After kicking off the new year with several fractious meetings, a kinder and gentler Northampton County Council convened last night. "We're getting back to the business at hand, which is nice to see," said Council President Lori Vargo Heffner as the conclave ended. That's good news for the county, but bad for me. I'll have to start making this up.
Last night's meeting was the first for Jeff Corpora. He was appointed earlier this month by President Judge Craig Dally after Council deadlocked on appointing a ninth member. He was welcomed by both Vargo-Heffner and Executive Lamont McClure.
The only controversy concerned Controller Tara Zrinski's desire to create a senior lead auditor in her office who would be protected by the career service provisions contained in both the Home Rule Charter and Administrative Code. This position would assume many of the duties once performed by the Audit Manager. That is an exempt or "confidential" position who serves at the pleasure of the Controller. Under the county's Home Rule Charter, all elected officials (except County Council members) are entitled to one confidential position.
Zrinski said her proposal would ensure the "stability, efficiency and consistency in the office." She noted that a recent change in the Home Rule Charter limits the Controller to two terms, "so there's going to be guaranteed turnover in eight years." She believes a nonpolitical senior lead auditor would keep the office intact, no matter which way the political winds are blowing.
Stacy Duke, who likely will be the senior lead auditor position, was asked by Vargo-Heffner whether she was offered the audit manager position. She was, but turned it down because she wanted to keep the protection of career service. "I have 21 more years with the county, at least, until I can retire. I do know with the new terms coming in - when I started, the Controller could stay for as many terms as they wanted. and you could be guaranteed that position throughout your time. With the terms being changed to [no more than] eight years, it's not guaranteeing me anything at all, and I felt I wanted to remain with the county and with my office, so I did not take the appointed position, No."
Council member John Goffredo was told repeatedly that there would be no expansion of the office. He was unpersuaded but still supported the change because he said Duke has been a loyal employee who deserves better compensation. "I've been supporting pay raises across the board because the cost of living has gone up dramatically."
Council member John Brown remained skeptical. What really seemed to bother him was Zrinski's appointment of Mark Aurand. He's an attorney but is not an accountant. "If you were sincere in what you're attempting to position and concerned about the workload, then you would have filled that position with someone I believe, my opinion, would be more inclined to execute audits and do some of the workload. He also stated that Duke would be getting a 41% pay hike, but Goffredo corrected him. Her salary would go from $67,000 to $81,000. Brown apologized once he was shown his error.
Zrinski noted that Aurand reviews and proofs audits, and is actually conducting small audits. "You do not need a CPA to do an audit," she told Brown, "but it does need to be done by generally accepted auditing standards."
What Brown refuses to recognize is that, pursuant to the Home Rule Charter, Zrisnski in entitled to a confidential employee. it makes no difference whether that person is or is not an accountant.
Zrinski herself has already completed one accounting course and was on her way back to Carlisle after the meeting to continue a second course. "If you think I don't take this job seriously, you're definitely wrong," she told Brown.
In the end, all of County Council, with the exception of John Brown, supported Tara Zrinski's resolution for a senior lead auditor who would be protected by career service.
Even I agreed with her.
45 comments:
She will be the most political Controller since Steve Barron. She will do whatever McClure wants. You can expect great audits of all things McClure pushed and bad audits of things he doesn't like. Barron was terrible as Controller and everything he did was politically motivated. Zirinski will be even worse, and Barron is her mentor.
God Bless Tara !
Brownstone and Lucy Van Heffner tried to derail’s Tara’s plan, but failed. Lucy Heffner even ended up voting for it.
Kelly Keegan was eloquent in her defense of Controller Zrinski’s plan last night. Her speech had an influence on her colleagues. Looking for more great stuff out of Kelly Keegan.
Where’s Heckman ?
It was funny watching Tara, Tara, out smart Brown and Vargo Heffner.
Turns out J. Dally made a great pick. Lori is going to have to be very careful about wearing her agreement with Brown to be his next Director of Human Resources on her sleeve.
Is Ron Heckman the new Peg Ferraro ?
Lori Vargo Heffner is a brilliant politician. She is working with Norco’s Republicans to try and obstruct Lamont at every turn. At the same time, she pretends to be Mrs. Democrat everywhere she goes. Give her credit. She’s getting away with it.
4:47, That may very well be true, but there is no denying that her request made perfect sense. She also did an excellent job presenting very nonpolitical controller reports the previous day. She has completed one accounting course and has started another. She is also doing smaller audits under the direction of her own staff. I was actually impressed. She still may be using the office for her next run, but is taking it seriously
"Brownstone and Lucy Van Heffner tried to derail’s Tara’s plan, but failed. Lucy Heffner even ended up voting for it." Three Council members had questions. John Goffredo was never able to grasp that there would be no expansion and asked questions trying to make sure that would not happen. He voted for it bc he believes wages all around are too low. LVH seemed to think that Zrinski could have gone about this differently, and she could have. But Zrinski is the controller, and like the DA, that is an independently elected office. Those offices are entitled to some deference, and the Controller has ab absolute right to have a confidential employee. LVH voted for it bc bc Stavy Duke told her she would turn down the position of audit manager, which historically has been the confidential slot. Brown was the sole obstructionist, and his vote was definitely a slam at Zrinski for hiring a major campaign contributor as her deputy. This certainly is pay to play, but it is specifically permitted by the Charter and makes sense as well. Every elected official except Council is entitled to have one confidential employee around whom he can discuss the political ramifications of his move. County Council as a body gets three.
Kelly Keegan was eloquent in her defense of Controller Zrinski’s plan last night. Her speech had an influence on her colleagues. Looking for more great stuff out of Kelly Keegan."
She read a canned speech written out in advance and all it reflected is your continued ability to be a rubber stamp. It may have actually turned people off. She has been extremely disappointing.
"Where’s Heckman ?" He participated via phone.
This post is celebration of Tara. It’s not about Lori. Let’s just acknowledge that Tara rolled right over Brown and Lori these last two nights and enjoy it.
The County Executive is independently elected.
I think Jeff Warner and Kelly Kegan are going to be a potent duo for good. Not sure what Grandpa Ken is up to.
Jeff Corpora is a decent and honorable man. He will discover who is trying to move Northampton County forward and who’s not on his own.
"The County Executive is independently elected."
He is, and is entitled to deference as well. So is county council. They have the role of providing oversight, and he needs to understand that. He has the role of administering the county, and they need to avoid micro-management.
Let’s face it that was Controller Barron and that Mary Lou woman pulling the strings last night.
Why does Lori hate Tara so much ?
Lori supported Nadeem in the Primary against Tara. She then supported the Republican Cusick in the General against Tara. Those are facts.
Kelly Keegan is a Council star in the making.
Really? Please feel free to share whatever evidence you have to support those so-called facts. I do not think she was publicly endorsed by LVH, but that does not mean that she supported the alternatives. I supported neither Nadeem nor Zrinski in the primary and was paying close attention. Other than Kevin Lott, I don't believe anyone on Council supported her, but that does not mean they supported Nadeem. In the general, I wanted Cusick. I saw no endorsements from LVH either way. So where is your evidence?
Maybe Heckman should resign. He never shows up anymore and when he does he just yells at Stevie Barron.
Way to go Tara ! Off to a great start !
Tara has real star power. I could see her wielding her own gavel one day.
Lori treated Tara like trash when she was on Council. She went out of her way to show disrespect and disdain for her this week as Controller.
You hit the mark squarely. Council did what it’s supposed to do, ask questions. Keegan’s canned remarks made it divisive, poor Tara, why are you questioning her. The speech was written for her. It would have been funny if no one had and questions because she would have read the same script, because she was told to do it.
They had questions and she answered them. That’s their job to questions things and not rubber stamp everything. If that’s considered rolling over them, it’s pretty pathetic.
Anyone can read what someone else prepares for them.
Zrinski is a rock star and that’s why she wins elections and gets so many votes! Those on the County Council who treated her like she was inferior only showed their own insecurities. LVH and Brown just can’t let Zrinski be the big bright star that she is!
Bernie, wtf is it, it looks like your original stalker that you fried her pig up for breakfast years ago? Please don't do that to this one as it looks as if it would have a nervous break down and end up in the infamous Norristown State Hospital. The first one belongs there as it to is criminally insane and needs a good long evaluation by some competent mental health Doctors.
Zrinski is very adept of playing to the crowd while hiding her own agenda albeit her agenda is very easy to see: EGO.
Please always look for that hidden agenda as she pretends to be altruistic when it is all about how she can benefit her needs.
A first hand experience.
Agreed. 10:57 is a moron.
Zyrinski is following orders from Barron and staff to do what they want. Don’t read more into about her skill set, she doesn’t have one for her current position.
She won a controller position for which she is totally unqualified. I would classify that situation as an affront to democracy. It is almost pathetic not laudatory that she has enrolled in accounting classes. Given her neurotic view of herself as some type of government expert we will hear some form of false drumbeating in the foreseeable future. She is not done with abusing the Northampton county voters. We all expect you Bernie to lead the Charge. She needs watching !
5:09, I did not support her, but the people elected her. That is the way democracy works. I do not always like the results, but I always respect them. And yes, it certainly is laudatory that she is taking accounting classes. Northampton County's HRC does not require that the controller have an accounting background, and the fact she has enrolled in classes is a demonstration she does take the job seriously. Now she may end up a total disaster, but I like her opening moves.
It is easy to dislike her for her past performances as a council member. Given,,but you got to give her a chance and she was elected by the people of this county. Get over your hate and move on!
Dislike when people tell others how to feel and act, as Tara has done over the years. She has a long road to haul to regain trust from many who
have observed her during council activity. No, I don’t think it can easily be forgotten.
The taking of classes is that false front to make it look good to others when she is only interested I. What benefits her.
Remember when Kraft, Keegan and Warren respected the result of vote?
She works hard to campaign and get votes but is not known as a hard worker on a job. She was a loud but primarily ineffective council person. A loyal and unthinking vote for McClure in order to raise funds. Hopefully, she will be a hard-working independent Controller. Most insiders doubt it based on her record. Can she realize that blind obedience to a person like McClure does not make you a good democrat. It only makes you a democrat version of a MAGA following the leader. In local government that is just ignorant.
TZ should have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express!!
The fact that someone with ZERO credentials for Controller gets elected for Controller (over a QUALIFIED candidate) reeks of insane BS!!
I agree with another poster. These "classes" are a front until she tries to get another fat political position..... Accounting 101 does not "make" you a Controller.
"The fact that someone with ZERO credentials for Controller gets elected for Controller (over a QUALIFIED candidate) reeks of insane BS!!"
She is not an accountant, but the county HRC imposes no such requirement. Hence she is qualified. Her opponent in the general, John Cusick, was a math teacher. But he was no accountant either. I believe he was a better choice bc when he was on Council, he was far more concerned about county finances than any other member. But the people spoke and elected Zrinski over him. This is mostly his fault bc he ran a shitty campaign. So don't complain that Zrinski is unqualified she is. I do like the fact that she appears to be taking the job seriously, and am willing to give her a chance. You obviously are not.
Thank you Bernie for being the adult in the room on this obvious hate fest about Tara. Democracy sucks until you realize..there is nothing better and our country was founded on that principle. The people of the county spoke. Deal with it you crazed mob!
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