NorCo Council Prez Lori Vargo Heffner Snags Governor's Award For Local Gov't Excellence

Northampton County Council President Lori Vargo Heffner is one of nine local government officials honored this year with Governor Josh Shapiro's award for local government excellent. In announcing the awards, Governor Shapiro said, "The individuals, municipalities, counties, and organizations that we are honoring today work passionately to 'get stuff done' by improving public services and making their communities better, said Governor Josh Shapiro. Their collective work has made a difference in the health, safety and quality of life of families and individuals across Pennsylvania. They are committed to making our Commonwealth a place where everyone can live, work, and thrive, and we are proud to recognize them for their dedication and excellence.”

Vargo Heffner was nominated by the County Comm'rs Ass'n of Pa.(CCAP), where she is an active member of the Board and 2020 graduate of CCAP's Center for Excellence. 

She is employed as a psychotherapist, which has given her a strong foundation to advocate for human services and mental health funding.  

Lori Vargo Heffner to Seek Third Term on NorCo Council

Last night, NorCo Council President Lori Vargo Heffner sent me a release indicating that she is seeking a third term as one of Northampton County's five at-large members. At-large members are countywide. The other four members are selected from four different geographical districts. (Bethlehem area, Easton area, Nazareth area and northern tier). Her release is below, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to say I'm glad she's running. Let me explain why.

First, she's a veteran. Most people, even those who run for council and get elected, have no idea what county government does. There's a two-year learning curve for most people who serve in this part-time position. With Ron Heckman stepping down, her knowledge and experience is very beneficial, not just to newer members, but to the public she serves. 

Second, she's bipartisan. When Peg Ferraro served on Northampton County Council, she liked to say she was a Republican until the election was over. After that, she did what she thought was in the best interests of the people she served, even if that meant ruffling a few feathers here and there. Vargo Heffner has embraced this thinking. As President of County Council, she named Republicans to chair different committees and even voted to elect Republican John Goffredo as Vice President. We could use more, not less, of that attitude. 

Third, she's independent. She's unwilling to be pressured into voting a certain way, whether it is for a voluntary employee health center or a new county building. While I disagree with her position on these matters, I think it's very important to have Council members who can think for themselves. 

Fourth, she stands up for the working class. Over the Executive's objection, she insisted on a pay study for county employees that reveals most of them are stuck for years in the middle of their pay scales. She supported a responsible contractor ordinance that ensures people working in trades are paid what they are worth and are safe. 

Fifth, she has weathered a barrage of personal and mean-spirited attacks during her seven years in office, most of which are based on her simple refusal to rubber stamp what the Exec wants. In fact, I half-expected her to simply bow out because it has had to have taken a personal toll. At all levels of government, Executive overreach has been a problem. She has made sure that the legislative branch has remained a separate and co-equal branch of government. 

Is she flawed? Yes. There are times when she can get petty or make snide remarks and can be obstructionist at times. But we need people like her in office now more than ever. 

From Lori Vargo Heffner's Campaign, Northampton County, PA (February 12, 2025): Northampton County Council President Lori Vargo Heffner will seek re-election to Northampton County Council as an At-Large member.

“I’m announcing that I will be seeking a third term to continue my service to all residents and fight for Northampton County’s working families,” said Vargo Heffner. “In addition to 7 years of no tax increases, including one tax cut, I have worked to ensure that core county services are available and accessible to all residents.”

“During my tenure I have worked across party lines to maintain quality core services, complete the P3 bridge project, and enhance good governance practices. I have led efforts to create an independent pay study for our workforce and an independent study of operations at Gracedale. I have worked with judicial services to support their service delivery needs and identify ways to collaborate on the statewide mental health population crisis in our prisons. I believe the essence of good government is to be an independent voice and work to ensure a high quality of life for all residents.”

“I have proven my experience, commitment and integrity during my seven years on Northampton County Council, and I would be honored to continue working to improve the quality of life of all of our residents,” adds Vargo Heffner.

As a member of County Council Vargo Heffner has served in a variety of leadership positions, including her current role as President, a position she has held for four years. Vargo Heffner also served two years as Vice President and Chair of the Human Services, Finance, Governance, and Election Integrity committees. She serves as the Northampton County Council liaison to the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and Discover Lehigh Valley. She also serves on the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) Board as the Region 6 Representative, a position she has held for 3 years, as well as a member of CCAP’s Human Services and Court and Corrections committees. In addition, she currently serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women.

Her accomplishments on County Council include the creation of term limits for all elected county officials, a Responsible Contracting Ordinance which ensured that County residents earn a living wage for work done in Northampton County, distribution of ARPA funds to small businesses during the COVID pandemic, and support for all farmland preservation and environmental resolutions.

A nearly 30-year resident of Northampton County, and 23-year resident of Lower Saucon Township, Vargo Heffner is a psychotherapist employed by St. Luke’s University Health Network. She earned a Bachelors degree Psychology from Moravian College, Masters degree in Counseling from Kutztown University and Masters degree in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University. She serves on the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and Discover Lehigh Valley Boards and is a member of Assumption BVM Catholic Church where she serves as a lector and on the Liturgy Board.

Blogger's Note: Democrats Nadeem Qayyum (husband of Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana, Jason Boulette (Wind Gap Borough) David Holland (a nurse practitioner) and Theresa Fedem (Hellertown Borough Council) have also announced that they are seeking the Democratic nomination.   There may be more. 

NorCo Counil Prez Spent $3,100 in Public Funds For Florida Junket

At the conclusion of last night's meeting of Northampton County Council, member Ken Kraft questioned the propriety of a recent, $3,100, trip to Tampa, Florida by Council President Lori Vargo Heffner. She was there to attend the annual conference of the National Association of Counties (NACO), which took place July 10-15 in Tampa. 

Kraft first asked if any Council member was aware that one of their own took this trip. Receiving no answer, he questioned why Council never conducted a vote on this expenditure of public funds "for a plane, rental cars, valet parking, meals, hotel rooms. everything else." 

Council member Ron Heckman said he knew that funds are included in Council's contingency funds for various trips, "but I'm not aware of any NACO requests."  

Kraft said that Council members who go on trips out of the state should bring the matter to County Council for a vote. He added that Council never even received a report following the trip. "I think the money should be paid back," he declared, and asked Lori Vargo Heffner to explain herself.

Vargo Heffner said she received permission from the Council Clerk, who actually is supposed to work for Council. The Council Clerk of course agreed that it was an "allowable expense." She said she did tell Council she went but did not provide a full report. 

"If you really want me to pay this back, I'll be happy to do so," she said. "It's in the budget," she said. 

Kraft made a motion that she pay the money back, but it died for lack of a second. 

"I get the sense that you did this just to slam her," Heckman said to Kraft.

"I did it because it's $3,100 of taxpayer money," Kraft retorted. 

Although he declined to support Kraft's motion, Council member John Goffredo said that any Council member planning such a trip should discuss it with other members of Council, not the Clerk. "That is an exorbitant amount of money," he observed.  

"Any other admonishments or public humiliations?" asked Vargo Heffner before Council adjourned.

While Kraft probably did bring this matter up to slam Vargo Heffner, that's irrelevant. Any Council member who desires to spend a large sum of county money for a trip should seek the clearance of other members of Council, in a public vote. For weeks ago and two weeks ago, Vargo Heffner refused to place a Council member's resolution on the agenda because she wanted to discuss it behind closed doors first, and she stated publicly it would not be on an agenda until her questions were answered. Her decision to spend over $3,000 on a junket to Tampa with no assent from other members of Council indicates that she has become far too imperious in her second term. 

Vargo-Heffner Is Acting More Like a Queen Than Council President

As I mentioned in another post today, I can be highly critical of Northampton County Council members. This includes newly elected member Jeff Warren, whose mawkish behavior just drips with saccharine. But he was absolutely correct in a complaint he made at last week's Thursday night meeting. As a Council member, and under the express provisions of the Home Rule Charter (Section 604), he has an absolute right to introduce a resolution. Although consideration can be delayed so that the requirements of the Sunshine Act are met, it must be considered by the body. The Council President has no authority, especially on her own initiative, to indefinitely delay consideration. Yet that's precisely what Lori Vargo Heffner, Council's President, has done. 

Here's her explanation for refusing to place this matter on the agenda for two meetings in a row. "When you brought it up two weeks ago, I stated that I had questions for the administration, and that when I got to have that conversation and got those questions answered, then I would put it on the agenda and not before." She went on to say there was a "back story." 

That "back story", whatever it is, needs the spotlight of a public meeting. 

She has no right, as Council President, to arbitrarily decide to push this off until her questions are answered behind closed doors. This is why we have a Sunshine Act. This is why we have public meetings. 

Vargo-Heffner's refusal to honor the wishes of a duly elected Council member betrays a complete misunderstanding of both her role and the Home Rule Charter. 

In April, Council member Ken Kraft told her, "You're the Queen and we're just your servants." 

She has proved him right. 

Judge Baratta Shrinks Super Shrink

Judge Stephen Baratta

NorCo Council member Lori Vargo Heffner, aka Super Shrink, grilled Court Administrator Jermaine Greene and two doctors on Thursday night over a Director of Treatment, what really is a minor staffing change at the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC). After about 30 minutes of hostile questions, she said she had no desire to be "picayune" at 8 pm on a Thursday night. She's decided to be picayune in emails to Greene. Super Shrink is now demanding a "written overview of the program" at the Juvenile Justice Center. She wants to do a site survey, i.e. access confidential juvenile files. She also told Greene she did not like his tone on Thursday night, which was both professional and respectful. That's more than I can say about her own demeanor. Super Shrink has received a response to her latest demands. But they don't come from Greene. They come instead from Judge Stephen Baratta, who is the Administrative Judge for Juvenile Court.

Copies of Judge Baratta's four-page response went to Greene, President Judge Michael Koury, Ron Heckman, County Council and their lawyer, Chris Spadoni. Someone on Council leaked it to me. Below are excerpts:

Greene: "Your reaction does not comport with my understanding of Mr. Greene's general demeanor. Please know that he is a valued employee of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts - the Administrative arm of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He is well respected throughout this Commonwealth, and especially here in Northampton County, for his skill and professionalism. ... [H]is professionalism and his work product have never been questioned before I saw your email."

Lori Vargo Heffner

JJC in Courts' domain: "I remind you that both the Home Rule Charter and the Administrative Code speak to the separation of powers and the exclusive authority of the Court to manage its employees and our internal operations, which includes the employees and the treatment programming of the JJC."

Site survey demand: "[S]tate and federal regulations governing our facility do not permit you, as a county office holder, to have access to our files, as all juvenile records are protected by very stringent confidentiality restrictions."

Must Director of Treatment be licensed social worker: "Please know that we have consulted with the Department of Public Welfare and the Office of Children and Youth about this position, the agencies responsible for auditing JJC operations. Both are comfortable with the job description. No licensure is required to manage and coordinate treatment, as the position is purely administrative. I would also remind you that the position of the Deputy Warden in Northampton County Prison overseeing the prison's treatment services does not require any licensure."

Appointment is Fiscally Prudent: "Frankly, I do not understand your interest in controlling the Court's job description for an administrative position in the JJC. By creating this position, we were able to eliminate a higher paying (Deputy) position, saving the county money and we consolidated services by reorganizing staff. I would think, from an efficiency and fiscal savings standpoint, that this request would be unopposed by Council."

Time to vote: "I do not understand why your intention to examine our clinical operations and programming is relevant to Council's consideration of the request to consolidate various existing JJC administrative duties into this new position. I am told that Council has already been provided with all the forms and other necessary documentation to create this position. You need no other documentation to vote on this request."

Any meeting with Super Shrink will be formal: "I will endeavor to assist you in your efforts to inquire into our clinical programming. I only request, given the tenor of your email, that we do so formally, with the involvement of the entire Council and your Solicitor ... ."

Super Shrink Interfering with Courts: "[W]hat authority does County Council have to interfere with the Court's management of its employees and our desire to reclassify positions when we reorganize our administrative operations, so long as our requests are fiscally prudent and do not infringe upon the duties and responsibilities of the County Executive or County Council Administrative?"

This has gone on long enough. Single-handedly, Super Shrink is destroying the good working relationship that the Courts have with Council and the Executive. It is time for VP Ron Heckman to put a stop to the nonsense and just conduct a vote on the tabled resolution.

Super Shrink: I Have a Master's Degree!

Northampton County Council, on Thursday night, adopted a no-tax-hike budget. There was some disagreement about amendments and the capital plan, but the budget itself was adopted unanimously. The numerous budget hearings preceding this vote were trying, but it all paid off when the budget itself was adopted in a little over an hour. This is a first for me as a county observer who remembers meetings that went until 1 am. After this amazing feat, you'd think Council would want to pack it in for the night. But you are not an "outstanding elected official," like Lori Vargo Heffner and Tara Zrinski both think they are. They have the major awards and everything. Thanks to these newbies, who have yet to serve a year in office, the meeting droned on another hour over nonsense.

Let's start with Super Shrink, Lori Vargo Heffner. She has a  master's degree, you know. She's basically a counselor in Jersey for people with issues, whether it's drugs, depression or whatever. She has an MA, LPC, EdM and LCADC. The EdM is something everyone who wants to get a teacher's certificate eventually needs to get. The MA is for counseling psychology. The other crap just means she has a license. ... In Jersey.

She's hardly what I'd call an expert on anything. Let me explain why. I remember my dad once went to a very highly recommended "counselor" with a pocketful of degrees. This guy was going to cure my father of smoking three packs of Pall Malls every day. Part of this expert's repertoire was hypnosis, which fascinated me.

In three sessions at $350 a pop, my father would become a nonsmoker. My father dutifully went and paid this guy the money. He was very happy that he was finally doing the right thing.

At the end of just three sessions, my dad had the hypnotist smoking. ... Pall Malls.

I am somewhat amazed at the negative and sometimes hostile tone Heffner takes with people. Not long after she was elected, I saw that hostility directed at Dr. Brooke Tesche, who had been nominated to NorCo's Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council. This is a volunteer board. Heffner hinted that Dr. Tesche, a Deputy Superintendent with the Diocese of Allentown, might use her role to recruit students to a new Catholic high school for children who are drug or alcohol dependent. She even hinted that Dr. Tesche might be lining her pockets.

Last time I checked, Catholic schools only recruit athletes.

Heffner raised enough of a stink that Dr. Tesche's nomination was killed.

Perhaps you think that Heffner was concerned about the separation of church and state. Nope. Heffner was the biggest cheerleader on Council for a $20,000 church steeple grant, described by congregants at a public hearing as a "beacon of hope and faith." You can't get much more religious than that. Heffner, who was on the selection committee, tried all kinds of arguments. She tried arguing that hotel taxes aren't really public funds. She even argued that denying this grant would be discrimination. Fortunately, the grant was tabled, and since only Council can approve these grants, the money will remain in "future grants."

In addition to being hostile to people, she's awfully picayune. Get this. She actually objected to the minutes of a General Purpose Authority because the references to her hyphenated her name.

A few weeks ago, Super Shrink was incensed when Court Administrator Jermaine Greene proposed promoting the Assistant Director of Treatment at the Juvenile Justice Center to Director of Treatment. She conveniently waited until Greene was out the door and then claimed this position is illegal because the person in it is not qualified like she is. The matter was tabled. When Greene asked what the hell was going on, she responded with a memo containing three questions. He answered them. She continued with two more.

Greene came to Thursday night's meeting and brought Dr. Robert Gill, an MD, and Dr. Susan Krause, who has more than a Master's degree, with him. In addition to those two, there are two other doctoral level interns who assess juveniles in treatment. This saves the county money. It also enables the treatment to take place here, instead of center state. The recidivism rate for sex offenders is six per cent.

That wasn't good enough for Super Shrink, MA, LPC, EdM and LCADC. She wanted an overview of treatment and detention. Then she wanted the two doctors "to walk her through treatment," something she could have done had she ever visited the place like Greene suggested.

"I think I can do a clinical assessment and overview without having to put in 12 hours," she huffed. .

I'm a clinician myself," she later said.

And so the psychobabble went, back and forth:

SuperShrink: "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."

The other shrinks: "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Super Shrink said, "I don't want to get picayune at this point at 8 pm on a Thursday night."

Too late

Now Jermaine Greene has to redraft his resolution and brink it back to the next Council meeting. But Super Shrink should only be a small part of the story. Eco Warrior Tara Zrinski has had the last straw. She has summoned her social justice warriors to descend upon the next Council meeting en masse to demand an end to plastic straws and bags in Northampton County. Never mind the myriad of other issues facing local government, from homelessness to recidivism to fair wages for county workers. This is one sanctioned perjurer on the warpath. What's silly about her recommended ban is that she expects municipalities in the county to use it to adopt real bans.

I will bring you the Eco Warrior and Plastic Straws tomorrow.

Psychotherapist Continues NorCo Council Quest

For those of you who feel like the sane in an insane asylum, a psychotherapist is coming. Lori Vargo Heffner is expected to announce her candidacy for Northampton County Council and is currently circulating petitions. She ran in District 3 two years ago, but lost to John Cusick by 741 votes.

She will announce her candidacy at the courthouse steps today at noon.

A psychotherapist at Affiliated Clinical Services, she's a graduate of Moravian College who went on to obtain Master's degrees at Kutztown (psychology) and Temple (education). Her background is obviously an asset to a County charged with the responsibility of delivering human services.