New NorCo Website Contains Only Four Years of Elections Results

Since Northampton County's new website went live last week, I've detailed numerous complaints, both here and here. In fairness, I need to tell you that Al Jordan, who manages Xerox' IT contract with the county, has been pretty responsive to complaints about a product that was very poorly tested.  But the problems continue. The latest concerns elections results.

On NorCo's old website, there was a direct link to the latest election results on the county's homepage. This is far from unusual. Lehigh County, Montgomery County, and  Bucks County are just a few of the counties with direct links to election results from their homepage. But not Northampton.

In fact, it's hard to even find the elections office.

On the old website, the office was featured separately among the many departments of county government. But that's no longer so. A person who wants to find the elections department is going to have to go through all departments until he stumbles upon it, listed under County Administration.

If you look at the County's Administrative Code or Home Rule Charter, you'll see no provision placing elections under administration. In fact, the Home Rule Charter establishes an independent elections commission to run elections.

That's why it should be featured separately. Also, as a practical matter, residents looking for that office should be able to find it without looking for a needle in a haystack,especially as an election draws near. A voter may need absentee ballots, may want  to register online, or he may just want to know where they are voting. But the way the website is designed, it's difficult to find one of the county's most vital offices.

If you do succeed in finding it, there are more problems. The older version of the website included at least 12 years of prior election results. Lehigh County's webpage goes back 14 years. This is a great resource for people looking for trends and shifts. Yesterday, I saw a wonderful colored map, prepared by GIS, that shows turnout by municipality. It was quite interesting. This is the kind of stuff that would be great on a new website. But this wonderful map was relegated to a bulletin board, to be viewed by title searchers who never vote.

The new website was supposed to retain all information contained on the old site. But almost all of the prior election results have disappeared. Only the last four years of election results are still online.  

To make matters worse, a link to campaign finance reports is gone.Though finance reports were only placed online for a few years, that resource enables people to follow the money. ... Until it is taken away.

If the elections office is hard to find online, that means some people will give up on registering, getting absentee ballots or finding out where they need to vote. Then they'll just give up on voting.

Whether by accident or design, the county's new website will suppress turnout.

Maybe this is what Council member Seth Vaughn was talking about when he told me he could skip an important Budget hearing and people will still vote for him. Who cares? Newspapers are struggling to cover local government, and that opens the door to all kinds of mischief.

Like redesigning a webpage to make it more difficult for people who want to exercise their right to vote.

In an era where technology is supposed to improve our access to information, this webpage does the exact opposite.  

Stein's Pa Recount Bid Rejected By Fed'l Judge

In a 31-page opinion, US District Judge Paul Diamond has rejected Jill Stein's recount request in Pa. He wrote that her hacking claims (a near impossibility in voting machines with no Internet access) "borders on the irrational." So ends Stein's quixotic quest to force state officials to re-examine voting results.

I might add that a re-count of sorts is done anyway. When election returns are brought to the registrar's office and added up, that's the unofficial result. Following that, the vote is "canvassed"  Every precinct is re-counted, resulting in the "official" vote.  

According to NorCo's "Official" results, the turnout was 70%. Trump got 49.62% of the vote compared to Hillary's 45.84%.  

Lehigh County's official certification lists no turnout percentage. But in that county, Hillary prevailed over The Donald, 81,324 to 73,690.

High School Hoops Finally Under Way

ACCHS Boys Varsity squad with Mr. and Mrs. Dailey

Jay Vaughan, Tournament MVP,  with Mr.and Mrs. Dailey

After what seemed like an eternity to me, high school hoops action is finally under way here in the Lehigh Valley. For Allentown Central Catholic boys varsity, the season started on a positive note with two wins and a Jeff Dailey invitational championship

Jeff, a 2004 graduate of Notre Dame Green Pond (NDGP), was that school's all-time leading scorer. His life was cut short by a fire at East Stroudsburg University, but his parents set up a memorial foundation and has raised over $200,000 for various worthy causes in their son's name. This weekend's tournament netted eight $1,000 scholarships to NDGP.

NDGP's Matt Anthony and Mitch Daniel are All-Tournament.
Anthony scored 28 points against Central!

Neither Central Catholic nor Freedom High School had ever played in this tournament, but hopefully that will change. Central Catholic came out on top in two very fast-paced games against Freedom (76-69) and NDGP (70-63). They start the season at 2-0, but as the scores alone should tell you, it could have been 0-2.

A lot of people had written Central off this year. Their lead scorer, Zay Jennings, graduated and is playing (and starting) at Caldwell. Two of their other top players, Aiden Elwood and Shack Dezonie, transferred. But that opened the door to a concept that is often lost in sports - teamwork. Instead of living and dying with one star, Coach Dennis Csensits has developed a balanced attack in which all players contribute.

You can see that in the box scores.Against NDGP, three Central players were in double digits. Against Freedom there were four.

Dat Lambert scored 40 in two games,
including 10 treys.

Central, which lacks size, also relies heavily n the trey. Dat Lambert is deadly in that category, along with Jordan McChristian and Jay Vaughan. Three-point shooters are usually on or off. I've seen Dat sink eight in a row this summer during the Stellar tournament. I know he is going to hit it before he shoots because he gets this icy look on his face. But he can be off, and that's when it's nice to know that others are there

Vaughan, who was named tournament MVP, is the embodiment of a selfless style of basketball that seems to have spread to the entire team.That is their strength. Assists. Steals. Ball control. Passing.

Their weakness is their size and inexperience.

They will have a little more experience by the end of this week when they face Mikey Esquilin's Whitehall Zephyrs and Cameron Hoffman's Liberty Hurricanes. Those were the two top teams in this Summer's sportsfest.

I am bragging a bit about Central and my grandson, I admit. But I could tell you similar stories about every local high school team. They are great kids. I was particularly impressed that the Freedom and Notre Dame football teams came out to cheer for their friends on the court and razz the other side. Their enthusiasm infected everyone.

Walker Commuting to Philly in City-Owned Vehicle

Michael Walker, Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski's choice as Director of Community and Economic Development,  was rejected by City Council in October. Though Walker cleaned out his desk and was prepared to move on, Fed Ed called him back and put him to work as Operations Manager with a salary of $89,709.

Council has reduced the funding for that position to $1.

In the meantime, reliable sources tell me that Walker has been driving a City-owned car and is using it to commute every day.

He lives in Philly.

NorCo's New Webpage Mangles Sheriff Sale List

Earlier his week, I told you about problems at Northampton County's new website. Ostensibly designed to bring government closer to the people it serves, it's had an opposite effect. Though some of the obvious problems have been corrected, it is still functioning poorly.

• Over the past few days, I have received several reports that people are unable to access the page. I noticed this problem myself on Tuesday, but not since then. But several of my friends have had access issues all week. Are they right? According to Is it Down?, there is insufficient date to answer that question.     
• The Sheriff Sale list was completely mangled online. Executive John Brown decided early on in his administration that he would stop printing Sheriff Sale lists because they are published online.. A Sheriff's Sale is scheduled for today, but the website has completely mangled the list. It has been listing properties that have already been sold, and has loaded old sale lists.The, ten minutes later, the correct list appears. I have noticed this problem myself, and it has been reported to me by several potential bidders who rely on the website to tell them if a property is going to sale or has been postponed.  
• At the old page, a link to the elections office was listed under "county government."Also, there was a direct link to election results on the homepage for at least one or two months following an election.   That direct link is now gone. So is a link to the elections office under county government. To find the elections office, you have to click on "County Administration," and then you have to click on a link called "Conduct of Elections."  This office,which really is not part of the County Administration,should be listed separately under "county government."

Prominent Community Organizer Alan Jennings Injured in Auto Accident

Alan Jennings, outspoken Executive Director at Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV), was injured in an automobile accident in Bethlehem yesterday. The accident occurred on Center Street in Bethlehem when the driver of another car lost control of his vehicle and Jennings hit him.

Jennings suffered a broken sternum and thumb. The driver of the other vehicle was removed using the "Jaws of Life." The extent of his injuries are unknown and hopefully not too severe. .

Though he and I have been on the opposite sides of many issues over the years, and as recently as Wednesday night, I really admire and respect Alan. He is one of the Lehigh Valley's pioneers, along with Jeff Parks and Tony Hanna.

Alan Jennings referred to Ed Pawlowski as a "fighter" in his remarks on Wednesday night to Allentown City Council. I view Fed Ed as more of a bully. Jennings is a fighter. Though he's forced to raise money from the rich and powerful, which drives me nuts, he really has been a tireless advocate for those with no friends on the inside. He's made himself that friend, and we are that much better with people like him around.

Get well, Alan.

Blogger's Note: Comments to this story are disabled.

Updated 3:30 pm: Details on the accident itself are at Lehigh Valley Live, though Alan is unnamed. Based on the pictures, he's very lucky to be alive. As readers can finally see for themselves, he does not drive a red Porsche.

Despite Hints at Litigation, Allentown City Council Adopts Budget

Meeting regulars Glenn Hunsicker (left)
Don Ringer (center) and Lou Hershman (right)

In January, Allentown City Council unanimously called on Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski to resign as a result of a federal investigation into political corruption swirling all around him. He refused. Instead, he doubled down. He attempted to shove Michael Walker, an unqualified former lawyer for convicted racketeer Chaka Fattah, down the throats of City Council. Walker was nominated as Director of Community and Economic Development. When City Council rejected this unqualified candidate, he hired him anyway. After defying them twice, Fed Ed then expected City Council to rubber stamp a budget full of raises for his cronies and raising income taxes to two percent. Last night, he found out that while he may still be Mayor, he is no longer King.

Fed Ed's contentious style failed. 

The man who at one time had gubernatorial and even Senatorial ambitions, has flown too close to the sun. His hubris has caused him to fall from the sky, where he once mingled with the rich and powerful. Instead of drowning in the sea like Icarus, he awaits an inevitable federal indictment that could come by year's end. He's been reduced to posting pictures on Facebook, trying to pretend he's still relevant.  His sole remaining friends, for the most part, are the people he pays with City money to stand by his side

They were there last night. Do-nothings like Ismael Arcelay and City Spokesperson Mike Moore, who lacks the personal honesty to use his own name. City Council was going to cut their usual raises to a scant 3%. They were there to see Fed Ed bully his way into getting what he wants, as he has done so many times.

Also present was Alan Jennings, one of the few people left who supports Pawlowski.

Susan Wild, between a rock and a hard place

In addition to the King's men, there were also about 50 other people whose taxes pay for these salaries and operations. Tavern owner Don Ringer. Accountant Lou Hershman. Astronaut Dennis Pearson. Activist Robert Trotner, carrying a "Drain the Swamp" sign. Blogger Michael Molovinsky.

They were on to Fed Ed long before City Council or federal investigators. Some have suffered for speaking out.

Shorty before the meeting started, Fed Ed quietly came into the room, carrying a gigantic canvas bag. I thought it might be his dirty underwear, but the feds have them.  The bag contained several giant budget books containing a new spending plan that he had just presented that very day, at 4 pm.

A Brief History of the 2017 Budget

Fed Ed, his cronies and Jennings were there to stop Council from doing their job. One week earlier, Council adopted a series of amendments to Pawlowski's $104 million spending plan. They slashed payraises for Fed Ed's myrmidons. They rolled back overtime spending by ten percent, and cut payments for consultants and other professional services by ten percent. They reduced funding for the Managing Director, Director of Community and Economic Development and Operations Manager positions to $1. And they knocked ten percent off a proposed income tax hike.

Council had intended to adopt their amended budget on December 13, two days in advance of the December 15 deadline. Solicitor Susan Ellis Wild warned them they better do it now. She was concerned that Fed Ed would veto the budget on the 16th. Then he could claim that Council had failed to adopt their budget by the 15th, so his spending plan is adopted automatically. She wanted Council to be able to override a veto before the 15th.

Candida Affa, Fed Ed's sole ally on Council

As a result, Council decided to approve the budget tonight.

Fed Ed countered that because funding for the Managing Director, Director of Community and Economic Development and Operations Manager positions was reduced to $1, this was an elimination of programs. He insisted that the city's legislators were required to start the process anew.  
Despite red herrings that Fed Ed constantly threw up along the way, including a new budget proposal, Allentown City Council refused to be bullied and adopted their own budget for next year. It passed 6 to 1, with Candida Affa being the sole No vote.

Pawlowski's Complaints

It was a meeting that should have lasted 20 minutes, but stretched on for over two hours as Pawlowski constantly interjected himself and attempted to throw up roadblocks.

He started by insisting on reading an 8-page, single-spaced memo that claimed the sky would fall unless his, and only his, spending plan was adopted. He accused a Council that consists of a former police chief (Roger Maclean) and police captain (Daryl Hendricks) of setting up the police department for failure by reducing overtime by ten percent.  He said the City's collective bargaining agreement with firefighters was being violated. Restrooms and parks would be dirtier. Snow would go unplowed. The City would have to let children cross some intersections without crossing guards. A "thoughtless leadership vacuum" was being created by a "shortsighted" and "ludicrous" legislature.

Complaining about the City's fleet of vehicles, he asked Council to explain "which vehicles I don't service?"

"Yours," shouted Kenneth Heffentrager.

The more that Fed Ed spoke, the louder Heffentrager began to jeer. And as usual, I got blamed. Candida Affa looked at me with daggers in her eyes.

Ray O'Connell Slams Fed Ed

Ray O'Connell comes out on top in
exchange with Fed Ed.

At various times during the meeting, Fed Ed would interrupt to say Council has failed to follow their own rules as well as the Home Rule Charter. But Council President Ray O'Connell stated he is "confident" that they were acting in accord with both. "The Mayor has received our proposed budget amendments. He has given his rebuttal.We have listened to his rebuttal, and that's where we're at tonight."

Fed Ed: "So am I to assume you're not going to consider the recently submitted budget?

O'Connell: "No comment."

Fed Ed: "What do you mean 'no comment'?  [He should know. He's been saying that enough about the criminal investigation].

O'Connell: "Take it for what it means.I have no comment."

***

Fed Ed: "I don't think it's appropriate for you to make a statement with no explanation to the public. I think, quite honestly, it's bad government."

O'Connell: "You do not have to lecture me on bad government. ... Eventually, if we have to go further, and we know what that means, we shall do so."

Daryl Hendricks Slams Fed Ed

Alan Jennings asked Council to restore funding for the Managing Director, Director of Community and Economic Development and Operations Manager positions. While Pawlowski is under investigation, he claims he is innocent, Jennings observed.

"This isn't working," he told Council. He noted that the City is losing good people and that "morale in this building is a disaster." Paraphrasing Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jennings said, "There's a bad moon rising." He insisted that "we can't get anything done in this City without those positions funded."

O'Connell noted the positions are funded at $1, but if the Mayor produces a candidate who is actually qualified, "we will be more than willing to sit down and listen."

Hendricks was a bit more blunt.

"I think those comments should have been made to the person more responsible than anyone here, and that person is the Mayor of Allentown. That's the dark cloud hanging over our City. That's the problem we're facing. When you say about the innocence, when six other people have already pled guilty for actions they conducted with him, then I think the evidence is clearly overwhelming. At some point in time, we'll be more than happy to fill those positions, when we're part of the process, when we're allowed to make decisions along with the Mayor. That has not happened, and that is why there's a dark cloud hanging over us."

10% Reduction in consultants and professional services.

Fed Ed also argued that Council would be forcing him to break pre-existing contracts for school crossing guards. But City Controller Jeff Glazier had an answer. He noted that the amendment to make a 10% reduction "reduces the whole allocation by 10%, but it doesn't necessarily affect individual contracts within. It does force the administration to prioritize within those general accounts."

The tax rate

There was some confusion when it came to the tax rate because Council had been unable to set it, given the pressure to move ahead. Finance Director Brent Hartzell came up with a figure of 1.975%. According to the Census Bureau, the average annual salary is just $17,483 in Allentown, which means a city tax bill of $345.29.

Pawlowski scoffed at it. "That's a little more than you buy a cup of coffee for at McDonald's. He also warned this will negatively affect the City's bond rating.

What's ahead?

Fed Ed has five days in which to accept or veto the budget. If he does so, City Council can override him at their December 13 meeting.

He has hinted all along that Council's actions are illegal and that he intends to sue. If he does, he won't be able to use the Solicitor because she represents both him and Council. He'd have to seek outside counsel. It will be interesting to see where he gets the money. I doubt Council will appropriate funds so they can be sued.

Wild Gave Allentown City Council Good Advice

Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky has decided to take a break from gloating about the election results and painting all Democrats as sore losers. That's because one of them, Robert Trotner, has begged him to start ragging on Allentown Solicitor Susan Wild and her advice concerning the precarious Allentown budget. She "put the squeeze on Council," Trotner rants. Molovinsky claims there is a "bluff by Pawlowski and Wild." Both Trotner and Molovinsky have slurred an excellent attorney for simply doing her job. .

As most of you know, Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski submitted a budget that raises the earned income tax, provides raises to his cronies and shoves an employee down Council's throat that they previously rejected. Council flexed its muscles at the one time during the year when they have any real power. They reduced the tax hike, the wage hikes to Fed Ed's pets and funded a few slots with $1.

Someone better throw Fed Ed on a lift because he's blowin' oil. According to The Morning Call, he announced his own budget revisions yesterday, claimed Council will never be able to conduct hearings in time and has threatened to take them all to court if they continue to defy him.

Council will conduct a hearing and adopt the budget tonight instead of on December 13, as was originally planned. This is because Wild gave them some very good advice.

Under the City's Home Rule Charter, Council must adopt their budget by December 15 or the one proposed by Fed Ed becomes law.

If Council had waited to adopt the Budget until  December 13, as they had planned, it is entirely possible that the Budget presented by Fed Ed would become law.

Under the Charter, he has five days to exercise his veto power. He could do so on December 16, and then claim that his original Budget is law because Council would have failed to have adopted their Budget by December 15, as required under the Charter.

By alerting Council to this possibility, Wild has given Council time to act now. They can adopt their budget tonight, giving Fed Ed five days to veto. Yes, they can even conduct a public hearing on his latest amendments. If he vetoes, they can override him on December 13 and their budget becomes law.

If Wild was in league with Fed Ed, as Trotner and Molovinsky have unfairly suggested, the last thing she would do is advise Council that they need to act now. She would simply keep her mouth shut. Then, on December 16, she would sadly tell Council that Fed Ed's original budget is law because they failed to act in time. Molovinsky and Trotner would be screaming at her then, too, for failing to warn of the dangers ahead.

Thanks to her sage advice, Fed Ed can go to the courthouse if he wants and he will fall flat on his face.

But I hear some people are waiting for him there.

Michael, you may now return to your gloating. Robert, you may now return to building a new Allentown.

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

The Christmas Rush

This is the time of year when Christmas carols are playing nonstop and everyone goes broke buying presents they can't afford for friends and family. There are bonuses and parties, and even I get invited to some of them. But there's a sad side. This is also the time of year when people fight over children. "The Christmas rush" is what one domestic relations lawyer calls it. This is when I feel bad for custody masters and judges. I feel bad for a parent who will spend Christmas alone. I feel even worse for the children.

New Tax Lien Filed Against NorCo Administrator

Cathy Allen

On December 1, Cathy Allen was confirmed as NorCo Director of Administration. The vote was 6-3. Hayden Phillips, Matt Dietz and Bob Werner voted No. The remaining Council members supported her. She was confirmed despite a foreclosure against her Bangor home and the existence of five federal and state tax liens filed against her, totaling over $62,000.

You can now make that six tax liens.

On December 5, the Monday after she was confirmed, the state Department of Revenue filed a new lien against her at C-0048-CV-2016-10589. I don't have the amount.

In July, when Hayden Phillips offered her an opportunity to explain, this is what she said.

"In working with my attorney, and we've been working on this for quite a few years, he advised me not to speak about it in public, so I cannot give you an answer at this time."

She took the Fifth.

Despite her claim that "we've been working on this for quite a few years," she had just hired that lawyer. According to the foreclosure file, Attorney Charles Laputka had just entered his appearance for her on July 5.

Updated 1:58 pm: The amount of this judgment is $3202.24.

NorCo Web Page Flop Fixed

Yesterday, I gave you a rather scathing critique of Northampton County's new webpage. It must have hit a nerve because a number of changes have been made.

• Photographs of three Lehigh County businesses were running as part of a photo slideshow at the top of the homepage. They have been removed and replaced with photos of three Northampton County businesses. I have no problem with regionalization, but a county website should focus on its own businesses. 
• There now is a direct link, from the home page, for online payment of real estate taxes, as well as fines and costs in criminal matters.
• There now is a direct link, from the home page, to Northampton County's underutilized mapping.
• There now is a direct link, from the home page, to Northampton County Council meeting videos.
• There now is a direct link, from the home page, to the courts' webpage.
• You can now search for opinions from the courts' web page.      

Was that so hard?

One of the biggest mistakes this county makes is that it consistently fails to seek input from the people on the front lines. John Callahan called this "continuous improvement" when he ran for Executive. John Brown claimed that he would implement it as well, but has instead imposed a top-down approach, in which people who are here temporarily presume they know how the wheels of government turn. Even worse, Brown has at times relied on government by consultant instead of just speaking to the people in the trenches.

You won't find them at the Pomfret Club.

There is no direct link for custody petitions and that's most likely because none of these so-called experts understand.

Nazareth Police Officer Commended For Emergency Delivery

Officer Schleig with the
two lives he saved.  

A few weeks ago, I told you that Nazareth Police Officer Stephen Schleig conducted an emergency delivery, on election day, of a healthy baby girl. Last night, he received a well-deserved letter of commendation from Nazareth Borough Council.

This is the second time Schleig has been commended. The first was for his quick action in saving the life of a 54 year-old man, Jeff Fogel, who had gone into cardiac arrest.

Here's what Schleig himself has to say on his Facebook page:

Well, I've been honored again tonight and have received a second letter of commendation award for saving another life. This time with the delivery of an new born baby girl. What's really cool is that my friend Mr. Fogel who I had the honor being able to help the first time I received a letter of commendation award, was able to be there tonight. I will forever be bound to these two until the day I take my last breath. God Bless you both.

Even better is the comment he received from Fogel's daughter Amber:

I will forever be grateful for you saving my dads life! Ill never forget how composed you were and how great of a job you and the rest of the ambulance teams did to bring him back to life! It's a blessing to know you! Such a wonderful man! Glad to have you protecting and caring for everyone you meet!

This is the guy that Nazareth Borough Council tried to run out of town.

No Glass Ceiling in Bethlehem Tp, Sez Female Manager

Santa Wright

Jackie Gilligan is the new Director at Bethlehem Township Community Center. I ran into her early Friday evening, when I was assigned to photograph kids making gingerbread houses. She was getting all the goodies ready, and I complained inappropriately that I got "stuck" with this gig.

"Stuck? Oh that's right. You cover politics and other boring stuff."

When she's right, she's right. I actually did have fun, but not as much as the kids and their parents participating in this annual tradition.

Well, Jackie will be happy to know that her name came up at the December 5 Commissioners' meeting, which involves politics and other boring stuff.

After a hiatus of about a year, feisty Santa Wright was there. She noted that the salary for the Director at the Community Center last year was $81,679, but now it's only $66,950.

"I know that the person who was the Director at the Community Center was a guy, and now it's a lady -

"That has nothing to do with where you're going," interrupted Mike Hudak,who happens to be a male, with a laugh.

"Let me finish my question," continued Wright. "It's 81% of the salary of a man who had the same job. It's a legitimate question. So I'd like to know why that is."

Manager Melissa Shafer, who happens to be a female, fielded this question. She said she did the interviews and that the salary is commensurate with Jackie's experience. She indicated that the person that Jackie replaced, Floyd Shaffer, had 30 years of experience running community centers and nonprofit agencies. This is a new role for Jackie. Shafer also indicated that Jackie lobbied for raises for the full-time employees at the time of her promotion.

I don't think Santa bought it. If Jackie's salary is still $66,950 after five years, I'll agree. Not now. But I love that she raised the question.

NorCo's New Webpage Promotes Lehigh County

Northampton County unleashed its new webpage today. From the build-up, I was expecting to be blown away. I was disappointed. It's pretty much the same as the old site, except everything has been re-organized. It does allows you to translate into Chichewa and Zulu. Translation capabilities are pretty much standard fare on most web browsers. But it is nice to know that Shaka kaSenzangakhona will be able to keep tabs on the county before he invades from Jersey.

It's actually a step backwards.

1) Incredibly, it promotes Lehigh County. I thought I saw Tom Muller over here recently and now I know why. The slideshow at the homepage header is a promotion of the Penn State Extension in Lehigh County. It depicts Mack, Amazon and Olympus. All three are Lehigh County companies. I would think a Northampton County webpage would promote its own businesses. And if we are going to promote a Lehigh County operation, why does it have to include one like Amazon, which came under heavy criticism when it was forcing employees to work in 110 degree heat?

2) No direct link to online payments. The right sidebar of the home page includes links to what are called "online services." Amazingly, it includes no direct link  for the payment of real estate taxes. It also fails to include a direct link for the payment of fines and costs in criminal cases. Thus a casual user of the webpage would be unaware that he can pay both real estate taxes and fines online. There should be direct links for both,and they should be listed with "online services."

3) No Direct Link to Custody Petitions. Unfortunately, custody disputes have become commonplace. Many of the people visiting the courthouse are there to seek custody or modify an existing order. In another sign of the times, many of these people have no attorney and leave with petitions they take home and present to a motions judge the next day. if the county is interested in providing service to the community, a link to this custody complaint should be available online.

4) No direct link to county mapping. One of the most fascinating services provided by Northampton County is its interactive mapping, including aerial maps from 2015, 2010 and 2008. This invaluable and underutilized service needs to be better known, and should be featured as part of the "online services."  

5) No direct link to Council meeting videos. The old page, which was operating just fine on Sunday, had a direct link to the videos of Council meetings from the homepage. That link is now gone, and a person who wants to watch the meeting will have to find it on the Council page. To view the meetings, you must still install Microsft Silverlight, which is inoperable on Apple products and most versions of Chrome. This shortcoming should have been fixed.

6) No direct link to the courts.   There is no direct link to the courts' webpage in "online services." That includes valuable information concerning trial lists, argument lists, miscellaneous hearings and jury service.

6) The County Giveth, and the County Taketh Away. I do like the link to court opinions, which seems to be more inclusive than what existed at the courts' webpage. But another problem has been created. On the court's webpage, if you click to look at their opinions, you now get this message: "Service Unavailable. HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable." It should instead link directly to the opinions page on the county site. Most attorneys looking for a court opinion will be looking in the courts' webpage, not the county's.

7) County Council Members Promote Themselves.  District Attorney John Morganelli is a politician, as are Executive John Brown and Controller Steve Barron. Yet they included none of the usual self-promotional pictures. But Council Council just had to include nine color pictures of themselves. Incumbent protection, you know.

Conclusion: This much ballyhooed webpage is worse than the one it replaced. It completely fails to link citizens with the important county services they actually use,promotes businesses outside the County, fails to make meeting videos accessible to one and all, but promotes incumbent council members. As usually happens in the Brown administration, no effort is made to test a system with the actual end users because that would require them to come down to earth. The result is an inferior product.

Is DaVinci Center a Fit in Easton?

Da Vinci Science City - Easton Waterfront

Without question, Easton looks much better today than it did just a few short years ago. Mayor Sal Panto, who is an enthusiastic ambassador when he talks about what once was known as Shadtown, deserves much of the credit for this rebirth. But its main attraction is that it is a river town halfway between New York and Philly. People and businesses have been playing to these strengths in recent years, and it's working. It might work for the Da Vinci Center, too.

Last week, news broke that The Da Vinci Science Center, located on the west end of Allentown, is considering an expansion into Easton. Executive Director Lin Erickson gave Northampton County Council an overview of the project last week, claiming it would bring education, tourism and economic development to Northampton County.

According to Erickson, Da Vinci Science Center needs to expand, and has spent the past year evaluating different locations. Its search led it to Days Inn. That will be demolished and replaced with a 170,000 sq ft facility that includes a science center, a 500,000 gallon aquarium with large view panes, an Aquarium Restaurant and event center with seating for 500, an immersion theater, a creativity studio or "Fab lab," classrooms and offices.

Easton has agreed to contribute up to $30 million of the projected $130 million cost.

Based on a comparison with the Chattanooga Aquarium, Erickson projects that Easton's Da Vinci Center will draw 600,000 visitors annually. It will create $45 million in economic development, provide jobs for 200 people and generate $7 million in local tax revenue.

Chattanooga (528,000) is much larger than Easton (27,000), but Erickson noted that the population within a 50-mile radius of the Lehigh Valley is 7.1 million, seven times that of a 50-mile radius around the Tennessee site.

In its 20-year history, the Chattanooga Aquarium has attracted 18 million visitors, and hotel taxes in that area have increased 500%.

Over the next year, Easton and Da Vinci will conduct a feasibility study to determine if the plan is viable. That alone will cost $1 million. Northampton County will assist with $50,000 in hotel taxes If Da Vinci gets a green light and funding, the project will be completed by 2021.

One drawback of this site is that, as Erickson herself noted, is that it is located in the flood plain. From time to time, it is itself an aquarium. I am unable to recall whether The Days Inn was impacted, but know the McDonalds across the street has been hit several times by floodwaters in recent years.    

Erickson stated that she decided on Easton, in part, because of its accessibility to Routes 22 and 78, as well as New Jersey. But funding was also a major factor. "Mayor Panto stepped up with a commitment unlike any of the other cities," acknowledged Erickson.

Da Vinci's goal is to bring "science to life and lives to science."  According to its 2014 tax return, it took in about $2.6 million in revenue and had about $2.5 million in expenses. Those include $1.3 million in salaries, including $131,000 to Erickson. It employs a staff of about 50 full-time and part-time employees. One of them is related to a board member.  It has a very large and unwieldy Board of Trustees of 28 people, and has a loan out to one of them.

Can Easton afford $30 million for a project that might fail? Nearly a third of its population is below the poverty level. Only half of its homes are owner-occupied. But  the City has an A-plus credit rating.

Easton has already agreed to spend $5.9 million to acquire the Days Inn, but is only paying $100,000 for the property until the feasibility study is completed.

Previously, Panto had hoped to enhance tourism with a national high school hall of fame. But that idea went nowhere.  

Dent Commends "Mad Dog" Nomination

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped retired Marine Gen. James "Mad Dog" Mattis to be his secretary of defense. Congressman Charlie Dent has been no fan of Trump, but applauds the selection of the "Warrior Monk."

"I commend President-Elect Donald Trump for naming retired United States Marine Corp General James Mattis as his choice for Secretary of Defense. I believe that General Mattis will serve our country and the men and women of our Armed Forces with the same distinction and integrity as he did for four decades wearing the uniform of the United States Marines. As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that is tasked with meeting our nation’s military construction needs, I look forward to working with General Mattis and his team.”

NorCo Council Condemns Possibe Cunningham Conflict on Chinese Board

Don Cunningham

As reported here yesterday, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) CEO Don Cunningham has decided to accept no compensation as a board member at plastic company Fuling Global. "While it’s perfectly legal for me to serve, I have learned that perception often becomes people’s reality, and I don’t want to cause any harm to LVEDC or Fuling."  But that did nothing to dissuade Northampton County Council from adopting a resolution condemning what had happened.

Hayden Phillips, who sponsored the resolution, was aware of Cunningham's decision to accept no compensation. But he went on with it anyway. "The bell's rung, you can't unring a bell," he said. "I think we should still go through with this."

Bob Werner, who has clashed with Cunningham in the past, called Cunningham's letter a "walkback." "It's an 'I'm sorry' after I hit you." Saying he had no problem with LVEDC, Werner added, "I know Don," and questioned whether Cunningham really was waiving the $30,000 salary. "If any one of us up here did anything like this at all, we would be fried to death."

Executive John Brown defended Cunningham, stating it is a "common practice" among economic development professionals in the private sector, and affords a "learning experience." He indicated that Cunningham's willingness to forego a salary on the Fuling Board should cure any misperception. He asked Council to withdraw the resolution.

Glenn Geissinger agreed that sitting on a board was not a problem, but accepting money was. He believes Cunningham corrected that error. "I no longer have a problem with it since he's not being compensated," he said.

"At the very least, we should say what he did was wrong," said Council President John Cusick

Supporting the resolution were Phillips, Werner, Cusick, Peg Ferraro, Mat Benol and Matt Dietz. Voting against it were Geissinger, Ken Kraft and Seth Vaughn.

Cathy Allen Confirmed as Director of Administration

A divided Northampton County Council voted last night to confirm Cathy Allen as Director of Administration, with a starting salary of $91,790. The vote was 6-3. Hayden Philips, Matt Diet and Bob Werner voted No. The remaining Council members supported her.

Werner noted that Allen has been the recipient of an illegal raise and has improperly charged the County over $1,000 for meals and travel to which she was not entitled. Matt Dietz added that, in a meeting with Allen, he was appalled when she accused several Council members of opposing her because they are sexist. Phillips is concerned about Allen's previously reported tax liens and foreclosure.

Executive John Brown stuck by Allen. "I believe we all have shortcomings, we all have challenges, we all misstep at times, and that's just our human nature," he said in her defense. "Ms. Allen has been and continues to be on a daily basis instrumental in making sure that the objectives of this administration get implemented in a way that moves this county forward." He noted hat Allen attacked the scalding water problem at Gracedale when she was first brought on board and, most recently, administered a well-run presidential election. He claimed that, to many employees, she is a go-to resource.

Mat Benol, who had previously opposed Allen, changed course. "What sticks in my mind is when she came to a prior council with [union agent] Justus James," he said. "That spoke volumes to what her abilities are."

Peg Ferraro said she is "absolutely torn" but decided to give Allen the nod. "Our Executive is doing an excellent job and he has complete faith and trust in this person ... . If he feels the confidence, I guess I will feel the confidence also."

After she was confirmed, one person in the back attempted to applaud, but no one joined him.

Less controversial was the appointment of Tim Herrlinger as Director of Community and Economic Development, at a salary of $83,718. He was confirmed unanimously. "Tim, I think you've done a great job so far," said John Cusick.

Vaughn: "Who Cares?" If He Misses Important Budget Hearing

Though the legislative branch of government is generally regarded as the weakest, there is one time during the year when that changes. That's at budget time. The legislative branch controls the purse strings and can make wholesale changes to an Executive or Mayoral spending plan. Allentown City Council recently proved just how powerful it can be when it essentially gutted Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski's use of public funds to reward his friends and let you pick up the tab. But to do this, you have to show up.

On the same night that Allentown City Council was flexing its muscle, Northampton County Council was considering a series of amendments to Executive John Brown's spending for next year. It is the second most important meeting of the year. But Seth Vaughn, who works out of his home, never bothered to show up. I reported his absence because it is part of the story. I have no training as a reporter, but know I should tell try to tell readers Who, What, Why, When, Where and How.

Doing this made Seth Vaughn angry.

When I confronted him about his absence last night in the parking lot outside the courthouse, it made him very angry.

"You were absent from one of the most important meetings of the year," I charged.

"So what?"

"Who cares?"

"I'm still going to win the election next year, pal."

"Nobody reads your blog, pal."

Apparently, he must have read it.

He then called me a coward and a disbarred lawyer. Yelling, he ran off to his car and drove off. Along the way, he called Ken Kraft a coward, too.

Ordinarily, I'd say that a person who gets tetchy might be working too hard. But that conclusion is inapplicable to Vaughn.

Maybe he needs more sleep.