Werner Hates Politics, Unless He is the Source

Bob Werner, right, is good at digging
holes for himself. 

Although Northampton County Council has a 6-3 Democratic majority, it's beginning to appear that it's more like a 5-4 edge. Reason? Bob Werner? He thinks she should be County Exec. He announced he was running at a Democratic party picnic during the summer before election year. Then he got cold feet when Lamont McClure decided to give it a go. Now, from his perch on Council, he is attempting to sabotage McClure.

Werner was the original proponent of bridge bundling in Northampton County. His theory was to work on several bridges withe similar designs at the same time. This both reduces costs and ensures public safety. In fact, that's exactly what Executive John Stoffa did in his bridge bond.

Then came Executive John Brown, who eventually decided on a public private partnership (P3) to address county bridges. This is bridge bundling on steroids. Under Brown's P3, 33 county bridges were conveyed to the county's General Purpose Authority (GPA) temporarily. The GPA then entered into an agreement to repair or replace these bridges with private contractor Kriger Construction, who agreed to arrange for the financing on its own. The County then makes semi-annual payments to Kriger over a period of about 15 years, paying for the work with 2.5% interest.

This might turn out to be a great idea. It might also turn out to be a bad idea. It's too soon to say. The one certainty is that ay attempt to back out of the current arrangement would be very costly to Northampton County. Ken Kraft, a union agent who is involved in numerous construction projects, had issues with Kriger's qualifications. He may be right. He may be wrong. John Brown and the GPA, instead of being forthcoming, reacted to Kraft's complaints by shrouding everything in secrecy. This included a blatant Sunshine Act violation and excessive legal bills.

Because Werner was already a bridge advocate, and thinks he should be County Executive, he's down with PPP. In fact, he was at the ribbon cutting ceremony for a bridge that was supposed to insure Brown's re-election. He was now a Brown supporter. Even when it became increasingly apparent that John Brown had secret plans for a jail at Gracedale, he dismissed them as political.

So are the concerns about the lack of transparency and excessive legal bills at GPA.

When Lamont McClure proposed Frank Pintabone to fill an unexpired term on the GPA and give himself an ally on that board, Werner voted No. Now he may have been concerned that Pintabone would challenge him in the next Council race. But he also voted No to the appointment of Paul Anthony on the GPA. When asked to explain his No vote, he said his reasons were "personal."

He also joined two Republicans in supporting Republican Hayden Phillips as Interim Controller to fill the vacancy created by Democrat Steve Barron. Though the people had voted for a Democrat, he wanted a Republican. When that attempt failed, he voted against Bucky Szulborski as Controller.

Now he is attempting to sabotage Szulborski. He has requested legal opinions and wants a Council Inquisition into whether Szulborski is in violation of the Home Rule Charter's proscription on being "actively involved" in outside employment.

During his confirmation hearing, Szuloborski said that he is a realtor who does very little work, and intends to pursue that on a limited scale on nights and weekends. In other works, he is not actively involved in another business. Though Werner sat there, he raised no red flag or concerns. Now that Szulborski has been confirmed, he is raising this red herring.

Werner condemned the claim that Brown had secret plans for a new jail at Gracedale as political, although we now know that's exactly what he planned. And now he is doing precisely what he said was so distasteful. He's getting political, raising a bullshit issue that he could have brought up when Szlborski was being confirmed.

Werner Rules Out NorCo Exec Seat

Steve Barron and Bob Werner, on the day
both were locked out of a John Brown news conference

This summer, at a picnic of exuberant Easton Democrats, NorCo Council member Bob Werner announced rather prematurely that he was running for Executive. He's had second thoughts. He confirmed last night that he has decided against running.

Werner is a mixed bag. He's very dedicated and rarely misses a meeting. He is also bipartisan, and has worked with proud tea party member Hayden Phillips on several issues. But he lacks spontaneity, even to the point of writing out his Council speeches. When he attempts to play interrogator, he usually ends up looking both foolish and angry.

He'd of course win Easton because But that is it. He'd end up forcing the eventual Democratic nominee, Lamont McClure, to waste money that should be saved for the general election against John Brown.  Brown

Werner Condemns John Brown's Government Behind Closed Doors

Bob Werner and Steve Barron were both tossed out of an
Executive news conference last year. Reporter Joe McDonald
phones in his story. 

It takes about two years for Council members to find their bearing. Bob Werner, now in his third year, is no longer a rookie. He's a big believer in transparency, and is the Council member who was tossed out of a relatively meaningless Executive John Brown news conference last year. He is the reason why Brown later decided to post armed deputy sheriffs at a later news conference. At the last Council meeting, Cathy Allen refused to answer questions about why members of Public Works were absent despite his request that they be there to discuss a bridge bundling program. This could conceivable save the County millions over time. Werner has been persistent about getting the County in this state program. But Allen blatantly ignored him.

Werner has sent out the following missive:

In defining Northampton County Executive John Brown's leadership, I find his supervisory accountability confusing and secretive. Often without County Council’s knowledge, guidance, or approval, Mr. Brown has forged ahead, making perplexing decisions regarding job and duty reclassifications that have proven to be problematic.

Council has asked for months for written justification and submissions, as required by policy under established guidelines; it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Nowhere in the Home Rule Charter does it state that the County Executive can change job descriptions or classifications without written submission of specifics and rationale for the changes. Any good businessperson knows the importance of documenting performance outcomes and expectations; unfortunately Brown has not accounted for a number of job modifications, refinements, and pay variations.

It seems the transparency that John Brown claims to embrace has thus far eluded Council and the taxpayers of Northampton County. Council has had to rely on news reports, reporters, and the right to know law to obtain information that Mr. Brown and his administration should share freely with the governing body.

Adding insult to injury, Mr. Brown offered praise to departing Director of Public Works Rich Young, who resigned after just 11 months amid assurances that there was no longer a generator problem at Gracedale. In actuality, the generator is still in need of repairs and the residents may tragically find themselves without power should a natural or manmade disaster cause a power outage to the facility.

Citing a sense of urgency, Mr. Brown has also stated his intentions to strategically overhaul delivery practices, staff programs adequately, and reduce personnel vacancies. Aside from administrative appointments, these goals remain largely untouched.

Finally, Brown appointed a Deputy Director, who, in his absence, declined not only to address Council but also refused to step up to the microphone to make her comments public, displaying a total disregard for governmental protocol and the Sunshine Act. Meanwhile, she continues to be financially rewarded for working in shadows and silence.

Looking over the past year and four months, it brings to mind George Bush’s preposterous compliment to his FEMA director following Hurricane Katrina: Good job, Brownie!

Northampton County Councilman
Bob Werner

Banned Bob Condemns Brown's Secretive Government

NorCo Council member Bob Werner

In a way, it's an honor to be banned. That's what I've always told myself, and I've been thrown out of many places over the years.

Last week, Northampton County Council member Bob Werner and Controller Steve Barron were accorded that honor. NorCo Executive John Brown banned these two elected officials from a news conference that only included two people, a WFMZ reporter and yours truly. They were stopped at the door even though they said they were only there to listen. The Express Times had already decided against covering the news conference itself, but it did later report the toss. Things like that don't help Brown or his claim to be transparent.

After the news conference, these guys were still sitting in the hallway. Handing them tissues, I asked them both if they could tell me what's on their mind.

In Werner's case, it's transparency. He is disturbed at Brown's increasing reluctance to provide executive reports during Council meetings, though that has been used to ambush the Exec on other matters.

"I was told to make an appointment with him," stated Werner. "It's an insult." Werner also complained that several employees are under the impression they are unable to speak with him directly. He added that Budget Administrator Doran J. Hamann, who knows more about the County's finances than anyone, was never even told about brown's news conference, announcing his new budget. Nor was the new Fiscal Affairs Director, until he got an email from Director of Administration Luis Campos, suggesting that they carpool.

Getting to specifics, Werner made these points:

Gutted Open Space: "I think that's ridiculous. It's going the wrong way."

Brown's $3 Million Table Games Slush Fund: "We have to see what we can do about moving it somewhere else." Though Werner represents the Easton District, he states he was never informed about the trolley grant for Easton Mayor Sal Panto.

Public Relations Consultant: "We will cut it out of the budget."

Reduced health benefits: "We're going to have to use the budget as a tool to make him listen to us. ... You don't have to hurt your employees."

Budget: Brown wanted to have just two budget hearings, to minimize discussion. Werner credits Council President Peg Ferraro for insisting on the usual budget hearings. He rejects the notion of a $20 million line of credit. "It's not good government. What you have to do is work with what you have." He stated he would support a small tax hike if necessary.

What about Barron? I'll report on that tomorrow. He has concerns about the contract with costs consultant C3, the outfit that recommended reduced health benefits. I have filed a Right-to-Know for email exchanges.

Werner Instructs Phillips to Stay Off WAEB

Bob Werner tells Hayden Phillips to Stay Off Radio

After being the sole No vote for $698,000 in open space projects that included improvements to a miniature golf course in Pen Argyl's Weona Park, Northampton County Council member Hayden Phillips recently took his case to conservative talk radio. Appearing on Bobby Gunther Walsh's show on WAEB, the lone dissenter explained that the money went for a miniature golf course, walking trails, playground equipment and preserving open land. He was irate that the County would spend this money right after Executive John Brown had announced a $13 million structural deficit in 2013.

"Do we really need the government building a miniature golf course?" asked Walsh. In all of their comments, which are available online, Walsh and Phillips both made clear that this was a miniature golf course.

Yet at the March 6 meeting of County Council, an indignant Bob Werner complained that Phillips had misled the public. "I want it changed. I want it corrected," he demanded. He accused Phillips of falsely stating "that our County is building a golf course."

"I take a great deal of offense when things are misrepresented in public," Werner huffed.

Werner took it one step further. "I don't believe you should go on radio," he lectured Phillips, "and I don't believe you should allow people to say things that are not correct."

Phillips stood by his radio remarks.

The taped radio transcript reveals that, at all times, this golf course was described as a miniature golf course. So in reality, it is Bob Werner who misled the public.

Perhaps what really upset him is that Phillips actually told the truth in public. In the course of instructing Phillips about misrepresentations, Werner made several of his own.

(Updated 11:12 am to included how Phillips reacted to Werner. A reader asked me to include his reaction.)

Mike Krill Destroyed Dowd's Election Chances

Dowd would like to get his hands on Krill

Ed Koren is a Lehigh County Republican's best friend.

His challenge to DA Jim Martin probably increased GOP turnout in Lehigh County, which certainly helped lead to a Republican sweep in the Commissioners' race.

In Northampton County, the spoiler was Mike Krill. His challenge to Mayor Sal Panto energized a campaign machine, run by young Easton Democrats. They are so effective they're downright scary.

In my post below, I suggest that GOP turnout is historically low in Northampton County in municipal races. But Mike Dowd would have probably survived Bob Werner's challenge if there had been no challenge to Sal.

As it turns out, he was clobbered in Easton. Werner pulled in 1939 votes to Dowd's 930.

In the rest of his District, Dowd was the clear winner. He grabbed 3478 votes to Werner's 2596.

So Gracedale really played no role in Dowd's loss. Werner rode into office on Panto's back.

Mike Krill destroyed Dowd's chances.

Following the Money in the Dowd, Werner Race

Pre-election campaign finance reports were due on Friday. Here's how the money looks in the County Council Easton area race between Mike Dowd and Bob Werner.

Dowd raised $1,500 this reporting period, giving him a grand total of $1,917.83. Abe Atiyeh, who gave him $1,000, was his largest contributor. Dowd spent just $901.70 for what appear to be yard signs. He still has $1,106.13 in his till.

Challenger Bob Werner outpaced Dowd in the money race. He raised $3,385 over this election cycle, giving him $5.186.74. He spent $2,263.80 for yard signs, and is left with $2,922.94.

I may have missed it, but caught no unusually large donations to Werner. He seems to be spending his own money.

Norco Council (Easton Area): Mike Dowd v. Bob Werner

"I think one of the things people need to know is what do you bring to the table and what kind of things you've been able to get done in your time of service to the community. When I think about some of those things, part of they record they cross a myriad of activities. They cross the human services area, they cross the economic development area.

"When I think about economic development, I think about I was one of the people that Rich Gurin took to Kansas City to meet with the Hallmark people to bring the Crayola factory to downtown Easton. I was one of the folks who met with then Executive Gerry Seyfried to organize the sale of the then City Hall to Northampton County, to pave the way for a juvenile detention center and allow City Hall to move into downtown Easton. I was one of the founders and organizers of the Two Rivers Area COG [Council of Governments], which at that time was the first COG in Northampton County.

"I had the opportunity to participate in conservation because I was one of the founders of the Bushkill Stream Conservancy. The Easton Chamber of Commerce was the only Chamber that had a conservancy as part of its organization.

"I was one of the co-founders of Pro-Kids, which is an organization that knits together all the youth-based organizations in our community, to share programs and share ideas and share resources.

"In every respect, my record - I think - is one of getting the job done.

"As we move forward, economic development, job creation, are critically important to us, so we can set that stage.

"But I'd also tell you that, of all the members of Council, I'm the one who probably spent more time at Gracedale than anybody here, simply because my role as a clergyman for years. I saw Gracedale in its first generation. I see Gracedale as it is today. My commitment is we'll serve the people as well today if not better than we did in the early 1970s, when Gracedale was constructed.



"When I began this campaign, I was going to worry about how high the salary was, and how well I would get to be known in the County. Since then, I changed my mind about that.

"This isn't about personalities. This is about issues that impact, and I believe that as candidates on Council, we're charged with being effective, efficient, responsive representation to residents of this community. Not innuendo, not titles that we have, not going against things that referendums come up against, not putting things on the back burner and not making decisions about it, not denying and certainly not using individual agendas.

"I have grown tired, as many have in this community, of unresponsive government that no longer listens or represents the class of people in our organizations and communities that need the services that we discussed that this Council discussed and disposing of, due to the determination that they feel it won't be needed.

"Now is the time to use your vote to regain the strength of our county government to serve you.

"Future families and companies. We cannot afford not to reinvest in our health, recreation, historical and educational systems and our government. If we are to grow as our neighboring townships, suburbs and cities are, we will need to remove confusion, confliction, and work to find finances, creatively, that we need, that we can move forward with a community that people want to be in.

"If you want to change to bring parity between the counties, if you want to bring the change to bring the transparency to your government dealings, and if you want trust and professionalism in a Council that operates efficiently rather than just on a conciliatory level, I humbly ask for your votes on November 8."

Say Hi to Bob Werner

Rev. Mike Dowd performed the wedding ceremony for Bob Werner's oldest daughter. Their wives taught together. Werner considers Dowd a friend. But he's running against him for Northampton County Council.

I met Werner on Saturday, as my grandson and I waited in line for 20 hours to go through the 150th Pa. Civil War Roadshow in Easton. That took three minutes, after which we went to the Sigal Museum and refused to pay them $7 a head to tour another Civil War exhibit for another three minutes.

"We're a nonprofit," huffed one of the ladies behind the counter. "Yeah, you're also publicly funded, and your doors should be open for more than blue bloods, at least one frickin' day a year," I retorted as my grandson pretended he did not know me.

Bob missed that. He was working as a volunteer at the road show.

I hope to tell you more about his campaign in the months to come. I believe Mike Dowd is one of the finest members of Council that I've ever seen, but Werner seems like a class act himself.