Brown Unveils $1 Million Grant Program For Jobs in Smaller Communities

Mosaics on Main

Bethlehem and Easton, which have their own economic development departments, are fairly aggressive about chasing every public dollar they can to attract and retain jobs. But what about smaller communities like Nazareth, where the closure of just a few storefronts make a proud borough look like a ghost town? Economic development in the smaller communities was a campaign theme for Northampton County Executive John Brown. As Bangor's Mayor, he had first hand experience with the difficulties of job creation. Today, standing inside Nazareth's Mosaic on Main, he announced plans to help the County's smaller communities, from Allen Township to Wind Gap.

Xpresso Cafe

It's called the Community Investment Partnership Program, or CIPP, and will be funded by table games revenue from the Sands Casino. While slots revenue grants are closely monitored by a Gaming Board established by Council, state gambling law permits table games revenue to be spent on anything that's "in the best interest" of the County.

Last year, Brown authorized a $42,000 grant to Easton for the purchase of a downtown trolley to relieve parking concerns. But there was no funding program in place, leading to concerns that a slush fund was being established in which money could be doled out at election time. The CIPP program, however, which includes a detailed grant application process and involves the use of the General Purpose Authority, provides a structure under which all 38 of the County's fragmented municipalities can revitalize aging communities.

John Brown

Brown's Director of Community and Economic Development, Diane Donaher, stated that two communities have already been identified for technical assistance grants to help jump start a re-birth of their ageing communities. She is unable to name them, however, until the local governments signal their agreement.

In addition to technical assistance, the County will offer community improvement grants for facades and streetscapes. There will be operations grants to help fund personnel like a regional code enforcement officer, who can work in several communities. There will also be business boost loans, run through the General Purpose Authority, of up to $150,000.

The grant application process starts this week and ends July 31, and can be found at the Northampton County DCED webpage. There will be matching requirements. "This is not a charity," stated Brown.

Brown summed it up by saying the program will "help our downtowns and small communities do what they need to do."

After the news conference was over, everyone moved to the Expresso Cafe next door for a caffeine boost.

NorCo Gets $500,000 To Help Inmates Find Jobs

Flanked by Nancy Dischinat on the left, and John brown and Bob Werner on the right,
Corrections Director Dan Keen announces $500,000 Grant For Mini Career Center at jail.
Yes, he is one big dude. 

Over nine million people are released from county jails every year with dim prospects for a job. In some cases, they lack even a basic form of identification. "With no ID, you can't even cash a check," observed Northampton County Corrections Director Dan Keen. Under circumstances like these, it's little wonder that many released inmates soon find themselves back behind bars. The United States Department of Labor is trying to change that statistic. It has invested $10 million into 20 communities throughout 14 states, in an attempt to close the revolving door at county and local jails. Northampton County and the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board will receive $500,000 to help inmates find jobs as they are released. Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez calls this series of grants "a commonsense approach that strengthens communities and improves public safety at the same time."

Statewide, Montgomery County and its Workforce Investment Board will also receive a $500,000 grant.

Nancy Dischinat, who is the Executive Director at the Workforce Investment Board, cobbled together the grant application with Keen. "This is so cool!" she exclaimed at a recent news conference announcing the award.. Acknowledging that there are "serious barriers," she nevertheless insisted that "the jobs are going to be there. It's all about jobs. It's all about putting people to work."

The grant will fund a staff of four people from the Workforce Investment Board, inside the jail. establishing individual plans over the next two years. Keen stated inmates can be trained to drive forklifts or receive SafeServe certifications from the restaurant industry. Those programs used to exist at the jail, according to long-time corrections officers.

This program will be available for up to 212 inmates at any one time in a jail with a population of about 689. The goal is to keep released inmates from returning.

According to Keen, each inmate costs the County about $36,000 a year.

Dischinat, who hopes to have a program up and running within the next four to six months, stated there will be a sustainability plan in place to determine whether the program is really working. If it does, Executive John Brown said he would ask Council to support funding the program after the grant expires.

Victor Schmidt, President of the 950-member Lehigh valley Chapter of the Society for Professional Human Resource Management, explained that the grant effectively creates a "mini career center" inside the jail. "We will be helping to find the jobs and support the training," he promised.

The award was also praised by Council member Bob Werner, who called it a positive sign.

LV Blue Chips Win BucksMont AAU Basketball Tournamen

The Lehigh Valley Blue Chips are a dream team of 8th and 9th graders who play at Becahi, Central Catholic, Easton, Emmaus,Parkland and Whitehall. In the off-season, they play AAU basketball. They are coached by Dawud Abdur-Rahkman, an assistant coach at Muhlenberg College and the father of former Central Catholic and current Michigan standout Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman. Last weekend was the first chance I had to watch them in action since the end of basketball season. These kids were already good. Now they are scary good.  "Every one of them is selfless," Coach Abdur-Rahkman tells me. "Every one of them is also willing to listen."

Last weekend, I watched them knock off a much larger 16U team with relative ease at the Parkland Trojan AAU Classic. This past weekend, they won the 15U Premier Jam Fest Tournament, hosted by the BucksMont Indoor Sports Center  In one of the games, they were up nearly 40 points before the half, and the opposing coach asked the ref to end the game. After the third request, the ref called it.  Then the coach complained.

These boys are off for another tournament in West Virginia this coming weekend. I'll be dog-sitting. But for the past two weeks, I've been trying out my "new" camera, a used Canon Rebel EOS that I picked up for just $189, including the lens. I've been driving everyone nuts taking pictures.

I'd photograph a fart if I could.

I managed to get a photo of my grandson Dat, sinking a three-pointer.

Here's the shot:

... and as you can see, there it goes right into the bucket.

As Dat said when I sent it to him, Sweet!  I doubt I'll ever get a shot like that again. 

OK, I'm done bragging now. Sorry.

Stockertown Rod and Gun Club Offers Field Day For 200 Kids

Stockertown Rod and Gun Club was quite busy on Saturday. Over 200 kids were there to shoot rifles, muzzle loaders, pistols, cross bows and bows. As the smell of cordite wafted in the air, accompanied by the pop of gunfire, other kids were canoeing. Still others learned how to cast with a fly fishing rod, something most adults have never mastered. They even learned a bit about trapping.

"You're going the wrong way," shouts one kid to another.

"No, it's the wind," the other answers, as a breeze makes it difficult for this duo to paddle their way to shore.

From time to time, the Pa. Water Rescue Team would give a few helpful hints, and the young men eventually conquered the seas.

Or at least a pond. .

This was Northampton County Youth Field Day, something that the Stockertown Rod and Gun Club hosts every year. Kids who register are taught about conservation of natural resources, safety, sportsmanship and the hours of fun available in the outdoors. Trained volunteers in each sport give the kids and the adults instruction and hands-on experience in fishing, shooting a bow and arrow, boating safety, PA wildlife, and target shooting.

All those willing to try are given a chance to shoot BB guns, 22 cal. rifles, shotguns, and black powder rifles with over 75 experienced sportsmen volunteers watching over their safety.

The money for this comes from numerous sources. The biggest of these is the Whitetail Deer Classic Banquet, held every February since 1992. It's Jerry Seyfried's idea. All kinds of guns, bows and dishing equipment are raffled off as politicians walk up and down the aisles, introducing themselves, and acting like they're one of the guys, even if that guy is Lisa Boscola. Charlie Dent is a frequent guest. So is Ron Angle, who drives everyone nuts because he always wins at least one of the prizes. I've gone twice myself. It's where I met Birdman Paul, who happens to know the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow. People have a blast. But Jerry Seyfried came up with this annual shindig for more than the camaraderie. He and several other sportsmen have used the money raised - over $1 million - to help fund Northampton County Youth Field Day.

Officer Fred Lahovski gives firearms safety tips. 

The fellows teaching firearms safety are police officers. Nazareth and Stockertown police officers. So the first thing I did on Saturday morning was check my own name to see if there were any outstanding warrants.I was clear. I have two outstanding parking tickets that were strangely penned by Chief Trachta, but no citation has been issued.

So I put on my "Shackled for Stickers" T-Shirt, and went to the Rod and Gin Club. I taunted Officers Steve Schleig, Freddy Lahovski and Eric Schwab that there wasn't a damn thing they could do to me because they had no warrants. I was having a good laugh until, behind me, another voice cried out.

"I can change that." ..

It was Judge Zito! I genuflected, but it was too late. He issued a warrant. So I am writing this story from a padded cell.

From L to R: Nazareth Officers Stephen Schleig, Fred Lahovski, Judge Leonard Zito,
Nazareth and Stockertown Officer Eric Schwab, Sockertown Officer Alex Soloe and
Officer Phil Cohen from Tatamy .  

Judge Zito brought his grandson, who is already an avid outdoorsman and was even wearing a camouflaged baseball cap, to the Field Day.

A lot of these kids are more familiar with the outdoors than I. At the trapping station, they were able to name every fur shown to them. I only recognized the skunk, an animal that some say I resemble.

There was also a weasel fur. You need about a million of them for a tissue.

Devil Incarnate Disrupts Child Abuse Awareness Rally

There was an important child abuse awareness rally outside the Northampton County Courthouse on Friday afternoon. But it received little attention. Though the message itself is important, and chief messenger Charlies Stecker, Jr is very impressive, most of the small group who joined him consisted of people who have themselves lost siblings and children and are lashing out at everyone instead of dealing with their own issues.

Charlie's message 

Let me tell you about Charlie's message first.

He was just a four year-old toddler when his two year-old brother Eddie died in his arms. His foster mother, upset at a crying baby, let him have it with a toy bowling pin, knocking him out of the crib and onto the floor. As blood oozed out of Eddie's ears and nose, Charles held him until an ambulance arrived. But it was too late.

Shegda hides benind "Gestapo" sign

Ironically, Charles and his siblings had been taken from his biological parents over allegations of abuse. But they went from the frying pan and into the fire. To this day, Stecker is still unable to extend his arm as a result of the abuse that he received from his foster mother.

She never went to trial for Eddie's murder. She apparently died in a mental institution.

But Stecker, who calls himself God's bondservant on his Facebook page, has lots of unanswered questions. How did this mentally unstable woman end up as a foster parent? What happens to abused and neglected kids now? Stecker became a child advocate in Philadelphia, or as he refers to himself, a children's rights warrior. He founded The International Child Abuse Prevention Task Force.Yesterday's rally was supposed to be one of 400 worldwide, though I don't know if it actually happened anywhere else.

Charlie's messengers

I caught Shegda anyway

I saw this group waving their signs while waiting for a news conference later that day. I decided to find out what was happening, but was nearly assaulted by Ron Shegda. It would have happened, too, except that Charlie Stecker interposed himself between Shegda and me.

"It's the Devil Incarnate!" screamed Shegda when he saw me. I admit, I was dressed in red.

Who the Hell is Ron Shegda?

I first wrote about him in 2006, when he hadn't quite made up his mind whether he was running for the U.S.Senate or State Representative Bob Freeman's seat. He ended up going after Bob Freeman's seat three times, losing worse each time. The last time he ran things got so wacky that even the tea party excommunicated him.

Shegda wants Devil
Incarnate arrested

Shegda has a mentally challenged adult sister. She was taken from him, and nobody but human services, the Hellertown police and Shegda know how that happened. He has lashed out at everyone in Northampton County, from caseworkers to John Stoffa. He also befriended other local whack jobs, including the Blog mentor and Tricia Mezzacappa. When you see all the hate comments directed at Stoffa and former Human Services Director Ross Marcus, you know where most of them are coming from.

Naturally, he was a Bobby Gunther Walsh guest on crackpot radio.

Anyhoo, when Shegda saw me, he began screaming that I had no right to take pictures. Never mind that this was a public rally on public property. I recognized several of the people with him, and they have issues themselves. They called for the Sheriff to have me ejected or whatever for taking pictures of their public demonstration.

I have no doubt that Charlie Stecker means well. But he should be more careful about who he attracts to his banner. Instead of hearing the voiceless children, divisive people like Shegda make people run away.

Brown's Red Tape Prevents DA From Enlarging One Piece of Paper

Northampton County Executive John Brown has several times claimed he's all about delivering efficient services to the public. People who stand in long lines for passports are telling a different tale. Developers who are experiencing delays in plan reviews report the same problem. And one of the County's most vital services - the prosecution of bad buys - is taking a back seat to John Brown's synergies ... and staffing cuts. In January, Brown was so efficient that he ran out of envelopes to notify Defendants and witnesses of criminal trials. Now, hw is telling the District Attorney that he has to wait two weeks to get one piece of paper - that's one - enlarged for use in a trial.

Here's a copy of District Attorney John Morganelli's email to Brown about this matter:

John

I want you to be aware of what I think is just absurdity.

For 24 years, occasionally, I would send up to the print shop one 8X11 piece of paper to be enlarged to poster size. They would make a duplicate of my paper, enlarged, and hand it back to me. I would then staple it to a poster board to be used in a trial. This process would take about 5 minutes.

The other day I sent up ONE piece of paper to be enlarged. My secretary was told the following:

1. An Issue Track Form had to be submitted.
2. That after that, it would take 2 weeks until it would be completed.
I asked for the single piece of paper back. Now, because of this absurdity, I will send an office employee out to a local store like Staples, taking her away from her work here. Then the County will be billed for the cost of them to do it: About $40.

I do not see how this is efficient. JM

John should send this email in corporatese. I am learning the langauge, and suggest he resend in this format:

It is time to uniquely exploit multimedia based e-services. I enthusiastically empower business channels at your multifunctional strategic theme areas. To that end, I market-positioned a low-risk high-yield paper to transition into reconceptualized enlarged storage. In order to holistically achieve the engagement needed in a timely client-focused application, it is imperative that you act rapidiously and that we all think outside the box to expedite customer-directed imperatives.

Close Express Times Courthouse Office

The following is an email sent to NorCo Exec John Brown, Controller Steve Barron and all members of Council:

After going for nearly eight weeks with no coverage of Northampton County government, The Express Times was embarrassed into sending a freelance reporter to cover the May 21 meeting. But last night, it was MIA again. The paper is also only providing the most cursory coverage of civil and criminal proceedings, In short, this paper no longer informs the community. It has failed in the basic role of a free press. Taxpayers subsidize an office for the newspaper at the courthouse. Since the paper now believes prom coverage is more important than government, it should no longer be subsidized. The County that could use that office space for numerous other things. I have written about this before, and Editor Jim Deegan has stated I am wrong. But time has proved I am correct.

NorCo Council Votes For Term Limits

Hayden Phillips and Phil Lauer

By a 6-3 vote, Northampton County Council voted to impose term limits at their June 4 meeting. No member of Council will be able to serve more than three (3) four-year terms in succession. Current members will be considered to be serving their first term. Republican Peg Ferraro, who has 21 year on Council, voted No, as did Democrats Ken Kraft and Lamont McClure as well. But the remaining six members of Council - Mat Benol, Glenn Geissinger, Scott Parsons, Hayden Phillips, Seth Vaughn and Bob Werner - supported the new law.

Lamont McClure suggested that a change of this nature might require a government study commission or a referendum vote. But Solicitor Phil Lauer pointed to the Supreme Court's decision validating term limits on Bethlehem's Mayor. Although he agreed that it would be safer to go the referendum rote, his opinion was that "it can be done."

And so it was.

The debate, if you can call it that, was marked by some good-humored jabs. When Peg Ferraro announced that she had served for 21 years, McClure immediately joked, "Well, then I'm for [term limits]."

Ferraro went on to say that she was once "term-limited" at the ballot box because of a controversial vote on 911 some years ago. She complained about signs all over with her name and an "X" running though it.

"I might have one in the garage," deadpanned Kraft.

Despite their humor, McClure and Kraft agreed with Ferraro. Kraft suggested that Seth Vaughn, the Bill's sponsor, could term limit himself if he wanted. Peg Ferraro added that, at this level of government, term limits are meaningless unless you want to send a message to the state and federal government.

Term limit supporter Hayden Phillips told Ferraro that's exactly what he wants to do. "I do want to make an example," he argued. He also criticized elected officials who use the "position of incumbency to perpetuate their careers."

Review of campaign finance reports reveals that incumbents do attract more and larger donations than challengers.

Mat Benol proposed making the ordinance even tighter by banning anyone from serving more than three terms, regardless whether they are in succession. Bob Werner, Glenn Geissinger and Seth Vaughn agreed with him, but Benol was unable to get the five votes needed to make this change.

In other business, an attempt to put off an important review of wage hikes unilaterally granted by Executive to 14 top-ranking County officials has been rebuffed.

When Council last met on May 21, they unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Executive John Brown to provide them with his justifications for those salary increases so they could be reviewed at Ken Kraft's Personnel Committee on June 17. Brown has complied with this request, and Kraft stated he plans to review them, one-by-one, so they can be approved retroactively or rejected.

But Peg Ferraro sought to have this review postponed a week. This is because both she and Glenn Geissinger, who are both members of the Republican State Committee, have a conflict in Philadelphia at that time.

"If anybody votes for this, you should resign," roared Democrat Ken Kraft, who was shocked, shocked to learn that the president and VP of Northampton County Council wanted a postponement for "partisan political reasons."

Piling on, with a slight smile on his face, McClure said he was dismayed to learn that "the people's business is being moved for a cocktail reception party."

Knowing she had a loser, Ferraro still defended herself. "Number one, I don't drink, and number tow, I'm in bed by 8:30 pm."

Ferraro and Geissigner abstained, and all remaining Council members save Hayden Phillips, voted against delaying the review of those wage hikes.

Brown Supplies Justification For Payhikes

Over the past year, Northampton County Executive John Brown approved payhikes for 14 different employees, most of them top officials, without seeking the approval of Council. In accordance with Council's directive at their last meeting, he has provided them with his justifications for these wage increases.

I have those justifications, but do not want to load them without reading them first to ensure that there is no private information , including social security numbers and employee ID numbers. Once i am satisfied I am violating no one's privacy, I will upload this information.

It appears at first blush that, as Council member Scott Parsons has indicated several times, Council would have gone along with most of these increases had they simply been asked. But there is one person whose wage hikes would have been questioned, Deputy Director of Administration Cathy Allen. It appears that Brown was knocking her up a few steps for doing precisely what her job description requires. In addition, she was improperly writing off travel and meal expenses at the time, so I think her hike would have been questioned.

Loan Finance Firm Feeds Hungry at Safe Harbor

Easton, PA – One Financial Services, located in Allentown, PA, recently went out into the community on  to serve approximately 80 homeless men and women at the Safe Harbor Easton shelter in Easton, PA.

The entire team chipped in to prepare a warm and delicious meal, which included homemade chili, chicken fajitas, salad and rice. The meal was complete with a warm apple crisp topped with whipped cream.

Those who received the meal were very grateful and complimented the team on their delicious effort.

Everyone who was involved from One Financial Services gained an eye opening experience. “I was humbled,” stated Vanessa Woltemate, an administrative assistant at One Financial. “One Financial truly does care about the community,” stated Katie Wells, Assistant Office Manager with One Financial.

The team is looking forward the next time they can give back to the community. Matt Rambo, Advisor Assistant at One Financial, said, “It was a humbling experience. I would 100% want to do this again soon.”

Safe Harbor is always looking for more volunteers and supplies. They serve over 41,000 meals a year and house up to 300 residents. The shelter can always use additional paper products, such as plate, cups and plastic ware, along with backpacks. “Every new resident can utilize a backpack as they carry their most needed possessions out with them during the day,” stressed Liz Doughty, Volunteer Coordinator for Safe Harbor Easton. She also stressed that there are many services they provide. “Safe Harbor isn’t just a place to sleep and eat, but a place to recover from what got [them] here,” stated Liz.

If you would like to help out at the shelter or donate items, please contact Liz Doughty at 610-258-5540. Currently they have 5 to 10 volunteers helping out daily, and can always use more.

MM - Fitzgerald Turned Down ARD on "Principle"

Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky is reporting that Christopher Fitzgerald, who was acquitted earlier this week of charges filed in connection with a road rage incident involving two Lehigh County detectives, spurned an ARD offer on principle.

ARD, which stands for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, is a special program for first offenders under which charges will be dismissed and record expunged after the successful completion of a probationary period. The District Attorney has total discretion on deciding who is and is not eligible. The fact that he was willing to offer it here is an indication that he was aware that the case against Fitzgerald had its weaknesses. But it also demonstrates that he was trying to be fair.

By refusing this offer and insisting on a jury trial, Fitzgerald plunged into a world of uncertainty. Lots of things can happen in a jury trial. Most of them are bad for criminal defendants. He is a very lucky man.

I have also spoken to several criminal defense lawyers who have appeared in front of Judge Kelly Banach. To a man, they have told me they consider her very courteous and patient. Although the news accounts certainly made her look biased in my eyes, I was not there and I believe it is unfair of me to make that assessment without watching her in action.

Pat Breslin, Mr. Transparency?

Township officials usually aren't heard on talk radio, especially wingnut radio like WAEB. But Pat Breslin shared a cup of tea with fellow conservative Bobby Gunther Walsh recently. He was on the air to complain that Commissioners meet secretly behind closed doors. He claims to be all about transparency, but that's nonsense. He's raising his visibility because he wants to take on Matt Cartwright in the next Congressional race.

Breslin started by  claiming he had won his election for Township Commissioner with a 70% mandate. The truth? He received 365 votes of 907 cast in that race. The others went to Democrat Ray Russin (203) and write-in Paul Weiss (339). That gave Breslin a plurality of just 40.24%, far from the 70% he falsely asserted.

After falsely taking credit for a 70% mandate he never had, Breslin went on to claim that Bethlehem Township is the largest government in the County. This will be news to Northampton County and Bethlehem.

Although his real reason for being on Gunther is to start the kindling on a Congressional candidacy, the hot button issue he chose was transparency. "If you can't have transparency at the lowest form of government, you've got problems," he told Gunther. He complained that Bethlehem Township had 12 executive session in 2014, compared to an average of  five at twelve municipalities he surveyed.

For those of you who don't know, Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act requires that all meetings be held publicly, with limited exceptions for "executive sessions" on these specific matters: personnel, labor contracts, the purchase or lease of real estate; litigation or the possibility of litigation based on a readily identifiable complaint; and to discuss agency business that would lead to disclosure of confidential information including investigations of possible violations of law and quasi-judicial deliberation.

Breslin went on to claim that in Bethlehem Township's last three executive sessions, the Sunshine Act was skirted when Commissioners sought quotes from architects for work at the Community Center.

"People are really furious and upset," he told Gunther. "Any time a government entity gets behind closed doors, it's not a good thing."

I sue no hue and outcry on Monday night. But Jack Glagola brought it up. Breslin never said a word. He sat there, stone-faced, as Solicitor Jim Broughal explained Commissioners can meet in executive session with prospective architects. This is because doing so publicly would lead to the disclosure of confidential information and give others a leg up when it is their turn for an interview. Though I would prefer to see something like this done by the Request for Proposal Route (RFP) route, Broughal's legal reasoning seems sound.

As for Breslin's other point about there being too many executive sessions in Bethlehem Township compared to other municipalities, he's way off. I know this because I did my own survey last October, when the number in Bethlehem Township stood at eight. That compared pretty favorably to the 14 sessions in Palmer Township. Nazareth has at least 14 executive sessions in one meeting. Hanover only had five closed door sessions at that time last year. The one township that really surprised me was Lower Nazareth, which only had one meeting at that time last year.

Basically, there is nothing unusual about the number of executive sessions conducted in Bethlehem Township. This only becomes noticeable when Commissioners start their regular meeting late because they are delayed in the back room. If nothing else, this is extremely rude to the members of the public who are there.

But the Township stopped that practice late last year. It now manages to finish executive sessions promptly.

In fact, at Monday night's meeting, resident Karen Berry publicly thanked Manager Melissa Shafer for getting all the resolutions and ordinances to be considered at a meeting and posting them online for public inspection before the meeting.

So the Township is a bit like Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus in those Pink Panther movies. "Every day and in every way, I am getting better, and better."

But like Dreyfus, the Township had a setback when it voted on officially recognizing the Bulldogs as one of their sports organization without letting Barry Roth tell them, for the gazillionth time, that they're full of shit. Roth should have been allowed to speak, and may have had something to say that could have impacted the vote.

Breslin, who was all too willing to complain about transparency on talk radio, also condemned those executive sessions in a letter to the editor, although he changed his facts. But when Roth was muzzled and Glagola asked questions, Mr. Transparency just sat there.

If Breslin really believes in transparency, he could start by telling us all where he really lives and what he really does. Does he really live in the place he rents?

Bethlehem Tp Arrangement With Bulldogs Goes Back to 1969

Like most municipalities, Bethlehem Township has organized sports programs for its children. These are provided by its Community Center, the Bethlehem Township Athletic Association (known as the Bulldogs) and the Freemansburg Bethlehem Township Athletic Association, (known as the Blue Barons). The Blue Barons have an excellent baseball program, which extend from Little League to Legion. That's the only sport offered by this group. The Bulldogs is much broader, encompassing a much wider variety of organized sports, from football to lacrosse. Commissioner Michael Hudak has for some time expressed resentment against the Bulldogs, referring to this group as "the special few" and as a "select group." He and Pat Breslin are two Commissioners who voted against a resolution that recognizes the Bulldogs during the Board's Monday night's meeting. He and other Commissioners are apparently unaware that the Bulldogs have been recognized by the Township since 1969.

A former member of the Recreation Board, who shall remain nameless, has provided me with the original 1969 agreement between the Township and the Bulldogs (read it here).  In that agreement, the Township recognized "the need and demand for organized athletic activity in Bethlehem Township." The Township agreed to subsidize Bulldogs efforts to provide for organized sports, in its sole discretion, and even agreed to pay expenses incurred to the extent that its finances would permit. The Bulldogs in turn agreed to make its athletic programs available to all Township residents and to maintain insurance.  So since 1969, the Township has recognized the Bulldogs as a "select group" that supplies a need and demand for organized sports within the Township.

Instead of slamming this group, with under-the breath remarks abut the influx of new Jersey residents, Commissioners like Hudak should be assisting the Bulldogs in assuring that coaches are properly screened and that some first aid training is provided for the inevitable injuries.

Obviously, the more that these kids play organized sports, the less likely it is that they will get involved in drugs and gangs.

You can have organized sports or organized crime.

Take your pick.

The Wit and Wisdom of Sensei Michael Hudak

Bethlehem Township has a great staff and Manager, but has perhaps the most dysfunctional Board in the Lehigh Valley. This is due in some measure to tea party nut Pat Breslin, who has skipped meetings for no apparent reason while going onto wingnut radio to complain about fellow Commissioners. He plans to challenge Congressman Matt Cartwright and is trying to raise his profile from campaign sign thief, which is what he back in the day. He now goes to church a lot and makes speeches. And during Board meetings, it's "I motion" this and "I motion" that. As wacky as Breslin may be, and he is, the sensai of senselessness is clearly Michael Hudak. For years, I have watched him demean residents and just last week, witnessed him acting like a grade school kid during a Planning Commission meeting. He has issues.

Before the primary, Hudak took to Facebook to explain why each of the three incumbent Commissioners need to be removed. Voters felt otherwise, but his attacks on the three are pretty vicious. I don't see how any of them can work with someone that mean-spirited. Marty Zawarski confronted Hudak about these attacks yesterday, and he as as arrogant as ever.

The good news is that he is considering resigning from the Board. He really should. Below are some highlights of Hudak's wit and wisdom.

Hudak on Marty Zawarski

-His campaigne is AGAIN financed by Abe Atyieh. his close friend and the developer that is trying to get approval to build a PRISON in bethlehem township.
- he is intent on supporting his own agenda NOT whats best for the taxpayers. He told me he believes that the people who voted for him did so because they want him to think FOR THEM !!!
He is suppose to REPRESENT the taxpayers not himself.
-He resently sent out a computer generated letter making all kinds of false claims. lets hit on them.
In the fourth paragraph of the form letter he claims to have voted "NO to this development". Well Martin still dosen't get it !
This was NOT a vote to approve this development[Madison Farms]. It was a vote to send it to PLANNING and ZONING to look at the feasibility of such a development and then reporting those findings back to the BOC for discussion and vote. Had Mr Zawarski had the experience needed to be a commissionerhe would have realized this.
Further, to claim that Paul Wiess voted " in favor of allowing the developer to move forward" is just an outright LIE, not the truth !
Fifth paragraph, Zawarski voted NO because first, he has a personal dislike for this developer and second because Abe Atyieh was pissed at getting his development turned down so Zawarski voted NO. The upsetting thing here is that the board of commissioners could NOT VOTE NO without opening ourselves up for a no win lawsuit and costing the taxpayers millions. This was a by-right use with the developer meeting all the requirements. Again if Zawarski had the knowledge to be a commissioner he would have kn own this. Even after our solicitor told him we could not legally turn it down he STILL voted no. His friend Atyieh immediately filed a lawsuit against Bethlehem Township.
sixth paragraph, I was the one who came up with a fair reduction in fees and both Zawarski and Weiss voted in favor of it, so more truth not spin.
Also, the street light "scam" that he and Atyieh keep bringing up is no where Near truthful. He felt this lie worked good for him last time so they'll use it again. THERE WAS NO SCAM. Zawarski has absolutely no first hand knowledge of this so he CANNOT speak intelligently about it. The TRUTH, Weiss did not hand over a blank check. The TOWNSHIP treasure, our financial advisors, our banks loan officers and our solicctor all signed off on it. The Board of commisssioners does not make these kind of deals without them being researched by our investigators first.
Since this group had NEVER stolen from any of the other 20 municipalities they performed this service for there was NO REASON to think they would steal from us. We were the first !
Consequently, The board of commissioners at that time pursued criminal and civil action and was successful. We have recouped money and these people are jailed. So thats the TRUTH, not the spin.
Last paragraph, NOBODY is destrying Green Pond !!!
we are talking about the cornfield across the street. The township hired a independet enviromental consultant to advise us on this very matter. This whole Save green pond is actually a N.I.M.B.I. issue not an enviromental one and THATS THE TRUTH.
In closing on Zawarski, His latest mailer claims he has 30 years balancing budgets and making payroll. Well the TRUTH is the Commissioners do not "Make payroll" this is a budgeted Item and we do not "Balance the budget" that is done bu the Township manager and our Financial department ! it is only presented to us after the fact for review and vote, and thats the TRUTH. What Zawarski is spewing is just spin and deception.
I will Not endorse one Candidate over the other but I will say that Township taxpayers will be well represented well by either
PAUL WEISS or ROBERT BIRK
Please get out there and vote, Thanks

Hudak on Tom Nolan

Moving on to Tom Nolan, 1st Ward.
If anyone has ever flip-flopped on his position just to get votes its Tom Nolan.
For 10 years Nolan has adamantly opposed building a bathroom in the north forty complex. Now, only after the issue has come up in a election year, HIS election year is he all in favor of spending over a quarter million dollars,350 thousand to be exact, on building one. and why, because the bulldogs represent a lot of voters in his ward, POLITICS plain and simple !!!
Further Nolan has close ties with OUTSIDE organizations who have been looking to take over the Housenick Park for their own use and dictating the same to all Bethlehem township taxpayers.
He deceives the public to help further the agendas of his friends.
not long ago he deliberately hid the formation and his involvement in a group set to take Housenick park away from the township taxpayers and put it in the hands of a fringe group with NO connection to Bethlehem township what so ever! His plan was uncovered just in time to save this from happening. As it turns out one of the principals involved in this plot was kicked off another tax exempt organization for unethical financial dealings.
i have served along Nolan for over ten years and it is without doubt that Tom Nolan is only concerned with Tom Nolan.
He claims to be proudest of the community center yet this is only one of his biggest screw-ups.
He was on the board when the community center was constructed. He voted to allow substandard products and workmanship and voted to ban our own building inspectors from setting foot on the site. Because of this the township is now looking at spending over TWO MILLION DOLLARS on repairs on a building that is only 9 years old ! Where was the over-site !!
Why was he not looking out for the taxpayers ?
Nolan likes to preface every comment with "being an engineer".
Well the TRUTH is he is an ELECTRICAL engineer with a BA from Scranton U.
He has ZERO education in Civil, Structural, Architectural, Geotechnical and Environmental engineering yet he always claims to be the professional because he is “an engineer.”
Well the TRUTH is there is absolutley NO cross-over between electrical engineering and any of the above. Electrical is a single discipline so to make the staement "I'm an Engineer" is bullshit and the community center debacle proves just that ! A 1st year architectual engineering student would have picked up on all the mistakes made there long before we took possesion of the building!
Tom has twice been removed as president from the board of commissioners after serving less than 90 days. Why, because he lacks the ability to represent anyone but himself ! Not what you want in a commissioner.
Arthur Murphy is a financial wizard and during his past service has accounted for every penny that passed through the township coffers, something we need and something Nolan just does not have the training or ability to do. I can attest to this as I have served with both of them.
Nolans only real reason for his 18 yrs on the board is that he was first appointed to finish another commissioners term, then won election by just 1 vote. Then ran twice unopposed and finally his competition was Abe Atyieh's wife
I truly believe that had he had one serious opponent in the past he would not be sitting on the board now.
Well the time has come to bring a new view and a fresh face to that ward. While there is no democrat running there are TWO excellent candidates to vote for. Arthur Murphy and Wayne Buller. Either one of which I feel will serve the 1st ward and township as a whole extremely well.
1st Ward, as I will not support one candidate over the other vote:
ARTHUR MURPHY or WAYNE BULLER

Hudak on Phil Barnard

OK moving on, Phil Barnard another candidate without the knowledge or experience to be a commissioner.
Phil Barnard, Another close friend of wanabe Prison builder Abe Atyieh ! Jogging partner, sons in sports together and his campaign financed by Abe Atyieh as well.
He comes to meetings unprepared and ask questions that he would know the answers to if he would just read the information provided for him weeks before the meetings. He can not vote on his own and the record will show he is merely a yes man for Tom Nolan. However Nolan votes so goes Barnard. After over 2 YEARS in office he ask during a public meeting if the purchase orders were something we need to pay or if they were something we were hoping to buy in the future. What the Hell have you been voting on for the past 2 YEARS !!! Clearly had no clue of municipal government and still does NOT. He was bullied into tanking the hire of the new township manager by his good friend. When he was caught and the facts came out that if he moved forward that he would be Personally liable for that he changed his tune. Theres not much more to say because there is not much action to comment on, just waits for Nolan and then votes that way. Township needs someone in this position of power who is not afraid to make the HARD decisions, the RIGHT decisions no matter how unpopular they may be or how many kids in bulldog shirts are sitting in the galley.
Again while not supporting one candidate over the other The Bethlehem township taxpayers of the 3rd Ward would be well served by:
KIM JENKINS or FRAN BLATZ
Please get out and vote, Thanks

Northampton County Council Approves 11 Municipal Park Grants

NorCo Council unanimously approved 11 municipal park projects within 10 different municipalities.at their May 21 meeting  Grants awarded from the open space program are as follows:

Hanover Township - $182,477.71 to develop two multi-purpose recreational fields, a paved parking lot and an ADA accessible walking path at Village View Park.

Upper Nazareth Township - $104,640.03 to provide bonded rubberized mulch at three park playgrounds along with a paved parking lot.

Washington Township - $87,016.09 to oil and chip the parking lots and driveways at the Recreation Complex.

Bethlehem Township - $398,508.74 to develop walking paths, fencing and trail marker posts and landscaping at Housenick Memorial Park.

Borough of Northampton - $166,691.86 to acquire and develop a parking area at 416 E 4th Street for a playground.

Borough of Nazareth - $96,495.21 for a safety fence around the new pool.

Borough of Freemansburg - $44,267.55 for repairs to a footbridge across the Lehigh Canal, along with Trailhead Parking.

Plainfield Township - $103,078.24 for improvements at the park and along the recreational trail.

City of Bethlehem - $25,000 for a Skateplaza Shade Canopy.

City of Bethlehem - $210,000 for a new Northampton-Lehigh Footbridge over the Monocacy Creek.

Lower Mount Bethel Township - $21,45.95 for Kiefer Ballfield Playground equipment nd mulch, along Riverton Fitness Trail equipment.

A Biased Judge Gets Put in Her Place

I told you yesterday that I thought Lehigh County Judge Kelly Banach exhibited bias in the prosecution of Christoper Fitzgerald. When she marched into her courtroom on Monday, the first thing she did was demand an apology from his lawyer, who by his own admission had over-reacted to her refusal to give a specific jury instruction that she later gave anyway, in response to questions from the jury itself. her demand, made right before the case was going to the jury, was designed to elicit the apology she got. She had it in for Jack McMahon, and was going to put him in his place. Of course, he apologized. He's no fool. And then he went on to win the case.

Now she's been put in her place. And I doubt she'd get an apology if she asked for it now.

I was discussing this topic at length with fellow blogger Michael Molovinsky yesterday, explaining that McMahon is a proper bastard and every defendant has the right to effective representation.

"I acknowledge your expertise in matters like this," Molovinsky told me.

"You mean on the law?" I asked.

"No, on bastards."

I guess I got put in my place, too.

Bethlehem Tp Wants PennDOT to Repair Easton Avenue Culvert

Collapsed culvert on Easton Avenue 

Bethlehem Township Commissioners unanimously authorized Marty Zawarski, ath their June 1 meeting, to demand that PennDOT undertake repairs on a collapsed culvert along Easton Avenue, directly across the street from The Keystone Pub.

In March, Bethlehem Township's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to fix the culvert, with Commissioner Michael Hudak providing the sole No vote. Although he agreed the matter needed to be addressed for public safety reasons, he argued that more pressure should be placed on PennDOT, which owns Easton Avenue. PennDOT has insisted it had nothing to do with the problem, although it was willing to supply materials and labor for the repair.

Research and a City resident make clear that PennDOT had more to do in that area than it remembers now.

A title search reveals that the culvert in question is actually owned by the homeowners along that portion of Easton Avenue. But it also revealed that PennDot installed the culvert.

In 1977, Debra LaForm stepped out of her stalled car during a rainstorm to make a call for help from the nearby hotel now known as The Keystone Pub. Returning to her car, she suddenly vanished. She had stepped into an open drainage ditch, which sucked her body through an 18" drainage pipe and ultimately, into the Nancy Run Creek.

Her body was found eight hours later.

This has been a problem area in Bethlehem Township for many years because it is a low point in the Nancy Run watershed. Township engineer Leonard Fraivillig refused to approve PennDOT plans for stormwater along that roadway because he believed a straight 96-inch pipe would be necessary to drain the ditch on the west side of Santee Road. PennDOT nevertheless went ahead anyway. Fraivillig's plan was never acted on because it was too costly.

This, along with an absence of fences or guardrails around that ditch, cost Debra LaForma her life.

The collapsed culvert being studied by the Township now is on the other side of the street, and PennDOT has insisted it has no responsibility in that area. But Bethlehem resident Scott Culpepper remembers that, in the early '70s, when he was fresh out of college, he was working for PennDOT as a laborer and was involved in the installation of the grates over the collapsed culvert to which PennDOT disavows any knowledge.

"If in fact PennDot did install the grates then it is clearly their responsibility not ours," noted Commissioner Michael Hudak.

Testimony in the LaFrom case includes a PennDOT engineer who acknowledged installing the grates.

Q. Now, after the 1959 and 1960 construction, were there any grates at the intersection, either intersection? I say one, but it is really two, Willow park and Santee.

A. I do recall that our maintenance, our county maintenance from Northampton county, rebuilt –

Q. That is, again, PennDOT?

A. PennDOT, yes. – we rebuilt a portion of the sidewalk around this radius. There was a collapse of the top of the box culvert, a two-foot by three-foot concrete box. Instead of putting a concrete sidewalk on top of it, they put a steel grate bridge flooring on top of it; primarily, to take care of the impact loads from trucks that were going around this corner. It happens to be a fairly sharp radius, and, especially, rear wheels of tractor trailers would go over the curb and on the sidewalk. So in order to reinforce that, we put in bridge flooring, instead of concrete sidewalks.

Q. How large was that bridge flooring, which is – it is like a metal grate, is it not?

A. That’s right. Approximately, five, six inches thick.

Q. How large is that?

A. I don’t know what the exact length of it is.

Bethlehem Township Solicitor Jim Broughal met with PennDOT officials and presented his findings, and the state agency still refuses to repair the culvert. Broughal suggested a formal demand was a necessary step to anything that follows. Copies of this demand will also be sent to State Senator Lisa Boscola, State Rep. Marcia Hahn and the Secretary of Transportation.

Bethlehem Township To Streamline Home Inspections

Let's say you have a home that you sell to someone. Before that happens, most municipalities require a home inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy. If something is discovered that needs to be repaired, the homeowner will experience delays in closing, and a buyer could decide to walk away. So it makes sense to get an inspection done before you even list the property. But Bethlehem Township inspectors have refused to renew certificates of occupancy unless there's a signed agreement of sale.

After meeting with Commissioner Marty Zawarski, Planning Director Nathan Jones reported at the June 1 Board meeting that inspectors are making changes to be more responsive. They will now perform home inspections and issue renewed certificates of occupancy at eh request of a homeowner. "The smoother we can make it for the residents out there, the better off everyone will be," explained Zawarski.

Planners are now tied into the Lehigh Valley Association of Realtors website, and can see if private home sales are occurring without notice. Zawarski explained that in foreclosures, estate sales and other private deals, the Township often gets no notice of a real estate transfer.

In Split Vote, Bulldogs Recognized as "Official" Township Sports Group

By a 3-2 vote, Bethlehem Township Commissioners recognized the Bethlehem Township Athletic Association, known as the Bulldogs, as an "official" township youth sports group at their June 1 meeting. What this means is anyone's guess, but it rankled Bulldog critics like Commissioner Michael Hudak and Rec Board member Barry Roth. Both have complained often about favoritism they believe is shown to this group.

Just two weeks ago, Hudak spearheaded a discussion on establishing a formal policy concerning field use by the Bulldogs. That proposal was supported unanimously.

Prior to that, Hudak has argued that the Bulldogs should "pay to play." He has noted that the group gets $40,000 every year from the Township, which also spends $30,000 per year to mow the grass. In addition, $20,140 in field rental fees are provided at no charge. As a matter of fairness, Hudak has argued that it's time that the Bulldogs start paying for field use.

Resident Barry Roth, who serves on the Township's Recreation Board, has also complained at several meetings about the Bulldogs. He has seen the Township provide an office for Bulldog records and spend $280,000 for athletic fields that were intended to be a band shell. He also complains that the Township spent $300,000 for lights that are sometimes left on until 6 am.

Both Hudak and Roth have complained bitterly about a bathroom planned for the athletic fields. It may cost as much as $350,000, though Commissioners unanimously agreed to seek a $250,000 grant in a resolution adopted earlier that evening.

First formed in 1968, the Bulldogs are a nonprofit organization made up entirely of volunteers who offer recreational cheerleading, football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, softball, and Lacrosse. The $40,000 received annually from the Township is actually $15,000 less than was provided before the Great Recession. It is considered a feeder program for Freedom High School.

Proposing a resolution recognizing the Bulldogs as an official Township-sanctioned sports group was Tom Nolan, a steadfast advocate. At courtesy of the floor, Barry Roth asked for permission to discuss it when it came up, which President Marty Zawarski denied.

"How can I discuss the resolution without knowing what it says?" asked Roth, with no reply from Zawarski.

Nolan argued that, given what the Bulldogs do for the community, "I thought it's time that the Board recognizes the organization formally."

Hudak countered that if the Board recognizes the Bulldogs, it should also recognize the Freemansburg Bethlehem Township Athletic Association, known as the Blue Barons. That group only offers one sport - baseball. It also receives an annual contribution from the township. Hudak argued that the Blue Barons be recognized, too, and "not just the select group or special few."

Nolan stated he was perfectly willing to recognize the Blue Barons in a separate resolution. "Certain members of this Board are trying to contaminate this issue," he warned, adding that there are no legal issues.

Both Marty Zawarski and Phil Barnard sided with Nolan. Barnard noted that people visiting the township already identify the Bulldogs with the Township, and the relationship should be recognized.

Pat Breslin sided with Hudak. While claiming to be a big proponent of youth sports who just gave a speech to one group near Philly, Breslin reasoned that "we should focus on issues that matter.

Right after the vote, Barry Roth complained from the back of the room about being denied the right to speak about it himself. "Any other resolution we have a chance to discuss," he exploded, and stormed out of the meeting.

"He's absolutely right," muttered Hudak to Breslin.

Before voting, Zawarski mentioned that he was once an umpire for the Blue Barons, but quit because mothers kept throwing things at him for making bad calls. He must have had a few flashbacks.

Tom Nolan to Run Unopposed in BT Comm'r Race

Tom Nolan

Tom Nolan, an engineer at Lehigh Heavy Forge, is the incumbent Commissioner in Bethlehem Township's first ward. He faced two Republican opponents in this year's primary.  One of them is former Commissioner Art Murphy, who works for Selvaggio and Son. The other, newcomer Wayne Buller, was being promoted by a tea party offshoot calling itself the Republican Action Team, RAT.

The fear was that Murphy and Nolan could siphon off votes from Nolan to enable Buller to win. But that never happened. Nolan was supported by 188 Republican voters, compared to 76 for Murphy and 52 for Buller.

According to the elections office, Nolan also captured the Democratic nomination, too, as a result of a write-in campaign. There were 45 write-in votes, and enough of them went to Nolan to make him the winner in that race as well.

Nolan this is both the Republican and Democratic nominee in Bethlehem Township's first ward. Barring an independent or a write-in campaign, his victory is all but assured.