Council Meeting Audio 04/26/06

With this meeting we continue our series of "Councilpeople Behaving Badly". In this episode the mostly eloquent and sometimes overly-sympathetic Councilwoman Heffley loses her cool. We just have one thing to offer-- UNACCEPTABLE. We are adults and professionals; forgetting this is not an option. Here's a suggestion don't apologize; just don't do it. Listen for yourself.

What he said.

Her reaction.

The meeting was dominated by the Officer Sollman funeral expense dispute. In attendance were the Widow Sollman, her two small children, Officers Maracini, McMonagle, Lt Reilly, retired Lt Orchulli, and Attorney John Karoly. Lt Reilly's comments (first comment session) of the meeting were thought provoking; to say the least.

Audio

Canned Worms

Tomorrow evening 6:30pm at the Christ Lutheran Church on 11th & Ferry Streets the Mayor will be holding a Town Meeting.

Where do we even begin with this? It’s been more than a month since I received personal assurance from the Mayor that a State of the City address was to be, but thus far we haven’t heard a word about it. I read somewhere that the Mayor is entertaining questions at tomorrow’s meeting. Now I think to myself, “Self, how is he going to keep this meeting in order?” With all of the unanswered or insufficiently answered questions we have posed to the administration; this meeting could easily last for days.

Let’s just start with the cops…

Why did you try to hide the prospective Chiefmissioner’s backgrounds from your constituents? Why haven’t we paid for the public ceremony for Officer Sollman? Why is a homicide protected as a “personnel issue”? With the lost handgun being taxpayer property why haven’t you offered us resolution? Why did you create a manpower and leadership crisis in the police department through budgeting and contracting? Why did you fire the police chief without a plan? How much did the “Rat List” investigation cost? Is the City being sued by the “Rat” listees? Who were the six “community leaders” involved in the Chimissioner interviews?

Now let’s look at the rest…

When is the Early Intervention Program final report? What parts of the EIP report will you NOT follow? What happened to Chris Anzini, Miriam Huertas, Sue Coffin, Sheldon Smith, and Michael Gibiser? Is you email policy enforceable? What is the status of the uncollected sewer/water bills? Why haven’t you commented on the Bachmann debacle? Are you using “your extensive fundraising skills” to assist with the swimming pools capital campaign? Do you actively participate in city negotiations? Who is Dick McAteer? When is the State of the City? Are we on budget?

I’m sure I missed a few hundred. So, do me a favor; send your questions I will try to get them answered.

Your Neighbor

Council Meeting Audio 04/12/06

This meeting had serious tension in the air. The Mayor and Mrs Heffley ranted and joked about the public finding out the names of the Chiefmissioner candidates. Solicitor Murphy took a minute to defend executive session procedure. The Mechanical Devices tax is being amended and was subject to a bit of comment. The Mayor was somewhat aloof and did what he could to not offer any substantial information to anyone. He also made himself scarce for the public comment segments of the meeting.

Audio

Easton UnPlugged Audio Blog (podcast) #9

Sorry for the month-long wait. We're back and we're swinging for the fence. This podcast is split into two pieces because it was a two and a half hour marathon. We have a very special guest, Mike Fleck. The former Councilman, Mayoral hopeful, and never shy pundit does what he does, talk. This is a good session. Mike really stepped up and spoke out. And that's why we like him.

Fan O' Fleck or not, this is a must hear. This is hopefully the first in a long series of guest sessions.

The first part is our normal podcast format where we go over the current events, and the second part is Q & A.

Part 1 Podcast
Part 2 Q & A

Our friend TDR was the silent special guest working the cue cards.

Your Neighbors

Suspicious Fire ALERT!

DEPARTMENT OF FIRE
Office of the Fire Marshal

PRESS RELEASE ON SUSPICIOUS FIRES

Since the beginning of this year the Easton Fire Department has responded to eight suspicious fires involving rubbish or brush throughout the city. Below is the list of these suspicious fires. The fires have been determined to be arson. Although some of the fires appear to be small, in a few instances they have attributed to significant property damage. We are asking the public to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and be especially vigilant on the night before trash is picked-up.

12:08am 02/21/06 1122 Jackson (rear) Rubbish
6:26pm 02/25/06 River Bank (Canal St) Brush
4:26pm 03/07/06 College Hill Reservoir Brush
7:41pm 03/08/06 326 Lincoln (rear) Rubbish
12:29pm 03/15/06 697 Ferry Dumpster
5:30pm 03/21/06 634 Northampton Rubbish
2:24pm 03/23/06 Railroad/Lehigh Drive Rubbish/Brush
5:18pm 03/23/06 1023 Spruce (rear) Rubbish



Below are the guidelines imposed by the City of Easton for Trash Removal

1) Place trash curbside the night before your pickup day no earlier than 8:00 pm.

2) STORAGE - Trash stored on your property must be held in solid, watertight containers out of view from public streets until it is placed curbside for pickup

3) CURBSIDE – Trash must be placed curbside in a secured manner (bags or containers with tight fitting lids) to prevent litter and clogging of storm drains.

4) Please remove empty trash receptacles from the curb on the same day that your trash is picked up

5) Each household may place up to five bags or two 30-gallon containers curbside per week. In addition, one bulk item per week may be placed curbside for pickup. Do not dispose of tires, hazardous wastes, batteries, liquid paint, motor oil, auto parts, chemicals, or any other unacceptable refuse.

*NOTE – items containing Freon must be serviced and secured with a maintenance tag and identified as being deactivated free of HFC’s and CFC’s before pickup as per Section 608 of the USEPA Clean Air Act. Also, all refrigerator doors must be removed for safety before being placed curbside.

Please do your part – unsightly and improperly prepared trash results in litter, complaints, and an overall poorer quality of life for everyone. The City may assess up to $300 for violations of trash ordinances.

For more information please call Deputy Chief John Bast at 610-250-6671.