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| Lori Vargo Heffner |
Based on yesterday's hearings, it seems likely that all of McClure's choices will be confirmed unanimously. I've told you about McClure's nominees in a previous story.He named them within two days of being sworn into office,and had each of them appear at a news conference.
At yesterday's hearing, he introduced each nominee.
The most important of these is his Director of Administration, Charles Dertinger. The Administrator is usually designated as Acting County Executive when the Executive is absent. McClure said that since Dertinger know him so well, he'd have "the best sense of what I'd do." For his part, Dertinger said one of his goals is to ensure an excellent relationship between the Executive and Council.
Tina Smith, McClure's pick for Community and Economic Development, was lauded as a person with a proven track record of community and small business development.
Steve Barron, whose days as Controller appear to be over, will take over the helm at Fiscal Affairs. John Cusick and Matt Dietz, two of Council's three Republicans, said they'd support him. Cusick hopes that Barron can produce a revised Administrative Code and Airbnb legislation.Barron worked on both of these matters as Controller.
In response to a concern raised by Bob Werner, McClure said he would ban Barron from ever wearing a kilt.
McClure was especially proud of Attorney Elizabeth "Liz" Kelly, his pick for Human Relations. As recently as today, she was doing Human Resources at Allentown's beleaguered school district. MCClure said the County's former Human relations Director, Amy Trapp, had a "general disregard for the rules and regulations that benefit employees." He called Kelly the "right person at the right time to help create a stable work environment."
Bill McGee gave Kelly some good advice."Take care of the workers and they'll take care of you."
When he introduced his Human Services Director, Sue Wandalowski, McClure called her position the "most important one" in the county. This sentiment indicates the emphasis McClure wants to give to human services.
John Cusick asked Mike Emili, Mcclure's pick for Public Works, what areas in the county need attention. He wasted no time identifying bridges, Gracedale and the jail. "Good answer!" said Cusick.
No one messed with Missy Rudas, McClure's pick for Solicitor. While Missy is beautiful, she has a game face in which her eyes shoot poison arrows. I think she knows judo or something. McClure described her as someone who is "not laying down in a fight."
No one was willing to test that theory.
His final pick, Chief Public Defender Nuria DiLuzio, proved her worth as an advocate in responding to questions about a possibleconflict involving her husband, who happens to be Bethlehem's Chief of Police. Since they are both administrators whowouldnever cross swords, there is no conflict.
Peg Ferraro was absent because she is still battling a severe case of bronchitis. But she almost always defers to the Executive on cabinet appointments. If this holds true tonight, all the nominees will be confirmed unanimously.
21 comments:
It is nice that everyone is getting along. I am not sure about how great it is for a unanimous vote of support. The county council people campaigned about the last Admisntration and council for being to cozy.
It will be interesting to see if there are people on county council who have the ability or knowledge to question administrators and stand up to the challenge. Or will we have a different Party rubber stamp.
We shall see?
I like the sound of McClure's line up thus far. I hope he continues the theme of diversity by hiring and assigning qualified African Americans, Latinos, Asians, etc. Bernie, is the new HR Director well versed in labor laws as an attorney that you are aware of? Lord knows Trapp wasn't and worked and made decisions purely based on emotion.
I don't know this to be fact, but is DiLusio's son a police officer n Bethlehem. Is he in charge of some kind of drug task force? If this is true, wouldn't this be somewhat of a conflict when his cases come in front of a public defender or this a stretch of the conflict theory.
The names and faces may change, but the circle jerk identified as Norco County Gov't will stay the same. Play favorites to those who voted us in, screw the workforce and the taxpayer as much as possible ( as seen during the 12/7/17 budget mtg.).Many who stuck it to those in the county are still on council. I voted for McClure and several of those on council, both new and old alike. Not sure I voted correctly for some on council and will likely not for some that were not up for re-election this past November, but their terms are coming up shortly. . Watched the committee meetings last night. Looks like the good old boy network is back in form once again.
That's heavy. I voted for McClure myself and that fear of a "Brown Administration Part Deux" is real. Let's hope the right button was pushed on 11/7/17.
"is the new HR Director well versed in labor laws as an attorney that you are aware of? "
Very.
"I don't know this to be fact, but is DiLusio's son a police officer n Bethlehem. Is he in charge of some kind of drug task force? "
His son is a police officer.Ant case that involves him is a conflict only if Nuria is directly involved. To be safe, I'd declare a conflict in those cases and ask for blue team representation. My guess is that Nuria will be very cautious concerning a potential conflict.
".Many who stuck it to those in the county are still on council."
No. Matt Dietz is the one who called out those who wanted to stick it to McClure. He, Cusick and peg all refused to go along with a one mill tax cut. (They were OK with a half mill). The three council members who were willing to hurt the county to score political points are Mat Benol, Glenn Geissinger and Seth Vaughn. And of course, this was Brown's revenge for losing.
How is this Brown part two?
Can we all just chill on attacking Trapp and her service to the County? It's very rare that we get the other side of how she handled her role as a HR Director. As a county employee, every time I see these never ending attacks on her contained within this blog it just boggles my mind, because the Amy Trapp I dealt with on numerous occasions may have been stern, but I also saw her interested in exacting justice. I didn't know her extremely well, but from the opinions of co-workers who had dealt with her, there were those that loved her and those that hated her. It seemed to me that the ones who hated her were the ones who didn't like having to be held accountable and face the justice that they had coming to them. So please, just let it all remain in the past and let's wish the best for McClure's new administration.
Service to the county? I have never seen a bigger pig in county government than she was. My guess is that you are Amy or one of the two or three people she hired and placed. What did you do with those gift cards?
How exactly is this new county council a rubber stamp for McClure. The term just stared.
This new gang is well aware of everyone's federal tax cut. And they're coming straight for your wallet to take it away. Hiring $90K administrators to further bloat county government is "for the children." Perhaps they can eat the new hires' pay stubs.
Those are the same salaries Brown was paying his crew.
Wow. Ms. Trapp if you or someone that knows Ms. Trapp is reading this, if you haven’t already advise her to seek legal representation. Mr. O’hare Is way over the line.
With all due respect, you have no idea. She was fired from Allentown/Lehigh County for her antics. I wish no ill will upon her but she was absolutely horrible.
She was not fired from Allentown and that would be easy to find out. Termination letters are subject to RTK and could easily be obtained.
I’ve worked at the courthouse for 7 yrs and I will set the record straight in regards to Trapp and O’Hare. He was a love sick little puppy got kicked to the curb, became a junkyard dog who’s bark is worse than his bite. The end.
I wish there was a like button! ^^^
"I’ve worked at the courthouse for 7 yrs and I will set the record straight in regards to Trapp and O’Hare. He was a love sick little puppy got kicked to the curb, became a junkyard dog who’s bark is worse than his bite. The end."
I doubt the person who posted this is a county employee. This allegation is completely false. Initially, I had high hopes for Trapp bc I believed her when she said she would be an employee advocate. When that turned out to be a lie, I took her to task on this blog. She was toxic, the worst HR Director I ever saw. She also spent county money like a drunken sailor. Brown not only kept her, but praised her, demonstrating how out of touch he was.
"She was not fired from Allentown and that would be easy to find out. Termination letters are subject to RTK and could easily be obtained."
I have no evidence she was fired. If that were so, I doubt she would have been hired in NC.
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