On his LinkedIn page, Miller uploaded the video you say above, which I'd call just a tad bit of overkill for an outfit charged with security for children
DA Files Summary Charges Washington Tp Police Chief For Failure To Notify Homeowner of Accident
Washington Tp Police Chief Rolls Truck ... and Leaves Scene
Washington Police Chief Who Hit Home Failed To Notify Owner
DA Opens Investigation Into Police Chief's Crash
DA Files Summary Charges Washington Tp Police Chief For Failure To Notify Homeowner of Accident
Washington Tp Top Cop Suspended Without Pay
Suspended Washington Tp Police Chief on Patrol in Roseto (After this story published, he was suspended there, too.)
Miller was involved in a one-vehicle crash on January 6 at Michael Drosnock's home along Kessersville Rd in Plainfield Township. Prior to this accident, he had been at a sports bar for eight hours. Though he was "mush-mouthed" and one officer could smell alcohol, he was never tested or charged. Once DA Terry Houck was made familiar with the circumstances, Miller was charged with two road violations. Unfortunately, because of the delay before filing charges. the case was dismissed
I wrote numerous stories about Miller's one-vehicle crash (see links below).
His employment as Washington Township's Police Chief ended with his resignation in 2020. Supervisors approved a settlement agreement under which he was paid $15,000 (3 months pay) to go away. "This Agreement lets us put this unfortunate matter behind us and focus on making this Township the best it can be," states the Resolution.
I wrote numerous stories about Miller's one-vehicle crash (see links below).
In a letter to Executive Lamont McClure, President Praetor Craig Dally told one and all that the staff at Corporate Protective undergoes "rigorous vetting", but I'm calling bullshit. I have no doubt that Judge Dally sincerely believes this and has been assured of it, but there is no way that temporary workers, who may themselves be experiencing high turnover at lower wages than youth care workers, are getting the proper training. Not with Scott Miller.
And why is the barber from Monroe County, where Greene happens to live? Don't we have barbers here? This is all beginning to emit a mephitic odor.
Unlike public employees, who are subject to Right-to-Know, these glorified security guards are employed by a private company, so we have no way of knowing if there are any red flags.
With Scott Miller, there are several.
Unfortunately, the judicial arrogance that resulted in this no-bid contract that was never submitted to the Executive in violation of the Home Rule Charter, is on display in another matter as well. I'll tell you about that on Wednesday.
At one time, Northampton County's bench was highly regarded by lawyers and litigants for the courtesy and respect that judges showed. That has changed.
My previous stories:
DA Files Summary Charges Washington Tp Police Chief For Failure To Notify Homeowner of Accident
Washington Tp Police Chief Rolls Truck ... and Leaves Scene
Washington Police Chief Who Hit Home Failed To Notify Owner
DA Opens Investigation Into Police Chief's Crash
DA Files Summary Charges Washington Tp Police Chief For Failure To Notify Homeowner of Accident
Washington Tp Top Cop Suspended Without Pay
Suspended Washington Tp Police Chief on Patrol in Roseto (After this story published, he was suspended there, too.)
You’re right. This is not Dally. But, it is Dally trusting Jermaine Greene. Greene needs to go before he invites a type of scrutiny the AOPC or the JCB can’t manage.
ReplyDeleteYou would think the Cash for Kids scandal would have the Judges a little more attentive to how juveniles are treated in their Juvenile Detention Center. One or two reports of abuse at the hands of these private contractors could prove devastating.
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteThis was 100% my thought when I read the last article.
DeleteSomebody broke out the thesaurus.
ReplyDeleteI always presumed you had a shrine to Mephitis in the corner
Lol, No thesaurus. I am currently reading The Count of Monte Cristos. When I read one of the classics, it causes a temporary spike in my vocabulary.
DeleteIf County Council was not lead by the conflicted dead beat Lori Vargo Heffner a proper inquiry could be launched.
ReplyDeleteThere is no need for Council involvement here. If McClure thinks the contract is inappropriate, he should direct his finance department not to pay it. Problem solved.
DeleteHowever, McClure is afraid to do this, so he is once again using his surrogate to smear the contractor. Time for McClure to man up, if that’s even possible.
From the Northampton County Bench to the US Supreme Court, judges are falling in favor across the country for this kind of shit and corruption.
ReplyDeleteBernie - is this really a full bench issue/decision, or JUST a P.J. Dally thing? From what you’ve written, it certainly smells like the second and not the first but I could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteActually, I believe it is primarily the court administrator, who is trying to fix the manpower shortage at JJC. I have given him the benefit of the doubt, but the crisis has gone on too long. Everything he has asked for he has received and the problem still exists. That leads me to conclude management is at fault. Dally is in my view relying too heavily on his court administrator. I agree with the comment below, commending him as a jurist. But I believe he needs to look more closely at what his court admin is doing. I did not write about Jermaine Greene's son working there bc he does not report directly to Jermaine and it is therefore not nepotism, but after reading about a barber from Monroe County, where Greene lives, I find the aroma is becoming noxious.
DeleteBernie-to say that the hiring of Jermaine‘s son is not nepotism because he doesn’t report directly to him is almost silly. When you accompany your son to his interview,and the person who has to hire him for the position reports directly to Jermaine, that is nepotism. That person is then told by Jermaine that his son being hired over everyone else who have seniority and were more qualified was an executive decision. That is nepotism and is a direct violation of AOPC policy. And you are sadly mistaken if you believe that the minions that Jermaine places and promotes in different court divisions, don’t report back directly to him. He micromanages all divisions leaving division heads with little authority. Jermaine is quick to threaten, and discipline, those who may want to circumvent the chain of command when it pertains to going over his head, but encourages others to come directly to him, bypassing their own superiors. I am sadly disappointed in the bench for allowing his bullying and cronyism.
DeleteHave you ever been granted a second chance? Dally is a second chances guy. His approach saved my friend's life and started him on a productive journey that nobody close to this friend ever dreamed possible. Dally saved his life, saved his family, and likely saved taxpayers thousands of dollars.
ReplyDelete"There is no need for Council involvement here. If McClure thinks the contract is inappropriate, he should direct his finance department not to pay it. Problem solved."
ReplyDeleteMcClure could and apparently did hold up payments but decided to pay them. The reason is bc the vendor could sue for payment and would likely win. The county would argue there is no signed contract with the Exec, but the vendor would argue he justifiably relied on the contract as signed with the court. So that does not solve the problem.
"McClure is afraid to do this, so he is once again using his surrogate to smear the contractor. "
ReplyDeleteI will certainly write about this, even if it favors McClure. But I also write stories that are critical of him. I think his criticism of LVPC, for example, is totally unwarranted, and refuse to be spun on that point. I wrote extensively about his attempt to pack Council. I also oppose passenger rail, which is a ridiculously absurd idea. Finally, I am adamantly opposed to a TIF for Dixie. So if I am a surrogate, I am a pretty lousy one. I write this story bc the court is spending quite a bit of your money that could very well expose the county to liability and cause a host of other problems. I am also critical of LVH's desire to discuss to discuss the expenditure of public funds behind closed doors instead of out in the open. I believe in transparency, to the extent it is possible.
I don't think you're believable. You're usually McClure's PRAVDA, a dutiful stenographer of administration talking points, despite an occasional red herrings. When seeking the administration's positions - good or bad, you're the go to guy.
DeleteI think you need to look more into this TIF and the fact that this guy is paying everyone for it. Over a million to the school district, half a mill to Wilson and a million to the county. What is this? a pay to play scheme??
DeleteThank you for exposing this pay to play scheme
ReplyDeleteOver $300K for 6 months?!!!
ReplyDeleteMcClure has been trying to get rid of Greene for years. Just as he wanted Houck out. His crew even took another a shot at Hefner on a story that has nothing to do with her. You claim to hold his feet to the fire but refuse to see the underhanded culture of this administration. If anyone disagrees with them or goes around them, they will do everything they can to get rid of them. This is one mean administration.
ReplyDeleteBernie O’Hare said:
ReplyDelete“McClure could and apparently did hold up payments but decided to pay them. The reason is bc the vendor could sue for payment and would likely win. The county would argue there is no signed contract with the Exec, but the vendor would argue he justifiably relied on the contract as signed with the court. So that does not solve the problem.“
Paying the invoices for work performed is fine, but McClure should notify the vendor (and the judge) that the contract was not properly approved and that future payments (for any further work) are not guaranteed and will not be made until the contract runs through the proper approval procedures.
If McClure is not willing to do that, then NorCo taxpayers are stuck with a bad contract and there’s nothing to write about.
Honestly, the real story is how the hell did these people get paid by the fiscal office for over six months without a proper contract being in place. This should have been brought to light before the first invoice was ever paid.
12:35, You're close but not there. McClure could hold up future payments, but CPS could still argue it justifiably relied on the contract with the courts. It's a likely loser.
DeleteWhat McClure can do is notify CPS that it should not rely on any contract extension or new contract that does not have his signature, a requirement of the Home Rule Charter.
How long is the contract term?
DeleteAnd again, how were invoices for this contract being paid for over six months without it being caught sooner?
Verifying that there is a properly approved contract in place should have stopped ANY payment being made by the finance office on the first invoice. That’s a basic check that should be in place.
2:00, I am unable to state how long the contract period is bc I do not have the actual contract and do not know if even the Exec has it.
ReplyDeleteThis was not caught sooner bc CPS initially was paid thru a COVID grant.
Greene has made such a mess of the JJC that County Council has no choice but to bring Gracedale-like scrutiny to it. And, running a Juvy Jail is not a a “Judicial Function” so they won’t be able to hide behind that bullshit.
ReplyDeleteCouncil should selll the justice center to this outfit
ReplyDeleteSince McClure and the union bosses are in league with each other, it is hard to get qualified people for the money. Yet he will do his tax cut to benefit his future political ambitions.
ReplyDeleteWhat am I doing wrong? The post about the judges (August 28th) has disappeared.
ReplyDeleteYou did nothing wrong. I did. I made some changes and accidentally set it to draft instead of publishing. It is now fixed.
ReplyDelete