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I had an interesting day and apparently had a couple of people upset with me over my post about the Borough Manager and Council roles in the day-to-day business of the Borough.

Resident Tricia Mezzacappa sent me 9 emails. The last two I deleted without reading, after she began to try an intimidation tactic, telling me she would be bringing all the residents from Ridge Street to the next Council Meeting, making a reference about the next election, and telling me she was the one who convinced Mr. DePaul to run for office. I was polite and understanding, but nothing I said could persuade her to calm down.

I’ve kept the emails that I did open, just in case anyone wants to see them and observe how a civil conversation can quickly degenerate into a one-sided outpouring of anger.

Though she may believe herself to be the power behind Council President Dan DePaul, he adamantly denies having ever spoken to her in that regard and it was his own decision to run for office again, after having left Council. While I tend to believe him, I’m not going to take it upon myself to accuse her of lying about it. That’s between the two of them to decide that matter.

During those email exchanges I got an email from Mr. DePaul. He wants to be heard and desires to correct me on some things I wrote. If the tone of his opening paragraph is an indication, he isn’t happy about me challenging problems with how day-to-day business is sometimes conducted.

One he was correct about was that about the computer username. I said it had originally read BOWE (Borough Of West Easton) as the username. It did not. It was, in fact, the replacement that was owed us, not the one that originally had BOWE on it. One point for Mr. DePaul.

However, “Dan” was created as the username for that replacement without objection.

He also states my use of the word “Resolution” is incorrect and cites it as, Ordinance #772. In fact, there is a Resolution. That is Resolution #773, in which Ordinance #772 was enacted. The Ordinance directs you to the Resolution for the job description. The entirety of which (Ordinance and Resolution) can be read by clicking THIS LINK. Ordinance, or Resolution, it doesn’t change what a previous Council decided about job functions.

And note paragraph 4, pertaining to the duties of our Borough Manager. Not, who he is responsible for reporting to, but his duties. “…for the proper and efficient administration of all affairs of the Borough on a daily basis except such activities the supervision of which has not been delegated to the manager, as the case may be.”

The roads (excuse me, Dan calls them “Highway Department”) was never delegated to anyone else by Council. If Dan wants to do that, he can bring it to Council for a vote.

Hopefully, this published document will “enlighten” Mr. DePaul, per his request.

If the Ordinance is too vague, or can be interpreted differently, that can be corrected by a majority of Council members. It could use an update.

Here is Mr. DePaul’s response, including his additional comments about snow, length of residency, and the already addressed computer system issue.

 Matt, Just got back in town, I always said, everyone has their own opinions, when people give opinions they may think they’re right, or they may be wrong (because they don’t have their facts) or they just don’t know what they’re talking  about. I’ll do my best to answer your 22 little paragraphs with some facts.

   I have sat through hundreds of council meetings throughout the years as a councilman, retired and didn’t run for office for the years 2012 and 2013, came back in 2014 because are taxes were raised, no transparency and the way residents were treated in this Boro.  Even though you sat through 6 meetings I appreciate your opinion. First, people haven’t forgotten the purpose of a borough manager because it’s in Ordinance (772), (not a resolution), take time to read it (ESPECIALLY PARAGRAPH NUMBER 4).

 (2) In the beginning of the year I did spend a lot of time in our office because our workers quit or got fired and not as a borough manager but as a concern Council person. (Getting them back was a task by January 4, and 5th).

 (3) The back office is exactly that a back-office, a computer didn’t exist in the back office, because they were taken out in the middle of the night, and days later in the early morning. Efforts were made to get the computers that were taken out of the borough hall, and when retrieved by many phone calls, your friend (a very good IT person) tried to find information but none existed on said computer. He informed us that it was totally deleted of any information and good for only the Internet. When he was done he put Dan on the computer not me, I had no idea if it had BOWE as a user name.

 (4) You mention the Borough code book, I’m sure you’re referring to the newest book Title 8, you should read it again it states that his duties are set by a Ordinance under 1142 (a), you remember Ordinance 772.

 (5) Maybe you can enlighten me about this day-to-day operation, Matt you might have it in writing somewhere would you please show it to me.

 (6) As far is Henry Nodoline the head of the Highway Department (not Roads) is a person born and raised here, he has repaired roads, sidewalks and built the building in the Park as a contractor hired by this Boro in the past. I appreciate your point about proper procedure, he should have waited till the next council meeting and asked Council to fix are neglected restrooms, and asking for a dumpster to clean up this community, and let the 1 Highway Department worker fend for himself during 30 inches of snow fall. If we get 30 inches of snow again maybe who’s ever in the office can show the plow drivers the correct way to plow the snow at 1 o’clock in the morning. After serving on Council many years and coming back this year he wanted to correct things that laid neglected for years. Other longtime residents of this boro remember what was a nice clean place to live. Did he admit not following proper procedure (yes).

 (7) To set the record straight the borough of West Easton has been a mess in the last five years, its taken many hours finding out the mess that left behind and we’re in, and (more to come). 

 (8) Your statement of $30,000 spent by the previous council that I’ve voted against, is actually over $42,000, plus the $14,000 for more computers and a $750 monthly service fee that equals $9000 a year for a borough of 1,200 people.  Call me crazy but I’m working for the taxpayers of this community and if they want to come to the next council meeting on March 28, I welcome them, to find out the truth. I’m not perfect but will try my hardest to make sure that our tax dollars are spent wisely.

Danny
Sent from my iPad