The Express-Times Editor, Jim Deegan, has done another editorial about West Easton. This is his second one in a span of one week. Sadly, he is spot on regarding the lack of transparency in West Easton.
It is one of the few complaints I actually agree with resident Tricia Mezzacappa about. It’s a shame that her seldom shown rational thinking is overshadowed by her more bizarre allegations and vulgar insults toward members on the council.
As most are aware my disdain for Mezzacappa is no secret. Her accusations about me and others has no boundaries. They are made for no legitimate purpose and without a foundation of fact, as a means of harassment. She has made the most vile of charges and innuendo, even going so far as to call my employer in an attempt to have me fired.
However, even she has the right to access of documents within the Borough Municipal Building, as allowed by the law.
We all do, under the Sunshine Act.
Editor Deegan has circulated an opinion to many more people than my blog reaches. While my readership has increased dramatically with online visitors within the borough and bordering communities, The Express-Times reaches residents throughout all of Lehigh Valley.
Contrary to the belief by the resident I previously mentioned, I do not have unfettered access to borough information, nor am I their “water boy.” I give my opinion and it doesn’t always put some who govern in the best light, but it is my opinion and it isn’t appreciated sometimes.
I have been subjected to the requirement of filling out an RTK form to receive approved council minutes and even permit applications that are supposed to be immediately available.
According to the Sunshine Act, minutes of meetings are supposed to be kept and they are automatically approved after 30 days, if not formally approved by the governing body.
In my experience, which I wrote about, I had to wait an additional 35 days to get approved council minutes from a meeting that occurred 30 days prior to my request and 5 other meetings, also with approved minutes.
The reason I was given in not receiving them within a few days was that a solicitor had to review the request and the minutes to see if any redaction of information would be needed. Keep in mind these were approved minutes. What would need to be suddenly redacted?
The permit applications (a total of six) are those that would be handed to any resident or contractor needing to do work on a home in the borough. Something that is handed to a requester immediately.
The borough used 5 days to mail me a letter telling me they then had 30 more days to meet or deny my request.
I embarrassed them into placing a bulletin board outside the Municipal Building. If a resident was unable to physically obtain approved minutes, they could certainly be posted under glass, so that they could be read. For some months this was done.
Now it has stopped and there seems to be no minutes of meetings kept in accordance with the law.
Mentioned in Deegan’s editorial was the death of Councilman Charles Stout, Jr. that wasn’t addressed or made public by the Mayor and Council for months.
I also wrote about that one before the ET editorial mentioned it.
A council seat remained vacant for 4 months, also without following the Commonwealth’s procedure in filling that seat if the Council was unable to do so in a timely manner.
The most disturbing part is that some of those on Council were unaware of his death. They weren’t told by the few on Council who were aware of Mr. Stout’s passing.
There may be some light at the end of the tunnel and we all better pray that light is reached before these mistakes result in a malcontent resident with an ax to grind getting elected, due to the residents desire to see a change.
Trading down, by electing someone who doesn’t care about the entire borough, but only their personal grievances would do even more harm to our already tenuous situation.
The real light may be in the form of the newest council members and possibly older members who are recognizing that changes to “business as usual” must be made.
That will mean changes for some of them, as well.
In the past I’ve seen some of those on Council enter the building and grab their packet of info and the agenda only minutes before the meeting commenced and then hurriedly try to read what would be voted upon.
Being unprepared and having no knowledge of the issue to be discussed doesn’t make for good government.
It may well be the reason that our small community is getting the attention of a broader audience.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
