City Council Meeting Audio 02/13/08

A three hour tour... A three hour tour.
The weather started getting rough the Riverwalk project was tossed,
If not for the courage of a fearless few,
More money would be lost,
More money would be lost.

Our City Controller Tony Bassil reported the results of his audit on the finances of the Easton Parking Authority. His findings; It bleeds!

Somebody's got some 'splainin to do. And your guess is as good as mine as to who it will be. People want heads to roll. But that's just the people. The cockroaches have already started to scatter away from the light on this one.

Another significant item was the tabling of several reappointments and an appointment to various authorities, boards, and commissions. The appointments were slated to be rubber stamped, but upon discussion it was decided that a two week waiting period will be used instead of a public confirmation process. The Mayor said, "I don't think it should be brought before the public. Frankly, we have enough of a hard time to get people to serve on these boards and commissions and authorities. If you start bringing people through here, and having them dragged through the public arena I don't thing we'll get people to be here."

I believe we should bring people through. But that's just me. I want to bear witness to a candidate's (for appointments) qualities and desire to serve.

If you listen reall close, when the Mayor says, "Dragged through the..." you can hear a Councilperson say "the mud". I do apprieciate the Mayor's tact. But I can not get on board with keeping civil service in the shadows. Let the sunshine on the process. Protect us from future Easton Parking Authority debacles.

Heck of a job, Louie!

NOTE: On August 28, 2007, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards proposed what he called "Brownie's Law" requiring that "qualified people, not political hacks", lead key federal agencies. (Michael D Brown's Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Brown)



City Grade for the period of 01/24/08 through 02/13/08

Audio Regular Session(3 hours 9 minute 21.6Mb)

Agenda Regular Session

City Council Meeting Audio 01/23/08

We have both the regular Council sessions and the day before's Conference Meeting. The meetings were pretty straight forward with no contention or consternation. Councilman Warren touted the recently published police statistics. And the public speaking proceedures for City sponsored public meetings was discussed in good detail.

The protection and amplification of the peoples' right to participate had the greatest effect on this period's grade. (Sorry we forgot to post the grade the first btime around)

City Grade for the period of 01/10/08 through 01/23/08

Audio Conference Meeting (44 minutes 15 seconds 5.06Mb)
Audio Regular Session(1 hour 1 minute 7.03Mb)

Agenda Conference Meeting
Agenda Regular Session

City Council Meeting Audio 1/09/08

This was a relatively short, but very telling meeting. We were shown who was really in control. And we were shown our places.

The first bit of tension to be to be touched upon was the legal question surrounding Mrs Panto's appointment/reappointment to the Charter-made Council seat. We were taken all the way to the end of the table for the ruling. Now keep in mind that the appearance of familiarity; the appearance of a conflict; or the appearance of collusion are not against the rules or the law-- so they may not (of course) be key considerations as we make decisions. And they weren't... Furthermore, any talk of such nonsense will be duly ignored. Mrs Panto's appointment was cleared by the Assistant Solicitor (you see for this ruling the "Solicitor" was too close to the Mayor).

I feel so stupid.

Later in the meeting Roger Ruggles was appointed to Councilman Dan Corpora's vacated seat. There was angst and controversy surrounding the procedure used there to. Mind you, all of the protest, angst, and controversy was sponsored by the same group of advocates/trouble makers (depends on your vantage point).

Now, we could have appointed both Mrs Panto and Mr Ruggles with the very minimum discomfort with just the tiniest bit of thought.

First; the procedures and steps to fill the vacancies should have been posted and made available for everyone's review shortly after the elections.

Second; the charter transition committee should have been convened to go over the FIFTY ONE PAGES of the charter, and address the transition issues like 2.05 (c).

Third; Roger Ruggles should have been voted into the Charter-made position.

Fourth; Pam Panto should have been voted through the vacancy Dan Corpora created.

Yes, there would have still been grumbling over Mr and Mrs Panto serving together, but there would be far fewer elephants in the room.

City Grade for the period of 01/02/08 through 01/09/08

Audio (1 hour 27 minutes 10Mb)

Agenda

Minutes

City Council Farewell and Reorganization Meetings

Out with the old, in with the old and new...

Last night City council held two meetings. The beginning of the session was the farewell meeting of the City's Third Class City Code Council. The ending was the reorganization meeting for the City's first Home Rule Charter Council.

The evening was mostly ceremonial. The only uncomfortable moments swirled around the appointment of Pam Panto to the newly-made (Home Rule Charter) Council seat.

Now, let me just interject some for-the-record editorial...

For me, the issue has never been Pam Panto serving on Council. The issue is Pam Panto being APPOINTED to City Council WHILE her husband is in-charge of it. As I said to Mrs Panto on election night, it would be different and less controversial if she ran in two years.

Appointments to political positions are arguably the most abused of all political processes. We see it time and time again. Just this last cycle we saw it in D.C. (remember the fine job Brownie did in Louisiana?) and we got a good slaterin' of it at County Council with the appointments of McClure and Branco (the party politics choke hold).

It would have been a hugely symbolic gesture if we could have avoided the appointment of Pam Panto as an issue. It would have made it obvious to any doubters that power was not an issue. As I said to WFMZ, "I know and trust the Pantos and so do hundreds of others, BUT there are a lot more people that have no idea what they are like personally." So for the Pantos to say things like "we're individuals and we think for ourselves" works fine for me, but what about everyone else?

If someone like John Stoffa (whom I do not know personally) told me to trust him enough to appoint his wife (whom I also do not know) to County Council, should I just turn off my scrutinizer and say OK because of his words?

Bottom line. Liking someone is not enough for me to allow them to do something that I would not allow someone I did not know, like, or trust to do.

I accepted the fact that Pam Panto was going to get appointed. And I am fine with it, because I like her and respect her a lot. Is that enough?

What I did not like was the way that Council handled the voting. Nominating one candidate from a field of five (when you have to favor two anyway) injures the democratic notion of one-man one-vote. It creates one-candidate no-vote. The Charter Commission had the foresight to protect Council members' votes from losing significance by instituting the rolling roll-call (the voting order rotates through the members). And, one more thing, when a vote is of that magnitude it would serve us all a lot better if everyone made a statement with their vote. Last night's voting was very discouraging. It was uncomfortable when only one person was nominated the first time, but it was insulting when Jeff Warren nominated Ken Brown. Hmm, the new guy appoints the Vice Mayor. That was a demonstration of power that I hope to never witness in city Hall again.

OK, I wish only the best to our new Council and the Mayor. Mayor Panto's vision for the city is shared by us here at EU.

One more, one more thing... I am officially never giving anymore TV interviews. two minutes of talking about the Charter gets me 10 seconds of somewhat out of context airtime. And as most of you know I can hardly afford the 10lbs that TV adds.

Farewell Session Audio(30 minutes 30 seconds 2.49Mb)

Reorganization session Audio(52 minutes 12 seconds 5.97Mb)

City Council Meeting Audio 12/31/07

Here it is... The very last Third Class City Code driven City Council/Budget meeting.

Council ratified the 2008 budget at a rare 10am session. There was a short 20 minute break for an Executive Session on a "personnel matter". And a resolution was passed directing the City Controller to audit the Easton Parking Authority's finances.

The audience comments centered on the Easton Parking Authority.

Audio(47 minutes 24 seconds 5.42Mb)
Agenda
Minutes

City Council Appointment Interviews

Here's the link to the public interview session of the six residents who submitted their interest to be appointed to City Council.

The candidates were interviewed in this order:
John Border
Mike Fleck
Theresa Miller
Pamela Panto
J. Spike Rogan
Roger Ruggles

As many of you may have heard, Spike's used his time to make a very well thought out and mannerly political protest statement. His statement was against having Mayor Sal and Councilwoman Pam Panto serve on the new Council.

Audio (1 hour 10 minutes 8.06Mb)

City Council Meeting Audio 11/14, 11,28, & 12/12/07

Once again, my apologies.

Here are the last three City Council meetings.

November 14, 2007

The Mayor presented the administration's budget proposal.

Allan Raisman, of Lafayette College, presented his "One-Word" project before Council. Several Lafayette students performed readings of submissions to the project. My personal favorite was the submission for the word "Eventually".

Audio (1 hour 19 minutes 1.02Mb)
Agenda
Minutes

November 28, 2007

John L. Boscia's (a retired City employee) passing was recognized in a resolution.

The Easton Rumblers soccer team was recognized for their undefeated season.

The Planning and Economic Development Director (Barb Kowitz) gave an update on the progress of the Palmeroy and Lincoln Textile projects. Some council members seemed less than satisfied with the report on the projects. There was also vigorous discussion on the obstructed sidewalk in front of the Palmeroy building. The Mayor reported on his meeting with the developers. He was as confident and as supportive as ever in the developers' intentions. There was a good deal of discussion on the development projects and the taxpayers liabilities.

Audio (1 hour 18 minutes 8.96Mb)
Agenda
Minutes

December 12, 2007

Council discussed presenting a non-binding resolution to have the Easton Parking Authority cease spending in relation to the Riverwalk project until a pending financial audit is completed by the City Controller.

The sledding ban was lifted.

Audio (2 hours 2 minutes 14Mb)
Agenda
Minutes

City Council Meeting Audio 10/24/07

What ever he did, that we don't know about, if it were that bad then we would know about it.
-Laini Abraham on the issues behind the Administration's
recomendation to fire Officer Vince Bruneo. (audio 3 minutes 16 seconds 383kb)

City Council was near capacity. Citizens filled the room to save the job of Officer Vince Bruneo. Most of the speakers and attendees were downtown residents and merchants that Vince served. The Mayor lobbied hard to take Bruneo's job, and at one point he let everyone know that there would be no fill-in downtown beat cop as long as Bruneo lingered on the books. (Translation: You want your cop back soon, give me what I want). God Bless the LVEDC!

Council did the city a great service by retaining Bruneo. The man is a credit to his job. Just ask the people he protects.

Audio (2 hours 13.7Mb)
Agenda

Your Neighbor

The Missing City Council Meetings

City Council Meeting 08/22/07

The police command staff gave an accreditation presentation. Heidi and Iggy Markow followed with a proposal for a domestic violence memorial in Easton. There was lots of discussion on the domestic animal ordinance.

Audio (2 hours 1 minute 13.8Mb)
Agenda
Minutes

Community Development Block Grant Meeting 09/12/07

This is the first of two CDBG allocation decision meetings. 14 groups petitioned for funds, with the City of Easton being the 14th. The City asked for more than is expected to be alloted. The City's interest in the GEDP and CACLV was once again glossed over.

Audio (49 minutes 30 seconds 5.66Mb)
Minutes

City Council Meeting 09/12/07

The City recognized the accomplishments of the late Elsie Luciano. Police Officer Sam Smith was recognized for his service and retirement. The Police/Shiloh Intramural Basketball program was honored, and Chief Palmer presentented awards. The domestic animal ordinance passed.

Audio (1 hours 34 minute 10.7Mb)
Agenda
Minutes

City Council Meeting 09/26/07

Mr David Woglam of Lafayette's Meyner Center presented the City with the "Meyner Report". The report drew a good deal of comment and discussion.

Audio (1 hours 33 minute 10.7Mb)
Agenda
Minutes

Community Development Block Grant Meeting 10/10/07

The second of two allocation assesment meetings. The City did not adjust its requested funds.

Audio (23 minutes 56 seconds 2.74Mb)
Minutes

City Council Meeting 10/10/07

Council honored the accomplishments of the late Bruce Zanzitis. A resolution passed to waive City fees for the development plan and building construction of the L’il Rovers Field House.

Audio (52 minutes 43 seconds 6.03Mb)
Agenda
Minutes

City Council Meeting Audio 6/27/07

NEXT DAY SERVICE!!!

There were several important issues hashed over at this meeting. The $33,000.00 proposed closing of North Bank Street, The proposal to extend the police early retirement incentive for the command staff, and the Housing Authority's changes to the Hope VI plan.

The commentary was lively and informative.

Audio:
Meeting (1 hr 28 min 10.0 Mb)

Documents:
Agenda

Minutes: (when available)

Just a note: There were only three City Council candidates in attendance Ken Brown (on Council), El Warner, and Roger Ruggles. To us this is a honest measure of commitment to be a City Council member. Mr Brown has a very good attendance record (he missed one last year to honeymoon). Ms Warner and Mr Ruggles are both members of the Home Rule Charter Commission, and their attendance is also admirable (the HRCC meetings are many times long arduous affairs).

We see the continued absence of Bill Timmann, Peter Melan, and Jeff Warren as indicators of both their ability and willingness to actively participate in the resolution of the City's issues.

Your neighbors

City Council Meeting Audio 5/09/07

Sorry for the tardiness. But it's getting nice outside, and the sun glares off of my laptop screen.

This was a relatively short meeting. Council honored two of the City's retirees that passed away. Crime was a topic (3 shootings, one fatal, and one mugging).

Audio:
Regular Meeting (1 hours 40 minutes 11.4Mb)

Documents:
Agenda
Minutes

2007 Primary Candidates' Interviews

The final three interviews are posted!!!!!
*NOTE: Ken Brown declined to participate in the interviews

This is where we will post audio interviews with candidates for the May 15th primary. The interviews will added as they occur (with the most recent listed first).

Each interview will last 15 to 20 minutes. The questions will be selected from our question pool prior to each interview. The interviews are neutral and issues only.

Send us your questions to add to our question pool. Email eu@eastonundressed.org put “Questions” in the subject line.

Candidates schedule your interviews! Email eu@eastonundressed.org

May 8, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Bill Timmann(R) primary candidate for Easton City Council. Bill Timmann interview (25 minutes 28 seconds 2.91Mb)

May 7, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Peter Melan (R) primary candidate for Easton City Council. Peter Melan interview (13 minutes 36 seconds 1.56Mb)

May 7, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Nadine Loane (D) primary candidate for Easton City Council. Nadine Loane Interview (23 minutes 46 seconds 2.72Mb)

April 16, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Jeff Warren (D) primary candidate for Easton City Council. Jeff Warren interview (18 minutes 26 seconds 2.1Mb)

April 10, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Gary Bertsch (R) primary candidate for Easton Mayor. Gary Bertsch interview (12 minutes 53 seconds 1.47Mb)

April 7, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Sal Panto Jr. (D) primary candidate for Easton Mayor. Sal Panto Jr. interview (14 minutes 37 seconds 1.67Mb)

April 5, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Roger Ruggles (R) primary candidate for Easton City Council. Roger Ruggles interview (17 minutes 24 seconds 1.99Mb)

April 4, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Mike Fleck (D) primary candidate for Easton Mayor. Mike Fleck interview (18 minutes 59 seconds 2.23Mb)

April 2, 2007, Terrance Hand interviews Elinor Warner (D) primary candidate for Easton City Council. El Warner interview (14 minutes 26 seconds 1.65Mb)

City Council Meeting Audio 4/25/07

This meeting was an epic four and a half hours! The first 45 minutes was the City Treasurers report (very disappointing). That was followed by 2 hours and 20 minutes of public comment on the Riverwalk project. The actual meeting was 39 minutes, and it was followed by 40 minutes more of public comment.

Every minute of this meeting was important and interesting. The Treasurers report was very disturbing to me. The Treasurer, his staff, and the Business Administrator spent the majority of the 45 minutes explaining why their performance was the way it is. There wasn't any talk that I can recall about improving performance.

The Riverwalk fight was as heated as it has ever been. It culminated in a borderline fist fight (shouting match) between a councilman and an anti-Riverwalk activist at the 5th floor elevators. Council voted 4 to 1 in favor of the Riverwalk project.

For your convenience (and at great inconvenience to me) I have divided the meeting into segments:

Entire meeting (4 hours 28 minutes 30.7Mb)
Treasurer's report (45 minutes 12 seconds 5.17Mb)
1st comments segment (2 hours 22 minutes 16.2Mb)
Meeting segment (38 minutes 59 seconds 4.46Mb)
2nd comments segment (39 minutes 59 seconds 4.57Mb)

We hope you find this helpful,
Your neighbors

City Council Meeting Audio 1/24/07

cAnother almost uneventful meeting. Councilman Corpora was not in attendance. The only real discussion revolved around the Riverwalk Inter model project. The talks sprouted from Bad Apple's remarks on the project and resulted in comments from both Solicitors Schear & Murphy, as well as the Mayor and Councilwoman Heffley. Once again I brought up the destruction of the City Council audio archives no one commented.

Audio (1 hour 16 seconds 8.8Mb)
Agenda
Minutes