Last Thursday, NorCo District Attorney Steve Baratta released a 44-page Grand Jury Report (click on link to be able to read it for yourself) that found serious weakness in the way that Gracedale has cared for its nearly 500 residents, particularly when it comes to their physical safety. As a result of 14 deficiencies in 2025, the home's license has been downgraded from Regular to Provisional II. Immediately following this release, Executive Tara Zrinski attempted to minimize the issues presented during a defensive and evasive news conference in which she declined to answer a question whether the county has established any kind of protocol with Upper Nazareth police about emergency calls after an incident that occurred well over a year ago, when a mentally ill agency nurse assaulted a resident in the delusional belief she was possessed. Zrinski instead blamed everything on Gracedale's former Administrator even though most of these problems occurred after she had already resigned. Former Exec Lamont McClure played the same blame game in a response attached to the Grand Jury Report. In an over-the-top reply, he accused Baratta of trying to sabotage McClure's congressional hopes, although that election was over in May and the Report was only released in September. He also dismissed the 14 citations, for which the county was also assessed monetary penalties, as "isolated incidents." What I did not know at the time of the release of this report or at Zrinski's news conference was that she actually tried to keep us from ever seeing it. She actually asked President Judge Craig Dally to seal it. He instead ordered that the matter be released in an Order and Statement of Reasons (linked here) that you can read yourself.
In her attempt to suppress the report, Zrinski argued that grand juries have no authority to investigate non-criminal activity and only should look into crimes. The law says differently, according to Judge Dally. He notes state law specifically providing that an investigating grand jury can be convened to look into crime or to propose recommendations for legislative, executive, or administrative action in the public interest based upon stated findings."
In short, her attempt to suppress the report is legally frivolous. It's also politically stupid. I think many people will actually be angrier at the attempt to suppress this report than they are by the report itself. It's an indication that she's listening to the wrong people.
In fairness, Judge Dally did rule that some of the persons mentioned in the report, such as Zrinski and McClure, should be allowed to respond, and they did. The Court also agreed to redact the names of some residents.
I got a late start for today's story. Tomorrow, I'll tell you what actions Northampton County Council has taken to provide oversight at Gracedale.
Our property taxes are propping up this non-core function of county government. If she doesn't want public investigations and oversight, then privatize the facility. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe in privatizing it. and those who make that argument never identify themselves.
DeleteTransparency!!! Zrinski style!!!! Sweep it under the rug!
ReplyDeleteThis McClure has gone from being a nuisance to delusional. Barratta did nothing to try to sabotage his congressional run. He did that himself by being an asshole.
ReplyDeleteNorthampton County has been corrupt for a long time. When are they going to be checked into????? McClure should not be a Solicitor at all. He needs to go!
ReplyDeleteWhy the misogynistic beat down Tara? Are you sore about McClure's comeuppence after serving as captain of his amen corner for years? Put your chauvenist crap away and come into the current century. Women run things now, whether you like it or not.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are telling someone what he/she should do…don’t think so.
DeletePoliticians are like diapers. They need to be changed frequently for the same reason.
ReplyDeleteThank you BO. I certainly am pro transparency I just didn’t know the law afforded GJ the avenue to pursue non criminal matters. This inquiry certainly fits the scope of the law. Always very informative BO
ReplyDeleteYes. I do not know if you remember, but a few years ago, DA John Morganelli used the investigating grand jury to expose financial mismanagement at the Nat'l Museum of Industrial History.
DeleteWow. Bernie you're the best.
ReplyDeleteWithout Bernie, nothing gets investigated!
DeleteWe need a pot of coffee to read this.
ReplyDeleteDally did the right thing and exposed these incompetent people!
ReplyDeleteDid Tara’s attempt to coverup a damaging report that implicated her and her staff amount to any type of legal disciplinary action that could cause her to be
DeleteRemoved???
No, she can only be removed via impeachment, conviction of infamous crime or at the ballot box.
DeleteI also disagree with the assertion that she is incompetent or unintelligent. Most of the employees seem to like her and she understands the need to pay them more. I give her credit for the continuum of care idea, but believe she really needs to get a grip on the facility's downward slide. She is listening to the wrong people. They are more interested in saving their jobs than in saving Gracedale.
Everyone who endorsed, supported and voted for Tara and Lamont should be aghast at what they have done and what she (Tara) continues to do. This supposed advocate for seniors (especially county retirees) is a disgrace! Let’s see if she continues to attend all of the public events as she has been since her “inauguration”. It’s clear from the last presser that she has no solid answers as to why she tried to “quash” the grand jury report. It appears she also tried to say the state inspection reports were fraudulent. Wow! That’s a whopper!
ReplyDeleteShe's the most incompetent Executive, worse than John Brown- if that's possible!
DeleteStop the nonsense. You act as if Glenn Reibman never existed. He was the worst by a mile. Whoever is second worst is way down the bench. Zrinski is moving up quickly, though.
DeleteGracedale administration and department heads should all be investigated. TELL THE TRUTH PEOPLE..
ReplyDeleteIn some ways I feel bad for tara. But she is in no way helping herself out of this hole that Lamont has created. She kept all of the same people there. They aren't going to try and identify the issues because they helped create them. They are going to try to mask the issues and hopefully they get better. But they can't get better. Lamont ruined this county and we are about to see it with the major tax increase, property reassessment coming, and let's not forget about the lawsuits at Gracedale ,and you know they are coming from the two suicides at the jail. Its going to cost the county millions. All from Lamont not doing his job. And she keeps Lamont on the payroll????
ReplyDeleteI wish they would do a grand jury on the jail!!! See if the president would like those findings????
ReplyDeleteok Trish and maybe they can find out why Baratta didnt throw the book at you when you ran or why you had to be moved to another facility instead of NORCO. Go take your Meds Pig Lady
DeleteThey're the ones that supported her & got her elected!
ReplyDeleteI've been saying it for years, even before she was Controller- Tara lacks the competence and temperament for any position of authority.
ReplyDeleteIt should be privatized. I'm anonymous because if my family disregards my wishes and places me in Gracedale, I don't want to exorcised. Thank you for the anonymity. I appreciate this blog.
ReplyDeleteWhere’s any outcry from PA Agency on Aging or Josh Shapiro? Where’s Lisa Boscola on this? They all want you to forget about it. Disgraceful! Where’s Jerry Seyfried who also endorsed her? Crickets.
ReplyDeleteShapiro is the biggest phony out there- this doesn't affect his political aspirations, so he's not interested!
DeleteJerry is retired enjoying his Archery Park up at Minsi Lake. No one tells Tara what to do.
DeleteAre you aware that when Jerry was County Executive there was a waiting list for people to come to work at Gracedale. We had full employment and good pay. Gracedale was a great place to work back then.
DeleteSo McCluless blames the D.A. for his primary election disaster, and Zrinski tries to suppress the report- Welcome to Northampton County, the land of Dumb & Dumber!
ReplyDeleteGiven all of Tara’s shortcomings and lack of experience, her transparency and reporting at council meetings is redeeming and refreshing. This attempted cover-up is disturbing and impacts my trust of her. Lamont felt it was necessary to not go through the front door in regards
ReplyDeleteto Gracedale funding, and now this. Whats with these two and Gracedale? The back door stuff really undermines their laudable efforts to improve the facility and keep it county owned. Just (re)hire a management company already!
Mike, you and I are on the same page her, so you must be wrong.
DeleteHer “refreshing” reporting was nothing more than smoke and mirrors for public digestion. She has and will always be a person of too much talk and paralyzed when action is needed. She, and this incompetent council, have successfully pushed this county to the edge of
Deletea disastrous cliff and hundreds of employees, patients, and families will be affected for years because of their failure.
Hope those who voted for Z, McClure, Warren, Keegan, etc. are happy. You got what you asked for and now all of us are suffering the consequences.
ReplyDelete