If Your Neighbor Wants To Build a Fence, Shouldn't He Ask You?

Most of you know recognize names like Northampton County Executive John Brown, Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez or Easton Mayor Sal Panto. Few of you would recognize the name Mike Romig. But it is thanks to this 28-year veteran of Northampton County's bridge department that you can get from one side of a river to another without falling in. He has never asked you to thank him, either, and has no need to hire PR consultants to tell you what a swell guy he is.

I saw Mike on Saturday night, when Bethlehem Catholic's and Stroudsburg's undefeated football teams faced each other. During half time, he talked to me.

He told me that if he wanted to put a fence around his property, regardless whether he has the right to do it, he'd talk to his next door neighbor first. "That's just common courtesy and respect," he explained.

He expects the same courtesy and respect from Executive John Brown. before he imposes changes that could dangerously impact what he himself has called the County's most valuable asset, he owes it to those workers to talk to them.

Beyèr - A Democrat of Convenience

Allons enfants de la Patrie

Two years ago, Democrats tried and nearly succeeded in getting rid of State Representative Justin Simmons. They ran Kevin Deely, a one-time teachers' union president for the Easton Area School District. Deely lost, and later moved out of the 131st District, proving that he had been a carpetbagger after all. Now Democrats are trying to beat Simmons with Mike Beyèr. Until very recently, Beyèr was a Republican himself. He's the son of former Republican State Rep. Karen Beyèr, who was upset by Simmons four years ago. She's pulled out all the stops in getting her son elected. This includes breaking the law, doing the same thing that led to the Bonusgate prosecutions.

Harrisburg Republicans have been getting emails like this from Karen Beyèr, sent to their pahousegop.com e-mail addresses:

From: Karen Beyer [mailto:kdbeyer@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 6:25 PM
Subject: Please join me for a cocktail reception for Michael Beyer

Please join me and my family in our home for a cocktail reception for Michael.
He will be a great representative for the 131st, please come out and meet him.

Attached to these emails is a flyer from 7pointsconsulting.com (That is political consultant Mike Fleck's firm) inviting them to the cocktail party to elect Beyèr at $100 a pop.

This, of course, is exactly what started the Bonusgate prosecutions. So Beyer instead of a mad rush to buy tickets, she instead received an email from Rod Corey, Chief Counsel of the House Republican Legal Staff, telling her to stop using state email addresses to further her son's campaign.

There goes that damn Ethics Act again.

I guess porn would have been OK.

This little episode demonstrates that Beyèr, among other things, is a phony who pretends he is a Democrat while reaching out for Republican support, and breaking the law to do it. He is, as one other person has called him, a Democrat of convenience. He was registered Republican until just before deciding to circulate a nomination petition for his mom's old seat. Realizing he could never beat Simmons in a primary, he simply switched parties.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is on to him. He was thrown off the ballot as a Democrat after making a "knowing and material misrepresentation" that he was, in fact, an attorney. The truth is that he failed or never took the Bar exam. Those who signed his nomination petition, the Court concluded, were "materially misled."

He has continued to materially mislead the public. In campaign literature, this former intern claims falsely that he was a legislative aide. He also falsely claims to have worked at a securities arbitration clinic when the truth is that it was just a part of a required class when he attended law school.

The Beyèr camp, issued this statement: "I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries. Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time."

Molovinsky Shines in State House Debate (Updated)

This past Saturday morning, while most of you were doing your weekend chores and a lucky few got to sleep in, three candidates for the 183rd state house seat - a statewide office - were at a largely empty middle school in South Whitehall Township, debating before a small group of camp followers. It's a gerrymandered distict that includes municipalities like parts of South Whitehall and North Catty, which have little in common, in two different counties. This is the only chance voters had to see long-time incumbent Julie Harhart, a Republican who has been in office since 1995, defend her record against Democrat Terri Powell, a title agent hoping to ride gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf's coattails into office. It was the only opportunity for Independent Michael Molovinsky, a long-time community activist, to tell Powell and Harhart that both of their messages are wrong. Did they waste their time? In a democracy, the answer has to be No. And in this case, the candidates are lucky because, though the debate itself was sparsely attended, there was quite a bit of media coverage. The Morning Call, the weekly Press papers and hyper-local South Whitehall Observer were all present, along with yours truly. It was a fast hour.

Before telling you about the debate itself, I have to acknowledge the dedication of the Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters, I love to make fun of them, but without people like Beverly Hernandez or Joan Dean, there'd be no attempt to inform the voters at all. Newspapers are so concerned about being "objective" that they run from elections, only to return after it's all over to tell everyone how shitty their choices were. This lack of scrutiny is how we end up with people like Karen Dolan. It's also why people who have no ties to special interests, and who are unwilling or unable to spend the fortune required to tell their story, will never get elected.

It's why Michael Molovinsky has no shot. He has refused to curry favor with either of the major parties. He won't spend the money for the seven mailers he'd need to expect to have any hope at all. But to anyone who attended the debate, Michael Molovinsky was head and shoulders the best of the bunch.

He's by no means the nicest. That honor would have to go to the incumbent, Julie Harhart, whose basic decency stood out.during the debate. It's no mystery why she's been in office for ten terms.

Nor was he the best prepared. That distinction goes to Terri Powell, a powerful and confident candidate who came with reams of talking points and papers and recited bill numbers with the certainty of a Bingo caller. By contrast, Molovinsky even forgot his reading glasses.

But Molovinsky, combining his laconic style with a biting wit, was the best orator. His brief "Harriisburg is broken" opening, in which he states that no amount of money is "ever enough for Harrisburg", was still resonating after the other two gave longer openings that largely said nothing.

Charter Schools

Powell is neither for or against them, but stated they should be held to the same standard as public schools. Harhart stated that reform legislation has recently been enacted that will improve them. Molovinsky said they result in de facto segregation, especially in larger cities, and scoffed at schools financed by real estate developers who hire public relations experts to ram them through.

Special Interests, Transparency

Harhart points to Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, stating there are "no secrets". Powell pledged to decline large contributions from corporations. Molovinsky stated term limits would discourage a legislator from developing a rapport with special interests. He noted Harhart had pledged to seek only two or three terms, and now is on her tenth. He added she gets a lot of money from the medical industry. "That's because I chair the professional licensure committee," Harhart later explained. "I don't find that answer very reassuring," responded Molovisnky.

Crumbling Infrastructure

Powell noted Pennsylvania's infrastructure is ranked 49th in the nation, and she'd fix that problem by imposing a tax on Marcellus Shale and closing the Delaware loophole. Harhart stated that the recently enacted Transportation Bill, which she conceded she voted against, would bring in seven billion dollars for infrastructure improvements over the next five years. Molovinsky claimed this is a "political football" brought about by mismanagement by both parties. "One need only look at the Turnpike Commission" he observed, wondering what exactly they do.

Taxes on Seniors

Powell stated property taxes continue to rise because Republicans cut education funding, a point sharply disputed by Harhart. "We never cut education funding," she insisted, noting that schools did receive two years of stimulus funding from the federal government and were warned not to spend it on programs. Molovinsky continued to insist there are already enough taxes and revenue. He noted there are 73,000 state employees, and if they have the time to be sending porn emails to each other, perhaps there are too many of them.

Fracking Tax

Harhart supports an impact fee that goes to the municipalities that are impacted by fracking. Powel supports an 11% tax, the same as imposed in every other state that allows fracking. She noted that would raise $1 billion in revenue every year. "We are leaving billions of dollars on the table," she complained. Molovinsky, who supports a tax, noted impact fees only bring in $225 million per year, calling that a "drop in the bucket." He complained that a pipeline coming through the Lehigh Valley is going to degrade this area and we need a revenue tax to protect us from companies that "have more or less gone wild." He also is wary of the DEP and its ability to actually protect the community.

Clean Air, Water

Noting Allentown's recently abandoned plans to convert refuse into energy, Molovinsky noted the project had the blessing of the DEP. "What a Frankenstein mix!" he lamented, "So much for the DEP watching over fracking or anything else. We need to improve the process." He believes more oversight is needed. Powell agreed we have a right to clean air and water, as well as tourism and farming.

Harhart noted that the DEP has received funding to hire more people to provide oversight. She also pointed to recent studies showing that fracking has caused no water pollution.

Municipal bans on guns

Powell went off on a question about municipal bans on guns by stating there should be better checks on mentally unstable people. Noting the state legislation that prevents municipalities from banning guns in parks, she complained that even the KKK will be able to sue.

Harhart brought the argument back to earth, noting that the state law preempts municipalities from most gun issues/. This is because differing municipalities could contradict each other. They could , make the same conduct that is innocent in one municipality,criminal in the next.

Molovinsky stated these are "wedge" issues designed to appeal to panderers and emotion, and faulted both the NRA and gun control advocates for sensationalizing the issue.

Affordable Higher Education

Powell complained she is still paying her student loans and that the "system is a mess" and "we need to do something." Harhart noted there are numerous loans and grants available, "I don't have much interest in the question," noted Molovisnky, who pointed out that people who take these loans agree to pay them. He later noted that paying off a loan itself is educational.

Illegal Immigration

"We need reform," announced Powell, but Harhart noted this is really a federal issue. Molovinsky added that the last time he checked, Pa. is not a border state and wonders what people really mean. "Are we talking about immigration or expressing prejudice?" he asked.

Minimum Wage

All candidates support a hike in the minimum wage, but Harhart would do it incrementally. "You have to be very careful or it could be detrimental to the people you're trying to help," she warned.

When it was all over, LWV member Joan Dean gave this warning: "Your vote is your ticket that brings you to the table; because if you're not at the table, you're probably on the menu."  

Blogger's Note: Michael Molovinsky and I are friends ... I think.  He is also a fellow blogger. I am obviously rooting for him, and wish I could vote for him. Having said that, I do think the other two candidates should be proud of their performances and each had their strong points.

Updated 9:05 pm: The Morning Call's account of the debate notes Molovinsky's strong performance as well.

Did You Know?

Robert Todd Lincoln has the dubious distinction of being the only person present for three of our nation's presidential assassinations? He was there for his father, as well as James Garfield and William McKinley in 1901. It was not until McKinley was shot that Secret Service agents were assigned to protect the President. It was thought to be too un-American. 

92 Retirements Possible This Year in NorCo

At last week's news conference with Executive John Brown, i asked how many people have given notice they are retiring. He promised to get back to me, and did right before last night's meeting.

 Last year, there were 138 inquiries, but only 76 employees actually followed through and resigned.

Thus year, there are 189 inquiries as of October 16. Of that number, 61 are definitely retiring, and another 31 are in the process. Those who are in the process could still change their mind. But if looks as though there are 92 retirements thus far.

Looking at the numbers between 1995 and 2013, the average number of retirements per year is 55. If there are 92 retirements this year, that will be nearly twice the average.

Looking at the numbers during the eight years than John Stoffa was in office, the average number of retirements per year is 66, If there are 92 retirements this year, that will be about 40% above the average under Stoffa.

Brown told me that all decisions will be finalized around Thanksgiving, and will update me at that time.

It appears that people are leaving the County in much larger numbers than is normal.

NorCo Council Goes On Strike! (Updated)

Brown displayed no emotion as people spoke.

Two weeks ago, Northampton County Council President Peg Ferraro asked Executive John Brown to compromise on his health plan cuts for the County workforce. He declined. A majority of Council adopted a Resolution calling on Brown to give a little. He said No.  Union agent Justus James asked Brown to sit down and just talk to him. Brown demurred, according to James. In three crowded Council meetings, workers have alternatively alternatively criticized and begged Brown for help. Last night, he declined to answer their concerns or even provide an Executive Report. So Lamont McClure urged fellow Council members to do something that workers have not - strike. He has proposed refusing to conduct any business beyond what is absolutely necessary until Brown finally agrees to sit down and talk.

Thanks to an absent Republican Seth Vaughn, McCkure got away with it last night.

Earlier that night, before workers even spoke, Council approved some pathology services for Coroner Zach Lysek and some changes to the emergency generator project at Gracedale. Those were both noncontroversial and passed with with little discussion, though Glenn Geissinger strangely recused himself from the pathology services contract.

After listening to the concerns of workers from a crowd that numbered over 100, Council returned to its agenda.

The first real item of business was a Geissinger-inspired ordinance that would give all Council members a $1,000 paycut so they could all feel the pain already being inflicted on the workforce. Almost as soon as the ordinance was introduced, McClure moved to table it. Council President Peg Ferraro, no fan of pay cuts, quickly joined all Democrats to provide the fifth vote..

Then McClure explained what he was doing. Noting that Brown has refused to compromise or even discuss rolling back his health plan cuts, he suggested Council should just stop conducting business. "We ought to table anything that isn't essential to the government of Northampton County," he said.

And that's pretty much exactly what happened. What wasn't tabled, failed. The other three Democrats quickly followed McClure's lead. Republicans, and Council President Peg Ferraro in particular, seemed completely shocked by what had just happened.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm stunned," she said at one point.

What had her up on a lift, blowin' oil, was a noncontroversial $30 million loan arrangement with St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem Township, through the County's General Purpose Authority. These kinds of loans, involving hospitals and colleges, are common. It's a form of tax exempt financing in which the County is never on the hook, but is able to use the administration fees to fund other projects of its own in the County

"Motion to table," stated McClure. That failed in a 4-4 vote. As Council Clerk Fran Flisser called out the names, an exasperated Ferraro asked McClure, "Do you realize what you're doing to St. Luke's Hospital?"

Though the motion to table failed, so did the resolution. By a 6 to 2 vote, with only Ferraro and fellow Republican Hayden Phillips voting Yes, Northampton County Council dealt a setback to St. Luke's and any other hospital or college interested in arranging financing through the County.

"You have just rejected hundreds of thousands of dollars to Northampton County," Ferraro said to the No votes.

This is a first. At no time has Northampton Council ever voted to reject his kind of financing arrangement, which involves no risk to the County and results in administration fees.

But McClure had only just begun.

The next item on the agenda was a resolution to approve the reclassification of a position in Human Services. A Budget Analyst would now be called an Accountant, with no extra pay to show for it.

"Motion to table," said McClure again. This time, Glenn Geissinger mysteriously joined the Democrats, and in a 5-3 vote, the reclassification was halted.

After the meeting, Brown accused Democrats of "pandering to the employee base," while McClure told Express Times reporter Tom Shortell that he only wants Brown to sit down and negotiate these health plan cuts.

Mike Romig 

What Did People Say?  

Though the 100-plus crowd was not as large as the previous two, there were more speeches, and they were impassioned.

Justus James - The AFSCME union agent, who speaks for most of the bargaining units in the County, noted that Brown is making financial mistakes. he's closed down an academy to train corrections officers, who will have to be trained at about a $20,000 County expense per worker in Elizabethtown. He pointed out corrections officers are retiring, and inmates could sue. All the unions that can do so are going to arbitration. "How much will all this cost the taxpayer?" he asked. "Maybe we need another consultant to figure it out," he said, in a biting reference to Brown's pencahnt for hiring consultants.

Paul Breaux - In addition to the 16-plus vacancies in Corrections, the Juvenile Detention Center is down ten people. They are being forced to work multiple 16-hour shifts, which could lead to "huge liability" for negligence. "With changes to the healthcare plan," we will lose employees," states the 911 dispatcher.

CYF Caseworker (I missed her name and tried to get it
after the meeting, but she sprayed me with mace) 

Sean Carson. - "We're all on the same team," he told Brown. "We're here to serve the residents of Northampton County."

Mike Romig. - Wearing a "Bite Me!" T-shirt, which is not as cool as a Stickergate T-shirt, Bridge Department worker Mike Romig noted that 1/4 of the County workforce makes under $31,000. "We have incompetent administrators who hire incompetent assistants who hire incompetent contractors." Noting the County's ability to botch repair jobs, he joked that they have a saying - "Maybe they'll get it right the third time."

Donna Joyko - This 37-year department head at Gracedale asked Brown to address the rumors concerning reductions in vacation, sick time, longevity, etc. "Are these facts, fiction?" she asked. She got no answer. (Blogger's Note - Today is her anniversary with the County. Congrats, Donna!!)

Steve Barron - The Controller is waiting for documents from the Executive concerning C3, the consultant who recommended the health plan cuts. (Blogger's Note: Like Barron, I have filed a Right-to-Know concerning these documents and emails, and expect a reply on or before November 16). Barron has also discovered yet another consultant contract, this one for $22,800, with an outfit called Concord Financial Services. An outfit with that name is the one that recommended the County enter into the swaption that cost it over $27 million.  It is also the outfit that recommended the firm involved in Bethlehem Township's streetlight scam.  But after the meeting, Barron told me he thinks this is a different Concord. I hope so.

"Any fiscal conservative who would look at your spending concerning consultants would find it galling," Barron told Brown.

Mary Eckhardt

Mary Eckhardt. - A former union organizer herself, she stated she and her husband now live on a fixed income. "We have helped you keep your jobs. Now help us pay for your jobs,." she stated.

Tom Davis. - The union president for corrections officers, Davis disputes Brown's statement at a recent news conference that Davis had told him he'd address staffing shortages during contract negotiations. "That never happened," stated Davis. He also resented brown's statement that he was not going to just "throw bodies" at the staffing shortage at the jail. "He called us his most valuable asset and then calls us 'bodies,'" complained Davis.

Wendy (last name missed - Gracedale). - "You won't take my pride and won't take these people's pride away from them. ... We're under-appreciated, understaffed, overworked and disgusted, and it's beginning to show at Gracedale."

Michael Stocker - a Lafayette College Junior, he noted the cost of education. "You need to realize there is a real world out there."

Updated 1:25 pm: Though I like to pretend I am just making things up, I am fairly serious about getting my facts right and quoting people accurately. Last night, I know Peg was exasperated by the St. Luke's vote, even to the point of criticizing Lamont McClure in the middle of the roll call. I also recall her saying, "Ladies and gentlemen ..." several times. In the course of writing my account, I saw Tom Shortell's excellent play-by-play for The Express Times. He writes, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am stunned."

I saw his words. Reading them, I believed that is what Peg said. I was sitting there. I believed he was quoting her. Tom was actually writing for himself in the first person.

His words may have confused me.

In a nice way, Shortell called me a plagiarist today. He told me he knows that doesn't mean so much to someone like me, who isn't bound by journalistic ethics.

Actually, it means quite a bit. For that reason, let me qualify the Peg Ferraro quote on my main story by stating I know she made a few "Ladies and gentlemen" remarks and I quoted her accurately to the best of my ability. I believed my quote was accurate when I reported it, but Shortell's play-by-play may have confused me.

I try just as hard as any mainstream reporter to get it right. Just as I don't post anonymously, I'm not going to steal someone's work. I don't think I need a course in ethics on that topic.

Seth Vaughn Absences Beginning to Add Up

When Seth Vaughn was running for a seat on Northampton County Council last year, he promised he'd show up. "It’s an embarrassment when a public official skips committee meetings and does not show up for work ...," he pontificated. Then I learned, last September that Vaughn actually had a 0% attendance record at Lehigh Valley Planning Commission meetings. He blamed that on a "perfect storm" of unusual circumstances.

Well, that wind must still be blowin'. He's missed all but two of the monthly meetings for LVPC this year.

About a month ago, Vaughn referred to the large number of employees attending meetings as a "gang". He did apologize, and then skipped out on a Budget Hearing yesterday and a County Council meeting last night, attended by over 100 workers. .

His absence last night enabled Lamont McClure to paralyze Northampton County government.

It's time Vaughn considers resigning.

How Will The State Races Play Out This Year in the Lehigh Valley

I recently had a discussion with one of those evil political consultants who get paid zillions of dollars to give politicians advice. He talked to me for free, or at least I hope it's free. Here's what he tells me about this year's state races, as they play out in the Lehigh Valley. The Wolf-Corbett race is the biggest one, so naturally, I forgot to ask him about it. But he talked about the others.

Scavello v. Aurand. - Mario will crush, possibly by as many as 20 points. The reason? Monroe County Democrats. They like Scavello.

Browne v. Felton. - Walter Felton, who is also the Lehigh County Dem Chair, alienated nearly half the Lehigh County Democrats in that race. I question why he's really even running, unless it's to prevent anyone of substance from challenging the State Senator who served as J.B. Reilly's NIZ architect.

McNeill v. Molony. - Though Danny McNeil should easily win this race, lots of people don't know him in the new district. He will still win comfortably.

Harhart v. Powell v. Molovisnky. - This will be another in a long string of cakewalks for Julie Harhart, an incumbent who does not offend. Powell will be crushed and Independent Michael Molovinsky is not even a factor. I spoke to Molovinsky about this prediction, and promises to defy the odds.

Hahn v. Altieri. - I neglected to ask about this one, but think Marcia is a safe bet.

Scwheyer v. Ramos. - The first race in a new, predominately Latino district, will go to the Gringo.

Simmons v. Beyer. - This is a race Beyer can win. His supporters are all motivated, but they need to bring Democrats who do not usually vote in these off-year elections.

Is $20 Million Line Of Credit Legal? Ask Phil Lauer

"Who, me?" Phil Lauer looks into the camera

Is it legal to balance a budget with borrowed money?  More specifically, is it legal to balance Northampton County's 2015 Budget with a $20 million line of credit, as Executive John Brown has proposed? He conceded last night that the line of credit is needed to balance the budget, though it may never be necessary to use it if the County holds the line on spending.

Here's what the Home Rule Charter, Northampton County's Constitution, says:

• Section 703(b): Balanced Budget. The total of proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of anticipated funds available.
• Section 707: "No revenues from the sale of bonds or other forms of indebtedness shall be appropriated to finance annual operating programs or services, except emergency notes and bank borrowings in accordance with § 1.7-705(b)." [Emphasis added].
• Section 705(b): "Emergency Appropriations. To meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property, or the public peace, the County Council shall have the power by emergency ordinance to make emergency appropriations in accordance with the provisions of § 1.6-603. To the extent that there are no unappropriated revenues available to meet such appropriations, the County Council shall have the power by emergency ordinance to authorize the issuance of emergency notes or bank borrowings, which may be renewed from time to time, but the emergency notes or bank borrowings of any fiscal year shall be paid no later than the last day of the next fiscal year."

Northampton County's Home Rule Charter commands a balanced budget. It bars borrowing money for operational expenses, barring an emergency affecting life, health, property or public peace. There currently is no such emergency. Approving a budget now that authorizes the borrowing of money later, and for the express purpose of paying operational expenses to balance the budget, is completely illegal.

A confident Brown stated he is waiting for a legal opinion, which tells me he's getting one that tells him what he wants to hear as opposed to what the law says.

Though Glenn Geissinger has been reduced to a cheerleader who endorses whatever Brown wants, conservative Hayden Phillips is another story. "I don't think I can sign on to that. This is Basic Accounting 101."

Council has asked for an opinion from their Solicitor, Phil Lauer. I suspect what he says tonight will determine whether Brown's Budget is dead on arrival.

With a Pipeline Coming, Do We Abandon Open Space?

John and Barbara Stoffa. Stoffa proposed 1/2 mill
for open space. "They elected me anyway," he says.

Executive John Brown has gutted open space in his $334 million budget proposed for next year. No new money has been set aside for farmland preservation or environmentally sensitive land purchases. There is $1 million for municipal park projects, but that's only because Council resolved to fund those projects for the next five years. Brown insists he's merely taking "a step back" and that the "approach he's taken is supported by the open space initiative," but his proposed cuts came under heavy attack.

In 2002, Northampton County voters approved a non-binding referendum that authorized the County to borrow up to $37 million for open space projects. Council never borrowed the money. That changed in 2006, when Council approved a John Stoffa-proposed 1/2 mill tax hike (around $3.7 million) for farmland preservation, environmentally sensitive land and municipal parks.

Don Moore, a member of Plainfield township's Environmental Advisory Council, was highly critical of the Brown cuts. He pointed out there is money for 17 of 19 farmland preservation applications, but that's only because that money was approved in last year's budget. The remaining two farms are large ones located in Lehigh Tp, and Moore argued money should be placed in the budget for them. "What are you going to tell these Lehigh Township people?" he asked.

How Farmland Preservation Works

Here's how farmland preservation works. Farmers send in applications for preservation, under which they agree to sell their development rights to the County, in perpetuity, in exchange for a cash payment. An agricultural conservation easement is then placed in record, which limits nearly all but agricultural uses.

The program is seeded with money collected from that half mill tax, usually at about $1 million. But that's only the start.

In addition to that pot, the Farmland Preservation Administrator can use another source of money - taxes imposed on larger landowners who break a promise not to develop land in exchange for a preferential assessment. That can come in at another $30,000.

She can also mix in the EIT taxes collected by a local municipality that has approved a tax for that purpose.

She then notifies the state of the local monies being contributed and asks for a state match, which is paid from both the Environmental Stewardship Fund ans well as cigarette taxes. There's a pot of about $23 million.

The larger the county contribution, the larger the state match.

In 2012, Northampton County was able to get $6.6 million from the state for farmland preservation, which enabled it to preserve 30 farms. It beat Lancaster County in funds received from the state.

Director of Administration Luis Campos disingenuously told Council yesterday that the County has already met its commitment to farmland preservation. There was no value fixed in either the 2002 referendum or the 2006 half mill tax hike. Thus, his statement is necessarily false.

Northampton County has about 900 farms, and Bentzoni would like to preserve 25% of them. Though times are tough, now is the time to buy because property values are low. Incidentally, one of every seven jobs in Northampton County is either in agriculture or agricultural-related.

Council's Criticism

Lamont McClure, Bob Werner and Scott Parsons all criticized these cuts. Werner stated he'd move some money from the near $3 million table games slush fund to support farmland preservation. McClure, referring to the PennEast Pipeline projected to come through Northampton County, had the mist caustic remark.

"With a pipeline about to put a big scar through Northampton county, I'm not sure this is a good time to be abandoning open space."

Vote For Beyèr

Michael Beyèr, the Democratic write-in state house candidate who was chucked off the ballot by the state supremes, has decided to incorporate his love of France in his campaign against incumbent State Representative Justin Simmons.

His campaign signs, all based on the French ensign, are his way of paying homage to the country that brought us the 35-hour work week. Simmons apparently asked him what he's doing, and Beyèr immediately surrendered.

State House Candidate Leslie Altieri Four Years Behind On Home Mortgage

Credit: Leslie Altieri Facebook page.
Marcia is on the left and Leslie is on the right

Leslie Altieri is the Democratic nominee for the state house seat currently held by Republican Marcia Hahn. She ran two years ago, too.  She has failed to make a mortgage payment in four years, something I discovered when she was in court just yesterday to battle a foreclosure action filed by her bank. Is this because she's unable to manage her own finances? Or is she just another victim of the Great Recession?

I can tell you she spent a lot of money for her Bethlehem Township Toll Brothers McMansion. She paid $552,758 for this home in 2004, just two years after graduating from college.  Why a bank lent that kind of money to someone who works as a juvenile officer and a home jewelry salesperson is beyond me.

In 2011, she took out a $300,000 mortgage, but fell behind almost immediately. She and her husband, who is blind, did send three hardship letters to the bank. Last year, Judge Leonard Zito ruled that the bank has an equitable lien against both her and her husband, who did not sign the mortgage.

"Our family is going through a difficult personal financial situation," explains Altieri in a statement she emailed to me last night. "This is an issue that far too many in Pennsylvania face everyday because of the downturn in the economy and the inability of our leaders in Harrisburg to lead us out of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. This is one of the reasons I am running for State Representative and I will bring real leadership back to Harrisburg if I receive the honor of representing the 138th District."

Right after that, I got another email. It was from political consultant Mike Fleck to Leslie, and he copied me accidentally.

Oopsie.

He advises Leslie, "Looksgood wait and seewhat he says. Good night and good luck."

Hmmmm.

If her financial difficulties were one of the reasons for her race, I'd expect to see that prominently featured on her campaign literature. It's not. Not too many people campaign on a slogan like "Vote for me, I'm behind on my mortgage!"

I'm not so sure voters will buy the Mike Fleck-inspired argument that our leaders in Harrisburg are responsible for her failure to make her monthly payments. On the other hand, I think there's something to be said for a representative who knows what it is like to go through a financial crisis.

I'm sorry for your financial problems, Leslie, and even more sorry that I feel compelled to report it. But I think voters have a right to know.

Hanover Tp Proposes Yet Another No-Tax-Hike Budget

Chair John Diacogiannis

Since 2008, there's been no tax hike in Hanover Township. If Township manager Jay Finnigan and Treasurer Ryan Kish have their way, there will be no increase next year, either. Kish provided Supervisors with copies of the 2015 proposed budget at last night's meeting. Though he's projecting an 8 1/2% increase in both revenue and expenses, he projects no need for additional tax revenue.

Supervisors will review the Budget during at least two meetings before deciding whether to adopt or amend it.

In other business, Supervisors reviewed sketch plans from developer Abe Atiyeh for a mixed commercial and residential development called Farmhouse Mews, located along the southeast corner of Airport and Hanoverville Roads in both East Allen and Hanover Townships.

Represented by Engineer David Harte and Chief Operating Officer Mickey Thompson, Atiyeh is proposing 20 retail units at the intersection. To the east, he is proposing 88 upscale townhouses, to be built by Ryan Homes. Only 20 of these townhouses will be in Hanover Township, with the southerly most home located at least two football fields away from the nearest home in Hanover Township. The homes will be clustered and surrounded by an expanse of open space, to be maintained by a homeowners' association.

Last year, Supervisors expressed concern about stormwater runoff, as well as sewer capacity. Harte accommodated those concerns with two huge basins for runoff. He also stated that there is both sewer and transmission capacity at the site.

Solicitor James Broughal cautioned Harte he will have to enter into a time-consuming inter-municipal agreement involving sewer and transmission capacity with Hanover, East Allen and Bethlehem, Harte agreed, stating that Bethlehem is "looking favorably" on the project.

Sketch plans are presented in order to get feedback from the public and Supervisors, not for a formal approval. "You're not hearing anyone jump up and down and say, 'No way!'" stated Chair John N. Diacogiannis after generally favorable comments.

"Score!" responded Mickey Thompson.

Supervisors also accepted, "with regret", the resignation of long-time Zoning Hearing Board member Paul A. Balla. Diacogiannis suggested a letter thanking Balla, to be signed by each Supervisor and members of the staff. "The amount of service he has provided to the Township warrants a sense of appreciation from all of us," he stated.

Bethlehem Library's 2015 Budget To Keep Municipal Contributions Level

Bethlehem Area Public Library has proposed a $2.8 million budget for next year.It is keeping municipal contributions at this year's level, according to John Nagle, Hanover Township's representative to the Board.

The Library will spend less for office supplies, phones and books. It is still spending $251,000 for new books and ebooks. It will pay more for utilities and a 1% increase overall on $1.9 million in salaries and benefits. The highest paid person at the library, Executive Director Josh Berk, will be paid $73,124.

I noticed that $305 is set aside for Terminix.

"What's that for?" I asked.

"To get rid of book worms," answered Hanover Public Works Director Vince Milite.

The contributions made by each participating municipality are as follows:

• Bethlehem - $1,277.082
• Beth. Tp. - $404,166
• Hanover Tp. - $185,088
• Fountain Hill - $78,295

In addition, the library will receive $513,500 from the state.

NorCo Budget Hearings To Start Today

The fist of four Northampton County Council budget hearings is scheduled for today, 4:30 pm, in Council chambers.

According to Council member Bob Werner, Executive John Brown wanted them limited to two meetings. Council President Peg Ferraro refused, insisting on a full complement. Members may offer amendments.There are numerous ways in which a creative Council can get Brown's attention and force him to reverse himself on health care cuts. But if they simply reject his Budget, it becomes law.

Brown has proposed balancing the budget with a $20 million line of credit that he insists he will only use if absolutely necessary.

Brown's No-Bid Health Plan Consultant Deal Looks Illegal

Northampton County Controller Steve Barron is one of two elected officials who were banned from an Executive John Brown news conference last week. Like Council member Bob Werner, he said he was just there to listen. But he had some paperwork with him, and shared it with me after the news conference. It related to a Scranton-area based firm called the C3 Group, Cost Control Consultants. "We guarantee to boost your bottom line," boasts their webpage. This is the outfit that recommended that Brown reduce the health benefits being paid for County workers. Colin D. Healey, associated with that firm, is the helpful fellow who told employees, "Nobody subpoenaed you to work here." Barron is concerned that Brown has ignored the requirements of the Administrative Code in his selection of yet another sole source contract. I'm not suggesting another lawsuit because this horse has already left the barn, but Barron appears to be right.

Who the Hell is C3?

Their webpage boasts of "decades of combined experience in helping businesses improve profitability and control costs." That must be in dog years or maybe gerbil years. According to the state corporation bureau, its parent company has only existed for five years. Its three partners are Christopher Rothwell, Thomas Boles and Jeffrey Raider. It only has one other County Client, Lackawanna, where the Deputy HR Director was once a C3 employee.

Colin D Healey, the Employee Benefits Consultant who claims to have come up with the benefits reduction plan for Brown, appears to have nothing more than a bachelor's degree from the Indiana University of Pa. in '86. He's been with C3 since 2010, but claims to have 25 years of "management" experience. Prior to hooking up with C3, he bounced around for 12 years as an analyst with the Global Business Exchange, which provides corporate training.

He appears to have no real experience actually working in any of the companies where he has given advice or training on cost control.

Brown's Arrangement With C3.

When John Callahan ran for office, he said he would look to the people who work here to find ways to keep expenses down. But Callahan was defeated by John Brown, and his approach to cost containment has been government by consultant. He attempted unsuccessfully to bring in a business consultant for an exorbitant sum. He rammed a controversial PR consultant down the County's throats, though he had to do it twice to get it right. He's hired Donna Taggart, who seems to get consultant contracts everywhere. He's also hired Integrity Personnel. These all started out as no-bid contracts, meaning he never sought out proposals from anyone else. He did finally go through a Requests For Proposals on his second try for his PR consultant.

His specific arrangement with C3 appears to consist of three mini-contracts.

The first, dated 5/23/14, is a $24,000 consultant agreement for "cost containment measures for the County's group health plans". It's for three months beginning in June. C3 is to provide an "eligibility audit" and is to make recommendations concerning different benefit plans. Brown authorized payment on June 4.

The second, dated 7/24.14, is a $10,000 consultant agreement to control workers compensation claims costs.It's for three months, beginning August 1, and is for $65 per hour, not to exceed $10,000. It includes accident investigations. All claims are supposed to be investigated. Though the contract is a per hour contract starting August 1, Brown authorized payment of the full $10,000 on August 5.

The final mini-contract, dated 8/31/14, is basically a continuation of the first contract, related to the group health plans. Though no term is set forth in the agreement,a bill to Brown indicates it's for another three months, beginning in September, for another $24,000. Brown authorized payment of this bill on September 9.

That's three mini-contracts totaling $58,000. All but $10,000 relates to the health plans.

The Administrative Code

The purchase of services from outfits like C3 is governed under The Administrative Code. All services in excess of $25,000 require a written contract approved in advance by the Solicitor (Section 13.16a), as well as an Executive Order. The reason an Executive Order is required is because that serves to notify both Council and the Controller.

In this case, each of these mini-contracts is under $25,000. But this is "piece-mealing", defined in The Administrative Code as making a series of contracts for less than the actual purchase price, when there should have been one contract for one price. (Section 13.02(i). In this case, the benefits contracts totaling $48,000 were piece-mealed in violation of the Administrative Code

Brown's own invoices refers to C3's services as "professional services". Because they exceed $25,000 and they are "professional services", he was required to seek proposals from different vendors (Sec. 13.09(a)) unless he determined that it would be impractical and had permission from County Council to go ahead without seeking proposals. Sec. 13.07(b).

The Administrative Code also requires that the report or study made pursuant to a professional services contract must be supplied to Council. Sec. 13.16(f). Obviously, some kind of report had to be furnished to Brown before deciding on fairly drastic reductions in health benefits, but that has not been provided and Brown has claimed there is no written report.

Should Brown Be Sued?

I think it's pretty clear that Brown violated The Administrative Code. ... Again.  But is it knowing and intentional? "These contracts pieced together have the sole intention of avoiding disclosing the agreement with the consultant and keeping my office and council in the dark about the goings on in the county," Barron told The Express Times. Though I'm growing suspicious, I doubt Brown was playing games. I think the more likely explanation is that he has been in office less than a year and failed to consult with his Solicitor.

There's no point in suing. The horse has already left the barn. C3 has been paid.

But I would demand that the Executive provide all written communications between himself and C3. I'd ask for the "eligibility audit" supposedly performed by C3 as well as any documentation reflecting its review of different plans.

Hahn Watering Down Clean Streams Law

The famous Moon River

Riparian buffers are patches of vegetation next to a stream. They're said to improve water quality and reduce pollution. Under the Clean Streams Law, new developments must have a 150' wide  buffer alongside high quality streams.  State Rep. Marcia Hahn calls it a "taking of property without legislative oversight or approval." She's proposed a law to make these buffers optional, and it passed the state House late last month,  119-79. 

Locally, Hahn's bill was supported by Republicans Julie Harhart, Gary Day, Ryan Mackenzie and Joe Emrick, It was opposed by Democrats Bob Freeman, Dan McNeil, Steve Samuelson, Mike Schlossberg and Republican Justin Simmons.

Her bill is supposed to be considered by the State Senate this week.

SteamHugger contends no landowner should be allowed to degrade water quality for those downstream. The GOP House contends it gives landowners "greater flexibility".

What do you think?

Corrections Officers Need Help

From a Northampton County Corrections Officer: We are very understaffed. Seventeen  need to be hired, and another 16 out injured or on long term medical leave, is a pretty accurate number. It is putting stress on the officers, especially the night shift. They are working from ten at night util two the next afternoon, only to be back at ten that same night.  They often do it a second day in row. The officers are threatened by both prison and county administration with a schedule change of ten or twelve hour days. The majority of officers are opposed. There is one simple request by the officers that is ignored. Bring the officers up to full compliment. Until then, and only then, can the overtime at the prison be addressed. Right now we fill in the overtime, some mandatory, created by mismanagement.

LWV to Host Meet 'n Greet For ALL NorCo Candidates

Will Brown's Health Cuts Kill County Worker?

Northampton County Executive John Brown has reduced health benefits for County employees while simultaneously refusing to do anything about their meager salaries. He's hanging tough, even though five members of Council have asked him to reconsider. "Nobody subpoenaed you to work here," said C3 Blowhard Colin Healey, a cost control consultant who was supposed to be answering questions at employee meetings. Healey, who actually bragged to workers these cuts were all his idea, should be delighted to hear that his cost controls are going to save the county an entire year's salary for at least one worker.

She's going to die as a result of these changes.

This woman - I am not going to identify her or where she works, but will be happy to supply some information to administration officials if they care - has cancer. She has been undergoing treatment with various different specialists. She's attended Healey's heartwarming session, and did the math. Already in debt, she will simply be unable to afford paying for her treatments next year. So she's already notified doctors that, after this year, she won't be going back. She's stopping all treatment.

And she'll die, barring a miracle

Well, nobody subpoenaed her to work for the County.

It's time that Brown listen to the five members of Council who have already told him to rethink his draconian changes. Instead of government by consultant, this is a government in which he has an obligation to listen to the people's representatives. While I certainly don't think he's cold-hearted enough to wish for anyone's death, that's what happens in the real world when elected officials do not listen.

Updated 10:25 am: Several years ago, an employee needed a double lung transplant. It wasn't covered by County Health insurance at the time. According to BC/BS it was either catastrophic or experimental and they weren't going to cover it. Ciounty Executive Gerald Seyfried ordered BC/BS to pay it anyway. He would have died without the transplant. This employee's medical bills to date must be well over a million dollars. I asked Jerry about this once and he said, "You can't put a dollar amount on a life."

He was defeated by a group who think you can.