At last night's meeting, Northampton County Council confirmed the following appointments to the newly established Human Relations Comm'n.
Sylvia Keverenge Bethlehem, PA 18015
Grace Crampsie Smith Bethlehem, PA 18018
Peter Hristofas Easton, PA 18042
Victoria Opthof-Cordaro Bethlehem, PA 18015
Jessica Teel Sadler Wind Gap, PA 18091
Marc Singer Easton, PA 18042
Patricia Baranowski Wind Gap, PA 18091
Reginald Belon Easton, PA 18042
Thomas Raymond Dubreuil Bethlehem, PA 18020
Arlene Ifill-Leon Easton, PA 18042
Elena Kenney Bethlehem, PA 18018
Ron Moyer Easton, PA 18042
I omitted precise mailing addresses.
The vote was 8-0, with Council member Nadeem Qayyum abstaining (He said "absent"). Qayyum argued that the appointments should consist of "protected" classes, even though Council Solicitor Matt Deschler explained that we all can be considered a "protected" class, depending on the circumstances. He wanted to know, as he did in a committee meeting the previous day, how many of the appointments were persons "of color." He asked Executive Tara Zrinski whether she went to churches and temples to recruit candidates, something she said she did not do or feel obliged to do. She said her picks were as diverse a group as she could possibly choose.
Everyday my cross over vote for Sam Elias becomes more justified!
ReplyDeletemine too- this is a bunch of clowns, who have no business representing us!
DeleteExpect more, courtesy of the DSA
ReplyDeleteNQ continues to prove that he is worthless other than being a puppet for his wife
ReplyDeleteWas Corky the sign stealer truly absent, or just absent any intellect?
ReplyDeleteThis guy is as wacky as his wife
ReplyDeleteBased on my limited research many of these appointees are politically connected and at least one appears to be a county employee. Since these members were chosen by the executive and there appears there was no interview process, are these people who are friends with, or helped Ms. Zrinski get elected? This committee’s purpose is to shun bias, yet I wonder if that same thing has helped create it.
ReplyDeleteOK tabia. we get it you were not picked and your husband is trying to make that point for you at every meeting, you think maybe you werent picked because of YOU and who YOU are? You do have a reputation for being "difficult"
Delete"Based on my limited research many of these appointees are politically connected and at least one appears to be a county employee."
DeleteNone of the appointees are current county employees. One of them formerly worked for the county. To my mind, this does not create conflict of interest because I wrote the ordinance to ensure that if the county is the subject of a complaint, the local commission will have to defer to the state commission. I did this to ensure the county doesn't have to hire an outside solicitor to avoid conflicts, thus potentially increasing costs.
One of the appointments went to a current elected official and one went to a former elected official. I do not believe either of them were selected based on that reason, but rather because of their non-governmental experience.
I do not know if the executive interviewed the candidates. I don't see it as my place to scrutinize the process she used to select them, only to evaluate each one on their merits. Every one of the appointees submitted a resume and they are each incredibly talented based on their career histories, and I think they're going to be a huge asset to the county in this volunteer capacity.
One of these people is indeed a current or recent employee. Dig a little deeper and you’ll see he works or recently worked for the Norco division of Public Works.
DeleteSurround yourself with clowns you have a circus
ReplyDeleteFrom what we've seen and heard of SPQ [Sultana's Proxy Qayyum], being "absent" would be doing the County a favor.
ReplyDeleteForget about anything of common sense for the next four years. Believe me when I tell you that Ms. Zrinski does not take kindly to questions about her suggestions, motives or reports especially when she has no idea about what it is she is reporting and why she is reporting it.
ReplyDeleteHi 5:21 pm, I am not Ms. Sultana. I believe I made some valid observations and remain curious as to what put these individuals ahead of the others. If this is political payback, fine, just be honest about it.
ReplyDeleteWe know it is you, Ms. Sultana, or one of your wacky friends.
DeleteI that this person is by no means either Sultana or her husband. The English used lacks none of the telltale grammatical or spelling errors. But I question the suggestion that these appointments are some kind of political payback. These are unpaid volunteers, and their appointment to this will not raise any visibility and might actually make them enemies. I could not name a single member of Lehigh's board, except for its chair. This is no plum.
DeleteHi again. Not Ms. Sultana or one of her friends. Actually, I’m insulted that my comments are considered hers/theirs, as I have never found either to be terribly articulate. How sad, though, that pointing out the obvious has one branded “wacky.”
ReplyDeleteI believe you. Don't sweat it.
Delete