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.