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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, March 25, 2019

McClure To Deliver SOTC Wednesday

Lamont McClure
NorCo Exec Lamont McClure will deliver a "State of the County" address on Wednesday morning, 8 am, at Historic Hotel Bethlehem. This annual event is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. McClure has accomplished a lot during his first year in office. He has beefed up Human Services with more caseworkers to protect our children and the elderly. He has funding for a forensic center, which will be located near the 911 center. He and Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez are working to consolidate 911 operations by July. He negotiated new contracts for most of the unions He has restored medical benefits that were eliminated by his predecessor. In the wake of a negative health inspection, he replaced Gracedale's third-party manager with someone who is in-house. He will purchase the human services center on Thursday. He's also been accessible, responding to phone calls and emails.Most importantly, at least for the taxpayer, he's held the line on taxes. The reason I consider him an excellent county executive has little to do with most of these things. The reality is that he cares very much about the county and the people he represents.

In 2005, McClure was appointed to NorCo Council after losing in two previous races. At that time,he told Council that all he cared about was the county. He had no interest in using his position as a springboard to run for something else. I thought at the time that he was laying it on, but I was wrong. Let me tell you why.

McClure is getting good grades from everyone after his first year on the job. He won the Executive race convincingly against an incumbent. He has a fairly large funding base for future elections. So when DA John Morganelli was stepping down, I was sure that McClure would run for the out the back door job. It pays a lot more than the measly $85,000 for a person administering a $400 million budget. He's a lawyer, too. He would beat any contender in a disputed race. But he passed. He believes he can do more good where he is.

This was driven home to me a few days ago,when I bumped into a retiree at the Nazareth Diner. She tried to get out the back door when she saw me, but I cut her off.

Before I could even ask, she had high praise for McClure. She told me she had a question about her retirement benefits and called in. The next day, she heard from McClure himself. He put her in touch with a person in Human Resources, and made sure her questions were answered thoroughly.

So he cares abut the county, and knows that the people who work there, both present and past, are what makes it. So when nurses from Gracedale complain about staffing, I am sure McClure heard them loud and clear. When they say they'd like more money, he'd agree but has an obligation to the taxpayer, too. I'm sure he'd like more money, too. Some of those RNs make more money than he does.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe that Ron Angle would make a fine county executive. We desperately need someone of his caliber to make Northampton County great again. (Or at least bring it up to par with Lehigh County).

Anonymous said...

And on the seventh day her rested..... Right after he walked on the Delaware river.

Anonymous said...

2.08
and you complained he did not know how to swim.

Anonymous said...

New Mancrush? Ask Gracedale

Anonymous said...

The article is BS and one-sided. First of all, Dertinger runs the County and gets paid ridiculously to do so. When McClure is asked questions in County Council meetings, he needs to turn to Dertinger for the answers - McClueless. If he cares about employees, he would do a long over due salary study for every employee and then pay them what was determined. Balancing the budget on the backs of employees is not right and doesn't show that he cares about the employees. At least when horrible Brown was there, the cabinet member were allowed to run their own offices and took care of their employees. They were not micromanaged by the County Executive and the Director of Administration. He just takes care of his political paybacks. One term.

By the way, how did Amy Cozze get a position in Administration when there wasn't a Clerical Technician position before in that office, nor was it posted, nor did it go before County Council for a new position????????????????????? Answer that one.

Anonymous said...

Run for DA. How can he be the boss of his wife?

Anonymous said...

Lamont has named at least 14 groups as "the county's most precious assets." He was less of a liar when he was simply not showing up for work (lower volume theory). The more he speaks, the more he lies. And you're left to run around behind him with your bucket and mop. The SOTC is a fucking disgrace. Lamont made it that way in very short order.

Anonymous said...

stick a pin in him and get all the hot air out

Anonymous said...

Bernie, you must be spending too much time playing "General" in the video games, or drinking too much kool-aid! Granted, anyone would have been an improvement over John "brown pants" but this guy is a union hack. He hands out jobs to his political buddies like Amy Cozze & Scott Parsons- 2 incompetent people. I remember how lazy and arrogant he was as a councilman, and he was only elected since he was the lesser of 2 evils. Dertinger is the new Cathy Allen, but is at least more competent. Time will tell, but your bias is quite disgusting!

Anonymous said...

McClure walked into a mess. So much unwarranted negativity. He turns to others for answers at times? Yes, that what they are there for. The man is expected to bring up details on every project and happening in the entire county on a moments notice? Get real.
McClure addresses problems and doesn't hesitate to do so personally, when he is able.
Have you all forgotten the do-nothing, hire an idiot #2, Brownstain?

Anonymous said...

Will the real Lamont please stand up? The Gracedale issue should be on the front pages of both LV local rags but yet..crickets! Does someone have to die before the county takes any kind of affirmative and remedial action? Time to keep your campaign promise to those old folks that took you at your word Mr. Executive!

Anonymous said...

Bernie did Lamont and Hillary collude on the tarmac with the Russians before he will deliver the SOTC than Loretta Lynce covered it up with the help of the Muller to investigate the opposing side for there criminal acts. All the while spending America's money for this farce, and trips to destination pedophile epstien island to imbibe in the ills available on said island.

This stuff is the stuff of billion dollar movies by spelburg in America's nightmarish happenings?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Although McClure has high regard for Dertinger, the notion that Dertinger is running tgevcounty is dead wrong. McClure is very much a hands on exec. As an exec, he is entitled to a certain number of “exempt” positions made up of people he trusts. And frankly, your assessment of Parsons and Cozze is marred by your own partisan perspective. Both are hard workers and are giving the county a good return on the money paid to them.

For years, I considered McClure a phony. He has proven he is very sincere. I was blown away when he passed on running for DA, which he would win and would pay him twice what he gets now. He did so because, just as he first stated when he sought an appointment to county council, all he cares about is the county.

I have and will disagree with him at times. I think he has allowed some council members to create the impression that the county is more concerned about plastic straws than its core functions. I disagree with appointing someone too a board who was just fined by the ethics commission. But no one seemed to have a problem with it except me, so I could be too harsh.

As for Gracedale, I have covered the bad and the good. I cannot speak for the dailies but know there have been stories in The Bethlehem Press.

Anonymous said...

Your bias, at times, is overwhelming. He allows the current couccil to waste too much time & energy on frivolous issues. His appointment of the corrupt tree hugger from Mt. Bethel to an advisory board speaks volumes. BTW, who in the hell reads the Bethlehem Press?

Anonymous said...

Lamont couldn't build a birdhouse.

Anonymous said...

The dailies will at some point pick up the Gracedale issues as they read this blog as well as us regulars. Bernie has done the clients of the county home a service by bringing their caregivers situation sunlight and press coverage as well as he can under his limited circumstances as a blogger of some fame. I believe council is on the move and we have not heard the last of this situation.

Bernie O'Hare said...

3:21, I make no claim of objectivity. Never have. I try to tell the truth. As for my assessment of McClure, I am telling the truth as I see it. I have states why. As for the appointment, you would know nothing about it had I not written about it. She was unanimously confirmed by a Council that includes three Republicans. And I do not consider this person corrupt. She claims to have acted innocently. I am inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt but would not put her on the open space board less than a year after she was sanctioned. This is no way to end corruption, which was one of McCkure’s campaign themes. As for Council, that is a separate branch of government. McClure has little control over how they run their meetings. But right now, they are devoting too much time to plastic straws, green new deals and marijuana while not devoting the time to real county business. The chief reason for this is Tara Zrinski.

Anonymous said...

Didn't she have some transgender bathroom resolution that had no real legal impact? I understand she tried to pass it an couldn't even get a second to do it, not one vote besides her own. It would appear council has had enough. By the way he encouraged Zirinski to push for it.

In your earlier post you claimed "he allowed council", didn't know he was the emperor of the county. What are his newest orders to council?

Anonymous said...

A true Irishman !

Anonymous said...

Bernie, if you are implying that Cozze, since when is a Clerical Technician position an exempt position and a newly created one doesn't need to be approved by Council. Sounds like McClure is trying to pull the same BS that Brown did. Notice you didn't provide her position title and salary when asked. Put her up at Gracedale where CNA employees are needed.

Anonymous said...

I hope he says there will be a complete overhaul and firings of NCC&Y administration based on the Sara Packer fiasco alone.

Anonymous said...

McClure better do something about the disgraceful operation of the County 9-1-1 center. Delayed dispatches, wrong units dispatched to an address. Some dispatchers constantly asking units to repeat transmissions. And now they are combining with Bethlehem? It will be a failure.

Anonymous said...

Wonder how Zrinski would feel about transgender bathrooms had she had girls?? Don't expect anything for the benefit of Northampton County to come from her as she has higher aspirations!

Anonymous said...

Sure think for DA?? Yeah, in your mancrush dreams. If he had run a real republican would have run.

Anonymous said...

Cozze was not approved by Council. She is the exempt clerical employee of a department head (Court Services).

McClure for DA? To be his wife's boss? Be real. Can't imagine you are serious with a man of First Deputy Houck's resume running. Maybe a run for judge in '21.

Anonymous said...

He is stubborn about Gracedale. He has to think outside the box and he will not. Can county council do anything to help? Bernie is in love, so he won't help us.

Anonymous said...

I told people: draft Ron Angle for county executive! Make Northampton County great again!

Anonymous said...

He has a personal assistant paid by the county to just publish social media about him and follow him around and take pictures. Must be nice!
MAGA!

Anonymous said...

It's time for McClure to give a raise to all county employees except for appointed personnel of McClure. Don't even bother wasting millions on a study to see what employees do, They have been performed several times over the years. There is too much turn over in the row offices, the County can't keep personnel with the wages they currently pay.