Wait a minute some of you may say - wasn't the County Executive instructed to pay the swaption off at 25 million? So why does he want to go behind closed doors to discus it further? Good question.
As we understand it, the swaption has not been paid off. And of course we have not been provided a reason why. We further understand that the swaption is now at a level above 26 million dollars.Since we did not hear, nor were we provided any further information regarding the matter after they came out of the closed session, we don't know the status of the situation...leaving us only speculation.
Is it possible that Mr. Stoffa by way of his dunce capacity, has thrown away yet another million plus tax dollars - and went behind closed doors to inform County Council that they will have to come up with more money?
Some are speculating that Mr. Stoffa is trying to bankrupt the county so that in the end he can blame Gracedale, although Gracedale has nothing whatsoever to do with the swaption matter...but we all know that blame Gracedale he will.
In a bi-partisan move which we applaud, three members of County Council refused Mr. Stoffa's request...and then refused to take part in the closed door session...The meeting taking place may have actually violated the Sunshine Act.
"I agree with the council members that objected," said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association. "I think they had a good basis for their objection."The discussion raises serious Sunshine Act compliance issues, she said today. The act's negotiation strategy exception applies only to collective bargaining and government bodies can't meet behind closed doors unless there is litigation or threatened litigation, Melewsky said.
"If an agency could go into a litigation executive session any time a matter of agency business could result in litigation, nothing would be public," she said.
ET's story:
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/northampton-county/index.ssf/2012/06/post_21.html
Read about this on Bernie O'Hare's blog on June 8. May I ask where have you been on this very important matter?
ReplyDeleteWe just removed two comments - one from this post, and one from the previouse post. They both appear to be Bernie O'Hare, whom we have asked to stay off our blog because he won't allow us on his blog.
ReplyDeleteIf the author of either comment wishes to send us email with evidence that they are not BO, we will be more than happy to re-post the comment(s).
Thank you for your understanding.
I'm not O'Hare, and I tried to ask my questions politely. I'm sorry if that wasn't the case.
DeleteI will not email you, I don't want to get brought in to this blog war.
If that disqualifies me, so be it.
All indicators on our end are that you are O'Hare. If you email evidence that your not...we will not involve you in anything, we will simply re-post your comment. Otherwise we will not entertain your request.
DeleteWe don't want BO on our blog because he does not allow us on his.
SPG
I am not surprised by your story. John Stoffa has always done whatever he pleases. He has never had to be accountable as County Executive since neither local newspaper holds him accountable for anything. Just look at the misuse of public funds that neither paper cares to pursue.
ReplyDeleteThe swaption should be discussed in open session. If in fact there is litigation pending and that is why they went in session, he should say so. Of course once again Stoffa will do as he wants and you folks are about the only entity that will follow up on it.
Sadly I agree that Stoffa is clearly trying to leave as big a budget hole as possible when he exits. When he leaves the local paperers and editors will laud him as the greatest county executive ever. His successor will inherit a big mess and people once again blaming Gracedale and screaming for its sale. That is why we must be vigilant as the secret war to dump Gracdale has never ended. In fact it is currently be negotiated with potential executive candidates.
It is appearing more each day the john snowjob is still at his games.
ReplyDeleteThe swaption is well above $25 million now. What will the happen? That is the real question!
ReplyDeleteI REALLY THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IN THE INTEREST OF TAXPAYERS IS TO PAY $10 MILLION FROM SURPLUS AND BOND THE REST OF IT. THEY CAN BOND THE ENTIRE AMOUNT IF THEY WANT TO.
ReplyDeleteActually, at what rates are today, paying some off and financing the rest at a low fixed rate would be the most cautious and smart alternative. Stoffa would rather put the county in a finanacial hole as payback for not getting his way on Gracedale.
ReplyDeleteAgreed
ReplyDelete