ET: Connie Sutton Falk Out

Sarah Cassi at The Express Times has reported that controversial Human Services Director Connie Sutton-Falk, is leaving Northampton County at the end of the year. Vilified by County employees like most Human Services Directors, she was clearly the most unpopular of County Executive John Stoffa's appointments. Her caustic style never helped her win any hearts.

Last year, in a meeting attended by a sea of green T-shirted AFSCME workers, Council member Lamont McClure demanded she step down, knowing he had no right to do so, in a mean-spirited attempt to embarrass Stoffa. A bare majority joined McClure. Although Sutton-Flak was present, she was never given advance notice and was never given an opportunity to defend herself.

Whatever you may think of Ms. Sutton-Falk, that was Council's lowest moment. What they did to her can easily be done to any County employee.

Interestingly, when Sarah Cassi called Sutton-Falk about her departure, she heard back from an attorney.

Norco Human Resources Director Mulling Suit Against Northampton County

Have you ever met a popular Human Resources Director?

Northampton County has gone through three of them since Home Rule. All have been demonized, rightly or wrongly. Connie Sutton-Falk, the current $74,754 Director, is no exception. It's a thankless job. To make matters worse, many female courthouse workers seem to resent seeing another woman in charge. Perhaps in defense, Connie has developed a caustic style. That hurts her. Behind her back or on this blog, some pretty nasty names are used to describe a cabinet official who works much harder than most of them.

Five members of Northampton County Council, aka The Hangmen, have hurt Sutton-Falk even more. Playing to a lynch mob of bright green AFSCME T-shirts that had massed into the star chamber last September, they asked her to resign in an effort to embarrass Executive John Stoffa.

Hangman Lamont McClure led the lynch mob. "We must take a strong stand ... . Tonight I make a motion that county council demonstrates its sense that Connie Sutton Falk should resign." McHale, counting on the union to support her election this year as county exec, somberly noted that she gets phone calls complaining about Connie. How about that? Employees complain about the Human Resources Director. There's a shocker.

Mike Dowd and Peg Ferraro refused to participate in this attempted assassination. As Peg noted at the time, "This is not in our purview and I feel this is inappropriate. I've been around here since 1989 and I think there have been more problems with Directors of Human Resources than any other job here. It's not an easy job and it's not easy to please everyone. I just feel this is inappropriate."

But the Hangmen - McClure, Dertinger, McHale, Neiper & Grube - strung her up anyway. They never even gave her an opportunity to defend herself, as she sat there quietly.

The union lynch mob was thrilled. There's no doubt that Sutton-Falk may actually bne more unpopular than me. But a dangerous precedent was set. What County Council did to Sutton-Falk is something they can do to each and every county worker who displeases them.

Last night, council went into executive session over a letter they recently received from Sutton-Falks' lawyer. Their September stunt, a clear violation of Sutton-Falk's civil rights, may end up costing money down the road.

Of course, that's only your money.