When Lamont McClure ran against John Brown for NorCo Executive, one of his many complaints was the way Brown stepped all over the due process rights of one particular county employee when Brown first took office. He made that point in several campaign addresses and even hosted that staffer at one of his fundraisers. That employee, Jill Mancini, was a full-time assistant county solicitor. She was summarily fired in a Christmas phone call by the Brown administration. No Loudermill hearing. No due process of any sort. Mancinci sued the county and a federal jury concluded that her due process rights were, in fact, violated. She was awarded $94,000. Her attorney was awarded $186,000. That finding was upheld on appeal to the Third Circuit as well.
After McClure defeated Brown and took over as county executive, you'd think he'd work out an award with Mancini that would be to everyone's satisfaction. Instead, her claim for reinstatement and back pay has dragged on throughout his eight years as Executive. After years of going back and forth between the Personnel Appeals Board, Common Pleas Court and Commonwealth Court, President Judge Craig Dally ruled in 2024 that Mancini be reinstated, that she be awarded back pay and all fringe benefits between 2014, the date of her termination, and 2018, when she found alternative employment. He scheduled a hearing for damages.
Instead of resolving the matter, McClure appealed to the Commonwealth Court. His appeal was quashed as a tad premature.
So once again, there will be a hearing this month in which Judge Dally will decide precisely how much the county owes Mancini.
No matter how you slice this, it's going to cost the county money. Instead of wasting time and money on appeals, this matter needs to be concluded.
It is yet another financial dagger in the heart of Executive Tara Zrinski.
28 comments:
all brought on by the incompetant McClure. Best thing he could do now is drop out of the race for congress since he has no possible chance of winning.
That this has languished this long is inexcusable
It's another nail in mcclure's political coffin. I can see RM's mailers now.
When former Judge Giordano was representing Jill, he got the County to agree to pay 100K. Apparently, Jill fired Judge Giordano because it wasn’t enough money.
That's your boy Bernie... so how he will use someone or some group for political pressure or points. But once you aren't needed. Get out.
Great bed fellow Tara!!!
Another thing McClueless lied about! Get him out of the Solicitor's office before he does more damage. He and his attorneys even lied about things relating to the paralegal that was let go after 15 years of service. Corruption!
Didn’t the current DA, a former judge, do something similar before he even took office?
McClures true colors are showing and it's not pretty. He is winning the dubious honor of worse exec ever.
Yes. He fired two well-respected detectives who were even unionized. I believe a grievance was filed and, though I do not have the details, I believe the detectives were compensated.
Let’s not forget this come may. Vote for anybody else which is no for McClure! He damaged the county to no end in an attempt to make himself look good for his next potential political move.
Didn’t Jill get paid $99,000.00 over this issue ?
I've said it for years- McCluless had the worst personality of any Pol I've ever met- including John Brownpants.
So he used her for political gain and then threw her under the bus! The more I learn about McClure, the more i realize what a dirtbag he really is.
If not mistaken, Jill Mancini was fired by a person over the phone. Not a dignified way to handle such a matter, nor did it reflect well on the administration at that time.
“It is yet another financial dagger in the heart of Executive Tara Zrinski.”
So former council member Tara Zrinski had no knowledge of this? Apparently former county controller Tara Zrinski didn’t know about it either. Now, it’s some sort of surprise “financial dagger” to County Executive Zrinski who, I believe was endorsed by the previous executive.
Maybe the issue isn’t really case of a surprise burden on county finances, but an issue of too many incompetent Zrinskis in county government!
“President Judge Craig Dally ruled in 2024 that Mancini be reinstated, that she be awarded back pay and all fringe benefits between 2014, the date of her termination, and 2018, when she found alternative employment.”
Only took her four years to find a new job. She must have been a really great attorney!
If Tara had any respect for her role as Executive, she would fire McClure immediately. I gave her the benefit of the doubt when she won, but unless she ends all things McClure with the County I am going to believe the naysayers were right.
Lots of people lost jobs including by mcclure when he got in. Some done rather underhanded one in particular he thought was appointed. Rescinded it when realized wasn't appointed. The person in career service position was assured theyd keep their job. Then proceeded to use probationary reason with one day left and no performance issues. Didn't even give paperwork just fired them. He had nerve making an issue out of brown when he did the same. Telephone call and all. HR and Kraft were in on the debacle too. Despicable people who only care about themselves. Please pay attention when you vote
She should have followed her instincts rather than follow the herd mentality. She had a chance to show her individuality by exposing the research, but she chose to follow instead of lead. She had the knowledge of the problems that existed and now she has inherited them. Good luck Tara.
Um, not all brought on by McClure. It was all brought on by Brown, or it never would have happened.
There will be no McClure/Mackenzie contest. Lamont won't get close to the big dance. His political career is over and he'll be remembered as one of the worst public servants in county history for everything from his horrendous attendance on council to inexplicably closing sliding boards during covid to losing the Gracedale employees' money before running away from the mess he made.
Maybe she'll address this in one of her AI-generated, busy work reports.
"Well Respected"
Not true 1. amount; 2. fired anyone. Suggestion: FACTS MATTER. Until you have them please do not post.
IN COMING Solicitor Scomillio, who want to be judge and didn't even know the laws.
One who was let go after being hit by a car while in a crosswalk walking to her car, working late, without pay, and then the facts were lied about. He bragged that he put up a "state of the art" cross walk that doesn't do a thing. Handicapped people should not have to cross there at all. That's what he thinks of loyal, hardworking employees.
Please, someone say, that this executive did not bring McClure back into Northampton County business. Those accounts are jokes right? Otherwise you’re in it deep and you deserve it.
Lamont is a assistant county solicitor, probably a pay back job for just accepting a County Solicitor's drunk driving misstep
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