Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel wants to expansion his office at the expense of Cedarbrook (Lehigh County's nursing home) and the jail.
He wants to add four positions "to strengthen leadership capacity, enhance communications, and improve intergovernmental coordination while maintaining overall fiscal responsibility." These four positions are a multimedia specialist, a communications manager, a chief of staff and a community and intergovernmental liaison. His supporting memo claims these will cost $386,566, although it's unclear to me whether this figure is just salary or salary plus benefits.
He will pay for these positions by eliminating eight existing positions at Cedarbrook and the county jail. These are 2 LPNs, 3 CNAs, 2 corrections officers and 1 treatment case manager. who are budgeted at $417,656, including salary and benefits. These positions are currently unfilled.
This will save taxpayers $31,100, but is it really in the best interests of Lehigh County to eliminate positions that take care of our elderly and who protect us from people the courts have decided to confine behind bars?
Commissioner Ron Beitler noted that the Chief of Staff position was actually eliminated in 2014 because it was considered both an unnecessary cost and too political in nature.
Beitler opposes Siegel's changes. "In passing former Executive Armstrong's 2026 budget, our Board of Commissioners paid for Nurses, Caseworkers and Corrections Officers, not a Chief of Staff to do the Executive's job or a Multimedia Specialist to create County TikTok videos," he said.
Siegel's proposal requires at least one Commissioner sponsor before it can be considered by the Board. But he's already filled two of the positions at least temporarily. He's hired Hillary Kleinz, his long-time campaign manager, as his $92,000 Chief of Staff. And Dan Sheehan, a former reporter with both The Morning Call and Express Times, is his pick for communications.
Siegel responded to Beitler's concerns by calling him a "partisan obstructionist" though Beitler is actually registered Independent. He told WFMZ-TV69 that previous Lehigh County administrations (Phil Armstrong, Tom Muller, Don Cunningham) "were caretaker administrations that had no energy, no ideas, no vision for the county."
He hopes all nine Commissioners support his power grab. He'll find out Wednesday.
33 comments:
This is the same guy, Siegel who said F-the police. He’s trying to make a national name for himself to run for governor or the Senate. And if you oppose him he attacks you or gets his minions to attack to. Cut necessary services to fund his personal agenda is wasteful. He’s just a young punk who didn’t deserve this office. TDS it turns out is screwing a lot of Counties and Townships because they voted partied and not qualified candidates who truly care about the people. I guess you voted for him, now suffer. At least Beitler’s trying to do the right thing.
Taking a big ole dump on Don Cunningham is a.....bold choice. Not how a prudent man would start his tenure....
Is this when he finds out what a government at the level of the County actually does?
He's a forward thinker who knows our elderly can avail themselves of medically assisted suicide and do the the right thing vs being a drain on finite resources. Bernie and other old codgers take note, please. Also, jails can be easily emptied by simply letting inmates out. Voila, problem solved! It's time for the DA to get with the program and stop arresting and prosecuting criminals. Siegel should run for governor.
Who the hell voted for this cretin?!
Back in 2014, the so-called reform team eliminated those positions to undermine the executive branch and manipulate control in their favor. They mucked up county government and Cedar Brook which ultimately cost we the taxpayer more money. We sent them packing in a big way and rightfully so. Their reforms were nothing more than a power grab. I do feel each county executive should have a staff to rely on to help set an agenda and communicate with the Board. The govt liaison and visual arts person may not be needed but definitly the Executive deseerves a chief of staff. The reform team damaged County government. Maybe we should consider eleimating district commissioners in favor of all at-large seats.
Siegel is the dem tRUMP, surrounding himself with puppets. Next, he'll want buildings and airports named after himself.
The executive stated in a WFMZ interview that they need the $65,000 a year multimedia specialist to get the County on Tik Tok, Instagram and other new media. He's following Tik Tok Josh's playbook. Funding future political campaigns with public taxdollars.
Dan Sheehan as...campaign managaer?
When you apparently have no clue, you have to surround yourself with folks who have at least some clue even if it’s at the expense of others. When others point this out, they are the given a derogatory name are told they have “no vision “. Good luck, Lehigh County. It’s only February.
fixed.
The executive should be the chief if staff. This isn’t the federal government.
It’s Lehigh County.
While reallocating vacant positions can appear fiscally responsible on paper, positions in healthcare and corrections environments often serve as critical staffing buffers. Removing them from the budget may reduce flexibility and increase long-term operational costs if overtime or agency staffing rises as a result.
Didn’t Armstrong cut deals with Cedarbrook and corrections about staffing and overtime?
As a County Resident, I strongly oppose this proposal.
Lehigh County’s first responsibility is to care for its residents, especially the most vulnerable among us. Eliminating eight positions at Cedarbrook and the county jail, including 2 LPNs, 3 CNAs, 2 corrections officers, and a treatment case manager, in order to fund four executive office positions sends the wrong message about our priorities.
Yes, these positions are currently unfilled. But that does not mean they are unnecessary. Cedarbrook serves our elderly citizens, many of whom depend on consistent staffing for safe, dignified care. The jail requires adequate corrections officers and treatment staff to maintain safety and stability. Removing those positions may produce a modest projected savings of $31,100, but at what cost to care and security?
In contrast, the four new positions, a multimedia specialist, communications manager, chief of staff, and community/intergovernmental liaison, are framed as strengthening “leadership capacity” and communications. But leadership is not strengthened by expanding bureaucracy while cutting front-line service roles. Also, replacing four unfilled positions with four filled positions is not a savings to the citizens.
Commissioner Ron Beitler rightly noted that the Chief of Staff position was eliminated in 2014 because it was viewed as unnecessary and overly political. It raises legitimate concerns when such a position is restored and filled before the Board has formally approved the restructuring. With no Commissioner approval how can these positions be paid?
There is also an inconsistency in the rhetoric. If previous executives truly had “no energy, no ideas, no vision,” then this administration is implying it does. But if that is the case, why is additional executive staffing required to supply that energy, ideas, and vision? Vision should not depend on a larger communications team or expanded political infrastructure. Strong leadership should be able to articulate and execute a plan within the structure already funded by the Commissioners, especially when doing so requires cutting positions tied directly to care and safety.
This is not about being “obstructionist.” It is about governance and accountability. When the Board approved funding for nurses, caseworkers, and corrections officers, that reflected a policy decision about what matters most: direct service to residents.
The County’s responsibility to seniors and public safety should not be secondary to building a communications operation. Strong leadership is demonstrated through stewardship of essential services, collaboration with Commissioners, and respect for the role of checks and balances.
Lehigh County does not need a larger executive office. It needs fully staffed nursing units, safe facilities, and careful fiscal management that puts people before politics.
Jane Goodall called it Voluntary Population Optimization. She knew, and Josh knows, that the elderly have a responsibility to voluntarily die when they are no longer useful and/or are a burden to society. Inuit culture practiced "senocide" to eliminate their elderly. In Canada, medical assistance in dying (MAiD) is the fifth leading cause of death. Josh knows that this is how to save Cedarbrook. Sleep with one eye open or you may wake up dead.
Just looking at this creep makes one take pause, and Lehigh County voters should be ashamed of themselves for voting this incompetent lunatic into office. He'll destroy whatever is left of the County.
Sik Siegel wants to be dictator of the county.
Anonymous 7:35. When the Board eliminated the position, there was no attempt to veto. The Democratic Executive at the time agreed with the move. Subsequent Executives with favorable Boards, including Democratic majorities and supermajorities over the past 12 years, made no effort to reinstate it. In fact, it has been stated that this position is purely political.
An Executive interested in serving the County like a Phil Armstrong does not need this position. It is essentially hiring someone to do the job the Executive is supposed to do. More political Executives want this position because they need to be on the campaign trail for whatever office they envision next.
Even if you argue this is important which very few others agree with.... filling it with your campaign manager. At 92,000 dollars?! The person literally has no other experience. Other than... politics.
I really try to be middle of the road, with regards to this stuff, but this seems to be a typical DEMOCRATIC type of move. Increase overhead ad nauseum. Another example similar to the public schools. Admin, admin, admin, all while our children fall in rank nationally and globally. We cannot keep spending without more revenue streams (aside from the taxpayer wallets!)
Hopefully, this is tongue in cheek. Otherwise, bring back the asylums since you are nuts!
7:35 - You must be high on drugs; a complete moron; or Josh Siegel/his campaign manager.
Bernie, words don't describe. Siegel is so bad even the radical left commissioners are rumored to be turning against him.
Thanks for picking up on this, it has the potential to cripple the county if we're not careful.
Anon 1158am, I wish it were one party, then it would be easy to address. It's not, they are both incapable of controlling themselves on spending. Only difference is it's different stuff.
To be clear, there is no impact on Cedarbrook’s employee complement or staffing levels. Cedarbrook currently and historically has been well-supported by Lehigh County’s government structure, which supports its two nursing homes to a degree that it can staff at a level that is considered by CMS as Much Above Average.
Bernie, I bet you will never about Trump accounts for Kids whether a republican kid or democratic kid.
This guy is a creep- just looking at him you can tell he's nuts! We're in for a LONG 4 years!
The last three words in Seigel's campaign platform brief in the Lehigh County Women Voter's guide (May 8, 2025) are "and defending Cedarbrook." Liar, liar, pants on fire. Speaking of pants, the guy is a groinal meat sack.
There is only one objective to these moves and it is to promote Josh Siegel for a future elected position at a higher level. He is following in the footsteps of another left-wing progressive lunatic Mark Pinsley who has also now decided to abandon the Congressional race to run for the Senate. These proposed new positions will not serve the County well but will surely benefit Siegel and his ass-pirations.
School boards must be stopped from spending every year The old people are really being subject to unfair property taxes by these politicians.
No remember that never happened. The video was not real. Can you say gaslighting! He is the worst but he had that D by his name so here we are.
Fascists and people who want a King. Long live King Joshua 🤣🤣
Governor no no I say President.
Fascist and King too!
This doofus is so very entertaining. Love that someone — anyone — dissed Cunningham, a total blowhard. Other than that, Siegel is a jerk.
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