McClure Serves Up Unusual State of the County, Along With Bacon and Eggs

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure delivered two "State of the County" addresses yesterday at an early morning breakfast attended by about 120 county employees, business leaders and political rivals at Historic Hotel Bethlehem  As the smell of bacon and hot coffee wafted through the room, a relaxed McClure spent approximately 40 minutes highlighting the accomplishments of the people who work for him. In doing so, he actually was explaining what county government does. In addition to his remarks, attendees were presented with a detailed financial statement that informs the public where the county gets its money and how it is spent.

He said he come into office with a major money problem. Former Executive John Brown had committed the county to a $38 million project that would repair or replace 33 county bridges, but with no dedicated funding source. In addition, the county was was leasing a Human Services Building in Bethlehem Tp at a total cost of $28 million. Though the county could purchase the building, it would lose nearly $1 million it receives from the state every year to pay the rent. Finally, Coroner Zach Lysek was working out of an old farmhouse at Louise Moore Park and in desperate need of a forensic center. McClure credited Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron with solving this problem with an "incredibly innovative" plan. That plan involved borrowing the money to purchase the building. That way the county would still get its annual payment from the state. That way, funds would also be available to pay for the bridges and finally build a forensic center. The icing on the cake is that the county would actually save money by borrowing money.

He said it's little wonder that Barron is referred to as NorCo Money Man. But his highest praise was for Budget Director Doran Hammond, who will retire at the end of this year after 40 years of service. He said that Northampton County in past years was often a circus, but that Hammond made sure the county stayed on an even keel and that the clowns got paid and animals fed.

From his secretary to his top Administrator, McClure thanked everyone. He called Deputy Administrator Becky Bartlett his "eyes and ears" at meetings he is unable to attend. He credited Amy Cozze for her work on selecting new voting machines with a paper trail. Her choice just happened to be the choice of a vast majority of election judges. "I don't think the Russians will be able to get into our machines," he joked.

He praised his Public Works Director, Mike Emili, with finally getting new generators at Gracedale,a project that had languished for five years. Residents at the county-owned nursing home were without power for several days after Superstorm Sandy. He also said Emili is working on a separate entrance for admissions of new residents, who often arrive on stretchers.

For decades, the county has had no forensic center. Some have said it's unnecessary."Talk to Zach [the Coroner] about it," he suggested. "It's been. Zach's sheer force of will that murder cases haven't been thrown out because he's made sure evidence has been preserved." 

He also touched on Gracedale. At last weeks Council meeting, a bevy of nurses complained about low wages and poor staffing  Gracedale exceeds the state average standards. The staffing issues might be created by the nurses themselves. McClure noted that family and sick leave is 30% at Gracedale, more than twice what it is at 24/7 operations like 911 or the jail.  He said at that number, it's time to question whether family leave is being abused. He added that, while he believes the county has a "moral obligation" to keep Gracedale, it would be unfair to the taxpayer to run it at a $6-10 million deficit.

The RNs have rejected McClure's contact proposal, but a similar contract was accepted overwhelmingly by six other unions, including other Gracedale staff.

Nurses at Gracedale are paid an average of $77,000 per year. Four of them make more than McClure. Deborah Messinger, a registered nurse, was paid $121,000 last year

McClure also talked about increasing truck traffic, and said people have had enough. He said that the county can encourage farmland preservation and preservation of environmentally sensitive lad, but added that people want jobs, too.

His other state of the county, which details where the county gets its money and how it spends it, will be detailed tomorrow.

This event was hosted by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. 

I sat at a large round table with plenty of room for about 1,000 people. Though I had taken my monthly shower and was wearing clean underwear, I was all by my lonesome until moments before the event started. This is what happened last year, too. My table did eventually fill up, but it was with people who had no choice.

You might think I was being shunned, but that's untrue. Fiscal Director Steve Barron, aka Norco Moneyman, walked right up to me. "I didn't think your coffin opened before 11 am," he said.

I'll deal with him after sunset.