NorCo Shuts Down Wind Gap Citgo

Northampton County’s Department of Weights & Measures has shut down the Citgo Gas Station at 1040 South Broadway, Wind Gap, PA for suspected problems with the fuel. Motorists reported their cars stalling or stopping in the area and many of them appeared to be related to gas purchases from the Citgo Station. Anyone who filled their tank there on May 30th or 31st should contact the station at 908-482-9000.

Weights & Measures inspected the station two weeks ago but returned in response to a complaint of a car stalling directly after the purchase of fuel. Suspecting potential water contamination or a quality issue, the station has been shut down for three to four days to allow the State Department of Weights & Measures to test samples. It is expected that the holding tank may need to be pumped out, replaced and retested.

Two years ago, Northampton County Council nearly shut down the Division of Weights and Measures.Northampton County is one of just 13 counties left that still checks whether ypu'rereally getting a gallon of gas or a pound of balogna.

“I do not think we need this service, this cost, this additional government in Northampton County,” said former Council member Hayden Phillips, arguing instead for “less governmental oversight.”

Statewide, there are just 37 inspectors.

Meet Wind Gap Magisterial Candidate Mike Ondilla

Wind Gap's Magisterial District Judge race is a three-way affair including incumbent Doug Schlegel and Attorneys Dave Jordan and Mike Ondilla. Mike's wife called me and told me, "You really need to meet my husband." I made her a promise to do so but fell short. I missed him at Rita's Italian Ice, where he had a campaign event last weekend. But we finally connected on Friday, when Ondilla filed his second Friday Pre-Primary report.

A graduate of Moravian College and Widener School of Law, Ondilla got his start as a law clerk for Judge Leonard Zito. "Nothing riled him," he told me. He said he learned more than the law from Judge Zito

After his clerkship, Ondilla worked with a few firms but then took a slightly different path than most lawyers. He became a sales tax consultant.  He can use his legal knowledge, but does not have to worry about winding down his practice if elected.

He's fortunate to have a lot of support in Wind Gap. He is backed both by Democrat Scott Parsons and Republican Matt Dietz. He also has the support of Adriane Masut, who was Magisterial District Judge in Wind Gap before it went to Schlegel.

I gave him a few openings to take shots at his opponents but he declined, telling me he'd rather lose than go negative.

Obviously, he'd make a great Magisterial District Judge.

Why Has Poverty Rate Decreased in Wind Gap?

The experts at the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission have an explanation for the increased poverty rate in Upper Milford, but have no clue why it has decreased by over 5% over the past ten years in Wind Gap. "That has us scratching our heads," says LVPC's Eric McAfee.

Is it because Detzi's Tavern has become more popular now that Scott Parsons is on Northampton County Council? Is it because Blue Mountain Consumer Discount is now finally reporting its income? Caesar's Diner? Fracking?

What's your explanation? The experts want to know.

Why Not Wind Gap?

When the magisterial realignment was first being considered, why wasn't Wind Gap on the chopping block? That's a question posed by some of my readers. When District Judge Adrianne Masut retired in late 2011, her District could have been abolished. But guess what? Nobody really knew she was stepping down, except a few that she wanted to know. When a District Judge retires, he or she sometimes has someone lined up to take over. Retirement news will be kept under wraps so that the favorite can make inroads and be a few steps ahead of the others.

Wind Gap DJ Candidate: More Community Service Sentences For Juveniles

Monroe County Assistant DA Barbara Fitzgerald is running for District Judge in the Wind Gap area, where she hopes to succeed Adrianne Masut. She's one of six candidates.

Last night, I heard Ms. Fitzgerald address a group of Northampton County Republicans at Stefano's restaurant in Bethlehem. She has an interesting idea.

"The major change that I would like to see happen in our area, other than to give us a professional court, ... I would like to see implementation of the use of more community service, particularly with our juvenile offenders who are convicted of first offense non-violent crimes. At the moment, what happens is they're sentenced to have a fine. They're 15, 16, 17 years old. They don't have jobs. Their parents end up paying. The parents learn a lesson ... maybe. But the kids certainly do not. I would like to help the juveniles be accountable by forcing them to do community service in lieu of those fines. I do think that would be a more appropriate disposition."

Sitting in the Peanut Gallery With John Morganelli

I was pretty nasty to Northampton County DA John Morganelli yesterday. I called him "Farmer John," made fun of his new book (I'm really just jealous), and even belittled his crusade against undocumented workers. I've done it before. A few months ago, I falsely reported that John was building a wall around the Lehigh Valley to insulate us from dreaded illegal immigrants. It would be funded by surcharges at Taco Bell.

After casting my stones, I was having great fun in the peanut gallery at last night's lengthy meeting of Northampton County Council. The suits were trying to save $2.6 million in public funding for a Wind Gap developer's road. This project was funded six years ago, but has gone nowhere. Council was finally ready to pull the plug. Ralph Stampone noticed that whenever the suits started talking, their noses grew longer. And from behind me, John Maher whispered that WWII was over in less time than has been allotted for that road. Some goofy old guy in a gigantic cowboy hat kept insisting they were really serious this time. Really! And his Green Knights had a gazillion dollars to back the project. Council finally flushed this project, no thanks to Lamont McClure or Charles Dertinger.

While we were laughing at these developments, somebody plopped right next to me in the peanut gallery.

It was John Morganelli! Holy cannoli!

He nailed me before I could run and hide. No wonder he's the DA! He laughed off yesterday's blog post, and even agreed it was funny. After this, I "introduced" John to Will Power and asked for John's support. I'm trying to "clear the field" for Will. Before long, John was laughing in the peanut gallery with the rest of us.

Morganelli is a very powerful Democrat, and I do pick on him at times. But I do respect and admire him. He's very accessible, personable and is probably Northampton County's best district attorney. Obviously, he has a great sense of humor. I just don't like his taste in county council candidates.

One final point. During last night's meeting, Nazareth councilman Jack Herbst made an eloquent pitch for county participation in a skate park. Council Prez Grube whispered, just a little too loudly, that he couldn't wait to see it built so he could watch me fall on my fat ass.

Since I'm always braying about open government, I can only blame myself. Now I'm going to cry myself to sleep on my little pillow.

NorCo Council Prez Calls Wind Gap Road a $400 Thousand Mistake

1100 high quality jobs. That was the promise six years ago. The county would kick in $3 million for a road from its $111 million megabond. Developer Nolan Perin would do the rest. Heavy industrial hitters would soon be in the slate belt.

Today, there's still no road. Not even a sewage permit. No highway occupancy permit. The best Perin could do, was a temporary driveway permit, and that didn't happen until December.

Instead of those well paid industrial positions, Perin lured yet another Wal-Mart and Lowes to the Lehigh Valley. Industrial development suddenly morphed into mostly commercial development with low-paying jobs. Slate Belt residents erupted. County council nevertheless remained committed to its $3 million investment. It was happy to destroy environmentally sensitive lands in the 'burbs for jobs that pay less than a courthouse worker's shrinking salary.

This became an issue in the last county council campaign. Lamont McClure demanded that council show "leadership to preserve the quality of life in the Slate Belt and take back this bond money now." He was joined by Charles Dertinger and Diane Neiper, but they all mysteriously changed their minds once they were in office. The resisted repeated attempts to transfer that money to other capital projects with major cost overruns.

While county council nixed any attempt to kill this project, over $440,000 in bond money was wasted on engineering studies.

Last week, Wal-Mart nixed the project itself. It's not coming. Nothing is. The only business in six years at this site is a scrap metal business owned by developer Perin. It employs less than thirty workers. Perin remains convinced he can make a go of things.

Council chambers were packed last night with seventy people demanding that this insanity stop. And Council may finally see the light at the end of this road to nowhere. They appear ready to yank the remaining money. Council member Tony Branco reported that he took a little tour of the site last weekend, and noticed that nothing has happened since July.

But Council Prez Wayne Grube, previously a stubborn supporter of this project, has finally thrown in the towel. His own words.

"This was a mistake. We've had it with that project. We've heard it four or five times. Let's go do what has to be done to try and recoup our money. I've had it. I openly admit that I made a mistake, and that'll be on our boy's blog tomorrow."

Gee, thanks, Wayne! I didn't know you cared.

Grube openly admits making an error that cost taxpayers $440,000. And his backroom maneuver to replace Ann McHale as VP has alienated me and many others. But even I would agree he's being a little tough on himself. He honestly believed something good would come from this investment. He's been sold a bill of goods, and is now courageous enough to admit it. Who can't admire and respect that? Grube is the only member of any council I've watched who can admit when he screws up. And he screws up a lot. But it's still refreshingly honest. Having said that, I hope he makes every effort to get the remaining $2.6 million back in county coffers. We'd all agree that a $440,000 mistake is infinitely preferable to one that costs us $3 million.

Speaking of mistakes, Councilman Lamont McClure is hot on the trail over that $100,000 theft from the criminal division. Of course, someone has been charged and is being prosecuted. But that won't stop Lamont. Last night he was tongue-lashing Controller Paul Schimmel. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the elections this year. Just good government. More about his bullying next week.

Wal-Mart's Plans For Slate Belt Super Center Are Dead

Slate Belt Concerned Citizens are "very happy," according to a press release circulated today by John F. Maher. Their long battle with Wal-Mart is over.

Chalk one up for the good guys.

The suits have withdrawn plans to develop sixty acres in the slate belt with a Wal-Mart Supercenter, Lowes and twelve other retail shops.

Northampton County had set aside $3 million in bond money for an access road to this monstrosity. Until now, Northampton County Council has resisted repeated attempts by Ron Angle to revoke this public funding of private enterprise.

Now that the project is dead, Angle has already asked executive John Stoffa to direct officials to return the money to the county. It is badly needed for $3 million in cost overruns for the courthouse and a prison expansion that is already overcrowded.

But who knows? A casino would be nice up there.