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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Allentown's Parks and Rec Director Out

Exactly one week ago, I sent this email to Lindsay Taylor, Allentown's Director of Parks and Recreation:
Ms. Taylor,

I publish a blog about local government in the LV. I notice that, for some time, you have been the Executive Director at Lower Macungie Youth Association, a 501c3 that fosters organized sports among the children in that community. You are also the full-time director of parks and recreation in Allentown.

Allentown's HRC requires that you devote full-time to your position as parks director. While I see nothing that bars outside employment on a part-time basis, I believe that your dual positions in Allentown and Lower Macungie creates the appearance of a conflict of interest. Parks and Recreation and a Youth Association are closely related, and I question whether your duties in Lower Mac present a conflict.

I have never seen you at an Allentown sports function in any of its parks. I think that is because you spend your evenings and weekends paying attention to Lower Mac.

Frankly, I consider the duties in Allentown should preclude your participation as a paid executive director to foster youth sports in another community. As laudable as that is, you should be fostering youth sports in Allentown, where you do not live.

Before I write about this, I want to give you an opportunity to explain why I am off base. In your answer, I would appreciate you telling me your salary at Allentown and Lower Macungie. I would rather just ask you rather than have you learn that someone is filing RTKs.

Thank you. Please let me know.
To be clear, I never thought Taylor has a legal conflict of interest. It's just that the busiest times at parks and recreation are also the peak periods for most youth sports groups. I never saw her at any Allentown sports function, and have attended many of them. Others tell me they've never seen her there either. She leaves her Allentown job most days by 2:30 pm, presumably for her other job. Part of my letter, in which I accuse her of being a nonresident, is wrong. She lives in Allentown.

Taylor never responded to my email, but I wanted to give her an opportunity to explain herself.

That will no longer be necessary.

I was surprised to see a Morning Call report that Taylor is now the former parks and recreation director. She'a a former Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski holdover, and Ray O'Connell should be able to fill that slot with someone who has his complete confidence.

Updated, 10:31 am: - The Incredible Ego of Michael Molovinsky - Molovinsky, on the same topic, says this: "[I]t would not have been inappropriate for the Morning Call to ask me for my opinion about Lindsay Taylor being let go."

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wise choice to can her. You're right Bernie. The P&R director should be available evenings and weekends, and be visible in the community. She was serving two masters, and it was becoming obvious her true loyalty was not to Allentown.

Anonymous said...

Christ O'Hare, did you get this poor woman fired? That is really a prick thing to do.

Anonymous said...

Anon @ 3:51 Bernie had nothing to do with her termination. There were many others that questioned her devotion to her position in Allentown as well as her competence. As was stated in the article, she did not attend sporting events in Allentown but did in Lower Macungie. She was a Pawlowski yes person and needed to go. There will be other Pawlowski appointees following her out the door.

Anonymous said...

So is Muller but he is still there. She has been unemployed by vindictive people.

IYAWYAR said...

BO once again gets his jollies getting another woman fired. Guess it's the only way he can.

Dennis P said...

In regard to swimming pools, Taylor was following the script of Allentown's aquatics consultant … Thus, the Fountain Park Pool will remain closed and become part of a trail system, and the Irving Park Pool would be demolished and turned into a spray park ….

The neighborhood association I still head will accept the spray park at Andre Reed Park but we a1so want a recreational swimming area in the park of suitable depth for swimming … A wading pool as suggested by Taylor would not allow recreational swimming for older kids and adults.

But for the long-run …. This might be the preferable solution …. A spray Park with a wading pool constructed at Keck Park on the East Side to replace the Pool and Junior Pool demolished there in the 1990's … And at Andre Reed Park construct a recreational swimming pool of suitable depth … The pool would be repositioned in a way to allow the expansion of the outfield for the softball field … In regard to the baseball field , it would have a grass infield, closed dugouts, and a fence around the field …


Canary_In_Coalmine said...

"A pissant, also seen as piss ant or piss-ant, refers to a specific type of ant. The word is also used as a pejorative noun or adjective, indicating insignificance. ... Forelius and Iridomyrmex are two genera of piss ants."

Anon 5:29... if you spend your time writing comments in response to an alleged pissant, what does that say about your own level of significance?

Anonymous said...

Holtzman was always ready to do Taylor’s and Pawlowski’s dirty work on top of being completely unqualified for his position.
(See the sorry tale of Rick Holtzman’s testimony at the Fed Ed corruption trial.)
The Peter Principle bid rigger Holtzman should be the next dead, rotting wood to be pruned in the Parks Department.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Mota is a complete incompetent as a Council Person.

Huck Weaver said...

We all owe Bernie congratulations for exposing what really happens in Allentown's Government

Anonymous said...

If they bring in the weed-cutters today, the parks will look great again by the weekend

Anonymous said...

8:37 Cynthia Mota represents those in Allentown that have driven the city into a cesspool. To criticize her in any way is just being racist.

Anonymous said...

That e-mail you sent her is why I read this blog daily. Good for you. You raise very substantial issues in a respectful way. She should have appreciated your approach and responded in kind. I'm glad the City is going in a different direction. I hope they hire a competent professional, who doesn't necessarily need to live in Allentown, but who will be fully dedicated to Allentown and take pride in Allentown's parks and recreation.

Anonymous said...

There are several other people in that department who, having escaped indictment, should be summarily dismissed from their position with the city.
Root out the rot!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Let's hope O'Connell continues cleaning up Pawlowski's appointees, including the recycling bureau.

Bernie O'Hare said...

7:35, I had nothing to do with her termination and was wsiting to hear from her.

Anonymous said...

The aquatics director and the parks manager should be the next to go. They were both involved in bid rigging. They are criminal collaborators.

Anonymous said...

Love Mota playing the race card in the article=Reverse Discrimination. She should live on 7th Street.

Anonymous said...

Tip of the hat to Mayor Ray.
Way to go.
Now it’s time to ax Michael “Moore” and the empty suit slug Izzy.
Their continued presence on the 5th floor is an insult to every man woman and child in the City of Allentown.
You are on a roll Mayor Ray.
Keep going.

Anonymous said...

Another bullshit paid position created to spread government largesse among friends and supporters no matter who is doing the hiring.

Eliminate the position she has proven it's not a fulltime job.

Anonymous said...

When I hear of MM's blog I hear the sound a toilet flushed as he he full of crap.

Anonymous said...

GO RAY GO

Anonymous said...

Drain the swamp

Anonymous said...

Another poor , young woman destroyed by this blog.

What about Pawlowski pick, Muller??

Bernie O'Hare said...

I have no idea whether Tom Muller, for whom you have a hot nut, is employed in Allentown.

Anonymous said...

It’s a start.
Better late than never.

Consigliere said...

MM rents more space in your balding little noggin than just about anyone else aside from the Ridge St. Stunner or perhaps the fender wielding ad man who is known as the valley's own answer to AC360 a top level silver fox.

MM saved Wehr's Dam while your greatest civic action has been a failed attempt to privatize Gracedale. When's the next appearance on Wdiy so MM can serve you a slice of pwnage?

Anonymous said...

Bernie had cold nuts !

Anonymous said...

When does the statute of limitations run out for the criminal collaborator Lindsey Taylor?
How much was she paid a year to short change and rape the tax payers of Allentown?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Gee, I don't know. It would not be inappropriate for you to ask Michael Molovinsky this question.

Anonymous said...

Hiding Ho the turd and MM look alike

Anonymous said...

Let’s hope Holtzman the loyal toad always eager to do Pawlowski and Taylor’s bidding is gone by the end of the month.

Anonymous said...

Bernie....kudos, what a well written letter. Some of your comments on your blog get a bit uncivil and are off putting to me. Again...very nicely done.

Captain Igor Blagojevich Soviet Red Army said...

Comrade Mikhail Molovinski is the front runner for this opening of Park Commandant if appointed he has informed me of his desire to utilize the county prisoners armed with scythes as laborers to devastate the unruly riparian buffer that has been denying the masses General Trexlers intended vision for the park. County inmates will also be made to construct a ziggurat made from rubble of our beloved Robin hood dam, this edifice will serve as his new headquarters.

Anonymous said...

You are such a Hater, Blog Mentor, um, er, ah, cowardly Anonymous 10:58 PM

Anonymous said...

Molovinsky must really enjoy living rent free in the mind of the great Bernie O'Hare.

Anonymous said...

Don’t forget about the devil Lore who has been there all along too!