At a hastily called "special" meeting of Northampton County Council last night, members voted 6-3 to override the veto of an ordinance that intrudes upon incoming Executive Tara Zrinski's ability to get things done, i.e. administer. It appears to be a last-minute effort to hamstring her by a lame duck Council. She is being punished for Lamont McClure's sins. In addition to being substantively flawed, the ordinance that was vetoed by outgoing Exec Lamont McClure was adopted in violation of both the Sunshine Act and Robert's Rules, as I explained in a post on Wednesday.
Voting to override were Council members Lori Vargo Heffner, Tom Giovanni, John Brown, John Goffredo, Jeff Corpora and Ron Heckman. Four of these members will be off County Council at the end of this month. Voting against the override were Council members Ken Kraft, Jeff Warren and Kelly Keegan.
Before the vote, McClure outlined the reasons for his veto, including his argument that the ordinance was adopted in violation of recent changes to the Sunshine Act. The ordinance in question had been tabled for four months. Under Robert's Rules an indefinitely table matter dies unless it is removed from the table at the next meeting. In fact, when this matter was first brought up, County Council Solicitor Chris Spadoni said it had to be readvertised but quickly shut up when Vargo Heffner complained it had already been advertised once.
Last night, Spadoni was no better. After McClure explained precisely why the ordinance was adopted in violation of the Sunshine Act, Spadoni's sole legal response was "I disagree."
Last night was Spadoni's last as Council's solicitor.
When a new Council convenes in January, I suspect the very first item of business will be the repeal of this substantively and procedurally flawed ordinance.
If County Council wants to administer the county, then they should seek a Home Rule Charter study and revert back to the Commissioner form of ogvernment. Then they can micromanage to their heart's content.
12 comments:
A fresh review of the HRC is a good start. Defining responsibility as a functioning council form of governance is needed for the newbies. The label of commissioner, desired by Kraft and other members, is merely ego driven, and is not true to the HRC.
A review of the powers of council members is needed, and the new executive will need to learn that she does not have the right to participate in any debate or vote on any matter before the council.
So, let the games begin.
LVH is behind this over-reach and shows exactly what we are in for in the next few years.
This is one of the reasons these people lost by such a big %
This is why Lori V-H is a poor leader and Spadoni is way past his prime.
Could you write a story on all the poor advice he gave council in the past 8 years.
Ron Hekman was confused again on this over-ride. He went on forever about bids with one bidder, that had nothing to do with this piece of SH#$ legislation that LVH brought forward for her MAGA buddy JP as she affectionately calls him. This is over reach and Kraft was right. Miss Kegan was also right when she said this was a slap in the face of the new members who are being sworn in on the 5th, but this is why they were voted in, LVH only won because, like Nadeem (I won't stand for the pledge of allegiance because i hate merika, Quaiam) they rode the wave of the people wanting change. Let's hope these new council people aren't vamboozled by LVH and her fake alter ego she shows in public
Ron Heckman pulled a RBG and stayed way too long!
I have issues with it substantively, but am far more concerned about the shoddy procedure, which was unfair. The way this was sprung caught members off guard and it should have been re-introduced. But this is a matter that can be repealed rather easily. I agree that LVH did herself no favors with what I would call a stunt on her part.
8:01, I believe Chris is stepping down as Council solicitor. He is older than me, and I think he needs to kick back a bit. I have written about him numerous times when I thought he was wrong. No need to single him out. Let me also add that in the one case we tried against each other, he won. So what does that say about me?
Go back to the Commissioner system. Lamont and Tara can take turns being Chair and arguing about taxes. Giovanni can sit there and collect dust until he’s a 100.
What’s good for LVHN IS good for the Lehigh Valley.
The double KK's have already screwed over Tara by lying about the budget. Also, the new council members are not robots like you haters so they will sort it out. Keegan should stick to commenting on C.Kirks death and Krafty will still be the McClure shadow councilman.
There have been numerous complaints about the procurement process by vendors, so let's not exaggerate or sensationalize it. Bernie said they can overturn it easily. Or they can use it to start a new and honest conversation that Heckmann referenced.
you are woefully uninformed and do not understand the home rule charter
It’s time for a reset and cliff notes for council to review. Now would be a good time to open up the discussions on old and unfinished business before the new group becomes infected by their label and position. I truly hope each one of them realizes the importance of representing their 60-70,000 constituents concerns, rather than their own.
Post a Comment