This year, all but one Council member get an "A." This is my annual report card, something I have done since 2006.
In 2017, it was a tie. Former Council member Hayden Phillips and current Council member John Cusick both had perfect attendance records. This year, the workhorse award goes to new Council member Lori Vargo Heffner. She had a perfect attendance record in 2018. She was at every Council meeting, budget hearing and committee meeting.
Each Council member is expected to attend 25 regular meetings and 5 budget hearings. Each is also encouraged to attend all of the committee hearings, regardless whether he or she is a voting member. That is where the heavy lifting is done. Altogether, there were 67 meetings last year.
I grade each council member based on attendance at all 67 meetings. If participation is by phone, I count it since the member can vote. If a Council member is present for only part of a meeting, or participates in a combined meeting of two committees, I count him or her as present at both. I am an easy grader.
In fairness, some Council members with lousy attendance may have work conflicts they are unable to avoid. My experience over the years tells me most are very conscientious and try to be present. Wayne Grube insisted on being present, even when he was very ill. Jerry Seyfried would call off from work to attend a meeting.
Council committees met as follows:
Capital Projects - five
Parks and Open Space - six
Economic Development - seven
Human Services - eight
Combined Personnel and Finance - 12
The busiest committee is combined Personnel and Finance, but Human Services is increasingly important. This will become more so now that the County is once again administering Gracedale.
The attendance grade of each Council member is as follows:
Lori Vargo Heffner - 100% (67/67) - A
John Cusick - 99% (66/67) - A
Ron Hechman - 97% (65/67)- A
Bill McGee - 97% (65/67) - A
Bob Werner - 97% (65/67) - A
Matt Dietz - 94% (63/67) - A
Tara Zrinski - 90% (60/67) - A
Peg Ferraro - 64% (43/67) - D
I excluded Ken Kraft, who resigned, and Kevin Lott, his replacement because they obviously were Council members for only part of the year.
I have never handed out this many "A"s. The only bad grade goes to Peg Ferraro, who spent much of last year traveling. Normally, this is where I trash the offender. But I am giving Peg a pass. She has spent decades in public service, is tired of politics and appears to be nearing the end of her political career.
Though I can still pick on Council members for everything else, I have to compliment their diligence.
If Peg doesn't give shot why did she run. Sorry, no points for raw unadulterated ego. She should resign.
ReplyDeletePeg is stealing from taxpayers. Disgraceful.
ReplyDelete6:12 am
ReplyDeleteYou think they get paid like a real job?
Ken Kraft, The tradition of encouraging Council members to attend ALL meetings is something that existed long before you were there and was carried on by people who had many more years of service than you. The notion that you only attend committees to which you are assigned is valid in Congress, where there are hundreds of them. There are only a few Council committees and most meetings are on the same day. It is called service. You wish to change this good habit bc your own record is usually less than exemplary. But this past year, even you would have had an "A." You don't even follow your own frickin' advice, so neither shall I. I prefer Council members who are informed, and consider attendance a big portion of my overall evaluation of a council member.
ReplyDeleteHow many of these members serve on "BOARDS and COMMISSIONS" and are they attending their meetings? Those count too.
ReplyDeleteI wish that some would have a poorer attendance record as the biased agenda and nonsense that comes from their mouths is discouraging. Many voters think voting gives them a pass on attending meetings. At least with your reports, there is a chance that voters would know what some of the wingnuts that they supported are espousing. Responsibly serving on County Council can be quite a sacrifice. Unfortunately it does not discourage some of the wingnuts from serving and sowing some destructive ideas. Keep up your reporting, Bernie, and let the chips fall where they may.
ReplyDeletewell your going to be graded as a blogger...
ReplyDeleteStart with Man crushes- A++.
Kissing butt of the County employee's so you get inside info and favors at the title office-A+
Telling always the truth-F
Spin Fake news- A++
Hatred of women- a pure A+++
Attacks and total BS- A++
The people elected Pocketbook Peg to represent them... NOT travel and conveniently represent them. She deserves an F and stop cuddling her. Its time Peg retires and goes to Gracedale as a resident.
ReplyDeleteYour so wrong in thinking cause she travels she gets a free ride and in the same day criticize others for not attending committee meetings? Your all wet with this one Bernie and look silly.
What favor do you owe her? You already have a key to the courthouse.....and your nose stuck to McClure
You could use a few lessons in grammar, among other things. Had I wanted to avoid this criticism of Peg, I simply would have written no story at all, or an abbreviated one just pointing to Heffner's perfect attendance. But I want my readers to know who is there and who is not. It is important to me, and when they are candidates, these people say it is important to them. I believe Peg's attendance should be much better, but her grade is a D, based on the very same standards that are used in school. Also, I do not have the same attitude towards her for her skips than I did for people like Seth Vaughn and Glenn Geissinger. You can calll this favoritism, but I call it fairness. That is a concept that eludes you.
ReplyDeleteGeissinger skipped meetings bc he was running for Congress and ignoring his responsibility here. Vaughan skipped bc he just didn't care, yet expected to be re-elected. In contrast to people like that, Peg has spent her entire career caring about government. She now is nearing the end of her career in government and is starting to do some of the things she should have done long ago. Peg at 50% is still a much better council member than all of the new ones put together. They would do well to listen to her and Ron Heckman instead of learning the hard way that they don't know everything. So I am being fair and honest in pointing out her bad attendance and at the same time, telling you it does not bother me as much as other absences. If they bother others, they know of these absences bc this blog told them.
As for having a key to the courthouse or getting special treatment, I receive no consideration that is not available to any member of he public who is there on a regular basis. Sometimes the cafeteria gives me a free cup of coffee, and of course, all the women want me. But that's about it.
"How many of these members serve on "BOARDS and COMMISSIONS" and are they attending their meetings? Those count too."
ReplyDeleteNearly every one of them do serve on other boards. But there is no way for me to chronicle the attendance record of each one at all of them without losing sight of the one that matters - the county.
Kenny Kraft has some nerve spouting off on you. He leveraged his council position to land a cushy job at the jail. He should shut up and continue to feed at the public trough.
ReplyDeleteI was at a meeting five or six years ago and Peg did not know the relative size of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.
ReplyDeleteShe was surprised when it was explained to her. It was a remarkable moment.
This type of report is fine but how about something a bit more meaningful? Showing up is great. In some cases with some people we would be better off if they didn't show up.
ReplyDeleteWould you please do a review of their individual performance. It would be much more informative. As there is no more local news coverage you are the only source of real county news. What these people have brought to the table would be very enlightening.
You can't really call this a cover-up bc it is being investigated by PSP, and there is no love lost between PSP and local police officers. You want your prurient interest satisfied, have already reached a conclusion that there is a cover-up, but do not express one word of sympathy fir the family of the person killed.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree with Ken Kraft. Your so-called rating system is crap. Not all get togethers are the same. County Council meetings are the most important as that is the only place anything can be voted on. Next is Budget Meetings as they are a critical part of why th council exists for the budget. Next is any committees someone serves on as a member or chair and finally committee meetings that you are not a member of.
ReplyDeleteSomehow you decided that only committee meetings are where all the "work is done" but most county council people disagree with you. Frankly at a council meeting any elected official has the right to ask any question they wish regardless of how many times it has been talked about in a committee.
The council is not there to placate your desires.
It is actually the opposite. Most NorCo Council members make an effort to attend every meeting they can bc they will be voting on what is discussed. If they felt as you say, they would not be there. I have been doing this for 12 years, and only those who skip meetings or who want to pick fights with me make these lame excuses.
ReplyDeleteWhat about their individual performance over the course of a year? Many are new. Also are they in the bag for McClure?
ReplyDeleteYour numbers are wrong. Someone screwed up the phone attendance.
ReplyDeleteLocal part-time county and municipal officials especially those with committee structures actually work more than the lionshare of our highly paid "professional" full-time state legislature who were in session a grand total of 48 days last year. Unless of course you count posing for photos at shredder and senior expos (basically campaign events paid for with your tax dollars) as "work".
ReplyDeleteBernie, heard this yesterday. The two new women on county council are going for the Presidency and vice-president of county council. They believe as both women and people that beat incumbents they should be given the roles. Apparently some of the new democratic leaders, mainly women, want them to run the county council. They have been heard saying they may not be there long and run for other office, so now is the time to move. I believe that Heckman is going for the Presidency based on his experience but he may get some competition. Have you heard any of this?
ReplyDeleteYes, I heard this from several people. I question whether they belong on council, let alone on leadership. I will be giving my assessment of this council soon.
ReplyDeleteWow! I know this the age of the woman. It is also a time when everyone knows everything but seriously? I think it would be better for council as a whole if everyone would just get a grip on reality. This country is going crazy!
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