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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Judge Baratta Shrinks Super Shrink

Judge Stephen Baratta
NorCo Council member Lori Vargo Heffner, aka Super Shrink, grilled Court Administrator Jermaine Greene and two doctors on Thursday night over a Director of Treatment, what really is a minor staffing change at the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC). After about 30 minutes of hostile questions, she said she had no desire to be "picayune" at 8 pm on a Thursday night. She's decided to be picayune in emails to Greene. Super Shrink is now demanding a "written overview of the program" at the Juvenile Justice Center. She wants to do a site survey, i.e. access confidential juvenile files. She also told Greene she did not like his tone on Thursday night, which was both professional and respectful. That's more than I can say about her own demeanor. Super Shrink has received a response to her latest demands. But they don't come from Greene. They come instead from Judge Stephen Baratta, who is the Administrative Judge for Juvenile Court.

Copies of Judge Baratta's four-page response went to Greene, President Judge Michael Koury, Ron Heckman, County Council and their lawyer, Chris Spadoni. Someone on Council leaked it to me. Below are excerpts:

Greene: "Your reaction does not comport with my understanding of Mr. Greene's general demeanor. Please know that he is a valued employee of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts - the Administrative arm of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He is well respected throughout this Commonwealth, and especially here in Northampton County, for his skill and professionalism. ... [H]is professionalism and his work product have never been questioned before I saw your email."

Lori Vargo Heffner
JJC in Courts' domain: "I remind you that both the Home Rule Charter and the Administrative Code speak to the separation of powers and the exclusive authority of the Court to manage its employees and our internal operations, which includes the employees and the treatment programming of the JJC."

Site survey demand: "[S]tate and federal regulations governing our facility do not permit you, as a county office holder, to have access to our files, as all juvenile records are protected by very stringent confidentiality restrictions."

Must Director of Treatment be licensed social worker: "Please know that we have consulted with the Department of Public Welfare and the Office of Children and Youth about this position, the agencies responsible for auditing JJC operations. Both are comfortable with the job description. No licensure is required to manage and coordinate treatment, as the position is purely administrative. I would also remind you that the position of the Deputy Warden in Northampton County Prison overseeing the prison's treatment services does not require any licensure."

Appointment is Fiscally Prudent: "Frankly, I do not understand your interest in controlling the Court's job description for an administrative position in the JJC. By creating this position, we were able to eliminate a higher paying (Deputy) position, saving the county money and we consolidated services by reorganizing staff. I would think, from an efficiency and fiscal savings standpoint, that this request would be unopposed by Council."

Time to vote: "I do not understand why your intention to examine our clinical operations and programming is relevant to Council's consideration of the request to consolidate various existing JJC administrative duties into this new position. I am told that Council has already been provided with all the forms and other necessary documentation to create this position. You need no other documentation to vote on this request."

Any meeting with Super Shrink will be formal: "I will endeavor to assist you in your efforts to inquire into our clinical programming. I only request, given the tenor of your email, that we do so formally, with the involvement of the entire Council and your Solicitor ... ."

Super Shrink Interfering with Courts: "[W]hat authority does County Council have to interfere with the Court's management of its employees and our desire to reclassify positions when we reorganize our administrative operations, so long as our requests are fiscally prudent and do not infringe upon the duties and responsibilities of the County Executive or County Council Administrative?"

This has gone on long enough. Single-handedly, Super Shrink is destroying the good working relationship that the Courts have with Council and the Executive. It is time for VP Ron Heckman to put a stop to the nonsense and just conduct a vote on the tabled resolution.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was told that on Monday, Heckman told the Clerk to put it on the agenda for Thursday.

Anonymous said...

It was never on the agenda last Thursday, so I don’t understand what they tabled to begin with

Anonymous said...

Legislative bodies may add items the night of a meeting per members. Many bodies do it is their prerogative.

Hassan Husshein said...

Lori Heifer Vargo needs a timeout!

Anonymous said...

Who voted for this crackhead?!? She needs to go!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Before you pull the pin, be sure you have the arm to throw that grenade clear of your position soldier. Let's consider this a teachable moment.

Anonymous said...

It is a sad commentary that (1) she got elected to begin with; (2) she wasted Council’s time with the antics BOH previously described; (3) Council failed to move on this issue immediately rather than prolonging it; and (4) the valuable time of the good judge was spent having to respond. Vote already and marginalize her conduct.

Anonymous said...

These are the people you, Bernie, supported, didn't you know who these people were.

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

Actually, I didn't. In the Council election, I voted for Heckman, McGee, Ron Angle, Peg Ferraro and Hayden Phillips. i thought at first that Heffner might turn out to be pretty good, but she is so mean to people. She should be a blogger. Zrisnki's wackiness started to manifest in October. Before that, I had no problem with her.

Bernie O'Hare said...

8:39, Please no personal attacks like the one you just made unless you ID yourself.

Bernie O'Hare said...

4:45, I believe it had been tabled a few weeks ago. Since the title has changed, this might be a new resolution. Heffner has had ample opportunity now on two separate occasions to make an ass out of herself. But now, she is beginning to make an ass out of council. She is also endangering a very good and positive relationship with the courts.

Judge Baratta is absolutely right. Although Council has the right to interject itself on matters of salary, it has no say at all on the court's decisions about staffing itself. President Judge Koury could just issue a court order concerning this new position,and that would be the end of it. The courts come to Council out of a desire to be transparent, but they are a separate and equal branch of government and should be treated with respect. Heffner did not do so.

Anonymous said...

"they are a separate and equal branch of government and should be treated with respect"

get it yet VARGO?

Anonymous said...

leakin' lyin' chris spadoni may have the same fate as James Comey!

Bernie O'Hare said...

You don’t know who leaked it to me. I do, and I protect sources.

Anonymous said...

Whacky Liberals are gonna do Whacky Liberal things Bernie. You shouldn't be surprised. These two women are classic examples of what happens when people have too much time on their hands.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I accidentally deleted a comment taking me to task for referring to Heffner as Super Shrink.i have no problem using that term for someone who has an exalted opinion of herself.

Anonymous said...

These two females have no business being on council. Call it the Trump effect.

Anonymous said...

Thank Goodness that she is not a County Constable as well. People on this site would be happy to grant her the power to pull over cars and peer into the windows of homes on private property.

Anonymous said...

Coming soon: Look for more of this type on Bethlehem City Council.

Anonymous said...

“I Believe Her”

Anonymous said...

Hey is I true the real "plastic bag lady" Zirinski has pulled her silly resolution from a vote?

Anonymous said...

It was good the Judge put her in her place!

Anonymous said...

Good show Judge Baratta. And congratulations to Judge Jack Panella for becoming the next President Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. We do have fine jurists within the County of Northampton. They make a difference in our community, without the assistance of Council members like Heffner. Remember this next election day.

Bernie O'Hare said...

5:07, I am banned from her Facebook page so I can only go by what others tell me. Last I heard she was claiming she had five votes and was calling on her troops to pressure Council. Hopefully she has reconsidered.

Anonymous said...

Your "policy" on "personal attacks" is a joke. For years you allowed anonymous posts that ridiculed Steve Barron for his weight and gaffes (Barron von Footinmouth). So why aren't you allowing some anonymous name-calling of Heffner? Have you mellowed in your old age, or are you just a hypocrite?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Both. Now go away.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Thank Goodness that she is not a County Constable as well. People on this site would be happy to grant her the power to pull over cars and peer into the windows of homes on private property."

This is not about constables

Anonymous said...

As long as Trump continues to shoot himself in the foot and hurts down-ticket Republicans by turning out record numbers of Democrats to vote against him but in doing so they also blindly pull a party lever.... we will get more and more activist progressive Dems in local government positions who care more about pushing totally unrelated agendas than the actual functions of County Government. Just another way Trump who really isn't much of a conservative hurts us (and divides) more than he helps or actually accomplishes anything.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Well said.