Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
Friday, November 22, 2024
Lower Saucon Township Council: Worst Governing Body in Lehigh Valley
24 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
Jason and Tom have a lot in common with Lori Vargo Heffner and the Republicans on County Council. They’ve all proven to be dangerous to the public they serve.
ReplyDeleteBernie, What do you expect? The President and Vice president of the council are democrats. Most Democrats couldn't organize a two car parade. People need to change their voting habits.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2023/01/3-democrats-vying-for-republican-held-seats-on-lower-saucon-township-council.html
So you're saying that one political party controls the behavior of another? These 2 morons don't belong on council if they can't control themselves properly in a public meeting! Disgraceful! Childish! Ignorant!
Delete9:20 I totally agree, I’m a republican, but there are idiots and morons on BOTH parties
DeleteYou know some of the meetings go on longer than that, and the police officers have to be on standby for that entire mess….
ReplyDeleteSo as ugly as the meeting appears, I’d rather have that than the performance art you see at other meetings where there is no differences of opinion and things have obviously been worked out before the public meeting.
ReplyDeleteAt least in the video I see a resident getting info from one council member that others apparently wouldn’t give up previously, and board members that are willing to ask questions of each other.
That said, there are obvious procedural issues with how the meeting is proceeding. I think much of the blame for meeting getting out of hand falls on the board chair for not gaveling down other members when they speak without having the floor. If the chair doesn’t enforce ANY rules, this is what you get.
I’d recommend a seminar on running a meeting for all those on the board. It would be money well spent by the township.
Honestly, I’m also surprised that the board solicitor hasn’t taken them aside and gotten them back on the right path as far as running the meeting properly.
The two men openly insult the solicitor to his face and don't care what he says (usually shouting something like "you don't run the meeting, Suzie!" at the solicitor anytime he tries to restore order or keep things on track), so it would make no difference. That being said, the council president is also to blame for being ineffective at running the meeting, and the two men just keep talking if she gavels them anyway.
DeleteShe does gavel them down, constantly. They actually complain about how much she gavels. The issue isn't that they don't get gaveled; it's that they don't respect the power of the gavel or have the common decency to act like grown adults at a meeting and follow the rules of decorum.
DeleteGood lord! We have some antics at out meetings but this is ridiculous and a metaphor of unstable America. The gentleman on the right even sat down early during the pledge. I have no knowledge of party officiating and did not watch long enough to understand the intent, but surely it was deplorable behavior and meant to to disrupt the meeting.
ReplyDeleteHoly hell what's going on down there???
ReplyDeleteIt's been a clown show all year - some of their meetings drag on for 9 hours with screaming matches throughout. Go back through their video history and grab a bucket of popcorn . An utter embarrassment all around - both parties are at fault, and politics should never enter the mix on the local level. There's a reason that they cannot hire a Township Manager that lasts more than a few weeks. The DCED really needs to step in here.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's kindergarten class is more behaved.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know where to begin. I should've stopped after the first 2:30 minutes but curiosity got the best of me and I skipped around from time to time throughout the video. Embarrassing. Expect more from the Trump clown car show about to begin
ReplyDeleteThere's been a great impact on employee morale, they can't keep or find a Manager and several highly qualified staff have resigned and gone to work elsewhere. Its a bizarre situation, as Townships like Lower Saucon typically are the most competently run municipalities in the region.
ReplyDeleteThe entire meeting us must see TV. The two men speaking truth to power are rockstars. Would love to see them on Norco council go take on the tree rubber stamps, especially Kraft. The McClure/ Barron PR show would hit a mountain. Bring them to the county.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it appears McClure won't allow council to purchase radios now but wants them as the sweeter for his massive Bond. They have the money Politics ahead of people, way to go McClure/ Barron.
Bring it on
DeleteNorthampton Area School Board should be a contender.
ReplyDeleteI watched it and I have never seen such embarrassing behavior! Tom and Jason are not men. They are children using childish behavior to distract and sabotage township business. The residents deserve better!
ReplyDeleteVote Jason and Tom out! They are the two biggest LOSERS in politics!
ReplyDeleteThis is a riot. If you can't run a meeting, you can't run a township. The disrupters should be ejected for disrupting a public meeting. I don't care what party.
ReplyDeleteIt all started because Jason couldn’t get a zoning change approved by Hellertown in order to make bank off of his in-laws property.
ReplyDeleteThose guys are up for re-election in 2025. Between their frequently missing meetings, awful behavior when they are in attendance, and unquestioning subservience to the whims of the landfill back when they had control of council, I have to think the voters are ready to replace them. I wouldn't even be surprised if their fellow Republicans are fed up with their childishness and primary them.
ReplyDeleteIn Bethslum it is the citizens who elect council members. You get 5 mins to make statements or ask questions. You get told that you may wait until after the meeting has ended to speak with a director or an employee. Why should one who elects a council have to wait hours for a response? I'd like your opinion on this Bernie.
ReplyDelete2:38, The right to address a governing body at a meeting is a statutory, not a constitutional right. The Sunshine Act specifically provides that restrictions can be imposed on speakers. This enables the council or board to hear from the public AND conduct business. Last year, a group of pro-Palestinian speakers attempted to take over several councils with endless speeches about the war in Gaza, over which local government has no control. In one instance, Bethlehem had to adjourn without conducting any business. And there is nothing wrong with asking you to wait until the end of a meeting to address someone individually. Rights have corollary duties. The right to speak should always include a duty to listen. Too many speakers are only interested in what they have to say. I am a big supporter of the Sunshine Act and have sued over violations. But there are a lot of very entitled and selfish people out there who have no interest in anything other than their own pet peeves. There are also people who just like to talk.
Delete