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.

Blight Lights in the Big City

We are examining the effects of "historic" lighting on blighted properties.


Maybe these pigs take different shades of lipstick.

Council Meeting Audio 03/22/06

The first 30 minutes of the audio was so noisy that it was unusable. I will get that from Spike's back-up ASAP. The Sollman presentation and the Mayor's comments on the grand jury findings were lost. Mr Brown's embarrassing tirade, however, was preserved.

Maybe I have too much time on my hands throwing stone... Nah! I beg to difference.

City Council Meeting 03/22/06


http://eastonundressed.org/eufiles/begtodifference.mp3

Fair is Paying Your Share

The contributors of Easton UnDressed are occasionally are accused of being “whiners”. We catch flack for pointing out negatives. And we have been cited for episodes of delusional creativity. But after all is said and done, we evaluate our EU efforts by the actions we influence.

We pride ourselves on the fact that we don’t just talk. EU has an action wing that is building a nice little track record. We have some very real projects working as you read this (swimming pools and Charter Commission), and we have had many social victories (11 member Charter Commission, logo contest, and full pool season). This blog is a real tool, and we have used it as well as we could for the past 5 months. We use this blog to spread information and facts, to solicit audiences and participation, and to develop priorities and strategies.

We go to meetings. We go to meetings as members, as observers, and as guest offering testimony. We go to Council. We do our absolute best not to miss a public meeting sponsored by the City Council, and we are working to spread the EU presence to more of the City’s public meetings each month.

Our mission is clear:

To provide a clean, crime-free, and safe environment with competitive services that allows residents to enjoy a high quality of life, while providing commerce an environment to thrive.

Our focus of effort is also purposefully narrow. We advocate for the residents of the City of Easton. It was the City’s neglect, and failure to maintain services to the residents that created Easton UnDressed. The convoluted and illegal development of our Amusement Tax was the spark that lit off the EUniverse.

The battle to reinstate the City’s Amusement and Mechanical Devices Taxes was a victory and a loss for the people living in the city. The concessions that the Executive Director of the State Theatre for the Arts negotiated with City Council was not only in violation of the tax laws that govern IRS 501(c)(3) sheltered organizations (IRS publication 557 page 45 column 3), they were unfair to residents and other taxable organizations.

We, the people, fought hard to keep the amusement tax fair. But our efforts were lessened by the editorial power of people who do not even live in our city. Our working class concerns were consumed by posh elitist whims. The editors of the Express-Times lobbied against the tax solely because of their sentiments for the Theatre. Sentiments that mean very little to 26,000 people who lend their dwindling resources to support the significant human footprint placed upon us by visiting theatre-goers.

Now the editors of “our” paper have decided to complete their assault on our burden relief by attacking the Mechanical Devices Tax. This time they are championing the starving bar and coin-op laundry owners. They are arguing that our rights to enjoy punch cards, jukeboxes, and a higher profit margin on laundry are being oppressed by making someone pay $25 dollars a year on a machine that makes the money back in a day. (estimate 9 loads at $1.50, 40 minutes/load, open at 7am = $27 for 2 washers by 1pm)

The argument that a coin operated laundry is simply a public service to low and fixed-income residents is a bit of an obfuscated exaggeration. They left out the struggling Lafayette students. Laundry owners should not be “left alone” because they offer service to lower income Eastonians. The laundry owner on 6th Street was billed $1,370 (Express-Times 3/19/21). The tax is costing him a WHOPPING $3.75 a day ($3.74 on a leap year). One load of whites, 2 loads of colors, and Walla! The tax is paid.

It is our heartfelt opinion that the editors of the Express-Times need to stop trying to affect our usage taxes. These taxes are going to allow more of the public’s burden to be shared. We always seem to miss it when the editors are standing up for the overtaxed homeowners in the city. We know it’s not that they haven’t mentioned our ever-increasing tax burden; it’s more likely that the lack of follow-up articles causes us to overlook their support.

The tax is what it is. It is a way to share the costs of municipal services in this county-seat city with the visitors, transients, College, county government, undisclosed population, and the renters.

New Documents on the Website

Friends & Neighbors,

We have updated the Documents and Media area of Easton UnLeashed (aka “the webpage”). If you aren’t familiar with Easton UnLeashed it is our website proper located at www.eastonundressed.org . The “website” is where we archive the more functional parts of the EUniverse. If we record a meeting or reference a file, then we store it and make it forever accessible on the webpage. The old top ten lists, comics, and Easton UnPlugged (podcasts) are also archived there.

The new additions to the D&M include:

• The Citizen’s Guide to Enforcement of City Ordinances


• Zoning Pamphlet


• Residential Permit Pamphlet


• Commercial Zoning Pamphlet


• The Citizen’s Guide to Enforcement of City Ordinances


• Recreational/Outdoor Fire Regulations


• Swimming pool donation forms

Check

Credit Card

• City Swimming Pool Flier

Remember if we referred to it or recorded it it will be stored on the webpage.

NOTE: If there is any document or media that you would like us make available email us or let us know on the tagboard. If you have the document or recording send it to us. And when you send us stuff; paper, pdf, doc, txt, wmv, mp3, wav, and avi are the preferred formats, but we will take what you have. And ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN FAXES OR COPIES FROM FAXES. But we will work with those too. If you don’t have it we will scour the city to find it.

Your Neighbor

Phone Listings For Easton Police

These listings and advice were sent to us courtesy of SGT Matthew Lohenitz of the Easton Police. These listings are also available for download as a word file. EPD Numbers

PHONE LISTINGS FOR EASTON POLICE

If you have an EMERGENCY CALL 911 immediately
If you wish to make a police report and it is a NON-EMERGENCY: CALL 610-330-2200

Internal Phone Numbers

Command Staff:

Chief/Commissioner: CALL 610-250-6630

Captain of Field Services: CALL 610-250-6631

Captain of Auxiliary Staff: CALL 610-250-6641

Criminal Investigations Division (CID):
Lieutenant: 610-250-6634
Inspector/Sergeant (CID):610-250-6667
Vice Investigations Division (VID):

Lieutenant (VID): 610-250-6658
Vice Detectives: 610-250-6645
610-250-6644
610-250-6780
Records/Traffic Division:

Lieutenant: 610-250-6664
Traffic Officers: 610-250-6657
610-250-6943
Neighborhood Policing/Special Enforcement Unit:

Sergeant: 610-250-6660

Patrol Shift Supervisor:

Lieutenant/Sergeant:610-330-2200 (Easton Dispatch)

Police Department Call Protocol

-If you have an emergency DIAL 911 immediately, DO NOT WAIT.

-If your call does not require an emergency Police Department response, please call the NON-EMERGENCY number.

-If you need to speak with a Crimes Detective or contact someone regarding a case that is being investigated for you and you do not have the phone number of the Detective assigned to the case, call either the Lieutenant or Inspector/Sergeant of Criminal Investigations.

-If you need to speak with a Vice Detective or you have a complaint that involves DRUG ACTIVITY or PROSTITUTION, please contact our Vice Investigative Unit.

-If you need to get a copy of a Police Report or other documentation please contact the Lieutenant of Records.

-If you have a question regarding traffic, parking situations or abandoned cars, please call either of the traffic officers.

-If you would like to advise the Police Department about quality of life issues or need to be fingerprinted for employment or school, please call the Sergeant of Neighborhood Policing and Special Enforcement.

-To speak with the Patrol Shift Supervisor on duty, please call the Northampton County Dispatch Center (610-330-2200) and ask for the Easton Dispatcher.

Wishes & Dreams

The City of Easton has been in revitalization mode for the past 40 years. The techniques and ideas so far have failed to increase our quality of life. Much of the energy has been invested in caring for buildings instead of caring for people.  

The decline of our quality of life has resulted in the decline of our consumer market. Many of our residents have left the problems of the city for the quiet of the suburbs.  Many left not because they chose the suburbs over City life, but because they were forced out by an environment no longer conducive to the pursuits of happiness.

We have created many artificial individual attractions, based on the hopes that an influx of tourism would solve our problems. Some of the more expensive projects include The Two Rivers Landing, The State Theater, and The Bachmann Publick House. These projects together cost the taxpayers and private contributors millions of dollars, but our overall economy and quality of life has at best remained stagnant.

This is flawed methodology, yet we continue to promote efforts that follow the same model. We keep trying to artificially reinvigorate businesses in order to excite the economy. The result is a short term rapid growth followed by decline and failure. It’s like entering a sprinter in a marathon. When the starter pistol sounds the sprinter quickly takes off and pulls ahead; but as the race progresses the runner begins to tire, loses energy, and starts to fall behind. We need to stop funding the sprinter and invest more in the marathon. We are continuously falling behind. We need promote the basics; clean and safe, the foundations of any vibrant City. Without a solid foundation anything we build will be in danger of collapse.

When I say we are at fault I mean all of us. We have made mistake after mistake and we have failed to recognize why. We all have had personal agendas which we have put ahead of the systemic problems; we have worried more about supporting self-centered interests (which individually mean nothing) instead of pulling our energy and resources together to fix the rot and deterioration that prevents us from realizing our wishes and dreams.  

We need to rethink the way we expend our resources, we need to stop funding individual projects. The focus must be on shared resources that keep our city clean, safe, and competitive. We must clean our streets, rid our city of those who want to use it to cultivate illegal businesses, we must educate or punish those who break the rules of society and negatively effect our quality of life, we must ask every property owner to enhance the appearance of their properties, or we must enforce the codes that regulate them without tolerance. And we must invest in community infrastructure that benefits everyone.

It is time to agree on a new action plan, to stop advancing our individual agendas, and to bolster a solid foundation to build our wishes and dreams upon, only then will we thrive.

BadApple

Council Meeting Audio 03/08/06

Here is the audio from the March 8, 2006 City Council meeting. This meeting was a rehash and settlement version of the last meeting. Chucky's, Landlord Licensing, Logogate, and 501(c)(3)s were all followed up on by either Council, the Mayor, or citizens.

Landlord Licensing was passed, and to the dismay of some of us Lafayette College gets a licensing bargain of $100.00 per dormitory building. The evidence of increased police presence at Chucky's on South Side was discussed. The Stevenson Group's logo was rejected (mostly because of the dirty dealing that secured Stevenson's services). Council has decided to open up the City logo process to the citizens of Easton. And the charitable not-for-profit conflict of interest issue gains some momentum. Enjoy.

Your Neighbors

Planning Commission Audio 03/01/06

Here's the audio from March 1st Planning Commission meeting (12.6Mb). This was our first foray into a public meeting outside of City Council. The commission seemed very capable. They handled Abraham Atiyeh like unflappable professionals when he tried to steam roll his Marquis Theater condominium plan past them.

Man on the Job

It's always our fault, huh? The Sollman tragedy was just that, a tragedy. You want to complain about not getting answers? Talk to the Attorney General. Thanks to the old "chief" Mazzeo, they are turning their investigation into personal witch hunts. We have nothing to do with that. You all know what I, and every other cop in Easton, knows. As for the lost handgun, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find any one of us in the department who do NOT think that he should have been fired. However, we don't make that decision either.

I'm also tired of hearing about all of our "infighting". There is no more of that. That problem is now gone. There are a few more people that need to go; A few who are literally a cancer to the department.

You want to complain about the crime as well? Complain to the Mayor. We can fall out for a weekend middle shift with four of five guys. When you go from call to call, it's hard to be proactive. Thank your neighbor who calls because a parked car's inspections sticker is two days expired. Or your other neighbor who calls because two people are "talking loudly".

And to person who doesn't like that fact that we are given certain things in our contract, where do you work? If you weren't given a raise in three years you'd be the loudest yeller.So, I'll continue doing what I like to do. Going to work short and getting ridiculed in the newspapers. I guess I, all of us actually, HAVE to do it so people that like to complain and point a fingers can sleep at night. Don't worry you people........ We'll keep you safe. Hey, maybe along the way we'll make another mistake to give you something new to complain about.

Comment by eastoncop February 27, 2006 Read the whole thread at Eastonwatch.com


House of Crayons chimes in:
This is what condemning a whole organization for the sins of a few does, it wears hard on the entire department. We need to yell about how deficient their manpower and training is. We need to care about how many public servants we have and how well they are managed. We need to make the Mayor and Council treat the policing of the City's residents as a priority. We need to understand that a City's sole responsibilty is protecting and caring for its tax payers. The City is not a club or a business, the City is a home to 26,000 people that need clean streets, protection from crime, and protection from disaster.

New Audio Posts

Today is the audio post DAILY DOUBLE!!!! Not only do we bring you last week's City Council meeting (18.6Mb late due to technical issues), we also have a freshly canned Easton UnPlugged (podcast 12 Mb). So get 'em while they are hot (or lukewarm in the case of the Council Meeting).

The Council meeting is a very interesting 3 hour marathon. The begining of the meeting was the public hearing for the Landlord Licensing Ordnance. Needless to say the audience comments are very informative and entertaining. Because of the hearing there were 3 audience comment periods. The people discussed Chucky's on South Side, Logogate, 501(c)(3) conflicts of interest, swimming pools, and the purchase of a street sweeper. The Mayor tried to pimp the "On the Edge" logo for the Stevenson Group (he failed); I guess negativity won out.

The podcast is Bad Apple, House of Crayons, and Just Asking going over the Council meeting and recent news like the Marquis Theater proposal, curfew, police hiring, and the (unsubstantiated) rumor of the Mayor's resignation. It is the clearest of any recording we've every done, and we believe it is the best podcast to date.

A Positive Move Forward?

A Positive Move Forward?

Many would be surprised to hear me say that the recent happenings in our city government have caused a positive move forward for our city. Positive, you say, she must be demented! It is my contention that the idiocy that we have witnessed has brought forth our citizens to stand up and pay attention. Now it is February, a time for council to lay low and go home early. But not this year, the citizens demand their say. From the oldest man to the youngest child, we have come forth, one by one. Speaking on issues such as violence, drug dealing, Eddyside Pool, the street sweeper, landlord licensing, and more. Our citizens are coming in numbers and will continue to make each and every leader of our city accountable. Yes, I say, a positive move forward.

Why would our Mayor refuse to answer a citizen who is concerned about the drug dealers at a neighborhood convenience store? Maybe because he was preparing a speech on the new logo which came to fruition through an unethical process? I don’t know, I’m just asking!

Why would council vote to buy a new, very expensive, street sweeper without a written comprehensive plan for street cleaning? I don’t know, I’m just asking.

Why are the gangs taking over our City, dealing drugs, shooting and killing one another? Why don’t we know the answers behind the death of Easton Police Officer Jesse Sollmon? Why does the City of Easton have the highest municipality taxes in Northampton County? I don’t know, I’m just asking!

These are the questions that we want answered. We will not forget, the questions will not go away, and neither will we. Yes, when we continue to expect answers and expect ethical accountability, it is a positive move forward for our city.

Your neighbor,
Just Asking

Two Steps Back

Where is all of this bad luck coming from?

That question in itself is a bunch of crap. Over and over again the people in the EUniverse talk about the issues, direct blame, and demand accountability. And the themes are always the same. The incestuous business practices of the city’s stewards, the abhorrent propensity to skirt the intent and letter of rules and laws, and the lazy administration of the people’s day to day business.

Yeah, I know exactly what some of you are thinking… “Who the hell are you to sit behind your keyboard and point fingers.” While that may have been enough of a defense in the past; today it is neither a barrier to criticism nor true. This whole EU movement was born out of sitting around pointing fingers. We got tired of speculation without any validation. Now we are in the business of validation by way of investigation.

Now, do not for an instant be so quick to think that our agenda (Oh yes, we wholeheartedly subscribe to an agenda¹) is to be an electronic tabloid. This, the EUniverse (the blog, podcast, forums, etc), is the information served up in the most entertaining and thought provoking ways we can think of. We would hope that the embarrassment of exposure would make some people reevaluate what they do and how they do things with our (the people’s) resources, but life is seldom that simple. So the EUniverse has an action wing. And the action wing will set the example. So for right now just sit back and enjoy the show.

OK, back to this bad luck… Any of you remember reading these words before?

“As anxious as we are for good news, we also have the distinct tendency of being
victimized by bad luck, bad decisions, and a strange combination of bad luck
spawned from bad decisions.”

Just this past week the city’s oldest building, the Bachmann Publick House, financially folded. And it did so in what has become known as “the truest Eastonian fashion”—in a veil of mystery, sprinkled with generous portions of ethical controversy, slathered in mismanagement, and garnished with the same old names. Mmm Mmm, if that don’t make for some delicious tabloid entertainment, just give us a couple of days (something else is bound to happen).

That’s enough fluff; here’s the point. People are talking. And just like always the key players are not talking. This statement perplexes the mind in many ways:

''It does come as a major surprise even to me. But perhaps it's a blessing in
disguise. This may actually bring other Lehigh Valley support out of the
woodwork for some reasons that are unbeknownst to me.''

Anyone’s guess is as good as mine. It’s like he has a magic eight ball that was manufactured in a fortune cookie factory. He may as well have not said anything. Wait, did he say anything… Perplexing isn’t it? Oh and there is a companion statement:

“I'm afraid I'm not going to be of much help”

Have there ever been truer words? People that we all suspect and expect answers from once again insult us and dare us to seek the facts.

The Bachmann is crap, nothing; it is just another building. The things that led up to this past week's happenings though are not inconsequential and should be looked into. There are rumors of contract cronyism and board room bullying. One thing looks to be certain, someone did something wrong. Morally? Ethically? Legally? We are pretty sure no one will be held accountable in any substantial way, but I can’t help to think of the phrase, “You’ll never work in this town again.”

It makes us uncomfortable knowing that the administration and its confidants are patrons of this embarrassing failure. What are we in for next?

¹Our Mission: To provide a clean, crime-free, and safe environment with competitive services that allows residents to enjoy a high quality of life, while providing commerce an environment to thrive.

Easton UnPlugged Audio Blog (podcast) #7.5

Here's Easton Undressed Audio Blog Episode #7.5 (8Mb)-- Anything worth doing once.
All the way live from Bawstun, Mashatooshuts our soon-to-be new neighbor Boston Bean joins Bad Apple and the House via Skype. This part 2 of a 1 part podcast. It was so good we had to do it twice. The first take of this podcast was done six days earlier. It had unsurmoutable technical issues.
The podcast covers the Bridge to Hope march, a bid to make Captain Smith Chief of Police, The Bachman Tavern, as well as the pool turnout for the last two Council meetings.
Enjoy.

Take a peek at what you'll be missing from the first take:

And please send your comments.

Your Neighbors

Council Meeting Audio 02/08/06

Here's the audio of the February 08, 2006 regular session City Council meeting. The meeting was well attended thanks to the efforts of Merri & Diane. We witnessed what could be construed as pulpit bullying. And some of our concerned citizens may have been less than fully enfranchised. The public comment (before and after) along with the impromptu evacuation are the only substance in the meeting. The rest was resolutions and ordnance readings with no discussion.

It was disappointing that the Mayor was not in attendance.

Audio (12Mb)

Easton, On the edge of Ethics

Since the second Visioning Meeting, I have been involved with the Main Street Program. Working on the Marketing and Promotions Committee, I volunteered two hours a week for several months. The majority of our effort was focused on identifying what Easton is – essentially, in marketing speak, our Brand. This process was led by Peter Stevenson, the committee chair.

While many people were anxious to start developing logo and tagline ideas, we were told by our chair that we had to be patient, there was a specific process that had to be followed. Once the research phase was completed, nothing else was mentioned about the branding project except that it was to be a line item in the Main Street budget. We were not aware that our chair, in conjunction with the city, was going to seek a grant for his company alone to do this work, and profit.

Last fall, an email was sent out stating that the Stevenson Group had been awarded this contract. I was confused and concerned. When I began asking questions about what was happening with the project, I was repeatedly told that the logo must be for the city [gov’t], but had nothing to do with Main Street. Meanwhile, the Stevenson Group remained involved with the committee.

From day one, the Marketing and Promotions Committee believed that we would be involved in the process. That minimally we would be involved in hiring anyone who would be hired and in reviewing their work. After months of silence, some, but not all of the committee members were invited to the presentation. At this presentation two weeks ago, as was done here tonight, Peter Stevenson admitted to having used the research done by the committee. In essence, we had been volunteering for him. To not include the committee at all is an insult, and brings into question the role committees are playing in the Main St. Program. The committee I was on had no knowledge of the development of this logo.

In good faith, I volunteered my time. In order for initiatives like the Main St. Program to succeed, volunteers need to feel empowered, not disenfranchised.
I don’t understand how or why this process happened the way it did. I respectfully ask you, council, to seek the answers to these questions:
1. Why was the Main Street Marketing Committee excluded completely from this process?
2. Why didn’t this grant go through the Main St. Program, but instead through the city?
It is my understanding that the Main St. Program is to be led by volunteers, not the city, not the employees of the program, and not a select few. It only seems right, that at this point, the process be opened up. The future identity of our city should not be decided by a select few, especially when it’s important to so many.

In closing, I just wanted to share a creative idea of my own. Since a grant awarded to the city paid for something that’s probably still in the Main St. budget, why not take the same amount of money from the Main St. Program and donate it to something that would benefit the people of Easton – like the pools.

Laini Abraham

How to use the Forums

Forums are online discussion groups. A forum is generally set up like a series of long chain emails. The forums are divided into several topic areas. And within those topics areas people post area specific material. If you are reading a particular post and wish to add to its subject you simply "Reply". By "replying" to the post you add your post to the bottom of the discussion or "thread" A forum can contain several threads of conversation. When you enter a forum, find the thread that best matches the message you want to post to the forum. If register as a member, you can start new threads or add to existing threads.

Registering is easy, and a very minimal amount of information is required. You can choose to hide your email from the public, or if you are terminally paranoid set up a new google gmail or yahoo mail account and use that to register.

The forums are a great tool for team problem solving. They've been around the web before web browsers (you may also hear them called Bulletin Boards or BB for short) they are very effective customer support tools. People post problems and symptoms on a board that is appropriate to their issue, and they wait for people to reply (this creates a thread). There are forums for almost every topic or hobby imaginable.

Our forums have several topic areas. There is a general area, a suggestion area, a technical support area, staff only areas, and several specific discussion areas like: Letters to the Mayor, Think Tank, and Letters to Council. Topic areas cane be created, modified, and deleted by the forum moderators and administrators.

There's a lot more to using forums but this is a quick and dirty just to get you working post. So PLEASE use the forums at http://eastonundressed.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl

Thanks
Your Friends

Illegal-- No Way, Immoral-- I'd Say So

I am not and have never been a member of the Main Street Marketing and Promotions Committee. I am however a member of the Main St Organization Committee.

I would like to speak about the process by which a volunteer chair of a volunteer committee ended up profiting by the work done by his volunteers.

While I am certain that the City has done nothing illegal, I am equally certain that something immoral has occurred.

I am speaking publicly because two previous private conversations – one in the Organization Committee and one with the Main Street Manager – have not produced visible results.

I volunteered for Main Street because I wanted to effect positive change in this community. I’m certain this is why all of us who came forward with our time did so. As grant money flows into our city, for Main Street and other initiatives and programs, it is important that we make sure that we have proper procedures in place for awarding contracts, and that fiduciary issues are made transparent.

It was a conflict of interest for a volunteer chair to solicit funding for his company to produce a logo based on the work of his committee, pure and simple. But what’s done is done. I only fear that this is the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and that the City has awarded other contracts despite potential conflicts of interest.

I therefore ask Council to work with the administration to put into place a conflict of interest policy for all employees and volunteers, be they on Main Street or any other program or committee in which public monies are involved.

I ask Council to work with the administration to put procedures into place to ensure that not only volunteer committee members but also the community at large is aware of how the money that helps fund Main Street and other committees is being spent.

I am empowered to do no more than speak on these issues, so I ask you who are empowered to act to do so on behalf of us, your constituents.

El Warner

Clear the Agenda

This budget season, council showed their hand.  They believe they have no responsibility. They think their only job is to install the administration’s agenda. Council wants to sit back and blame the administration when things go bad, and join in and celebrate when things go well. This is unacceptable to us taxpayers. Council does have responsibility for the outcome; good or bad.  

     This year, council must identify those responsibilities, and assure the public that they will carry them out; starting with the budget. It was sad to see the administration again backing Council against a wall by not putting forth the necessary information early enough. That would have allowed Council to review and comment on the budget, and send it back to the administration for repair. The need for several months to provide for the negotiation of a real and acceptable budget is obvious. This delay tactic has been used for several years predating even the Mitman Administration, and each year Council says, “We are not going to let this happen”, and every year it happens again. The formulation of the budget must start now.

     The rules must be followed by everyone. Council must set an example by being sure they are operating under the rules and laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. They have to make sure that the administration also operates under the rules and enforces the law in a fair and equal manner. To do this each and every member has to be knowledgeable on the rules, not dependant on the solicitor and the administration to feed them the rules. This practice allows for dubious manipulation.

     In this budget review one thing was apparent, revenues were not being collected. In order to complete the necessary tasks we must have all of our revenues. So Council must keep a very close eye on this process. They cannot wait until October to realize again that we are behind on collection. Council needs to demand that the administration and the Treasurer give them a monthly report on revenue collection at a City Council meeting. It has to be put in the open, for it to be a priority. I think it is only fair to the taxpayers who pay regularly and in a timely manner to know the status of the delinquencies.  

     Then Council must hold the Mayor’s feet to the fire. Have him prepare, with the input of Council, a list of goals with a time line to be met in 2006, and present it to the public in a State of the City address. This will give a measure of progress that can be shared with the public. This will allow everyone-- the Administration, Council, and the public to focus and assist in meeting those goals. The agenda will be clear. If the administration starts to lose focus it can be reminded of the agenda.

     It seems like we’ve been flying blind for the past two years. It’s time we opened our eyes, cleaned our windows, and cleared the air. The status quo is out of fashion. Know that, when you offer the same old excuse next time, you may just be resigning from office. We are watching, and EVERYTHING is on the record.

Bad Apple
     

Bad Decision In = Bad Result Out

City Council’s deferring the floor to the Stevenson Group ahead of residents with children was a subtle reminder of where we (ordinary residents) are ranked. Yes, it is true that The Stevenson Group may have been first to request an agenda spot, but we here at EU are no strangers to Council proceedings. We have seen deference given based on age, status, and the length of debate.

As anxious as we are for good news, we also have the distinct tendency of being victimized by bad luck, bad decisions, and a strange combination of bad luck spawned from bad decisions. In this case it may have been a poor decision offer the floor to a marketing firm over children out on a school night, and coincidentally bad luck struck. True to the saying that “no good deed goes unpunished,” the logo campaign has been saturated with the stink of impropriety.

When will the bloodletting end? Over and over again, some among us fail to let common sense be their guide. During the meeting, Ms. Heffley commented, “Maybe Mike Krill brought this up before, and we didn’t listen.” How many embarrassments, I told you so’s, and uncomfortable moments must we endure before we do something right? Rules and procedures are there to be followed not avoided. When you encourage a system or culture of getting around the rules, you are asking for trouble.

Let’s take the campaign to hire a police chief as an example. When the administration decided to be “creative” in order to get around the laws that pertain to the head of Easton’s police department, they opened Pandora’s Box of bad precedents and waste. Joe Blackburn made the Mayor and our city a laughing stock, and there is still no one running our police force. The common sense contingency says, “MAKE CAPTAIN SMITH POLICE CHIEF.” Give the job to Capt. Smith, give him the full authority to establish change, and if you continue to search for a “Chiefmissionor” at least we won’t be in limbo. What else needs to happen? The scapegoat pen is close to empty.

So, as you make plans to give a private, closed-door State of the City speech to the Chamber of Commerce, please be aware that the excuse that it’s been done this way before will not make it right. We are aware that the Optional Charter of the Third Class City Code doesn’t state the format or forum of the State of the City report, but we don’t believe you’ve earned the luxury of shutting us out. Give us a break; the Chamber members don’t all vote in the city. Address your constituency.

Please Mr. Mayor, use a good measure of common sense, and spare us all the embarrassment of another bad decision.

City Council Meeting Audio 01/25/06

The audio from the January 25, 2006, meeting is ready. This was one of the best City Council meetings I have ever attended (with the exception of the overblown logo presentation). We had interaction on every level from small children to native children returning to help-- from residents to resident business owners-- from the alive and well to the spirit of Mr Kleppinger.

Logogate was officially unveiled, and the wind was sucked from the Stevenson Group's sails. Some citizens demonstrated the power of the petition (hmmm I wonder who they were?!). And the droves of families that attended and spoke to save the Eddyside pool were impressive.

The bad part... This is probably the worst audio we have to date. The microphone wasn't placed well, so we did what we could to enhance the volume. Sorry, we'll get better.

It's three and a half hours. The first hour of monotonous drivel about the makings of an already stigmatic logo campaign has been separated from the rest of the meeting. Logo Presentation (5.7Mb)

The rest of the meeting is here. Meeting (19Mb)

Easton Undressed Audio Blog (podcast) #6

Here's Easton Undressed Audio Blog Episode #6 (9.6Mb)-- Media Marriage.
EU gets the help of the very funny and articulate ladies of the Elucidator; El & Easton Girl. The team-up tackles the upcoming Logogate scandal, they discuss the Mayor's perceived disconnection, and ramble through unions and editorials. HoC learns a new word-- ephemeral. I certainly hope that the delicious fruits of our activism do not make an ephemeral impression within our beloved home.
Enjoy.

And please send your comments.

Your Neighbors

Great Minds Think Alike

Hello Neighbors,

We recently had the very good fortune of becoming acquainted with the Elucidator. For those of you looking for more; look for Easton's premier free publication. No scratch that-- look for Easton's premier publication. It is available quarterly for free "in fine establishments everywhere (or at least in Easton)".

One result of our fast friendship was instant cooperation. The Elucidator and Easton Girl teamed up with Bad Apple and House of Crayons for an extended podcast (available later today). And we found out how much the Elucidator values public opinion.

The Elucidator wants letters to the editor. The next issue, due March 1st, is dedicated to the lives and issues of the West Ward. Submissions need to be in before February 1.

El Writes:

Submissions can be emailed to me at elucidator@rcn.com. They need to be signed, and I need a phone number for verification. Anything over 750 words may be edited for length, but none will be edited for content, so everyone can feel free to say whatever it is that they want to say.

Be sure to use the word "delicious" at least once in your letter.

Your Neighbors

Big New Additions

Hello Neighbors,

EU has grown exponentially in the past few days! Phases II and III are out of the box and functional.

What, you ask are phases II and III? Well, they are the long awaited EUW & EUBB. That's right, you guessed it we now have a website Easton Unlimited and a bulletin board (forum) Easton Unleashed. Use them, they are yours.

Your Neighbors

It Ain't Cute, It's My Home.

Reta Howell’s Jan 13 letter to the Express Times addressing the renaissance of the City of Easton was well written, but very limited in its scope. She generalized our city of 26,000 residents down to “a wonderful downtown area filled with small businesses striving to succeed. Art galleries… stores to enjoy… home to some wonderful artist… studios… music and entertainment venues.”
Easton is a city filled with wonderful families trying to succeed. Decaying lots that used to be playgrounds… Over fifty-percent rentals… The highest taxes in the Lehigh Valley… Fewer public workers… And one low-quality supermarket.
Easton is home to 26,000 people, of which an overwhelming majority don’t own or operate any of those “wonderful downtown” things. Our home is continuously sold short by people whom only recognize value in the architecture or arts. The value of the roads, housing stock, and lives in the four square miles of Easton that doesn’t include the 4 to 6 square blocks of downtown is far greater by every measurement.
Most of Easton is residential, but an inordinate amount of our efforts are focused on the whims of our neighbors and the social elite; who only care to recognize one neighborhood and its “obvious architectural treasures”.
Easton is a whole lot more than the Downtown, the College, and the Government center. It is four square miles with twenty-six thousand souls that pay a whole lot and receive a lot less.
I beg your pardon Ms Howell, but Mr Gingold was right. We are definately in need cleaner and safer streets. Your compliments are appreciated, but if you’d really like to help; buy a home here and live in it.

Terrance E Hand
Resident
City of Easton

Easton Undressed Audio Blog (podcast) #5

Here's Easton Undressed Audio Blog Episode #5 (9Mb)-- We ain't geeks, we just play one on pc.
The boys stay in their own homes and podcast via Yahoo Messenger. Topics include the Hollis-Ruggerio parking scofflaw, the Home Rule Charter chatter, the Chief of Staff as Acting Mayor, and recent editorials. Enjoy.
And please send your comments.

Your Neighbors

Council Meeting Audio 01/11/06

This is the first regular Council meeting of 2006. Topics of interest include the Hollis-Ruggerio parking scofflaw, the Chief of Staff as Acting Mayor, and violent crime.

File (1hr 55mins - 13Mb)

We will also make the meeting agendas available whenever possible. I will update this after I scan this meetings Agenda.

Nickel and Dime Us One Quarter at a Time.

Left Click to Enlarge

14,000.00 here 2 or 3 thousand there... What's the big deal? Anyone can make a mistake. She wouldn't have to pay all of that money anyway, because the meters were uncertified. Heck it's Christmas, and we really need the good press (even though we need the money more). I just did what Council suggest we do. "I think the mayor made a mistake. I think he should have at least advised council of this before he made the decision."
Who's gonna have the guts to give away revenue while we raise taxes...?

I know... Lets get the Chief of Staff to sign off on it. Heck, it's not his tax money. Please forward all correspondence for the "Acting Mayor" of the City of Easton to Lower Mount Bethel.

Give me something positive to post please. I am very tired of being embarrassed.

Leave the Car, Take the Cannolies

The Bugler, he sleeps with the fishes.

Council Reorganization Meeting Audio 01/03/06

Here is the audio from the City Council Special Meeting. This meeting is known as the "reorganization meeting". Members are sworn in for the next four years, and the committees are reformed.

There was the required Audience Comment time, and the sole off-agenda topic was about the Mayor appointing the Chief of Staff the Acting Mayor. That was tied to a request for press conferences from the Mayor and Council to answer our questions and give us some confidence.

Listen for yourself 38 minutes (4.5 Mb)

Easton Undressed Audio Blog (podcast) #4

Number four is out of the box and in the can. So, here's Easton Undressed Audio Blog Episode #4 (7 Mb)-- Have you seen our Leader.
The smart and lovely Just Asking makes her return. We discuss the prison breaks, and the Mayors lack of leadership. We dish the dirt on a new smoking gun and a political scapegoat.

Goober 38 minute mark is a little praise for you.

Your Neighbors

State of the City

The Mayor needs to call a press conference. We are losing more and more confidence in the Mitman Administration each day. We have been bombarded with significant events over the last year. And with little exception, the events have negatively impacted life in Easton.

We have listed the events over and over again. Easton Undressed: Voodoo Leadership We have asked for answers about events that no one wants to talk about. We get no answers. No answers with any substance. Meanwhile we sit and wonder, “How can they just act like nothing has happened?”

The Northampton County Prison fiasco isn’t even the straw to break the camel’s back. We know we can expect more ridiculous unspeakable acts in the future. And we also know we will get more inane magic eight ballish answers and responses. “Hey folks go back to bed; the Mayor himself is looking into it.” If there was ever a time to have a mayor that really lived on the 600 block of Ferry Street… Wait scratch that… There has NEVER been a time when having a mayor live on the 600 block of Ferry Street wasn’t an asset to the residents of the city. Mister Mayor, thanks for the information and reassurance. I know… I know… Your just doing the job we elected you to do.

We deserve to know. We have a right to know. It is time for a State of the City address.

Every time I think of the term “lame duck”, I think of the old one-liner, “Can a one-legged duck swim a circle?”

Here’s another I heard from an old republican friend, “Back to the store in ‘84”.

Déjà vu all over again… AFLACK!

The Year in Comics

It's BIG Check Day at The State!

Left click on comic to enlarge.

A Citizen's Letter to the Man

On Wed, 25 May 2005 18:12:54 -0700 (PDT)Kevin Ruppert wrote: Dear Mayor Mitman,
Please see attached letter published in the Express-Times 5/26/05 on the topic of noise pollution. I have spoken to Ms Hefley, Ms. Volcano, and Officer Lagathe regarding an engine breaking ordinance for the city. They all were helpful but the city seems to be under the impression that this is impossible according to state regs. I would like to refer your Honor to an article in the Morning Call; March 11, 2005 entitled "Braking Signs Target Excess Noise". I have included the link below. It is a column on Lehigh Valley roads and Rte 512 in Bath. The writer explains what engine breaking is; Bath was able to get a No Engine Braking Zone. This is done by making an application for reconsideration under 1 PA Code sec.35.241 of PA Code sec.179.10.Paragraph 20. I know that truck noise is a major complaint in the city and I hope the city will apply for reconsideration. This kind of quality of life enhancing ordinance lets all the districts gain and at no cost. Larry Holmes Drive, Bushkill St and Snyder St are flat; there is no need to use the brake retarder if trucks are observing the 25mph speed limit. I'm sure there are areas, especially in south side, that suffer from the same truck noise and would benefit from a noise reduction ordnance. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance to the city in this matter.
Best regards,
Kevin Ruppert
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/all-b5_5warrior0311mar11,0,4822286.story?coll=all-newslocalallentown-hed

Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 14:08:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: "kevin ruppert" <kjruppert@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Toll Bridge noise pollution
To: "Kenya Zimmerman - Mayors Secretary" <kzimmerman@easton-pa.gov>

Mr. Mayor, I assume you do not find any merit in my idea for noise abatement, I have heard back from Rep. Dent and State Sen. Wonderling. I assure you I intend to pursue this matter and I hope the city will become a more peaceful place, for instance the owner of the Piano Loft on Spring Garden and Fourth can not record performances there  because of "street noise" the quotations are mine the words from his interview in the E-T (Express- Times) Enjoy section. Also there is the Project Blue Gallery, Maria is very concerned and told me she “can’t even open her windows" because of the excessive noise. Again Mr. Mayor I ask that you look into making an application for reconsideration in order to create an ordinance banning engine retarders where appropriate. Traffic volume has increased exponentially over the past 5 years and the city is the loser. Making the Hundred of truck trips through the downtown area more quiet is necessary, and it's time has come.

Noise Pollution

Noise as a quality of life issue is often overlooked. One of the major detractors on Easton's north side is the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (D.R.J.T.B.C.) . For years the Bridge commission has been a bad neighbor' lowering property value and rattling nerves, windows, and foundations . The 1974 Environmental Protection Act grandfathered them in' they have never had to address the noise that their Rt.22 ramps create; yet the E.P.A required sound barriers on the Rt.78 bridge . The traffic on the Rt.22 bridge is only 50ft from homes and it has no sound barriers. Compounding the problem are the rumble strips , the failure to enforce the speed limits, and the lack of a "no engine braking" law for diesel trucks. The Commission’s plan to partner with Easton and Phillipsburg to fund projects outside commission property is admirable but the commission should find solutions to it's noise pollution problem first. All one needs do is go to the riverside under the bridges to realize that the planned Bushkill Greenway, Easton Riverside Park and Phillipsburg waterfront projects are located under a roaring highway, People don't use recreation areas that are as loud as a 747 lifting off an airport runway. The councils and administrations on both sides of the river should press the Commission and their respective D.O.T.'s for answers to the Rt. 22 noise pollution problem if they want to attract visitors to the area and improve the quality of life for residents.

Kevin Ruppert

Council Meeting Audio 12/27/05

Here is the link to download the audio from the December 27th City Council Meeting.

The budget and police contract was approved.

Your Neighbors

Right Click and choose "save target as" to download file
Part 1(5Mb)

Voodoo Leadership

Once again our needs are put on hold.

The citizens of Easton have been constantly subjected to a very poor method of representation. We have been left waiting. At almost every critical moment in the city for the past two years we have been put off. When we need answers we are delayed. When we require action, we hire people to think through our options. When we require service, we get last minute exclusions. What a disturbing trend.

The people's work is NOT being done.

The city's leaders are using the "wait and maybe they will forget" approach to problem solving. Examples:

Officer Jesse Sollman's Death-- We haven't heard the Mayor publicly say the name "Sollman" in many months. That's not an exaggeration.

Officer Jesse Sollman's public ceremony-- No one representing the city has spoke on paying for the PUBLIC ceremony.

The Early Intervention Program FINAL REPORT-- We let the EIP people present their voluminous report, call it a first draft, and disappear. Meanwhile, The Mitman Trio have referenced it as the "EIP report" or "Five year plan" many times during budget hearings. Care to discuss the final report???

The lost hand gun-- As a resident I am somewhat concerned about what my expectations should be when something like this occurs. Answers...? Anyone???

The mysterious disappearance of Steve Mazzeo-- That was news for like five minutes. "I am OUTRAGED!!!" wait 5 minutes "OK I'm better."

Police Chief-- They will let us know how long we have to wait for a plan to look for a new police boss after we are done waiting for the new year to come and go. That should be worth waiting for.

Oversight at the Easton Housing Authority-- Bet they thought no one would bring the EHA up again, Huh?

Fire Contract-- Good thing they don't count on this effecting the budget.

Police Contract-- The Chief of Staff seems very anxious NOT to let anyone forget this vote. Why am I suspicious?

Economic development that we can credit to the Mayor-- Wait, I'll see if Clay Mitman or the College can field these questions.

I'd just like to know the Mayor's address. Maybe he'll settle down soon. After he's all settled in he can throw a little attention to the needs of his constituents.

Your Neighbor

Easton Undressed Audio Blog (podcast) #3

Three's a charm. So, here's Easton Undressed Audio Blog Episode 3-- Budget Cheer. No guest this week, but we have a new one minute intro. It's amatuer... But it's a start.

Your Neighbors

Revitalization Does Not Grow On Wishes

For too long the leaders of Easton have equated assets to buildings. All of our economic development projects have been tied to specific buildings, and our resources have been spent on those buildings in anticipation of attracting a business to it. This flawed thinking has not been successful. Artificial intervention with tax dollars may attract development, but it won't sustain it.

For too long our economic development plan was based on our hopes and wishes instead of being market driven. If a business recognizes untapped consumer spending potential it will not hesitate to make an investment. Businesses don't migrate to buildings; they migrate to consumers. If risk is mitigated by consumer potential a business will have incentive to use its own capital to improve real estate.

A retail business should be located at a site with a good local consumer base. Very few businesses can count on consumers to flock to them. Businesses can not count on seasonal day tourists to make money; they need a full time consumer base, everyday, year round. And we need to make Easton more than just a tourist destination.

We need to keep Easton a living destination. We need local government to focus on the basics-- Essential services. We need a clean, crime-free city that provides services that are competitive with those of our neighbors. We need to improve the quality of life for the residents of our community so that people will come here, be happy, and stay for a lifetime. A pleasant by-product will be an environment that tourists desire. We need visitors to say, "I would like to live here."

It is ironic that many suburban malls are selecting "Urban Streetscape" designs. They are recreating what we already have. The investors want a clean crime-free environment near an new untapped consumer market. We have the "Urban Streetscape" now; we just need to mitigate the crime, keep it clean, and improve our consumer base. Economic development will take care of itself.

My suggestions to Easton's elected officials are focus on the basics, give economic development to groups or agencies more suited to deal with it, keep the city clean, reduce crime, maintain a safe environment, and reinvest in the infrastructure. This will improve the quality of life for residents (present and future) and attract businesses to serve resident consumers as well as day tourists.

BadApple

Joe Blackburn's Demands. oops! I Mean, Christmas List

10. A son in Hawaii and a daughter in Bermuda.
9. A tax-free luxury box at the State Theatre.
8. A boat for trips to New Jersey.
7. Bachman Publik House “special massage package”.
6. Reopen Eddyside swimming pool. (for my exclusive use)
5. An officer to drive my wife to the grocery store.
4. The title “Beatific Immaculate Glorious Almighty Stately Supreme Divine Illustrious Commissioner King
3. Have the Peace Candle moved to my front yard.
2. A $1,000,000.00 loan.
1. A clue.

Greed and Disdain

This is the transcript to Mr Reilly's Greed and Disdain speech from December 15, 2005

Madam President;
"Last night there was discussion about employee health care cost and that will continue tonight under item 18 of tonight agenda. In the discussion last night the Administration talked about cost reductions. Their suggestion is to add premium co-payments. This in and of itself is not a bad idea. But in there is an underlying motive. As you know there has been discussions on how to cut health care costs and several have focused on ways to encourage employees to drop the City’s coverage when another family member also has health care coverage. The Administration stated last night that their approach to obtain this goal is to introduce premium co-payments in such a fashion that it is a “disincentive” to continue with the City’s health care plan. This is called negative reinforcement. Others have argued from the opposite approach and proposed a sharing of the cost savings by offering a percentage of the savings to the employee who chooses to drop the City’s health care and is picked up by the spouse plan. This is call positive reinforcement.

"Anyone who has taken a High School or College psychology course knows the negative reinforcement is the least effective or desirable way to achieve an outcome. Likewise; such a person would know that positive reinforcement is the most effective and desirable way to achieve an outcome. This basic principle is taught in classes ranging from child rearing to business management to leadership training. Last night it became apparent to me that members of the Administration do not believe in this basic principle, nor sees any reason to follow it. This management tactic does nothing to foster the type of work environment which is needed to bring the level of City services up to the expectations of the public, or that which is required to promote economic development.

"It is also a punitive act towards the employees who do not have the option to drop out of the City’s health care plan because a spouse dose not have health care which could be used to avoid the premium co-payment being used as a disincentive towards those who can. The City should also consider the option to pay an employee a percentage of the City’s cost to seek heath care on their own and share the savings

"One could conclude that it is only greed and distain to the City’s workforce that’s drives such an approach which causes the Administration act in such a callas way. I urge City Council to keep this in mind when this discussion comes up tonight."


To clarify what the City Administration wants to do; they what to add health care premium co-payments to employee plans to: 1. defray some of the rising health care costs by having the employee contribute, which is acceptable in today's environment of rising health care costs; 2. have the co-payments so high that the few employees that can opt out, because another family member has coverage, do opt out because it is just to expensive to keep. They call this a "disincentive".

But City's Administration forgets is there is more than one way to skin a cat. According to statements the Administration made on 14 Dec 05, it costs the City $8,000.00 for a single employee, $12,000.00 for an employee and their spouse, and $16,000.00 for family health care coverage. If the City charged an employee $50.00 per pay they would collect $1,300.00 per year per employee. But if the Administration had an incentive plan for health care such as offering $4,000.00 for an employee for joining their spouse's plan, the City would have $8,000.00 in shared cost saving; which is the equivalent of 6.35 employees paying a premium co-pay. If they offer $5,000.00 for a employee's family to join the spouse's plan, the City would have $11,000.00 in shared cost savings, which is equivalent of 8.47 employees paying a premium co-pay. If the City offered single employee's $4,000.00 to drop from the City's plan either because they feel they don't need it or because they only want major medical coverage from another insurance company that the employee contracts with themselves, there is even more shared cost savings. But for some reason, the City does not want to share. Even if the sharing would eliminate the need for a premium co-pay, or reduced the City's total health care costs if enough employees participate in a shared cost savings plan, they run from giving anything that would possibly make the work environment more friendly.

T. D. Reilly

The Writing's On the Wall (EDITED)

Some of us are more than a little frustrated. Last week's tenative settlement of the budget was quite the display. There was a lot said, but very little was done for the people. No one stood up for the people. Well, not with any direct act. Here are our budget season highlights.

One of the most telling acts that preceded the budget was the release of the "draft" Early Intervention Program (EIP) report. The simple act of presenting the report THE DAY AFTER elections stunk of politics, And the stink stuck to both parties. The republican administration did not want to muddy any chances of getting a little party help by having angry voters. And the dems didn't want extra issues clouding their "friend of the people" rhetoric. So waiting to provide information served every one's interest EXCEPT the voters.

Even though the Administration clearly lost its bid for support; it succeeded in backing Council and taxpayers into a corner. They presented a hefty and controversial budget to Council and walked away. Council put on "The People's Song and Dance" as they returned the budget to the Mayor for adjustments (audio). Two weeks passed and the Administration tossed the same budget, but a little worse, on Council's desk. In the two weeks that passed we were kept busy-- and kept divided-- trying to save our own little special items. We fell for the same trick twice. Just a couple of months ago the EIP pirates created a panic, stole our money, and slipped out of town while we fussed over our interest. The Administration did the same thing; they spit out the most convenient budget possible, a tax increase with job and service cuts, and sat back as we scrambled and whined.

Twice during the budget proceedings I was disappointed by Ms Heffley. When she supported giving away parking revenue for the Christmas shopping days (audio), and when she protected Peace Candle money from being shared with the Heil Fieldhouse project (audio). Giving free parking (remember "every nickel and dime is gonna help?) while cutting jobs and services because of short funds is like giving away public money to the State Theatre. And sheltering a plywood facade from a children's cause is just plain special-interest selfish. Christmas will still come to Easton, no matter what we do to prepare or what we say to express it. Some ideas are better left as thoughts.

The double pay raise... Just plain sneaky (audio). That move in itself lends to character judgment. And in the same vein Miriam Huertas and Dave Hopkins deserve commendations for selflessly refusing pay increases. That also speaks a great deal to their character. Taking a double pay raise while cutting jobs and services because of short funds is like giving away $252,700.00 of public money to the State Theatre while giving us the impression it was about $150,000.00.

Another humorous moment was the Council Secretary's little exchange with the Chief of Staff over the Chief's covert line item granting him longevity of $1080.00 (audio). "You wanna start? We'll start!"

The only thing the Administration failed to do was fire a 73 year old employee. But they used the side show that he and his wild-eyed, hair-on-fire, lawyer daughter put on to obfuscate their 3 mil tax hike. The Mayor, Chief of Staff, and Business Administrator bit their collect lip and took what amounted to a verbal pimp-slapping (audio). But after all was said and done they pretty much said, "sticks and stones" and drove home to College Hill and the suburbs.

We would not be doing our jobs if we failed to expose what one resident eloquently dubbed "the Administration's greed and disdain for the workforce". The employee health care planning that the Administration is pushing is an ugly display of selfishness and for lack of another word DISDAIN. Instead of offering employees incentives for not carrying City insurance they would rather punish people out of he plan. The plan seems to be to make the cost of health care costs so high that people who have a choice will drop the City's plan. Hear it for yourself! My god, Mr Mayor, Mr Chief of Staff, and Mr Business Administrator how can you stand your selves. All three of you spent years enjoying better benefits than you offer.

Another slap in the face was the commissioner's pay and "No-additional-benefits" package. Just call us stupid, don't let our neighbors do it after they read in the paper that "the commissioner's annual salary [will be] $78,000 with $12,000 in deferred compensation...[and] the deferred compensation will be put into a pension fund for the commissioner...[and] the city will not provide any other benefits, perks or extras. [but] a vehicle is one of the issues the administration continues to negotiate with council... Other points include vacation time, sick time, insurance and attending law enforcement conferences." (Express-times 12/15/05) We were NOT aware that a $12,000.00 bonus, vacation time, and insurance were not "benefits, perks, or extras". And we all know what "negotiate" a vehicle could turn into. Only my friend, Mr Fleck, spoke to the record on what The Commish would and would not get (audio), and we all know where he'll be when the "would nots" become additional benefits. That's like telling us that an Amusement Tax will make larger venues pay a fair amount for city services, and then proposing limits that benefit the State Theatre, while giving the organization $252,700.00 in rebates.

Well, that's the Cliff's Notes of more than 24 hours of public meetings. I started this post 3 days ago, and the city IS NOW giving away free parking until Christmas. Please make sure you really take maximum advantage of the lost city services by parking in the circle while you buy your State Theatre tickets.

Eastonians... Let them eat cake.

Council Meeting Audio 12/14/05

Here are links to download the audio from the December 14th City Council Budget Adjustments Budget Meeting. It ended at 2am!!!!

And guess what? We ended up with 5 less public works employees, 3 less cops, 3 less fire fighters, and a 3 mil (2.99) tax increase! Oh yeah, we get to keep both pools-- If I work hard enough raising money. Wow, 3 years in a row... Can we get a little more help at the council meetings???

We forecasted this! We posted the Top Ten List on the tax increase(The Explanations The Administration Will Offer With The Next Residential Tax And Fee Increases.) the day before the Mayor proposed it. And I said in the 2nd EU Podcast that we would be stuck with a 3 mil increase. (listen for yourself in this clip)

Right Click and choose "save target as" to download file
Part 1 (2Mb)
Part 2 (5Mb)
Part 3 (13Mb)
Part 4 (10Mb)

Council Meeting Audio 12/13/05

Here are links to download the audio from the December 13th City Council Planning and Development Budget Meeting. 4 hours!!!!

The itunes subscription feed is always available before I post these links.

Right Click and choose "save target as" to download file
Part 1 (17.4Mb)
Part 2 (10.7Mb)

Council Meeting Audio 12/12/05

Here are links to download the audio from the December 12th City Council Public Services Budget Meeting. It was a 5 hour philabuster!!!!

I almost felt sorry for the Business Administrator... Almost.
He should resign gracefully before he's made the administrative scapegoat.

Right Click and choose "save target as" to download file
Part 1 (17Mb)
Part 2 (20Mb)

POOL DONATIONS!!!!

Ok Undressers, It is time for us to literally put our money where our mouths are! The pool situations have been a hot topic here and throughout the city. And the powers that be have subliminally received one of our ideas to help the pools. They seemed to have embraced the idea of soliciting donations and sponsorships.

Here’s a chance for some citizens to make a footprint. Let’s donate!

And I will be among the first. I will donate $50.00 this evening at the Council Budget meeting (PAyME, if you are there I will give you my $50.00 for the Lil’ Rovers too.) Along with my donation I will ask the city for two things. I will request that they make a method available for me to automatically donate money for the pools, and that they credit my donation as a EU referral. My plan is to give $10.00 a month for the pools until they are no longer in trouble.

If you choose, you too can reference your donations to EU. And after you donate, please sign the guestbook (YOU CAN SIGN THE GUESTBOOK ANONYMOUSLY!!!) with your donation amount and we’ll keep a tally. I will get a receipt for my donation and post it online.

So let’s get started! Make a pledge on the tagboard or to us at eu@eastonundressed.org and confirm you donation on the guest book. Let’s make a dent.

And Now a Word From Our Host

A friend pointed out to me that we haven’t written anything opinion-based since November 23. Wow, time is going by so fast that it is getting hard to focus. At the very top of the blog we state our reasons for doing this.

“What I would write if I were allowed to submit editorials at-will to the Express-Times & Morning Call.”

The past two weeks we’ve focused on content. We’ve added audio from meetings and some video to accompany the comics and opinion. Our latest feature is the Easton Undressed Audio Blog or podcast. All of this is very time consuming, but we try to stay on point. The 3 meetings in one week is the real limiter. It’s tough to do anymore than post the audio after the after meeting cocktails err debrief.

But as you can tell by the length of our podcasts there is much to talk about.
And tops among the talking points is the budget.

The “Shock-and-Awe” budget that the Mayor’s office is pushing is accomplishing one thing. And personally some of us here at EU believe this one thing is part of an agenda. The thing that the budget has done is splinter focus.

Just like the Early Intervention Program (EIP) report did last month, the budget has shot gunned us with preposterous alternatives. And as I alluded earlier, there’s method to this madness. Every one of us that gathered near to hear the reading of the budget went running back to our respective bunkers to plot our DEFENSE.

Ah the madness… Put the people on the defense. Make us backpedal, research, plan, and negotiate. Why? I’ll tell you why.

While we’re out here trying to fund the pools, save fire jobs, save police jobs, save public works jobs, save the water treatment facility, and get the budget proposals posted online the Mayor and his Cabinet are sitting back and biding their time. And they can do this because there really isn’t much time left. Council’s schedule has the budget accepted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005. We were backed against the wall well before many had a chance to take notice.

The EIP report was held and released as a DRAFT on November 9th, the day after elections. The administration used the EIP report as a crutch to support not taking all kinds of financial action. In the three weeks that followed they concocted the “pay more for a lot less” budget. And when it was given back for them to rework they came back with a higher tax increase. Laugh and spit in our faces.

Am I the only Eastonian wondering “What the Hell did they do all year long?!”

My guess is that now they are just putting in time. The Mayor, his Chief of Staff, and his Business Administrator all know that only a miracle will keep them in town past December 31, 2007.

Podcast Episode 2

The Garage band is still together.Check out the Easton Undressed Audio Blog Episode 2-- Drinkin and Thinkin. This week we have a very special guest. Hopefully, she is the first of not-the-last. It was fun.

We've decided to release the podcast on Saturdays from now on. Let us know what you think. "More beer you say?!" errr...ok

Your Neighbors

Council Meeting Audio 12/07/05

Here are links to download the audio from the December 7th City Council Public Services Budget Meeting.

Right Click and choose "save target as" to download file
Part 1(12Mb)
Part 2(14Mb)

There are Other Ways to Work with the Theatre

Maybe the City stop seeking grants from the Pennsylvania. Council on the Arts (PCA) for arts projects such as the murals and begin seeking “Pass Through” grants for the State Theater. This could be in exchange for the reinstatement of the State Theater obligation to pay back their loan from the taxpayers of the City of Easton. PCA grants normally do not exceed $5,000.00 but max out at $10,000.00. Local governments must match dollar for dollar. If local government wants to grant money to the State Theater, this is the appropriate way to do so. Not in some shady backroom deal that not only makes the taxpayers dig deeper into their savings to make up for the loss of more than a quarter million dollars. A move that gutted an Entertainment Tax that would have been a good revenue stream if it was enacted as it was previously. I think giving the State Theater $10,000.00 to $20,000.00 a year in grant money would be a good thing even if the City was picking up 50% of the costs, but only if they pay back the money they borrowed from me, you, and our neighbors first.

I believe most people who go to the theater go out to eat prior to the show. The State Theater has more seating capacity than all the restaurants in the City of Easton. That means the surrounding communities are directly benefiting from this lack of restaurant seating capacity. The Boro of Wilson; the Townships of Forks, Palmer, and Williams; and the Town of Phillipsburg, NJ, are directly benefiting from increased tax revenues because theater goers are spending their money in these communities and not in the City of Easton, which is host to the State Theater. It is time for these communities start providing their fair share support to the State Theater instead of only the taxpayers of the City of Easton, that way the State Theater can afford to repay their loan to the City of Easton.

Submitted by
Grant Keystone

Budget Proposal

As promised, the budget.

Warning file 1 is 104Mb file 2 is 42MB. I'll work on ways to chop them up. But don't hold your breath. There's a lot going on. Part 1 has the first 254 or so pages part 2 is the remaining 151 pages.

It cost $111.00. Thank you Mr Humphrey.

Council Meeting Audio 12/06/05

Here are links to download the audio from the December 6th City Council Public Safety Budget Meeting.

These two audio files cover the entire 2.5 hours. About an hour and a quarter a piece. The audience questions start at 2hrs 8mins.
Your Neighbors

Right Click and choose "save target as" to download file
Part 1 (18Mb)
Part 2(18Mb)

For the Record

Since it's public safety night.

Council Meeting Audio 12/05/05

Here are links to download the audio from the December 5th City Council Public Services Budget Meeting.

These two audio files cover the entire 2 hours. About an hour a piece.
Your Neighbors

Right Click and choose "save target as" to download file
Part 1 (12.5Mb)
Part 2(16Mb)

What Did We Learn?

Gosh Darn it!!! Did I forget to save money for next year AGAIN!
...I paid the consultants their 10%, right?

Hey Stu, What's 10% of a $25 million dollar budget?
...Oh my, that's a lot of tax money!

Top Ten Reasons City Administrators Don't Live in the City.

10. Crime rate is too high.

9. Neighbors would be complaining to them about raising taxes.

8. So they would NOT have to shop at T J Barts.

7. They can leave council meetings early, because they have a long way to travel.

6. They can raise taxes without hurting their families.

5. They can be late and blame it on the commute.

4. They can run for elected office in another community, and destroy two municipalities at the same time.

3. When anyone calls to complain after 4:30, their secretaries can say that they're out of town without lying.

2. They would feel obligated to attend the candle lighting.

1. Their kids wouldn't have anywhere to go swimming.

EU's Podcast Pilot Episode

Ever play garage radio station? You know... you, a buddy, a stack of newspapers, and of course some beers.
No, Never?!!?
Well, BadApple and I did...

Check out the pilot episode of the EU podcast (17MB). It's an hour you'll never get back!

If you subcribe to the podcast feeds you will get this through the same feed.

Enjoy & Please comment.

Christmas in Easton