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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, January 08, 2018

NorCo's Former Deputy HR Director Escorted From Job

Michael Twining was a crime analyst for the City of Allentown when he was asked by Amy Trapp if he'd like to come work with her in Northampton County. The two had known each other when Trapp was Allentown's Human Resources Director. Twining had represented the nonunion workers. He spoke on Trapp's behalf at her confirmation hearing, and she was obviously grateful. She made him her Deputy Director in charge of the popcorn machine. But there was a catch. He would become an exempt employee who serves at the pleasure of the County Executive. He probably should have said No to Trapp.

A 2003 grad of DeSales, Twining had pent nearly five years in the U.S. Army as an M.P. He was hired as Allentown's 911 training coordinator. Then, in 2010, he became a crime analyst.

Because Twining had no real experience in human resources, Trapp spent thousands of county tax dollars to have him "trained" at places like ... Las Vegas ... and New Orleans.

Somewhere along the way, Twining decided it was time to jump the sinking S.S. Trapp. Cathy Alan reportedly found a landing spot for him with her friend Todd Weaver, who runs NorCo's Emergency Management operations.

I have no idea whether the job was ever posted and offered to the career service first, as it should be. but Twining somehow ended up as Bill Hillandbrand's replacement and would join the ranks of career service. This would mean that "just cause " is needed to terminate him.

Hillanbrand was the County's very capable Emergency Management Planning Manager. There's a ton of people who are actually in emergency management who would like that job. It certainly appears that Twining got this job because of his connections, not his abilities.

Twining could handle a 911 call, but had no PEMA (Pa. Emergency Management Agency) certificates.. Weaver hired a person he had to know was unqualified.

Maybe Twining was looking forward to more training trips to Las Vegas and New Orleans. Maybe ne thought he was safe in career service.

He wasn't.

On Friday, Twining was escorted away from Emergency management. He's been terminated.

Though he is career service, he must be in the job for six months before he is protected. Twining can of course apply for a job in the 911 field, where he is already qualified, but was pushing his luck here.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Somehow that just seems wrong and mean.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Allowing an exempt employee to slip into a career service position for which he is unqualified is wrong. And it is mean to career service employees who may have been qualified.

Anonymous said...

You reap what you sow.

Anonymous said...

You reap what you sow.

Anonymous said...

He was a horrific criminal analyst for APD, didn't provide any substance in their mission. He got that job thanks to "Fed Ed" and former do nothing [no new police initiatives] Chief, Roger MacLean.

Anonymous said...

Well, that certainly didn't last very long.

Anonymous said...

So you are already deleting posts that disagree with you on this Admisntration.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I delete posts that violate my comments policy, and that includes comments that complain about deletion. If you want to be an anonymous troll, expect to be deleted a lot.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, I had seen some trolling around the area of the inevitable administration and even received a letter from one taking leave of me!

Anonymous said...

so who actually fired him and who walked him out?

Anonymous said...

I don't think he even collected his first paycheck from the new job. Bet that one doesn't make the resume.

pathfinder said...

Maybe he can the former do nothing Police Chief MacLean and Fed Ed will pave the way for him to go back to Allentown. But that will only last a year before it merges with LC.

Anonymous said...

What would Jesus do? We will not know as prayer has been banned by the county council.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Council has not banned prayer. It is simply following the First Amendment.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
What would Jesus do? We will not know as prayer has been banned by the county council

You can’t pray in church?

Anonymous said...

@ 4:57

This isn’t church.

This is County business.

Why would a County Council invite controversy by bothering with the invocations at all?