Thursday, July 16
July board meeting
Follow the board meeting as recorded and blogged on the School Board 2.0 Web site by Nick Troiano, executive director of the Pike County Youth Coalition.
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Ryan Balton
Blog publisher Ryan Balton attended Delaware Valley from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating in 2007. He is dual majoring in education policy and television production at Syracuse University.
Mission Statement: Delaware Valley School District, the educational leader of our community, strives for excellence with dedication to diverse educational opportunities. Students of all ages are challenged to maximize intellectual, emotional, social and physical potential. Values, knowledge, and skills are nurtured in partnership with family and community. Learning takes place in a safe and positive environment that respects individual differences. Delaware Valley offers a dynamic core curriculum enhanced by the creative use of technology. Our commitment to life-long learning promotes success in an ever-changing global society.
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12 comments:
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Big Nose says:
July 16, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Let me get this straight – Forbes sticks his nose in the Auditors’ business, result – lawsuit. Forbes sticks his nose in the Children and Youth Director’s busines, result – bigger lawsuit. Forbes sticks his nose in the Director of the Board of Elections, result – botched election process. I’m seeing a pattern here. So where has the Coridi been while this is going on? I thought HE was the chairman of the board of commissioners.
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lapdog says:
July 16, 2009 at 3:06 pm
You go ladies,get those receipts and make them account for every one of the taxpayers money.
It’s time Forbes goes back to his previous job of a barber,he can take Yolanda as a team,she was also a hairdresser.
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Time to go says:
July 16, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Way to tell it like it is. Enough bulling from the commissioners, where’s your receipt’s Harry? Time for someone to go.
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Eric VonIgnatius says:
July 16, 2009 at 12:57 pm
You go girls!
TOO BAD MARVIN EVERSDYKE WASN'T INVITED TO THE SECRET MEETINGS THAT DIANE FRENCH AND BOB GOLDSACK HAD WITH KRISE BUS COMPANY WHILE THE PUBLIC WAS BEING RIPPED OFF BY WHAT AMOUNTED TO GAS THEFT.
HEH ROSE DO YOU BELIEVE DIANE WOULD HAVE READ THE LETTER FROM THE AUDITOR GENERAL OUT LOUD TO THE PUBLIC IF SHE HAD BEEN PRESENT? hee hee
Sounds like the democrats are at it again. Don't we have a third commissioner, Karl Wagoner, who happens to be a democrat?
So who's aiming for Harry's seat?
Is it Boob? Is it Rose?
Pike Auditors: We Don’t Answer to the Commissioners
Getting the Job Done:
Getting the Job Done: Auditors Anne Seaman and Missy Strub at work on Wednesday. Auditor Tom Foran is on vacation this week and was unavailable for this photo.
“…they need to quit butting in where they have no authority”
By Pat Camuso
MILFORD – The Pike County Auditors are reminding the Board of Commissioners that they hold an elected office and answer only to the voters – so stop butting in.
The commissioners decided to block an extension petition for the completion of the 2008 audit beyond its state mandated July 1 deadline but the auditors sued and won their extension in the county Court of Common Pleas. The commissioners intend to appeal the court’s decision according to Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Rich Caridi.
The auditors feel that the decision of President Judge Joseph Kameen was well thought-out within the law; focused; complete and able to hold up if appealed.
“I think it’s unfortunate that Commissioner Caridi is not thoroughly versed in the law,” said Pike County Auditor Missy Strub. “It’s a misconception that our work is finished when the state report is requested on July 1; it’s not finished. We were elected to a four-year term. The state report has become so cumbersome that we have always required an extension but that doesn’t mean our work is to be completed on July 1 – just that one report should be finished if possible or else an extension is granted; we can continue to work throughout the year and we should be allowed to if need be. The commissioners have absolutely no authority to tell us when we’re done or when we’re not done working.”
“Once our report is filed its not like we don’t have more work to do”, Strub continued. “We could spend November and December preparing for next year – it’s our call – not the commissioners. They do not have the right to tell us we can’t work; its pettiness on the part of the commissioners; they need to quit butting in where they have no authority.”
We don’t serve at the pleasure of the commissioners,” said auditor Ann Seaman. “We serve only the voters; we answer only to the voters.”
Strub said, “They [commissioners] have no authority to tell the sheriff how to run his office nor do they have any authority to tell the Prothonotary how to run her office – or the recorder of deeds or the DA. They’re all elected officials and they run their own office as they see fit; we are elected officials too and we’ll run our own office and answer only to the voters.”
“It’s their [commissioners] interfering that creates problems,” added Seaman. “Maybe they should take a look at how they spend money in other areas.” Seaman has said in the past that animosity may have developed when the auditors’ questioned Commissioner Harry Forbes about his expense account. “They [the commissioners] have cart-blanche and can spend whatever they want but all other county officials stay within reason and limits. I can’t say that about all the commissioners because that would be wrong – just one.”
“It’s a shame that the commissioners do not focus on the things they should be doing for this county,” said Strub.
“The commissioners insulted us and tried to damage our reputation; they are not going to call me a liar and a cheat – we serve our county with honor,” said Seaman. She read through a long list of Pennsylvania counties that were granted extensions this year including counties with much smaller budgets.
Auditor Tom Foran was unavailable for comment.
Here we go again. Anne Seaman sure is friendly with Harry during election time. I believe it's time for Anne to shed her Republican costume. You're not fooling some of us anymore. What are your future political aspirations? Interesting how you sneak between parties.
Goldfinger missed both recent DV budget meetings and numerous other board meetings. He has good attendance at the secret meetings though. Aren't there any attendance requirements for these people?
Pike County's children need to be protected from the ineptness of employees within the children and youth office. Good for you Harry Forbes for taking action against employees who think they do not need to answer to their superiors. Whether workers like it or not there is a system to be followed and a superior to answer to in every situation. DM's stubborn and vindictive attitude was a detriment to our county. The mistake was for the commissioners to appoint someone who has zip experience instead of interviewing and involving a panel of decision makers. Get someone in there with experience and fortitude, but who also respects others. This means you will need to pay them well, but our children are worth it. There are others who need to go. Send a questionnaire to local schools and businesses who deal with children and youth and ask their opinion. Time for many changes in that office. The community has tolerated too much for too long. And what about the board who oversees children and youth? Why aren't they being more demanding. Citizens are getting sick of committees and appointees who do nothing or who are themselves inept.
It's about time someone did something about the complacency and haughty attitude in C&Y office.
I am a member of the Children and Youth Advisory Board and would like to comment on "stop gand start interviewi said..." remarks that we "are not being more demanding". The Advisory Board exists under the mandates of Pa. Code 3130.22. It's purpose is:
(a) The advisory committee shall make recommendations on matters referred by the executive officers or the agency administrator and shall suggest policies for the agency’s operation and development at the committee’s own initiative.
(b) The advisory committee shall advise the executive officers and the agency administrator on the development of the County Children and Youth Services Plan and Budget Estimate.
Based on this, we have no powers to make any changes at C&Y. We can advise on administrator concerns and budget estimates. We have no input into who is hired at C&Y. If administrators do not bring the concerns to us we will not know of them. If members of the community have concerns they can bring them to us and we can discuss and make suggestions, but ultimately we have no powers.
It is unfair to suggest that we "do nothing and are inept". Members of the Advisory Board are respected members of this community and have worked in many areas in our county related to children and families.
Members of the community are encouraged to speak to us about their concerns.
Mary Gordon would straighten things out! We know that! Too bad she and the other board members don't have more power. Hang in there Mary, we know you mean well.
Members of the Advisory Board, Thank you for doing what you can for the children of Pike County. Many of us do understand that you do everything in your power to do what is best for our children.
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