August 21, 2009
April 11, 2009
"Lawyers' plebiscite, by the numbers"
PhillyBurbs.com, Intelligencer, by Laurie Mason, April 9, 2009: "Lawyers' plebiscite, by the numbers: The results of the Bucks County Bar Association's anonymous poll on the county judge candidates shows that most of the 335 lawyers who voted would recommend Wallace Bateman, Robert Baldi and Gary Gilman for a seat on the Court of Common Pleas bench."
"Court backs judge appointment by governor"
PhillyBurbs.com, Intelligencer, by Gary Weckselblatt, April 9, 2009: "Court backs judge appointment by governor: A candidate's bid to place the seat on the November ballot was defeated. The judicial opening created by the resignation of Bucks County Judge David Heckler will be filled by a governor's appointment, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday."
April 3, 2009
"Judicial Candidates Night"
PhillyBurbs.com: "Candidates get chance to strut their legal stuff: Lawyers Robert O. Baldi, Wallace H. Bateman Jr., Gary Gilman, Brian McGuffin and Carol A. Shelly took part in a 'Judicial Candidates Night' at the Bucks County Bar Association in Doylestown. All are vying for one of the three judge seats open in the county courthouse. Lawyers Lawrence M. Otter, Michael D. Rubin and David Zellis are also running, but did not attend the forum."
April 1, 2009
March 30, 2009
"Public invited to meet judge candidates"
PhillyBurbs.com, Intelligencer, March 29, 2009:
"The judicial candidates forum begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Bucks County Bar Association is located at 135 East State St. in Doylestown.
"Directions, information and judge candidate questionnaires can be found at the association's Web site http://www.bucksbar.org/."
"The judicial candidates forum begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Bucks County Bar Association is located at 135 East State St. in Doylestown.
"Directions, information and judge candidate questionnaires can be found at the association's Web site http://www.bucksbar.org/."
February 15, 2009
Bucks County Courier Times: "Taking the keys"
Editorial, February 11, 2009
County cars under a more watchful eye.
On the plus side of the county government ledger, another perk is shrinking - free cars.
Spurred by minority Commissioner Diane Marseglia's watchdog efforts, the board's Republican majority ordered a review of the county's car policy last year. Employees were asked to explain why they needed a car, with particular attention to employees driving county cars 24-7.
It took nearly a year of debate, tabulation and analysis, but the number of county workers who drive a county car to and from work will drop from 25 to six. And this year, all of them will have to pay tax on the benefit, which amounts to added income of about $2,175 per person. The benefit ranged in value between $685 and $4,089 per employee. Nice perk for employees at the top of the scale.
In addition, the county's asset manager is working on a real policy for using county cars. Currently a paragraph, that guideline will grow to about 20 pages.
Glad to hear county officials finally are bringing some accountability to a perk that for too long was handed out unevenly to county workers and unapologetically at county taxpayers' expense.
County cars under a more watchful eye.
On the plus side of the county government ledger, another perk is shrinking - free cars.
Spurred by minority Commissioner Diane Marseglia's watchdog efforts, the board's Republican majority ordered a review of the county's car policy last year. Employees were asked to explain why they needed a car, with particular attention to employees driving county cars 24-7.
It took nearly a year of debate, tabulation and analysis, but the number of county workers who drive a county car to and from work will drop from 25 to six. And this year, all of them will have to pay tax on the benefit, which amounts to added income of about $2,175 per person. The benefit ranged in value between $685 and $4,089 per employee. Nice perk for employees at the top of the scale.
In addition, the county's asset manager is working on a real policy for using county cars. Currently a paragraph, that guideline will grow to about 20 pages.
Glad to hear county officials finally are bringing some accountability to a perk that for too long was handed out unevenly to county workers and unapologetically at county taxpayers' expense.
Bucks County Courier Times: "Spoiled system"
Editorial, February 11, 2009
Taxpayers are footing the cost of health insurance for a posse of part-time county lawyers.
"To the victor belong the spoils." Coined by a New York senator, the practice of naming political supporters to government positions was perfected by President Andrew Jackson. Nearly two centuries later, it remains an entrenched political system, one exercised without apology by our Republican-controlled county government.
And while it's not unreasonable for those running the government to appoint folks who share their political views, it is unreasonable and also unacceptable to pack the government with partisans at the expense of taxpayers. For example, the county employs 15 attorneys who work on an as-needed basis. Some of the lawyers, according to county Commissioner Diane Marseglia, "don't do anything."
Still, these part-time attorneys receive a base salary of between $6,000 and $37,268, for a total annual outlay of $235,268 - plus benefits. The plus-benefits part adds another $205,946 to the jackpot, bringing the total bill to $441,829.
That doesn't include the county's full-time lawyer. Yes, the county has a full-time lawyer; yet, the government still farms out legal work to a flock of part-timers. [continued]
Taxpayers are footing the cost of health insurance for a posse of part-time county lawyers.
"To the victor belong the spoils." Coined by a New York senator, the practice of naming political supporters to government positions was perfected by President Andrew Jackson. Nearly two centuries later, it remains an entrenched political system, one exercised without apology by our Republican-controlled county government.
And while it's not unreasonable for those running the government to appoint folks who share their political views, it is unreasonable and also unacceptable to pack the government with partisans at the expense of taxpayers. For example, the county employs 15 attorneys who work on an as-needed basis. Some of the lawyers, according to county Commissioner Diane Marseglia, "don't do anything."
Still, these part-time attorneys receive a base salary of between $6,000 and $37,268, for a total annual outlay of $235,268 - plus benefits. The plus-benefits part adds another $205,946 to the jackpot, bringing the total bill to $441,829.
That doesn't include the county's full-time lawyer. Yes, the county has a full-time lawyer; yet, the government still farms out legal work to a flock of part-timers. [continued]
February 8, 2009
County perks
Commissioner: Weigh benefits of county perks
By Jenna Portnoy, Intelligencer, February 8, 2009
"Bucks County spends about $200,000 a year providing benefits to part-time solicitors. Commissioner Diane Marseglia believes that's a perk they can do without.
A state survey released last week showed that one million Pennsylvanians do not have health insurance.
"But in Bucks County, 15 attorneys who work on an as-needed basis still receive medical benefits at an annual cost to taxpayers of about $200,000." [Continued>>]
Part-time solicitors' pay, 2009
Assignment / Base salary / Benefits
Name
Board of assessment $15,000 $13,650
Edward Rudolph
Tax claim $20,000 $14,200
John Torrente
Planning $10,000 $13,100
Chuck McIlhinney
Assistant solicitor $37,079 $16,079
Guy Matthews
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Tina Mazaheri
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Donna Snyder
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Don Williams
Clerk of courts $6,000 $12,660
Allen Toadvine
Controller (vacant) $6,000 $12,660
Coroner $6,000 $12,660
Charles Marte Jr.
Prothonotary $6,000 $12,660
Barry Ballow
Recorder of deeds $6,000 $12,660
Martin King
Register of wills $6,000 $12,660
Harold Vikoren
Sheriff (vacant) $6,000 $12,660
Treasurer $6,000 $12,660
Thomas Profy IV
TOTAL $235,883 $205,946
Source: Bucks County controller
By Jenna Portnoy, Intelligencer, February 8, 2009
"Bucks County spends about $200,000 a year providing benefits to part-time solicitors. Commissioner Diane Marseglia believes that's a perk they can do without.
A state survey released last week showed that one million Pennsylvanians do not have health insurance.
"But in Bucks County, 15 attorneys who work on an as-needed basis still receive medical benefits at an annual cost to taxpayers of about $200,000." [Continued>>]
Part-time solicitors' pay, 2009
Assignment / Base salary / Benefits
Name
Board of assessment $15,000 $13,650
Edward Rudolph
Tax claim $20,000 $14,200
John Torrente
Planning $10,000 $13,100
Chuck McIlhinney
Assistant solicitor $37,079 $16,079
Guy Matthews
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Tina Mazaheri
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Donna Snyder
Assistant solicitor $35,268 $15,879
Don Williams
Clerk of courts $6,000 $12,660
Allen Toadvine
Controller (vacant) $6,000 $12,660
Coroner $6,000 $12,660
Charles Marte Jr.
Prothonotary $6,000 $12,660
Barry Ballow
Recorder of deeds $6,000 $12,660
Martin King
Register of wills $6,000 $12,660
Harold Vikoren
Sheriff (vacant) $6,000 $12,660
Treasurer $6,000 $12,660
Thomas Profy IV
TOTAL $235,883 $205,946
Source: Bucks County controller
County spin cycle
PhillyBurbs.com: "County spin cycle: Bucks County should get out of the 'news' business and focus on disseminating public information--minus the fluff," Bucks County Courier Times editorial, February 8, 2009.
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