By an 8-1 vote, Northampton County Council confirmed Thomas Carson as the Director of the newly created "Continuum of Care" department in NorCo. He will start in mid-August with a total compensation package of nearly $150,000, including benefits.
He is currently the Executive Director of Victory House, a 35-bed facility in Bethlehem that primarily assists veterans.
The sole Council member to vote No was Tom Giovanni, whose skepticism is understandable. Carson is arguably unqualified based on the job description approved by County Council, which I mentioned yesterday. He has zero experience managing a large program or facility. But he impressed Council member Dave Holland, who knows Gracedale, has a nursing background and is himself a former nursing home administrator. Holland appears to know Carson professionally and spoke highly of his passion for the underserved.
Carson himself was able to endure some tough and well-prepared questions from Council member Nadeem Qayyum. Though unable to answer them all, Carson was polite, well-spoken and never got defensive. He also expressed, not just a willingness, but a desire to reach out to members of County Council.
Two weeks ago, Council President Ken Kraft predicted that County Council would shoot down this nomination, even though we had no name at the time. He was insinuating that the current County Council would be obstructionist. He was wrong, but don't be fooled by the 8-1 vote. This was really a very close call, but County Council deferred to the Executive.
Hopefully, she'll remember that.
30 comments:
Nothing personal against Carson, but this position and its costs are just another folly in the gracedale circus. Once again, throwing even worse money after bad.
That place is going down hill fast and to bring in someone with No nursing experience is redicouls but like Mortan they have the same experience ..We all see how well she is doing there ..
From a 35 bed halfway house to a 600 plus bed nursing home. I wish him luck.
Incredibly horrible choice.
The focus should be on fixing Gracedale first and then the continuum of care second. Another person with zero nursing home experience. There is not a single person except Holland to fix this. Time is running out or has run out on Gracedale. What a shame. When you have to drive an hour to see a loved one in a nursing home you will realize what a mistake to not fix this. Then lack of urgency is appalling.
Congratulations Tom (Giovanni) for having the intelligence and integrity to vote “no” on this candidate’s confirmation. It is so clear that no one else on council wants to
do what is best for Northampton County (including Gracedale). It was shocking to “hear” David Holland state that this candidate’s “lack of experience “ did not concern him. It really should. Gracedale is in trouble and, as a result, so is Tara.. There are so many ways to fix the problems at Gracedale but she won’t go that route because they aren’t her ideas, This person really should stay at his present job but hey, it’s probably too late for that already. It’s clear he has no idea what he’s getting into by accepting this position. At least Tara can say that she tried to save Gracedale when in fact she knows she can’t. It’ll look great on her resume when she runs for her next office of choice. Time to move on from Gracedale, Bernie, and discuss election integrity!
Should this administration fail to address the Gracedale issues, it will be their legacy to own its demise. After all the good years, dedication, superior wound and health care, rehab services, and community involvement, should the home fail, the impact will erase valuable services and care felt throughout our communities.
Holland stated that "lack of experience" was not an issue for him with this hire. Interesting how some council members condemn him (Holland) at one meeting (and on this blog) and then all is forgiven as they vote together as one happy family. Sometimes you just have to sit back and let it happen. That's the choice we have now in Northampton County. David Holland just proved to the public who he really is; namely, someone who is more politically motivated than we may have thought.
Government today more positions, more pay, for us taxpayers to pay, more places to hide behind for the elected officials
So now that she has less responsibility, has the salary of the Human Services Director been reduced?
Gracedale has been failing since the county took over Gracedale management.and removed Premier. David Holland & D. Freeman worked for Premier.
You have all the answers I guess. I bet if David aligned with Lori you wouldn't be saying this. It's so obvious.
Reading these comments everyday makes me lose faith in humanity. Dumb, dumber, and brain dead.
Good to see Lamont got Gracedale fiscally stabilized before he pissed off.
Ha! Holland or whoever gushed at how impressed they were when Carsen said he would meet with every employee at gracedale to ask them about their job. Bravo! How about asking the DHS director if she would do that and be impressed with her. She’s only been there 9 years and still doesn’t care to meet with her staff. Union was right. Should have gone with Giovanni. We would not be in this mess if we had. Just more and more incompetence and we are a complete disgrace. Unreal.
What you should lose faith in are those people who have literally brought Gracedale to its knees or in this case, a provisional II license with an abuse warning. Your present Democrat Executive and majority Democratic council will bring it to its final demise. Sad but true.
maybe Gracedale needs someone from outside. So all tth so called pro's have dropped the ball.
Don’t know Carsen but anyone who does should tell him to either educate himself about Long Term Care and what a Provisional II license with an abuse warning means or refuse this job. He'll thank them in the end.
They allowed Brown to reduce Gracedale staff by 300 positions. McClure was reversing that trend when COVID struck. Holland was only there for 8 months, and it’s my opinion that Peg Ferraro caused D. Millard Freeman to be forced out for fraternization with an employee.
I have nothing against this man; I am concerned that we are running around in circles pretending we have an answer to the main question. When and how will we get Gracedale certified. and off the provisional list?
This is using a light laser with a cat to keep it looking all over instead of focusing on the immediate problem.
The county council is as effective as was the Russian Duma. Zrinski is doing what many thought many feared she would, just running the third McClure term.
Also please explain where in th Charter it is written, "A strong Executive
' Form of government." In fact, just the opposite. With Krafty and Warren explaining how county government works, the residents are in trouble.
Tom Carson is a trustworthy, hardworking and amazing man to work with. I worked with him when I worked in the drug and alcohol division in northampton county. He is always up for a challenge. He has integrity and is professional. He will go the extra mile. When he says he will meet with all of the staff, he will. He will make the changes needed to improve operations at gracedale. People need to have faith in him and look forward to positive change instead of making all of these negative comments. You dont need experience in long term care - you need a leader! Thats whats been lacking in human services. He is a great resource- give him a chance and see what happens!
Guess again
Can we have an adult discussion about the appalling management of Gracedale by the McClure administration? Isn't it time to investigate him and his team to determine if laws were broken and prison sentences might be required? It's a painful, but necessary task. Things won't get better until we honestly assess what was done to screw things up so badly. And he wanted to be our Congressman? OMG.
It sounds to me like you’ve already reached your conclusion. The suggestion that the administration acted criminally is absurd, and the two nurses who violated laws have been reported and one has been prosecuted. I believe the nurse who falsely entered records that she had administered meds should be prosecuted criminally.
No doubt he is all of that but he does need experience in long term care. End of story. Gracedale does not need “more agencies brought in”. It needs the leadership of someone who understands long term care and its complexities. He’s already behind in that sense. No doubt he’ll meet with staff and then what? What will he do if their conversations are about their dissatisfaction with the work environment and administration? Nothing even if he wants it to happen. This is a waste of precious time and money as Gracedale continues to sink. It is one step away from oblivion.
He's been a disappointment
Understand Northampton county is just doing more of the same. Appointment of a friend or a campaign donations friend. And remember. Council will give the ok to anyone. You don't need experience.
What experience did Kraft have to work in a jail??? He got appointed and got a step while there. And look at what he did while he was there.
Ok Trish. Your meds aren’t working again? Nice mugshot by the way
The salary should be reduced. DhS dir Sue's job is diminished. Her assistant supervises half of human services and the nursing home is removed from her now. She hasnt been overseeing the departments or linking county with other revenue sources like she should. Managers dont apply for grants and staff complain their bosses hide in their offices with doors closed. The Administration needs to clean house.
Gracedale already has two FT social workers with a salary of more than $78,000 each, whose primary job is to provide continuum care for the residents, among other services. Why pay a director more than $100,000 to do the same job. Carson was director of a 4-6 patient Veteran's program at Treatment Trends, Allentown where he struggled for two years, and the program closed under his supervision, so he left prior to coming to Victory House. He is in over his head in this position too!
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