About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, January 05, 2018

McClure Hits the Ground Running

Lamont McClure and his new cabinet
Lamont McClure was only sworn into office as NorCo Executive on Tuesday at 3:30 pm  But over the span of just two days, he has nominated most of his cabinet. In addition, he has already filled most of the Deputy positions. He announced these appointments, as promised, in his County Council report last night. And in a sign that he is going to be a very different Executive than his predecessor, McClure also announced these appointments in a very public news conference earlier in the day. Every one of his nominees was present, too.

"I want to applaud you for doing this rapidly," said Republican John Cusick, who until Tuesday was County Council President "Having sat through the previous two administrations and having watched them stumble to get these appointments going, I think you're off to a good start. Congratulations."

Earlier that day, McClure did more than just announce his new cabinet picks. He also introduced them from the courthouse rotunda. Calling them a "mix of experience and new blood," he was especially pleased to have appointed the County's first ever female Solicitor and Public Defender.. Two firsts.

Who are they?

Director of Administration, Charles Dertinger. - He's a former Elections Commission Chair as well as a former Council member who sparred regularly with Ron Angle and, from time to time, yours truly. In short, he's a proper bastard. You might consider this an insult, but that's exactly what a County Executive needs.

Dertinger and McClure have been close friends for years. Just as McClure took a 50% paycut to put himself under the microscope as County Executive, Dertinger may actually be giving up even more money. He's a construction manager on various NYC projects like Madison Square Garden renovation, United Nations modernization, World Trade Center, and most recently, Grand Central Station 

"Charles is bringing all of this public and private experience to help me run county government," said McClure.

Dertinger will also be acting Executive in McClure's absence. "Your government will be in good hands" McClure assured everyone.

Missy's daughter Francesa accompanied
her to the news conference. 
County Solicitor, Melissa (Missy) Rudas. -  Missy Rudas has never been a county employee, but her association with the Easton courthouse goes back to the '80s. As a college and law school student, she searched real estate titles to earn tuition money and developed a reputation then as a hard worker whose work was considered superior. Like her father, she graduated from Duke University. Like yours truly, she graduated from the best law school in Pennsylvania, Dickinson School of Law. She was cum laude, too.

McClure picked Rudas out of the private sector. "We're breaking a sclerotic bond with the same solicitors holding the same jobs over and over again." He described her as "highly intelligent" and a person with a "reputation as a tenacious advocate"  Though he wants to avoid the courtroom, McClure said those who sue the County will face her "and they'll know why I picked her."

Steve Barron
Fiscal Affairs, Steve Barron. -  Barron is currently NorCo's Controller and has been elected three times. "Steve Barron was there with us in the fight to save Gracedale," noted McClure. "Because he is a truth teller and so good with numbers, I believe he's saved us over $12 million with performance audits," he added. "No one knows the finances better than Steve Barron. There isn't anyone I trust more."

Barron, who has been the object of scorn for the past four years, seemed unsure what to do upon hearing this high praise.

The loquacious Controller was actually stunned into silence.

Hopefully, McClure praises Barron more often.

Sue Wandalowski
Human Services, Sue Wandalowski. - As recently as the day he was sworn in, McClure expressed concern for children who have been negatively impacted by the opioid crisis. So it's no surprise that his pick for Human Services Director would be someone who has worked with children. Wandalowski is a highly placed program manager at KidsPeace. That's a private charity founded in 1882 and dedicated to helping troubled children.

Wandalowski is highly educated. She graduated summa cum laude from St. Joseph's University. She then attended University of Pennsylvania for a MS Ed. psychological services. Again, she graduated summa cum laude. "I may have to rethink this," observed McClure. "Your grades are better than mine."

Elizabeth Kelly
Human Resources, Elizabeth Kelly. - As an attorney at the King, Spry law firm, Kelly became experienced working with public sector employers on employee matters. She has also served as Human Resources Director at Allentown School Distrtict in 2012-2013 and agin for the past year. She has experience with executive searches, management recruitment, onboarding, employee and labor relations with five unions and two supervisory groups. She has managed healthcare programs, has provided employee education about sexual harassment and other prohibited forms of discrimination. She is also trained in workers comp and employee comp claim management.

"We're going to have a different relationship with the employees of Northampton County," said McClure. "For too long, the employees have felt that their county government, specifically through Human Resources, was adversarial to them. That is not the kind of relationship I want my administration to have with our employees."

Michael Emili
Public Works. Michael Emili. - A  project engineer in Bethlehem for the past four years, Emili has a Bachelor's degree Civil and Environmental Engineering. At Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Emili earned a Master's degree in Civil Engineering. His gradepoint was a 3.83 GPA.

What prompted McClure to steal Emili from Bethlehem is the engineer's experience in bridge construction.He can perform bridge inspections and prepare bid packages.

Since Northampton County owns and maintains 119 bridges, McClure predicts that "[w]e'll be able to hit the ground running."

Tina Smith
Community and Economic Development, Tina Smith. - Smith is currently the President of the Nazareth Bath Regional Chamber of Commerce. It's a position she has held since 2007.

What impresses McClure about Smith is her work "to develop small businesses in the heart of our county."

She is also a founder of the successful Martin on Main Festival.

Public Defender. Nuria DiLuzio. - McClure described her as an experienced litigator and former public defender. He has already appointed her Acting Public Defender so that the courts will be covered.

Nuria DiLuzio
DiLuzio is married to Bethlehem Police Chief mark DiLuzio. Does this mean the office will have to disqualify itself from any case involving a defendant charged by Bethlehem police?

In a word, No.

DiLuzio has sought and obtained an advisory opinion from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. If she is defending someone in a matter in which her husband is a witness, there's an obvious conflict. But as McClure pointed out, "That's not going to happen. They're both administrators. Anybody who raises it either does not understand the law or is raising it for political purposes."

DA John Morganelli agrees with McClure, who suggested that anyone who thinks this might be a conflict should talk to President Judge Stephen Baratta.

Sheriff. - Though he believes the Administrative Code unlawfully hamstrings the executive, he intends to follow the process. This means the position will be advertised. Applications will be forwarded to him by the Solicitor,and McClure will rate his top three choices before forwarding them to the courts. The President Judge can add names to this list and will rate them as well. Then McClure will make his choice. "I have no candidates firmly in mind," he said.

Corrections.- Todd Buskirk, who retired two years ago, has agreed to return as warden until May on a part-time basis. "What he will do is provide us with three decades of warden experience," noted McClure. During that time, McClure will seek a warden as a career service employee. His function will be limited to the nuts and bolts of a prison operation, not policy.

When it comes to matters of policy like recidivism reduction, battling the opioid crisis or the surge of inmates who are mentally ill, that's where McClure will need a Director of Corrections.

He intends to have both Warden and Corrections Director in place by May.

He told Ron Heckman that, at that time, he will have a plan in place after discussing the matter with the courts.

"Nothing gets done without the courts," he said.

Director of Court Services. - In contrast to his predecessor, McClure believes the office exists to supervise the row offices. He pointed out that there was a real crisis in one of the row offices a few years ago, so he thinks the position must be filled. But for now, he'll do it.  He may also be considering the suggestion that these offices be placed under the Court Administrator.

Other positions. - In addition to his cabinet selections, McClure has appointed several deputies and assistant Solicitors. Upper Nazareth's Becky Bartlett, who taught at Northampton Community College, is a Deputy Administrator. Affable Scott Parsons, a former Council member, is now Deputy Director of Public Works. "He will be proactive in all the various phases of public works," said McClure. Mary Lou Kaboly, a benefits Administrator, will be a Deputy Director of Human Resources at Gracedale. Another deputy Director of Human Resources is Kathleen McNeill. Janet Jackson, Esq., has been named Deputy Public Defender. Michael Corriere, Esq., a former member of Council, will be the Deputy Solicitor. He has also stolen Tim Brennan from Controller Steve Barron. And in a bright move, he will hire top litigator Phil Lauer as an assistant Solicitor. He is keeping Dave Ceraul, who served as an assistant Solicitor under John Brown.

"You're government is here, it is working," he said. "I am here every day, I am working."

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

McClure is hitting the ground running. These people have a lot of relevant experience and are well educated. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

We guess you find this all so wonderful. Time will tell.

Anonymous said...

CHARLES!!!!

???

Anonymous said...

Good picks here.

Anonymous said...

What a mess.

Anonymous said...

Will Ms Kelly be giving up her law practice? HR Director is a full time position which takes a lot of time. She is an employment practices attorney who only worked part time for ASD and was an interim director for a short period of time to fill a gap.

If anyone thinks there will be good customer service with an attorney at the helm who is otherwise engaged in a full time law practice, I got a bridge in Brooklyn for ya!

She is well qualified to advise because this is her specialty but this department needs a leader who is present and engaged. There is no way she is giving up the big bucks as an employment practices attorney to be a full time HR person at the County of Northampton. That would just be silly. She should be a Solicitor, not the Director.

Anonymous said...

Will Bartlett refrain from writing extremely partisan missives to The Express Times?

Anonymous said...

Better than the scum buckets or cronies Brown had! Brown did a lot of damage to the county workforce and the level of services provided by the county. It seems McLure is very well tuned into this problem caused by the non-transparent, narcisstic John Brown and his corporate lingo that he didn't practice....

Anonymous said...

@7:28 aka Amy Trapp:

She will be I am sure. Don't be too upset that Lamont found someone way more qualified than you that won't ride a hover board through the courthouse, have popcorn raves every afternoon and who brings her dog to work.

Anonymous said...

WHAT HAPPENED TO SPADONI??? THOUGHT HE WAS SHOE IN..................

Anonymous said...

Thank God it looks like none of these people are wanna be shape shifting liZerds from the past regime.

Anonymous said...

so how did mcClure get away with firing all the solicitors if Brown didn't...eg ...Jill Mancini

Anonymous said...

Nice representation of women on the cabinet. But where is the Dems vaunted racial diversity? Blacks vote 90%+ Democrat and their reward is zero opportunities for government administration positions. And what about Hispanics? Where are they in the McClure administration?

Anonymous said...

Generally good picks. I don't know Tina Smith, though. Will she be tough enough to handle the Cunningham contingent at LVEDC?

Anonymous said...

There is very few Hispanics and black

Anonymous said...

As a Republican, I wish him and his Cabinet nothing but the best. This is awesome, especially because of his transparency. He is giving the power back to the people again. This is not a breath but a hurricane of fresh air!!!

Anonymous said...

B.O. Just for full disclosure what are the names of the people that were discharged from their positions.

Anonymous said...

McClure promised not to raise taxes. Seeing that he surrounded himself with an unhinged liberal partisan hack like Bartlett whose economic illiteracy rings loud every 30 days in the letters to the editor of liberal rag express times, combined with union hack Dertinger who thinks money grows on trees, this sure should be interesting

Anonymous said...

It appears all of McClures transition team has been appointed cabinet positions. Am I right.

Anonymous said...

If I remember correctly, Reibman was on the transition team. Bernie mentioned Seyfried too.
Soooooooooooo, let the fun begin. Who are in the next round of appointments. ANNNNNNNNNNDDD
Thank you Mr. McClure for not appointing a whole mess of political hacks. We had enough of these has beens.

Anonymous said...

Hiring needs to be made based on proven abilities rather than jumping up and down about race. You only prove you are a special interest agenda promoter. We the people have had enough of this destructive influence.

priscilla deleon said...

Congratulations everyone.

Anonymous said...

Hope and Change

Anonymous said...

i've come to the conclusion that the only people that comment on this blog are the ones who are damaged in some way or another.

Very few moments are constructive and very few are complimentary so the majority of this blog is probably one witch from Easton

just an observation

Anonymous said...

Ahh, you can feel the love can't you?

Anonymous said...

Barron's a demonstrated county time thief who supposedly, finally grew up last year - in his 40s. Charles! is a long-standing joke (including on this blog). Tina Smith is another joke (I like how you reported Lamont's comments about her. Why don't you repost yours from over the years?). Becky Bartlett, as demonstrated by her insane LTEs is simply unstable. Way to go Lamont. You really know how to pick 'em. God in heaven help us.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"so how did mcClure get away with firing all the solicitors if Brown didn't...eg ...Jill Mancini"

McClure got away with nothing. He terminated solicitors who were in exempt positions and who had no expectation or property right in a job. These were part-time and exempt. What Brown did is terminate someone in a fill-time career service position. As career service, show could not be terminated without "just cause." So she had a property right.

Bernie O'Hare said...

12:41, I think you are right, and that she is doing this for the county GOP. Some of the points are ridiculous.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"WHAT HAPPENED TO SPADONI??? THOUGHT HE WAS SHOE IN.................."

First, stop shouting. Second, Spadoni is County Council Solicitor. He was named Tuesday. Phil Lauer, who was Council Solicitor, will now be working for McClure, or as I should say, the county itself. It's a very good call by McClure and perhaps Council as well.

Phil's real strength is in a courtroom, not behind the dais. Chris'strength is the courtroom, too, but he has a lot of experience handling meetings.

Bernie O'Hare said...

7:28 definitely does sound like Amy Trapp, who when she pretended to be "friendly" with me, made clear that she thought very little of attorneys serving as HR Directors. After seeing Trapp in that role, I disagree with her. Trapp was no leader. She was poison. of course, Kelly will have to give up her law practice.

Courtney K said...

Best of luck to the new cabinet! I sincerely hope they are able to continue to effect positive change because, whether you believe it or not, there were many positive changes in the last two years. It would be a shame for those positives to be lost.

My sincerest well wishes to all county employees, including the new cabinet.

Bernie O'Hare said...



I believe LVEDC and DCED have different roles. Cunningham goes after the bigger employers, while the county does a better job of bringing in small business. Smith probably is lacking in community development knowledge, but McClure retained Mark Hartney, who is quite knowledgeable. He explained that his appointment of Smith is to develop small business.

Though I live in Nazareth, I do not travel in those circles and know very little about Tina Smith. Contrary to what someone has written her, I have never really criticized her. I criticized Stephanie Varone, and only after she called my blog venom, etc. And my crticism is mild.

Varone and these economic development types want to draw small business, and perceive any criticism of local officials as something that will drive business away. This is short-sighted. Nazareth had as mayor a person who admitted to skimming $8,000 from poker machines. It had a Council member who tried to enlist police to dome out informants at the social clubs. this is what really drives business away.

I think Varone is generally good at her job, but I am good at mine. I want a better community, too.

Anonymous said...

First, I'd like to say that DiLuzio is the head of one entity. For example, if there are two codefendants then they must hire an outside attorney to represent the other defendant. Why? Because it's considered one unit therefore it makes it a conflict for any attorney in the Public Defender's to represent the codefendant so it would be a conflict for her to oversee any defendant that is arrested by the City of Bethlehem. Her husband is the Chief and oversees the Police Department. What about her stepson who is a Bethlehem Police Officer who is involved in drug busts and is there ITT officer. He traces cell phones for drug busts and for child pornography as just a few examples. You think when someone makes a comment about Bethlehem Police that she will take this lightly??? Yes her stepson does appear in many cases to testify. I don't feel that the Bar Association really has an opinion on the ethics here. Also, why would Morganelli object because he is a prosecutor and he is right by saying to address the President Judge cause having her as the Public Defender could only benefit the DA's office. Finally, she makes all final decisions for the Public Defender's Office which I would feel that a defendant's rights can be compromised during pillow talk or family dinners. It was no different then Sletvold's conflict except we have the prosecutor and the Public Defender working together. I see a lot of law suits coming to Northampton County when a Defendant feels their rights were compromised. So instead of asking the Bar Association why aren't they looking at this as an ethical issue?

Anonymous said...

It’s great to finally see Blacks and Latinos represented at the highest levels of county government. I’ll bet Lamont brags of having a Black friend. The only diversity apparent is that of varying law schools. Nice.

Bernie O'Hare said...

3:30, an opinion was sought and obtained from the ethics and professional responsibility committee of the PBA if there were a conflict, numerous convictions would be overturned. So the DA would raise a red flag if this were a problem. Your anonymous comment betrays ignorance

Bernie O'Hare said...

4:06, the only latiino cabinet official that Brown hadwas fired. The sole black captain that the jail had was suspended.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Mc clure hired all his cronies. Political hacks and Lawyers all except Barron, he was too stupid to pass the bar.

Anonymous said...

And child(ren) of the state Rep(s)

Gee Money said...

Congrats to Sue Wandalowski. I went to Saint Joseph's with her and her hubby. She is a wonderful person and will do a great job. Barron went to law school with me and he too will do a great job! Rudas and Diluzio are also extremely qualified. Cronies, they are not.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Gee Money, These anonymous partisan attacks almost certainly come from one person, and I think most of us know who it is. this person lacks the integrity to identify herself, which is what i would expect from a Trump supporter. Honesty is not one of their qualities.

McClure is slammed for picking lawyers. Who is he supposed to pick as solicitor? A hamster? I know many excellent lawyers who struggled with the bar and had to take it several times. Most of them are Republican. Should i demean them? Of course not.

McClure has taken a 50% pay cut. Dertinger may have sacrificed even more. Missy and Nuria will both lose money. Kelly could make a lot more $ at King Spry. You can hate their politics, but they atre far from cronies. They are true servants.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Will Bartlett refrain from writing extremely partisan missives to The Express Times?"

She still has First Amendment rights. But she serves at the pleasure of the Exec.

Anonymous said...

Any good candidate names floating around for Barron's Controller position?

Peter. J. Cochran said...

Ms.Kelly will be a significant contributor to fair hiring practices. I hope she has the support of the front office to do her job. This is really a first for us , the tax payers having her on board. I commend the new Executive for his choice.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Deleted two anonymous comments that are full of insults but say nothing substantive.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Any good candidate names floating around for Barron's Controller position?"

The day after the election, Peter Melan said he wanted the Controller job. I am sure many others are interested, but have no names.

Anonymous said...

My guess this will be like filling a council vacancy. Interested parties submit names to council and they pick.

Anonymous said...

John Brown for Controller. He made Northampton County great again and balanced the budget for the first time. Some republicans are pushing him.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Council makes the controller pick and there is no way that they are going to put Brown there, especially after he tried to sabotage the budget. But he should submit his name so Council can ask him what he really did in the private sector.

Anonymous said...

So you are really trying to tell people that Charles is a great choice to administer the county?

Peter J.Cochran said...

Reason I say this is ,that years ago on snowing ,blowing day I took a test for domestic invvetigator . Now we were in the room ,Peter Regina was the guy I charge of personnel . So they close the door and I know the deck may be stacked having had been in more than two states in my life as a Vietnam Veteran. Next they have a sign in sheet , so I send a second and position myself at end of table so as to collect my sheet with every name in the room. Well I take the test and after results I appeal to mr. Regeana that they marked the answers wrong and he being and Attorney at Law should be able to check this discrepancy .Turn out the person that made up the test did not understand what SHE was talking about. Well that made no difference , they guy that got the job was never in the room that day .If you have ever deat with me ,you know know how I feel about ethics .So vetting is real for job performance,unless the Your issues are only partridge and that does not spell production. Screw you Mr. Regina I did it outwise.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Cochran your experience is one of myriad reasons the Department of Personnel--pete regina's personal fiefdom was abolished for a directly accountable to the Citizens' elected Executive professional Department of Human Resources. Back in those "bad" old days...

Bernie O'Hare said...

Peter Regina was Director of Human Resources.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"So you are really trying to tell people that Charles is a great choice to administer the county?"

No, it is too soon to say that sort of thing. What I can say is that Charles has an impressive background and does have a rep for getting things done. He is losing $ by coming here, but he may find he has more family time now. I hope so. Every minute you lose is a minute you never get back.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bernie O'Hare said...

I am not going to allow you to remain anonymous and call other people liars.

Anonymous said...

Not accurate BO. the office of Personnel existed until mid 1998 and Regina's title was Personnel Director. After County Council unanimously voted to create a Department of Human Resources--over Regina's objections--he retired. Setting stage for Attorney Dan Polanski to become the First Director of Human Resources.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I stand corrected.

Anonymous said...

But he should submit his name so Council can ask him what he really did in the private sector.

AND WE WILL, and it should be fun listening to his bullshit answers.

Anonymous said...

PW director Emili, who is he ?

Manalishi said...

Let's not forget about Nuria"s sidekick Melissa Rudas as County Solicitor. Melissa Rudas, Melissa Rudas P.C. her law firm, her client Michael Lehrman (Who by the way was convicted in November of 2014 of 10 felony counts of delivery of Meth) just Google Michael Lehrman Lehigh Valley meth trafficking, Nor Co Sheriffs Dept and Lehigh County Sheriffs Dept are all being sued in Federal Court in the Southern District of Florida. Her overzealous tenasities were the very reason the counties were sued and it cost the tax payers 10s of thousand of dollars after the counties settled with the plaintiff. Mr Lehrman also settled with the plaintiff and agreed to testify against Rudas. Rudas and her law firm are the only ones remaining as defendants. Rudas and her law firm are on fire and burning fast in the Southern District of Florida.