, was rejected by the voters when they rejected Brown. Keen will likely be eliminated.
Fiscal Affairs Director Jim Hunter - $93,626.00. Hunter impressed me with his honesty as Fiscal Director. He comes from the banking industry. He is too close to Brown for McClure to want to keep around.
Human Resources Director Amy Trapp - $111,202.83. Trapp is pretty much responsible for entire county workforce voting against Brown. With her salary, I'd like her to return the money for those gift cards that went who knows where. She was by far Brown's worst pick, unless you like $800 popcorn machines. She flouted rules that she enforced against others. She can sneak her dog into the next place that makes the mistake of hiring her.
Human Services Director Alison Frantz - $102,241.78. I have heard bad and good about her. She is apolitical.
Public Works Director Stan Rugis- $102,241.78. - He is held in high regard by County Council and understands the county's infrastructure. He'll be hard to replace.
Sheriff Dave Dalrymple - $97,446.75. Though likable and professional, Lamont McClure was very bothered about a Sheriff who does not live in the county he serves.
Coroner Zach Lysek - $111,202.83. Though technically exempt, all Lysek has to do is ask, "How are you feeling? You look a little pale." He's a keeper.
38 comments:
Mr. McClure should throw them all out. Clean house as the voters demand. He does not need your opinion, he was elected not you.
@ 3:57. Harsh
I appreciated this blogs investigation into Brown’s cabinet. I’d bet my next paycheck we’ll see nothing similar with McClure’s cabinet. The left wins this one.
@3:57 Your opinion is to throw them all out. McClure and the rest of us dont need your opinion either.
Make sure that Trapp hires her own moving people to move all her shit except for the popcorn machine, tv, and gift cards. That will be a GLORIUS day. So excited!
I was always of the impression that there were more than 40 "exempt" positions in the County and the exempt positions were filled by political hacks who donate money to the incumbent executive's political party. Don't the courts have about another at least another 50 positions that are exempt? for example, magistrate's employees are all exempt. The whole county needs to be looked at. You are right Bernie. we need a "Charter Study Commission".
A very good piece, but there are others on the exempt totem pole who should be shown the door!
Alison Frantz has done a very good job in extremely difficult circumstances. Human Services is a huge part of the County budget, and is responsible for some very important - literally life saving - programs. It needs stability, and should be exempt from "left right" political swings. If she wishes to remain, I really think the new administration should keep her, based on merits, not politics.
a new broom sweeps clean .... everyone is replaceable .... Mclure will make the right choices i have every confidence in him.
These were all crony appointees. We elected McClure to "drain the swamp". Drain each one of them.
Karner would be a great hire for the County DCED
"Karner would be a great hire for the County DCED"
Especially with the Slate Belt focus McClure plans. She is from there and knows the players.
"I was always of the impression that there were more than 40 "exempt" positions in the County and the exempt positions were filled by political hacks who donate money to the incumbent executive's political party. Don't the courts have about another at least another 50 positions that are exempt? for example, magistrate's employees are all exempt. The whole county needs to be looked at. You are right Bernie. we need a "Charter Study Commission"."
All judicial employees are exempt.There are probably several hundred and I will give you a breakdown, possibly tomorrow. Yes, we do need a HRC study, but I doubt there will be any move in that direction.
"Karner would be a great hire for the County DCED"
She does not want it. Chief DiLuzio and Alicia are very loyal to Bob Donchez. He must be a good boss as well as a good mayor.
Despite what you say about Mr. Keen, he's turned the jail into a more safe enviorment and has improved many defiencies that has hindered the department for many years. Why the sarcasam? I don't understand your motive to poke fun of someone because of their background or education. People who enjoy making fun of others usually are not happy with themselves. Maybe one day you will see that your childish ways are just that, childish. While his attempted to correct all the issues plaqueing the Jail was not accomplished. He has improved the Jail greatly. Atleast he had the vision to explore a new Jail, unlike county council. If Mr. Keen is replaced the county will have lost a visionary with high goals for the department of corrections.
"He does not need your opinion, he was elected not you."
Based on that logic, I should never have written a word about Brown's prison plans, or his government by consultant. After all, he was elected, not me. You'll be reading lots of opinions from me, and in case you have not noticed, I am my own man.
Hate to break this to you, but I doubt very much that he will can everyone. Zach Lysek will certainly stay.
"Karner would be a great hire for the County DCED"
No she wouldn't. Donchez would love for her to leave but she is hanging on, despite her employees.
"Despite what you say about Mr. Keen, he's turned the jail into a more safe enviorment and has improved many defiencies that has hindered the department for many years. Why the sarcasam? I don't understand your motive to poke fun of someone because of their background or education"
No sarcasm in my Keen critique. He is a glorified corrections officer who broke his word. He said he would move here and did not. He is the one who wanted a new jail, not bc it is needed, but to pad his own resume. I recall his shakedown that revealed ... nothing. There is little doubt in my mind that he is gone.
"Alison Frantz has done a very good job in extremely difficult circumstances."
I have heard bad and good.
If Karner left to go to the County you would see the biggest party at City Hall since Liberty won the State Championship!!
Frantz is not a leader. She defers to her friends. Time to sweep clean.
I agree Frantz is not a leader. She has been a puppet for Amy Trapp,and has her select group of favorites,allowing employees to work scheduled overtime on an ongoing basis, padding their salaries, but most concerning for taxpayers is padding their pensions. Allowing her favorites in crisis intervention to work scheduled overtime on an ongoing basis is bleeding taxpayers on the norco pensions for life. Allison has no management experience. She was simply a Caasp coordinator, and health choices manager. Being apolitical is meaningless in terms of her leadeship and effectiveness. Hopefully the new administration has someone wuth much more experience and leadership ability looking out for the taxpayers and employees, attempting to strike a nice balance.
That is funny Mr.Keen has made our lives miserable or did you not see the high turn over at the jail we are working 16 hour shifts because everyone has left the prison why don't you work 16 hours shift and see how you feel before praising him ...he has made up rules that doesn't make any sense.he has made it so hard for the officer we are constantly walking on egg shells ..he has taken everything away from the inmates making difficult for us he came in trying to prove a point and yet hasn't proven anything but destroyed the moral in this institution
Your an idiot
If you were not an idiot yourself, you’d know it’s “you’re.” I am not going to allow you to sully the reputation of county workers unless you identify yourself so they know who to sue for libel. Now go away, coward.
2:00PM SAID.. "we are working 16 hour shifts because everyone has left the prison". You obviously don't know your facts. The reason so many are working 16 hours is because overtime is part of the officers contract and the union is unwilling to change the schedule which would eliminate the need for so much overtime.
@11:27 and at @7:19 is either Mr. Keen or his mouthpiece Heather. Overtime is not negotiated into the contract. The only overtime built into the contract is for roll call. Your comments aren't shocking because desperation leads to these type of acts. Elections have consequences.
Who really gives a s*** about John Brown's exempt employees let them all go bye bye
Karner is in the top three of the most hated at City Hall. They would be dancing in the streets if she left. Bernie you have no idea the kind of person she is and how far she will go to backstab people that don't agree with her. Bob doesn't want her but he doesn't have the b...s to get rid of her.
This McClure voter says to drain the swamp...except for Alison Frantz. She's done a great job under many difficult challenges...regardless of what I think about (I mean how her other half treated me).
yeah, grabbing my file off the ledge and throwing it onto the floor and ordering me to "pick it up, pick it up". mike corriere saw it happen. he tried to stop her. there is a reason why merlo lost her job. too bad it took so long for morganelli to file a complaint.
Gary Gorman, Merlo was not a Northampton County magistrate. She was in Allentown. Morganelli is a DA, not a member of the judicial conduct board. I assume you refer to misconduct by Merlo, and that is irrelevant to Frantz. Maybe you should put the bottle down before posting comments.
BOH: she was an LCOCYS attorney. she was allowed to treat people horribly because of her political connections. Most DA's knew what she was doing, but did nothing to stop her until she became a magistrate. Perhaps you should go back on the bottle.
Gorman, you have just proved your own ignorance. LCOYS has no connection to NorCo or the DA’s office. You just have no idea what you are talking about. As usual. I blamed the bottle, but the truth is that you are an ignorant man.
Ignorance, truly is bliss!
Ignorance, truly is bliss!
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