Years ago, when Ron Angle was Northampton County Council President, he proposed that the Executive be provided an opportunity at every meeting to provide a report to Council in which he could make last-minute pitches for agenda items or speak out on other matters of concern. Council agreed, and the Executive's Report has been part of every agenda since 2006. Past Executives have failed to make use of this invitation to use the bully pulpit, but Lamont McClure has embraced it. He has used it to argue in favor of his own proposals and keep both Council and the public posted on what else is happening. It's good politics but is also good government and is a sign of transparency. But while McClure is Exec, he is not a 10th member of Council. He attempted to interject himself in the middle of a debate last night, even to the point of ignoring and interrupting Council President Lori Vargo Heffner. He crossed the line between being helpful and a bully, giving ammunition to his opponents.
The matter in question was a $50,000 grant to monitor air quality at different points within the County. The money for this comes from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Andrea Wittchen, founder of the Lehigh Valley Sustainability Network, gave a presentation on Wednesday about the need for air quality testing. Although Republican and Democratic Council members all agreed there is a need in an area plagued by ozone and particulates. The latest report from the American Lung Association gives NorCo a C.
What bothered Council members was the discovery, only made yesterday, that $23,950 of this grant would be for "project management" with scant details to justify the sum. The proposal failed to identify the nonprofit that would be receiving this sum, or just how this sum would be divided.
That made no difference to Council member Tara Zrinski, who called the group receiving this money environmental leaders. But it bothered other Council members. John Cusick flagged the problem, and John Goffredo observed that Wittchen had proposed a project in which she "more or less is the sole proprietor."
Council President Lori Vargo Heffner noted Council was being asked to approve a$23,950 management fee with "no resume and no outline of what is expected." "Our job is budgetary," she explained, adding that "I just want a little more documentation so I can 100% say Yes."
While one Council member was speaking, McClure interrupted to say that he had Wittchen on the line to answer any questions.
"You are not recognized at this time," observed Vargo-Heffner. Undeterred, McClure continued interrupting and had to be told several times that he was not running the meeting.
"That was just uncalled for," said Vargo-Heffner once McClure finally sat down.
Had McClure simply raised his hand and asked to be recognized, things might have been different. But I think not. County Council wanted it in writing.
At this point Council member Kerry Myers (participating by phone), moved to table. Council voted 6-2 to table, with Kevin Lott and Tara Zrinski voting No. John Brown was MIA.
By the way, Wittchen is a harpist, and a good one. She even has a Master's degree in Business Administration and the Harp, but she has no background in science.
As the meeting reached its merciful end, Council member Ron Heckman gave the homily. "Sometimes, you gotta' read the room.," he suggested.
Council did approve several other grants without controversy. I'll update you about them on Monday.
27 comments:
Kudos for Vargo Heffner putting the Bully in his place! Long overdue!
It may have been a good idea to give the Executive a platform at a council meeting, but it should be ended. Angle loved Stoffa and they worked together. It does not promote transparency, rather it extends a platform for more self-serving speeches by executives wanting to dominate meetings. I have talked to past and current county people, and they agree. Having seen on video and in person McClure uses it to give his version of transparency as does his lieutenants. They act superior and frankly insulting. More often than not it is used not to inform but strong arm and intimidate council people into doing what he wants.
Last night was shameful. Hefner was right. McClure showed himself for the bully he has been known to be. He was a blowhard on council, and he is worse as executive. Council needs to decide if they are an independent oversight board or just a bunch of part time yes people that are there to rubber stamp whatever an executive wants. Frankly, it seems they are not respected by this administration or many of the people that come before them.
Also, Zirinski needs to get over herself and learn she comes off as insane.
Lamont = Democrat Trump. Rude, boorish, arrogant, low intellect, similar followers.
Government on all levels is failing the American people.
When Tara supports a proposal that obviously needs examination of planned expenditures, I get nervous. We dodged a bullet with her recent loss, but I still think she will be looking for a cushy government position. Wish she would find another county, no state, where she can bless those residents with her skills. Maybe even a Far East country where the sun shines and she can build her solar panels. Please refrain from telling me she represents Gaia. And, sometimes, McClure just needs to shut up.
Wow! It just shows you that Tara Zrinski cares nothing about the taxpayer. Half of the grant money goes in someone’s pocket LOL that’s ridiculous!
Thank you Lamont for looking out for Childrens' HealthCare!
God Bless Lamont McClure!
4:43, I find the Exec Report to be quite informative. McClure makes full use of it, and he should. Yes, it is good politics, but it is also a demonstration of transparency. McClure opens himself up for questions at that time as well. Any of the nine council members can and do ask him about anything. I really like this feature.
I have no problem with $23k going to someone testing air quality, but I think we need to see an outline of what is being done for that $ and I would like to know whether any of these individuals have the scientific background necessary to take air samples or to know where it should be done.
"Thank you Lamont for looking out for Childrens' HealthCare!"
ASctrually, he is doing quite a bit for healthcare. I will tell you about that on Monday.
". Council needs to decide if they are an independent oversight board or just a bunch of part time yes people that are there to rubber stamp whatever an executive wants. Frankly, it seems they are not respected by this administration or many of the people that come before them."
Last night was a bit of an aberration. I called him out. McClure has generally been respectful to Council and certainly all of his cabinet has been. There are times when Council has been disrespectful to county employees. I have previously taken Heffner, Heckman and Myers to task for their disrespect to county workers. Those have been aberrations as well. When I see disrespectful behavior, I note it, regardless the source.
Fighting pollution and rising asthma rates is a good thing. Council will come around when they understand better
For those of you who are nor familiar with Northampton County's Home Rule Charter here is what ARTICLE III Section 303. Powers states.
"The County Executive shall have the power
(1) to perform the duties of his office provided by this Charter
(2) to attend meetings of the County Council in an official capacity, but the County Executive shall have no right to participate in the debate or vote on any matter before the County Council".
Not only has every County Executive attended Council Meetings, The County Council has always encouraged he/she to do so.
I remember taking air quality samples in the early eighties in environmental science classes held at NCACC. Why not suggest the local colleges run these tests and most of the money would go towards the material and data?
"Fighting pollution and rising asthma rates is a good thing. Council will come around when they understand better"
No one on Council opposed this proposal. They want more detail on the project management fee. They control the purse strings and are doing their job. They had already asked for more detail at the finance committee and were basically provided a line item.
From what I can gather from reviewing that meeting, it appears that Carnegie Mellon will be selecting the sites in question. The data in many instances will be instantly available on a web page. I believe students at Lehigh will have some involvement with the data. County employees will install the air meters. It is unclear to me what project management entails. It is not a big deal.
Mr. McClure at times forgets that he is the county executive of Northampton County, not the king. That said, he knows better but prefers to push things to the limit and obviously cannot tolerate anyone questioning his ideas, proposals, etc. Perhaps Gracedale would not be in its sorry state if more on council had questioned exactly what that heck the Gracedale administration and he were (are) doing there. Last night’s behavior was not acceptable but I’m certain already today he is brushing it off and blaming others for his mistakes. Guess it’s good John Brown wasn’t there or the tit for tat executives’ feud would have ensued.
I have previously taken Heffner, Heckman and Myers to task for their disrespect to county workers. Those have been aberrations as well.
McClure an Dertinger are both arrogant BS artists. They only do What can get them headlines and they are terrible in practice to employees. AS to the others I and others have been here a long time and Ron Heckman has always been a real champion of employees. He knows when he is getting a load of BS from someone and may call them out on it. He is not disrespectful to any regular employees as you indicate. He has helped in many ways without seeking applause like so many others. McClure is in a league of his own and maybe it is th lawyer thing, but he sure has you conned.
If the big bosses are so wonderful, they would stop blocking county councils' efforts to do a pay study. The administration HAS SAID They REFUSE TO USE ANY OF THEIR' millions of county dollars to fund a study.
" I have previously taken Heffner, Heckman and Myers to task for their disrespect to county workers. Those have been aberrations as well." You really cut your man McClure and Detriinger all the breaks in the world.
I have previously taken Heffner, Heckman and Myers to task for their disrespect to county workers. Those have been aberrations as well. When I see disrespectful behavior, I note it, regardless the source.
McClure an Dertinger are both arrogant BS artists. Many of his so-called reports are tailored to his own ends and does not come close to your Transparency. Unless just using lots of words is transparency. You realize we are told not to talk to or respond to any council members without the administration permission. I am sure you are told different. They only do What can get them headlines and they are terrible in practice to employees. AS to the others I and others have been here a long time and Ron Heckman has always been a real champion of employees. He knows when he is getting a load of BS from someone and may call them out on it. He is not disrespectful to any regular employees as you indicate. He has helped in many ways without seeking applause like so many others. McClure is in a league of his own and maybe it is th lawyer thing, but he sure has you conned.
If the big bosses are so wonderful, they would stop blocking county councils' efforts to do a pay study. The administration HAS SAID They REFUSE TO USE ANY OF THEIR' millions of county dollars to fund a study.
You still kiss this guy's ass all th time and piss on council and employees as mean and whining. He is one of the worst county executives ever. They assigned Boy Barron to be your new best friend, but he is just another member of the club. The amount of real information they withhold from council and the public is staggering. He can't even work with members of his own party. He and Dertinger are obnoxious, rude, arrogant and patronizing and those are their good qualities.
"AS to the others I and others have been here a long time and Ron Heckman has always been a real champion of employees."
I saw Heckman at a public meeting berating the Acting Register of Voters for not being at a meeting when she was still counting votes. That's some champion, and I took him to task for his disrespectful behavior. I also took Heffner to task for the way she treated the court administrator and the DA. And I took Myers to task for the way he treated the Sheriff.
I call out bad behavior, whether from the Exec or Council. I do think they are aberrations.
"McClure an Dertinger are both arrogant BS artists. Many of his so-called reports are tailored to his own ends and does not come close to your Transparency. "
Since you don't sign your name, you don't know much about transparency.
I would expect an exec to tailor his report in a way that makes him look good. But he has reported on failures as well. More importantly, he opens himself to questions at every meeting, even questions that have nothing to do with his report. Whether you like it or not, that is transparency.
All Execs tend to get autocratic at times and have to be shut down. It is called Executivitis. That is what happened.
I do think the proposal in question is basically very good. There are currently just two points for testing air in NorCo. I have no problem seeing that the project manager is paid. McClure had her on the phone. Had he asked to be recognized, things may have gone differently. I do think Council wanted it in writing.
As for McClure, he is no back slapper and has a hard time opening up. I have maintained and continue to maintain he needs to pay more. But he has been an excellent Exec, perhaps the best since home rule. I say this as someone who detested him when he was on County Council. He works hard, expects his cabinet to work hard, was very proactive during the pandemic, and just unveiled some proposals that are really going to help people and county workers.
More about that next week.
He blew it Thursday night. But overall, he is doing quite well and so is the county.
Give money to your employees!!!
How can you pay a new employee 10.18 an hour and mandate a useless vaccine and think anyone would fall for that.
No he's not., bullshit !!!
You are a McClure administration apologist. Spreading your venom on others does not change that. This administration is indeed secretive and mean to employees not council members.
The county is not "doing well." We just buried scores of our elderly. Nobody apologized. Nobody investigated. The "transparency" watchdogs are part of the PR machine for the people who caused it. Things are not going well at all. Secrecy and corruption have a spokesperson in you to tell us things are "going well." That should surprise exactly nobody who's read this space for any period of time.
Awesome idea!!
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