Angle Named Trustee to Northampton Community College

Over the past two years, Bangor School Board has reached out twice to appoint Ron Angle, Emperor of the Slate Belt, to vacant positions. The voters were always 5-4. Magisterial District Judge Sherwood Grigg  actually subjected Ron to a 45-minute oath the first time he was appointed. 

The directors who voted against Ron must have been pleasantly surprised by what they saw. Though Ron has spent decades of his life building up a reputation as a flamethrower, he has over time mellowed.They learned that he actually is a consensus builder whose financial acumen has saved the school district money.

On Monday night, the school board voted to appoint him as their trustee to Northampton Community College over the next six years. Usually, that role is assigned to a school director. What's most amazing to me is that the vote was unanimous. Directors who voted against him initially now recognize that he really does care about schools.

I spoke to Ron afterward, and though he'll never admit it, I think he was really touched by this honor. It was also very smart move by the school board.

I'll leave you with a point of etiquette. An Upper Mount Bethel reader who saw Ron at the recent meeting concerning Tannerite genuflected as he walked past her. Ron tells me that a slight bow is sufficient.             

Bangor School Board Interrupts Meeting With One Hour, 40-Minute Exec Session

As most of my regular readers know, I generally don't do school boards. I'm a product of Catholic schools, so my understanding of the public school system is very limited. On top of that, I am only fluent in English. I get lost when I hear whatever language they're speaking. What I do know is that every school director should have his or her head examined. They run for a job that pays no salary and then get beaten up by parents who want to ban books, teachers who want more money or old farts tired of paying taxes now that their own kids are educated. Often, they get clobbered by all three groups combined. So last night, I was at Bangor School District for one of those meetings. The only thing I can say in my defense is that I did walk out after they had been in executive session for an hour and forty minutes. When they came out, they voted 5 to 4 to keep Pam Colton as their liaison to Northampton Community College. They also voted to leave the Slate Belt Council of Governments (COG). Neither of these subjects qualifies for an executive session, but nobody was there to object. I had already left, and no member of the press had bothered to show up.

I was there because interim school Director Ron Angle had asked me to come, telling me a big story would break. Now I guess I need my head examined.

The meeting started off nicely. Bangor was honored with a major award as one of the elites when it comes to music education. As in top four percent nationwide. That is pretty impressive, but this is hardly the red meat that bottom-feeding bloggers like me crave.

After the music department received its major award, students who had placed very well in a regional spelling bee were also honored. So was a student who participated in and nearly won the National Geo Bee by answering questions like "Narvahls, often called the unicorns of the sea due to their large tusk, can often be found near Svalbard in which ocean?" and "What is the airspeed velocity of a laden swallow?"

No questions about the salmon of Capistrano.

This kid must be a regular Einstein, but when the hell do I ever write nice stories, unless they're about me?

Victoria Swanson, the best and most relaxed student representative I ever heard, gave another inspired student report, so good that I was ready to enroll there myself. But do I write happy news?

Finally, some parents got up to complain that the cheerleading coach refuses to let their kids cheer if they are involved in any other activities, including All Star cheering. School directors started blowin' oil, but President Michael Goffredo said his colleagues should wait to hear from the coach before jumping to any conclusions.

What fun is that? The tar and feathers will have to wait 'till next time.

Right after that,the Board voted to go into executive session. Actually, Goffredo said they were going into executive session, but Ken Brewer reminded them they had to vote on it first. No one bothered saying why.

So where's the big story?

I'd have to wait until they were out, and was told it could be quick So I waited. One hour and 40 minutes later, I was still waiting with my thumb up my ass. So were a number of parents, teachers and old farts who claim their taxes are too high. For awhile, I could hear all kinds of screaming and banging around. Then it suddenly became very still. Unearthly quiet. Two paramedics were waiting.I figured they all killed each other so I left. They weren't going to pin the rap on me.

No sooner did I get home than the phone rang.

"Why the hell did you leave?" asked Angle. "You missed the good stuff."

When they came back into session, they voted 5 to 4 to keep Pam Colton as their liaison to Northampton Community College. Allegations of Colton's alleged misconduct were never discussed publicly even though she is no employee and has no right to confidentiality. Angle, Brewer, Bob Cartwright and Laraine Brands voted to ask her to step down. But the others voted to keep her. Toni Lynch, who is a little bit in love with Pam, was the swing vote.

Why are they worked up about Pam, their former school board President? You'll have to ask them.

They also voted to leave the Slate Belt COG, which was likely less controversial. A lot of the COGs are being disbanded.

Bangor School Board Could Use a Bit More Transparency

Last week, I reported to you that State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale had ripped the school board to shreds for paying former Superintendent Pat Mulroy for "consulting" services that were never performed. Amazingly, instead of being concerned about the audit itself, School Board President Michael Goffredo seemed more concerned about how I got it. He emailed fellow Board members on Sunday night to ask who leaked the report.

The first and most obvious suspect would be Ron Angle. But he did not get the report until Thursday, and only found out about it when I called him. Another likely suspect, Bob Cartwright, is recuperating from a stoke in Delaware. What Goffredo fails to realize is that I have developed numerous contacts over the years.

In his email, Goffredo reminded everyone that there is a nondisclosure agreement with Mulroy, while simultaneously telling them that my blog was merely a "rehash of old news, fully reported at the time in 2012, with the only effect that of casting dispersions [sic] on past and present Boards." He complains of the "social media circus" this blog caused.

In 2012, The Express Times did fully report that Mulroy would stay on as a consultant, but the understanding was that she would actually be performing work in exchange for the $142,000 that ultimately was paid to her. There was no indication that she was being paid off, and that this was her hush money.

The "dispersions," as Goffredo characterizes them, were created by a Board that just couldn't be honest with the public.

I obtained Goffredo's email by filing a RTK and even that email was scrubbed to remove all personal email addresses. School officials told me that emails sent to Board members, at their school board email accounts, are likely just hanging there, never to be read.

That's some transparency.

Colton Resigns as President of "Divisive," "Unprofessional" Bangor School Board

Pam Colton has stepped down as President of the Bangor Area School Board. Her resignation was announced at last night's meeting, which she declined to attend. She also resigned from the Board. Though Directors were mum, she delivered a scathing letter that was highly critical of them.

And she once served with Ron Angle! She's been a Director for 16 years, and served for the last three as President.

Steve Bussenger, who is VP of the Board, though his election as President was automatic. And he was. ... For about four minutes. The Board instead installed Mike Goffredo.

Colton had been rumored to be a Controller's candidate against  incumbent Steve Barron, but she never circulated a petition.

Her resignation is below:

I have thought long and hard about this and although part of me believes I should stay on as board president until the December 7, 2015 reorganization meeting, I have decided to resign from the board effective immediately. My decision is based on the fact that after 16 years of working very hard for this district, I no longer want to be connected to the unprofessional approach that some board members have adopted when dealing with our staff, nor am I able to support the lack of accountability I am witnessing every day.

Throughout my 16 years I have never served in such a divisive environment, and I have served with some very opinionated school board directors. Now board members task administrators with their own agenda items rather than making sure it is the will of the majority. Board members dig for information on staff members rather than letting supervisors handle situations. Board members railroad meetings with their own personal agenda. Nothing I have done to advise otherwise has changed the behavior. The staff is now operating from a position of weakness, not strength.

I have given 100 percent of my help and support to this administrative team when asked. I have always been available to answer questions, attend meetings, or just talk through a situation. I hope whoever is chosen to replace me by the remaining eight board members treats you as well. I wish you the best going forward.

Sincerely,
Pam Colton

Who will Directors appoint to succeed her? My guess would be Ron Angle. His heart has always been in the Bangor School Board, and I think the votes are there. But he would only be serving until the end of the year. That's when Pam's term on the Board expires. She never sought re-election.

Some Light Reading: DA Morganelli's Complaint Against Angle

Below you will find the Complaint DA John Morganelli has filed, seeking Ron Angle's ouster from Northampton County Counil.

Morganelli Complaint

DA Morganelli: We Don't Need No Steenkin' Angle

Last week, Northampton County Council and Bangor School Board member Ron Angle fired off a letter to the LV delegation to the state legislature. He asked them to review our antiquated School Code, adopted before Home Rule governments like Northampton or Lehigh County even existed. The law is obviously unclear. In the last election cycle alone, four different elected officials in these counties ere either school board members running for county commissioner, or other municipal officials running for school board. Angle wants our state legislators to clarify the law, and has agreed he will abide by their decision. After sending this letter, he called DA John Morganelli, and suggested he do the same thing, thus sparing taxpayers the expense of litigating this matter.

Morganelli's answer was filed yesterday, in the form of a quo warranto complaint. That's usually the form of action chosen by wingnuts who claim Obama was born on Jupiter or something, and that's the form our chief law enforcement officer has chosen to rid the County of Ron Angle. I think he should have filed a nuisance action, but that's me.

In his news release, John Morganelli goes to great lengths to insist there are no "personal reasons" for this "honest dispute," but he's still going to ask the Court to "expedite the resolution of this matter."

That's nice.

Before he does that, he's going to have to explain his own bias. You see, Angle believes Morganelli's motives are both personal and political. Ron intends to file papers to have Morganelli himself removed. Kinda' like a quo warranto to a quo warranto. He will ask that the matter be transferred to the Attorney General, the only office that can be trusted to be fair.

This is no "honest dispute." Morganelli is abusing his powers as District Attorney to pursue a political and/or personal vendetta against Angle. To put it in Angle's words, "Something stinks." Here's why I say Morganelli is conflicted, and these facts will be established during an evidentiary hearing.

1) In 2006, when Hellertown Borough Council President Tony Branco was appointed to County Council, Morganelli had no objection to a Democrat serving in dual offices. In fact, the DA later made robo calls for him.

2) In 2008, when Bangor Mayor Joe Capozzolo was appointed to succeed the late, great Wayne Grube, Morganelli voiced no concerns over yet another Democrat.

3) Political consultant Tom "Scissorhands" Severson is a close Morganelli friend, so close that John refused to lift a finger during eighteen years of complaints about dirty campaign tricks, claiming it would be a conflict. Once the Attorney General took over, Scissorhands was finally convicted early this year for his bizarre and threatening behavior towards Ron Angle. Amazingly, Severson went ballistic during a funeral mass. DA John Morganelli assumed the role of defense counsel, minimizing what had happened with the press. He actually told me that Angle had committed perjury. He also had some choice words for the prosecution team as they were left the courthouse. Morganelli obviously holds Angle responsible for his friend's criminal conviction, and displayed biased behavior after the jury reached its verdict.

4) Severson's troubles are by no means over. He's now facing much more serious charges filed by the Attorney General, this time for deceptive campaign practices. Ron Angle is one of Severson's victims. Since Morganelli is coflicted in trying Severson, he is necessarily conflicted in pursuing a quo warranto action against Angle. He has already demonstrated his bias and personal animosity as a result of a minor case. Now that more serious charges have been filed, has Morganelli suddenly become less biased?

5) Angle's most bitter opponent on Northampton County Council is Lamont McClure, who would love nothing better than seeing Angle removed from office or taken out of contention as Council prez. McClure was Morganelli's campaign manager in one of his AG races. John helped McClure get his job at the Angelos law firm. McClure's wife works for Morganelli as an assistant DA. Morganelli is even The Godfather to one of McClure's children. Given this close relationship and the animosity that exists between Angle and McClure, it would be an appearance of improprity for Morganelli to pursue this quo warranto. He is carrying McClure's water. Morganelli and McClure both know that other Council members have no desire to see Angle removed.

If this really were just some "honest dispute," why wouldn't Morganelli agree to let the legislature clarify the law, conditioned on Angle's willingness to aide by their decision? That puts the politics where it belongs, and removes any question of impropriety.

This is a lawsuit that could have been avoided. Courts tend to get annoyed by that sort of thing. Instead of damaging Angle, Morganelli may find that he has squandered some of his political good will.

Wouldn't he rather be chasing a few illegal aliens?

I'm kicking Morganelli around, but he was kind enough to give me a copy of his complaint. I'll post it sometime today or tomorrow.

Angle On Bangor School Board; Sky Does Not Fall

I'm told Ron Angle's election to Bangor School Board is very controversial. But you wouldn't think that had you attended last night's swearing-in ceremony, which occurred during an unusually lengthy reorganization meeting.

Sure, Angle's political enemies have wasted no time in condemning him for daring to think he could simultaneously serve on a school board and county council. According to The Express Times, DA John Morganelli may sue to remove Angle as early as today. He's got no money for extraditions, but can waste prosecutorial resources to reverse the peole's will on the basis of unsettled law. Ironically, there were no protesters as Ron took the oath. The school board's solicitor had no objection, and just sat there chewing gum and looking at her nails.

They're very nice.

Yes, the meeting room was packed. There were reporters and photographers. Channel 69 (WFMZ-69) had the cameras rolling as Magistrate Todd Strohe administered the oath. But the reporters had trouble finding anyone willing to do a "man on the street" interview. The only members of the public who came were me, Ron's barber and Bangor Mayor Joe Capozzolo, who also sits on Northampton County Council.

"Where are all the protesters?" Joe kept asking me. He sat in the peanut gallery with me, wearing a loud orange hunter's cap. The women wouldn't take their eyes off him.

Of course, Ron being Ron, he bluntly told the board that their priorities are all wrong; that they obsess on minutiae like field trips while ignoring the biggies - "finances and the quality of eduction." He bristled when school board Prez Joe Boyle, himself a Jersey teacher, asked Ron whether he understood a technical educational term. Ironically, most school board members agree that the board needs to refocus on how they conduct meetings. Only one of them, Pam Colton, rolled her eyes.

She has nice nails, too. Cherry red.

Now this was just a reorganization meeting, but it had been raging for two hours when I got up and decided to leave. There were extensive discussions about SAT classes and the relative merits of everyday math, which board member Bruce Cameron, yet another teacher, claims is inadequate. Somebody started talking about ADD, but I wasn't paying attention. I left wondering why anyone, especially a nonteacher like Angle, would want to sit on a school board. These are special people. I'd rather go through root canal.

Angle is getting sued for his interest.