About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, October 02, 2020

NorCo Council Approves Additional $2.4 MM in Covid-19 Relief

This warning against ballot harvesting is at
every drop box. 
At their October 1 meeting Northampton County Council voted to spend $2.4 million on a wide variety of projects aimed at mitigating the damage done by Covid-19 as well as the corresponding state shutdown. This includes $684,185 in Covid-related grants to ten municipalities; a $648,256 grant to prevent homelessness; $800,000 to Northampton County's four colleges; and $279,500 in grants to 22 small businesses. This money is part of $27.6 million in CARES Act funding. It must be out the door by year's end. According to Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron, the Council still has about $1.5 million left to spend.

In addition to this spending, Council also decided to reinstate hazard pay at Gracedale. This money also comes form the CARES Act, but is part of a separate funding stream. All nursing home employees will get a 20% payhike, retroactive to September 20. Employees in units with two or more Covid-19 patients will get 25%, and those working in the isolation ward will be paid 30%.

Department of Community and Economic Development Director Tina Smith reported that the Council's previous decision to award $800,000 in CARES Act funding for internet vouchers at area school districts will have to be limited to whatever can be spent this calendar year.

In other business, Executive Lamont McClure advised Council that Human Resources Director Elizabeth Kelly has resigned. "I relied on her mightily," he said. He has named Kelly's Deputy, Kathleen Wedge, as Acting Director. There are 2,200 county employees.

Drop-box at NorCo rotunda
In addition to the switch on Human Resources, there's been a change in the Office of Veterans Affairs. Alex Carrillo, a US Army veteran who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, will take over for recently departed Freddie Ramirez, Jr. Carrillo is already a county employee working in Children, Youth and Families.

In preparation for the upcoming Presidential election, McClure advised Council that 62,561 applications for mail-in ballots have now been received, and 52,000 have been mailed. He added that, thus far, there have been 303 early voters.

"You've got no excuse to not vote in Northampton County," he added.

Council member John Cusick expressed some concern about ballot harvesting, a practice under which one person collects and files ballots on behalf of several people. "It will be a crime to do that," remarked McClure, who added that notices are posted at drop-boxes indicating that only the person who voted may deposit a ballot unless he fills out a form authorizing someone else to do so. He noted cameras are trained on every drop-box. "It'll be on a camera so you're gonna' go to jail," he warned would-be law breakers.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

"He noted cameras are trained on every drop-box. "It'll be on a camera so you're gonna' go to jail," he warned would-be law breakers."

Yes...but what if the law breaker is wearing one of those giant virtue signaling, political theater, just a few threads shy of a face Burka, Biden style mask?

You're only going to see the face of Team Trump.

Anonymous said...

Bernie you and I and the dang wall know that no one is going to enforce the "third party voting". Pennsylvania punted this one. Why try to mail in ballots on a Presidential year during what is expected to be the biggest turn out of all time.

First everyone complains about voting security with regards to actually voting in person (The russians could "hack" the system) now we are trying to attempt to ensure mail in ballots are secure. If we don't have confidence in the in person security what makes mail in so secure.

Pennsylvania is front line news in the punting of their security. First Luzerne county and their "mistake" and now Philly has memory sticks stolen and people just able to walk in where the voting machines are kept. This is an outrage and Wolf should be ashamed.

So regardless of what BS side you are on you can't tell me anything is legit.

Anonymous said...

12:29, President Trump has warned us of this for years. This is how the election will be stolen in PA. A sad time in America. The plan is very clear in Pa.

Anonymous said...

Unbelievably shocking News, our President and First Lady have the Covid virus, prayers and shock!

Anonymous said...

The Deep State is coordinating with the Biden campaign to use alien technology captured in the Roswell crash to flip Trump votes over to Biden. Deployed agents will enter voting booths with a device described as, "having the appearance a key fob." With a push of a button it will turn the Trump votes into Biden votes in the electronic memory of the machines, with no traceability of the manipulation. "It's so much easier than shipping in 3 million illegal voters, as we did in the last election," said a man in black. "We have kept this technology in Area 102, which is twice as secret as Area 51." ~ QAnon

Anonymous said...

Many acts are illegal. Posting a warning like this one won’t do much, but it’s something. Choosing to ENFORCE misbehavior is where our nation falls short. I’ve been waiting for 70 years to read of someone penalized for removing a mattress tag.

Besides, someone dropping multiple ballots into a slot is more difficult than ever to prosecute. The criminal will be wearing a Covid mask making their true identity a challenge.

Anonymous said...

What happens if Trump dies from Covid?

Anonymous said...

What is the real truth of Liz Kelly leaving? We all know that she left on a dime and when some one at that level leaves like that it usually mean they were given the option to resign or be fired. So what really is the truth?

Anonymous said...

Wow, two high level employees leaving under McClure. What is going on?

Anonymous said...

Wife received her mail in ballot yesterday. The return envelope shows her name and address. Easy now to look up her name and address to see which party she is listed on. Voting not so secret any more.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Liz Kelly was very highly regarded and presumably found something that was better for her. I doubt she left on a dime. As for Ramirez, I believe he came under fire by people like Heffner. Not sure if he decided he had enough and will try to find out.

Anonymous said...

If you can try to find out where Ramirez went then you would be able to let us know where Liz Kelly actually went. It would be interesting to know, if she truly did leave for another job.

Anonymous said...

Bernie Ray R was fired by McClure period. Talk to Ray R. Has nothing to do with anyone but McClure. You love the guy but are also blind to his way of doing business.

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth Kelly was highly regarded by many. No one with integrity walks out without notice. It's truly not our business why however we know that if you disagree you are history in this administration. Insecurities come out and people are told to leave. McClure got rid of something like thirty good people when he took office. He didn't care who they were or what they did he only cared that they were "associated" with Brown. I know from employees you don't tell him what he doesn't want to hear. It's a shame because as a leader you need to listen to opposing views. Yes men don't make things better.

Anonymous said...

The new HR boss is a dem state rep's daughter. Thar is nice.

Bernie O'Hare said...

" McClure got rid of something like thirty good people when he took office"

It was probably closer to 10. These were exempt workers who come and go with administrations.