tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post2906820526753033187..comments2024-03-29T03:52:53.243-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Northampton County Finally Has An Archives Building ... AgainBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-79639048408191707492012-04-11T00:06:02.408-04:002012-04-11T00:06:02.408-04:00When you use it to express irrational hate and do ...When you use it to express irrational hate and do not identify yourself, I will delete you. It's my blog. If you don't like it, start your own.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-28490877694072034692012-04-10T23:58:42.221-04:002012-04-10T23:58:42.221-04:00Not really, is deleting and censoring opposing vie...Not really, is deleting and censoring opposing views too much to ask of a blog that invites people to participate?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-85119697498427830122012-04-08T01:40:34.983-04:002012-04-08T01:40:34.983-04:00Look, he is not the person who took the wrecking b...Look, he is not the person who took the wrecking ball to a state-of-the-art archives building in 2004. Now, you say he moves too slowly with some justification. But I really get tired of seeing him blamed for someone else's mistakes, over and over. And the personal nature of these attacks is disgusting to me. He is a good man who sees the best in every person. He is also honest to a fault. So I get very annoyed when he is attacked personally, especially since his public life is nearly over. Give the guy some respect. That's all I ask, and that's too much for some.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-34232245369409587502012-04-08T01:22:58.226-04:002012-04-08T01:22:58.226-04:00Hey Bernie. I realize that Stoffa has had to deal...Hey Bernie. I realize that Stoffa has had to deal with Reibman, county council and the people but is any problem ever his problem?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-36520559821996786322012-04-06T09:17:19.767-04:002012-04-06T09:17:19.767-04:00"they built the pentagon in 11 mnths..."...<em>"they built the pentagon in 11 mnths..."</em><br /><br />Yes it was built in 16 months, and on a floodplain, during WWII, when the country was united.<br /><br />Stoffa spent 4 years dealing with a Council that blocked everything he tried. He did finally manage to get them to agree to purchase the Milides building, and that could not be used. He appears to finally have a Council whose majority seems more interested in doing what is right than in doing what is politically expedient. That archives building is not a luxury, but a necessity. One of the County's core functions is to preserve our real estate records, which are the vast majority of record preserved. It makes more sense to have our own archives than to rent at a facility that does not do it right. <br /><br />The Gracedale campus would be great. It is farther away, but is the geographic center of the County. I'd love it since I live in Nazareth. But it was determined to be cost prohibitive.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-91238657425534775472012-04-06T07:38:39.377-04:002012-04-06T07:38:39.377-04:006:44 AM
"It's good they did not choose G...6:44 AM<br /><br />"It's good they did not choose Gracedale. The place will be gone in four years. There's no point in investing in that site. This is a longer term solution."<br /><br />So you're saying they are gonna get rid of the 911 Center, because that's on the Gracedale campus. Gracedale is a huge property. The nursing home is only a portion of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57239038159472186752012-04-06T07:19:52.429-04:002012-04-06T07:19:52.429-04:00"An archives was a big priority for Stoffa. H..."An archives was a big priority for Stoffa. He bought the Milides building, hoping to move the archives there, only to learn that there were all kinds of problems with the site. He then sent lots of time looking for a new site, looking at 30 places."<br /><br />they built the pentagon in 11 mnths...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-22449907817737311932012-04-06T07:18:50.561-04:002012-04-06T07:18:50.561-04:00"That same year, he got Council to go along w..."That same year, he got Council to go along with the swaption. Another brilliant move. Perhas the two dumbest things a Conty Exec has ever done in NC. He owns both messes."<br /><br />if it was stupid, then it was compounded by six years of Stoffa's stupidity, as he sat on his hands and did nothingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41981138264939593382012-04-06T07:16:55.209-04:002012-04-06T07:16:55.209-04:00"Reibman is the rocket scientist who decided ..."Reibman is the rocket scientist who decided to knock down a state of the art archives building to make way for a prison expansion in 2004."<br /><br />Yeaah, you're right...something foolhardy like a prison expansion. wish Reibman had stuck to core county functio... oh waitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6633100674913134722012-04-06T06:46:50.818-04:002012-04-06T06:46:50.818-04:00This needs to be reviewed, What is the relationshi...This needs to be reviewed, What is the relationship between those who approved the lease of space in Allentown and the owner of the property!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-63853700037330193172012-04-06T06:44:47.935-04:002012-04-06T06:44:47.935-04:00It's good they did not choose Gracedale. The ...It's good they did not choose Gracedale. The place will be gone in four years. There's no point in investing in that site. This is a longer term solution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76040233982919229712012-04-06T02:19:37.825-04:002012-04-06T02:19:37.825-04:00Not everyone thinks that convicts should have a ni...Not everyone thinks that convicts should have a nice air conditioned drug addict lounge. Many non- government types want a prison so the bad guys don't hurt us.<br /><br />The archives building was in the way, simple. We still have a problem but I guess one of Stoffa's numerous "committees" to make decisions has not tackled that one in seven years.<br /><br />Now we have another county owned building. A crappy high priced warehouse type building in the middle of Forks. I am sure the owner is thrilled. A one hundred percent return on his investment over ten years, while the rest of us saw our real estate value go down. Things that make you go Hmmm?<br /><br />Reibman solved a problem and made a county worker cry. Stoffa solved no real problems, cost the county money by buying yet another county building and creating more county jobs of union guys to take care of it.<br /><br />Yeah he is a keeper. Oh, I am sorry, I forgot the "committee" looked at 30 properties so this is great.<br /><br />HAHA!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-12858743221082632272012-04-06T01:03:51.548-04:002012-04-06T01:03:51.548-04:00The Reibman administration demolished a building t...The Reibman administration demolished a building that was state of the art, it cost the taxpayers $500,000.00 to build. New construction costs for commercial buildings run about $250.00 a square foot to costruct. So building would be cost prohibitive, i think the county did ok in buying this building for $775,000.00 for the amount of square footage the building has.<br />Glenn Reibman and his team of Harvard graduates demolished the archives building which wasn't even 20 years old to make room for the prison expansion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-75713117597564011402012-04-05T23:34:15.329-04:002012-04-05T23:34:15.329-04:00"It was a source of pride to County officials..."It was a source of pride to County officials, especially when other counties called for tours. But Executive Glenn Reibman ordered its demolition for a prison expansion. Maurice Dimmick, the County's archivist at the time, welled up in tears as a wrecking ball did its dirty work."<br /><br />Please tell us why we should give a rat's ass about that part. We are not paying taxes so government goofs can be proud and sentimental.<br /><br />If the need is there, it is there. Hard to believe outsourced records management could not be more cost effective when comparing apples to apples. Maybe the current setup was inefficient but, that could simply be government being government.<br /><br />Most likely, we will have another arrogant, bloated, inefficient and, probably, unionized boondoggle in short order. And, overpaying like this - NO ONE, except government, is paying that kind of appreciation in the current market - is not something that builds confidence that the ensuing improvements and operation will be handled any more skillfully.<br /><br />-ClemAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64254276394377304942012-04-05T23:32:49.345-04:002012-04-05T23:32:49.345-04:00What "Ms. Mulvah" doesn't comment on...What "Ms. Mulvah" doesn't comment on, is that two different engineers looked at the building the historical society proffered to partner with the county and found out the floors could not handle the load if storing large quantities of archival material would have put on the building. Even the historical society realized the building was not sufficient for the intended purpose of storing that much weight on the old wooden floors. After the engineering studies showed the floors would have collapsed, the idea was not feasible. It was not a "great idea". That is why the search was looking for a one story building with a concrete base floor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-82073476007566748742012-04-05T23:13:57.889-04:002012-04-05T23:13:57.889-04:00Just a year ago Mc Clure said we had too much mone...Just a year ago Mc Clure said we had too much money and that tax payers were being overtaxed...even suggesteed tax money be returned. Now there isn`t enough. Which is it ? Frankly he is a wind bag like butter ball Barron and doesn`t like to see progress. Try building an archives building for 750 000 dollars and see what you get. Stoffa has an 6 year record of no tax increases except for a half mill for open space. Bring back Reibman ...we need another swaption.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86740380101104241702012-04-05T22:58:06.829-04:002012-04-05T22:58:06.829-04:00I'm glad you enjoy my blog. The Google map fun...I'm glad you enjoy my blog. The Google map function does not show the shortcuts that those of us who work in and around Easton know and use. It's 4 miles. Lots of ways to get to Forks.<br /><br />As indicated, 30 sites were considered, and building at Gracedale was one of those options. It was ruled out by a committee as too costly.<br /><br />This was put off for long enough. The conditions in Allentown were inadequate. Records were deteriorating bc the humidity and temp controls are inadequate. We have a legal obligation to preserve those records, and many of them are becoming unreadable. This extends beyond the historical significance bc our entire system of real estate depends on recorded documents that can be examined. It was time to do something. <br /><br />This is also fiscally prudent. We will be spending less in the long run than we would under a lease arrangement. McClure has his eye only n next year's budget, and should be taking a more long-term view.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-7552663124606042472012-04-05T22:34:39.772-04:002012-04-05T22:34:39.772-04:00Bernie O'Hare said...
"You're wrong. ...Bernie O'Hare said...<br />"You're wrong. Stoffa considered 30 different sites. The Gracedale complex was one of them. It would have been more expensive and farther away."<br /><br />6:47 PM<br /><br />First Bernie, no disrespect, I enjoy your blog. <br /><br />But... I disagree. For 1.5 million the County could build a nice Archive building at the Gracedale campus where they have tons of county owned property. The property they are buying in Forks is only one acre, it looks like a steel and block warehouse, certainly not worth the money they are paying. And, by buying it they are now taking a prime commercial property off the tax rolls. <br /><br />Also, I google mapped the distance from the courthouse to Conroy Place - 6.4 miles. I googled the distance to Gracedale - 7.9 miles, not that big of a difference. Certainly a lot closer than the 22 miles away (in a different county) that it has been for the last eight years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-47675587426419868622012-04-05T21:39:27.873-04:002012-04-05T21:39:27.873-04:00What sums you up is an irrational, and cowardly, d...What sums you up is an irrational, and cowardly, disdain for a man who is much better than you.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-77955709398564685282012-04-05T21:34:04.046-04:002012-04-05T21:34:04.046-04:00"Stoffa considered 30 different sites". ..."Stoffa considered 30 different sites". So the deal is if someone works hard at doing something meaningless and ends up with a silly and expensive decision, it must be good becasue he worked hard at it.<br /><br />That sums up the entire Stoffa tenure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-24789764210174159062012-04-05T19:48:16.516-04:002012-04-05T19:48:16.516-04:00John Stoffa the worst County Executive in history....John Stoffa the worst County Executive in history. He waited to spend $25 million on something he could have dumped his first year for nothing. He buys a another building we don't need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-8220964787419422422012-04-05T19:42:30.314-04:002012-04-05T19:42:30.314-04:00Stoffa isn't the worst. He's a mess, but ...Stoffa isn't the worst. He's a mess, but Reibman was worse. The operation should contracted and not run by inefficient and expensive county employees. We're already spending 1.5 million while county residents continue to lose their jobs and their homes. The spending has to be brought under control.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57884880048604860102012-04-05T18:47:22.282-04:002012-04-05T18:47:22.282-04:00"For what Stoffa intends on spending, the Cou...<em>"For what Stoffa intends on spending, the County could have built a state of the art archives building on the Gracedale campus."</em><br /><br />You're wrong. Stoffa considered 30 different sits. The Gracedale complex was one of them. It would have been more expensive and farther away.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-59052739026453773752012-04-05T18:40:55.680-04:002012-04-05T18:40:55.680-04:00"Ms. Moncha Mulvah"
Another coward.<em>"Ms. Moncha Mulvah"</em><br /><br />Another coward.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-3240418245870366782012-04-05T16:32:21.743-04:002012-04-05T16:32:21.743-04:00For what Stoffa intends on spending, the County co...For what Stoffa intends on spending, the County could have built a state of the art archives building on the Gracedale campus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com