The Morning Call reports on the 2007 Upper, Lower, and Bushkill Township reoganization meetings held recently (read the article here).
The article notes each's President, Vice-President, Solicitor, and Engineer.
If you attend these meetings and would be able to send an email to me after each with a report on what happened - PLEASE DO! We'd all like to know what is happening. Email editor@newsovercoffee.com
10 comments:
Am I the only one that has a problem with the fact that Gary Asteak is the solicitor for 3 townships and Keystone (Al Kortze) is the engineer for two? And Asteak has also been suggested as a "special council" to Nazareth itself (though I'm not sure if that has been approved).
This raises a couple of questions.
How much power are we the people willing to give to un-elected officials? They in reality have a lot of control over what happens in our municipalities.
More important, these two also have regular day jobs. Kortze running at Keystone and Asteak defending (in a lot of cases) the undefendable. How much time do we think they can truly devote, and I mean quality time, to the issues of our respective municipalities?
There are only so many hours in a day, and those are diluted across their day jobs and multiple boards.
Are we the public really being served well?
I have a bigger problem that Don keller is the Boro Engineer and Zoning Officer (even though they list Huth).
Where are the checks and balances there?
And therein lies the problem.
We are putting to much power into the hands of so few.
These people are making decisions across a broad area that affect each and every municipality, and in some cases, to their personal benefit.
At this point, my guess is the only checks and balances are in their personal bank accounts.
These positions are obviously paid so by virtue of being selected they are being paid (I don't think you can say and hope you aren't insinuating they are illegally pocketing money).
These positions are also to give "expert" guidance and counsel.
I think the biggest problem is that as experts who can really contest their position?
Case in point was the sunshine law in Nazareth.
The solicitor gave an opinion that the council accepted, as they would be expected to, that is not consistent with what most people consider to be the interpretation of the law. How does anyone find out it isn't correct? Someone must question it and then sue the government body.
I was mostly surprised that Asteak would be able to attend meetings for all three bodies as it seems so many tend to meet on the same night.
Let's just hope that our government officials are not blindly accepting advice and bills without being sure they are getting the service they are expecting and paying for.
Ross, you don't get it. If Keller Consulting engineers are the consultants and also control zoning they effectively control the process from end to end.
Sure, you can protest the zoning decisions (at a cost) but the code is so poorly written and puposefully vague that it is easily manipulated or interpreted to favor what Keller wants.
Bootm line. If Keller doesn't want something it ain't going to happen and if he does he will push it through.
I think I do understand the point, which was why I said it is our officials responsibility to make sure we are getting the service we are paying for.
I don't personally know the terms of the contract for both positions, but I'd hope our Council members do and make certain that everything is being done properly.
I also don't disagree that in effect one person has both contracts, that was clear to me this summer when a bill couldn't be produced while he was on vacation and based on other comments made during meetings.
But as I understand there were problems with the previous zoning officer that resulted in permits not being submitted to the country that could have cost us tax revenue. This situation resulted in us having one firm with both positions. Out of the pan into the fire? I don't know. I wasn't there, didn't see the options, and don't know how they handle this on an annual basis.
It'd probably be worth asking at the next workshop meeting along with a question regarding who, how, and when the local zoning code is reviewed.
Thanks for taking a sip! Happy new year.
Do people also understand that Al Pierce and Don Keller are the solicitor and engineer for the Nazareth Authority? The Authority also covers areas in Upper Naz, Lowere Naz and Bushkill. So many hats and so many conflicts.
It would be interesting to see their list of clients. Some of these clients do come before the Borough and citithe Authority for approvals. The citizens who attend the Boro Council meetings should really dig as to what Gary Asteak was hired for and not be satisfied until the specifics are provided.
Asteak was brought on as I recall because there was a client conflict with Pierce.
It was a once and done. I believe the building purchase but may be wrong.
I don't disagree with disclosure of clients. It would seem if you are doing private work in the borough and approving zoning and handling borough engineering there would be conflicts, yet I don't recall the borough calling in another zoning officer or engineer as they did with the attorney.
Good points.
Don't make an assumption about Asteak. The powers want you to think it is a future conflict. Check into it closer. Ask what the specific legal matter is. It may be trouble with a past conflict, not a present or future conflict. There could be an issue because the professionals haven't disclosed conflicts nor excused themselves when necessary.
Don't "knock" Gary Asteak, he's a honest hard working guy who can talk sense, were often there is none.
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