Deschler, currently a partner at a Bethlehem law firm, is a 2011 magna cum laude grad of Temple Law School who started his legal career as a Clerk to former Judge Tony Beltrami. He has an extensive municipal law practice. He has been an Assistant Solicitor in Bethlehem since 2014, is Borough Solicitor in East Bangor, alternate zoning Solicitor in Salisbury Tp and zoning Solicitor in Hanover Tp.
This involvement with these municipalities led Council member Dave Holland to ask Deschler whether he might be conflicted at times. "I don't foresee many issues," responded Deschler. His municipal work appears to be focused on land use matters, with which county government has no involvement. He agreed that some instances of a possible conflict may arise but suggested approaching it on a "case-by-case" basis.
Under the Home Rule Charter, the County Solicitor is prohibited from serving in any other municipality, but there is no such bar for County Council Solicitors.
If appointed, Deschler's salary will be $72,580 per annum. It is a part-time position for someone who will give it a full-time effort. I have often seen him doing legal research in the law library. Chris Spadoni, his predecessor, told me, "That's cheating."
14 comments:
Don't know this gentleman and wish him luck. But replacing CS cannot be too hard.
73000 for a part time position?????
As Jaz-Z would say, "It's politics as usual" Pays to have a connected father I guess.
The man is an absolute bargain as far as fee structures go for competent attorneys go.
He may have a "connected" father but is highly qualified in his own right and is an excellent lawyer. He will be an asset
As a past client and someone who has also observed him working on behalf of others, I can say he is an excellent attorney with rock solid integrity. He'd do a good job in this position.
This is the most full time part time job out there.
Will he keep his full time job?
Matt's full-time job is as an attorney with numerous clients, and this now includes county council. As I've already stated, he will be an asset and one sorely needed. You won't see him interject himself on policy. He will limit himself to responding to legal questions. He will make sure he is familiar with the Charter, Administrative Code and the County Code for questions not answered by the first two instruments.
He’s a fantastic lawyer and I couldn’t think of a better choice
Attorneys talk too much.
Here's a rarity - the Bethlehem/NorCo Democratic "mafia" gets a person slotted as expected, but he actually is a superbly competent selection. Best wishes for a successful tenure in the Solicitor's position.
State reps and state senators get over a hundred, a car and a pension. It’s pretty much part time too shhhhhh don’t tell anybody.
Hope he will carefully consider recusing himself should he find himself potentially in a conflicting situation
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