I've been critical of Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Health, for her continued insistence on a shutdown of the state's economy. But in addition to Governor Tom Wolf, she does have one fan - NorCo Exec Lamont McClure. His reason has nothing to do with that the state shutdown, and everything to do with Dr. Levine's help at Gracedale. "I don't know where we would be today without the responsiveness of the Department of Health," he said. McClure said this while making a pitch for a 30-day extension of his emergency powers. Council would later honor McClure's request by an 8-1 vote , with Council member John Cusick being the sole dissenter.
The meeting was the first ever Skype meeting conducted by County Council. Council President Ron Heckman and VP Lori Vargo-Heffner were physically present, with the remaining seven Council members (John Cusick, Peg Ferraro, Bill McGee, Kevin Lott, Kerry Myers, Tom Giovanni and Tara Zrinski) participating by laptop. Although there was lots of noise in the background from time to time, the remote format seemed to be a success. There was no public participation.
When speaking of Gracedale, McClure told Council that 26 residents have tested positive for Covid-19, along with 22 staff members. Unfortunately, four of these residents are deceased, but two of the staffers have already returned to work. He added that the specter of a novel coronavirus resulted in 400 call-offs in April. "We understand that many of those who called off are scared," he observed."But those who show up are scared, too."
Covid-19 has hit the jail, too. McClure reported that five inmates and five staffers have been infected. The afflicted staffers include two medical personnel and three corrections officers. One of the corrections officers has returned to work. The jail's population has been reduced from a census of 661 on March 23 to 531 on April 15. McClure credited President Judge Michael J Koury, Jr, District Attorney Terry Houck and Chief Public Defender Nuria DiLuzio for their role in identifying nonviolent offenders who could be released.
McClure also praised Emergency Management for their role in securing personal protective equipment for distribution to first responders on March 23, March 24, March 31, April 6 and April 9. He also named and thanked several private individuals and businesses who donated masks and hand sanitizer (I will run a complete list of these generous people and businesses once I confirm).
Cusick, the only Council member to vote against the extension of McClure's emergency powers, did so because McClure recently decided to close all county parks. Though not discussed at the meeting, a recent Chinese study (still awaiting peer review) concludes Covid-19 is almost entirely an indoor phenomenon. On the other hand, Louise Moore Park is located very close to Palmer and Bethlehem Townships, the two hardest hit municipalities within Northampton County.
In addition to extending McClure's emergency powers for another 30 days, Council also adopted an "emergency" ordinance giving itself the option of just meeting once a month for the next three months. Council President Ron Heckman explained that it was still his intention to have Council meet twice every month, but the ordinance gives Council the option of reducing the number of meetings if necessary. Cusick was again the sole No vote. Having participated in multiple electronic meetings as a teacher, he said, "I see no reason for this ordinance."
26 comments:
The county parks should re-open. Outdoor, properly distanced recreation is only beneficial to physical and mental health and well-being. I wanted to listen in on the meeting, but only found log-in information on Lehigh Valley Live after the meeting had concluded.
Checked out the video, is McClure doing his evangelist Baptist preacher routine or doing his lawyer addressing the court thing when he talks to council. He projects about as much real sincerity as a wolf pack inviting you to dinner. Does council really buy imto this routine.
Because there is zero science behind closing parks that keep citizens healthy, it's clear our authoritarian executive is just having fun with power. Exercise is important. One look at Lamont's appalling physical condition, and you can see why exercise and good health are foreign ideas to him. What a careless, uncaring, science denying ass.
"Though not discussed at the meeting, a recent Chinese study (still awaiting peer review) concludes Covid-19 is almost entirely an indoor phenomenon"
this is almost too funny, because that's right where our governor has stuck us....
Lamont is not afraid of catching CoViD-19-D because he's too out of shape to catch anything. He doesn't understand the value of fresh air and healthy exercise. I'm Irish and know his look from two dozen uncles who lived well, but never long. I'm going to Louise Moore to run the track over the weekend. Lamont is invited to meet me there, run me down, and make a citizen's arrest. I'd savor the encounter.
Congratulations to Councilman Cusick for voting correctly during these trying times.
Meeting twice a month to do the job you were elected to do is not asking too much. If you only want to meet once a month, forfeit your monthly salary accordingly.
Why do the numbers that Lamont gives never match the numbers the paper provides? No answer needed. We know who to believe.
7:06 -
Again, those reported numbers were INFLATED from the start, and continue to be ‘juiced.’ The evidence IS out there to prove how creative these totals have been.
6:59, council also canceled all committee hearings. They are all hiding instead of doing what they were elected to do.
Ho Ho HO, all of Northampton County Council must go. They are mandated by the Home Rule Charter to meet twice monthly. If they violate the Charter they forfeit there office. It's the law. Where is Ron Angle when we need him. Someone has to tell Councils Solicitor to get off his ass and inform council on their obligations. If they don't meet we must file to uphold the law of the Home Rule Charter and ask Council to resign or request the Courts remove them.
Cusick is playing the political game. He has big political ambitions, so he plays hard to his republican base by voting against what the dems support. It is pure BS. You love to quote him and always give him free press.
Now he is voting the way you want on this pandemic so you damn everyone else.
Fortunately most of the elected officials are smart and thoughtful people and not you and your fellow "me only" trolls. They are doing their jobs just not playing to you or the screamers for votes. Maybe they should insult a transgender woman with disgusting posts, then you would love them.
Actually, you are playing the political game. You hate Cusick because he is an intelligent and hard-working R. You view him as a potential threat to NMcClure. I view him as a Council member who exercises oversight. I quote him bc he usually has something meaningful to say. If the others have something meaningful to say or use their mikes, I quote them, too. In this case, Cusick was the sole member of Council to vote No on the extension or reduced meetings. If you want to inform the reader, it necessarily follows you would want to explain WHY Cusick voted No. It would be poor journalism NOT to tell readers why. As for where Cusick stands on the pandemic, I doubt that he and I are on the same page. And we happen to disagree on the extension of McClure's powers. I previously said McClure's powers should be extended.
I suppose I could quote other Council members who just love being able to eliminate meetings. But then I'd have to explain that a few of them are not showing up or insist on phoning it in all the time.
I could quote Heckman's snide and stupid remarks about the court, in which he basically said that all the judges but Koury are beneath him.
Be careful what you ask for. I am more than capable of delivering.
at 6:27, you are a mean and vicious person. You have been on a hate rant ever since the pandemic hit. You attack any that are being thoughtful and smart during this crises because you are angry. You love McClure but hate the council for doing the same things. You love Cusick because be is on your love list like McClure.
The other council members are good people. I know them all. Heckman has more respect for the courts than he does for the Executive branch and you know it. He proposed flexibility in managing council just like McClure and that pisses you off. You have proved you can slant your attacks ay anyone on your shit list since you do it all the time. Based on what you attack we know who is really doing a good job.
It is good that eight members of council are more thoughtful ad public minded than you and one political animal.
"Heckman has more respect for the courts than he does for the Executive branch"
Then he should have no trouble explaining his snide remarks about the judges. But to be honest, that's not saying much now, is it? It's pretty clear to me they are all political animals. One of them is running for the state house. Another can't wait to be Council Prez. Another stepped off boro council to sit on the county. Who do you think you're kidding?
Some are more honest about it than others.
Cusick and Heckman are the only members of Council who keeps McClure accountable. They actually seem to be there for the county, not their ambition.
Peg is on her way out, Tom Giovanni AND Kerry Myers are still getting his feet wet. The others are pretty much bobbleheads who do as they're told. Not much independent thinking from that bunch, except for plastic straws.
I will credit Heckman for having a spine, which is a rarity. That's why I like and respect him. But he also has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth. I chose to ignore his slur at the bench for my story. What Cusick said is what mattered. What Ron said was just him opening mouth and inserting foot. He would do that less often if he spoke less often. I have told him this to his face. I do not pull punches with any one of them.
Their job is to keep the Exec accountable. They pretty much fail. My job is to keep them and the Exec accountable. I don't give a shit what you or they think of me. I provide a service while you are a hack.
Just read a report that shows sunlight being a positive defense against the virus. While it takes me back to the days of Mom telling me to “let the sun soak it out of you” when I had a particularly bad cold, maybe the county exec will see the report and reopen the parks that shouldn’t be closed in the first place.
When is the public going to be told about the testing at the nursing home for staff and residents....not just infrared temperature checks on the far head......where is the testing at?
Some states have mobile testing going on for their nursing home staff and residents.....can we get this?
At yesterday's WH presser, VP Pence stated 3.5 M tests have been conducted and the goal is to have 5 M by the end of April. Given that nursing homes are clearly high risk, I imagine that high priority will be placed on testing for nursing homes. I don't know this, though, and maybe someone who has better information does.
What are you going to do when Your boy Cusick runs against your boy McClure? Cusick wants it bad and everyone knows it. His votes are all about that, ask McClure he knows it. He needs to wait so he can max out his schoolteacher public pension and healthcare, then it will be on.
Who will you back, a real dilemma
I'd vote for a filthy Chinese doorknob over McClure. He's never toiled and has no clue what toiling is like. He's made a life from being an elitist leech. Good lawyer. Bad person. Terrible Exec.
Tara Zirinski is the hardest working person in county government. She is at all Important functions and is concerned with issues that affect everyone.
There is no "track" at Louise Moore Park.
"What are you going to do when Your boy Cusick runs against your boy McClure? Cusick wants it bad and everyone knows it. His votes are all about that, ask McClure he knows it. He needs to wait so he can max out his schoolteacher public pension and healthcare, then it will be on.
Who will you back, a real dilemma"
I have no idea who is going to challenge McClure. The Rs do not exactly take me into their confidence. But I doubt it will be Cusick. His campaigns have mostly been self-funded and I think he'd have a tough time raising money. I believe he is involved bc he cares about the county, not bc he wants a job that pays a pittance.
But if there is a contest, I will support McClure over anyone. He and I have some differences, especially when it comes to county employees. They need to be paid more. A lot more. I fully expected him to do that and he did not. I fully expected a pay study, even though it is controversial. But even with these differences, I would support him in a heartbeat over Cusick or most any GOP nominee. Cusick has made clear on several occasions that he believes it is a fallacy that county employees are paid less than the employees in other counties. I have sat down with the corrections union and gone thru the numbers and I believe we are paid less even when you add in the benefits. And to his credit, McClure has made sure that a lot of the medical benefits have been restored. So I think he is far better for the county worker than Cusick would ever be.
Aside from that, I think McClure has done a remarkable job. He has managed finances well, and has been good at leveraging monies so that the burden on taxpayers is reduced. For example, buying the Human Services Building but floating a bond so the county could continue to receive reimbursement from the state was a stroke of genius. The forensic center has been on the wish list of the county for decades, and he is actually building one. He solved the generator issue. He is doing something about the parking problem at the courthouse with a new lot at the Milides building and will be making the crossing more safe. He has continued the commitment to open space that first started with Jerry Seyfried and began in a big way with John Stoffa. The county parks look beautiful, with trails being added and improved. So I would give him very high marks as Exec. I believe he has done well bc, unlike many others, his sole interest has always been county government.
Cusick has done an outstanding job in exercising oversight. That is something Council members all should do. That is why they are there. He often raises good and important issues. But there is no dilemma. I would support McClure without reservation. I have been very impressed by him, and I am not easily impressed.
"I'd vote for a filthy Chinese doorknob over McClure. He's never toiled and has no clue what toiling is like. He's made a life from being an elitist leech. Good lawyer. Bad person. Terrible Exec."
This is partisan horseshit and xenophobic as well. It's also written by someone who knows nothing about McClure. It's true that he can be very formal and is somewhat stiff with people he does not know. But over the past few years, he's become more and more relaxed and is actually very likable. He has a great sense of humor, and is actually more willing than most to laugh at himself. He comes form the coal regions, and people from there are hardly elitist. They no what it is like to suffer. He has devoted his life to helping blue collars.
"He has a great sense of humor, and is actually more willing than most to laugh at himself."
Now that's funny. In what world is any of that true. He and Dertinger are the most arrogant people in the county.
Beware of the death count "inflation" in the elderly and the skew of actual death rate of COVID. Many in nursing homes and retirees have DNR orders. No ventilators, but some not even excess oxygen are the patient's wishes. Guess what? They die, like they want. Added benefit, it inflates deaths and death rate and Wolf and Levine win!
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