Take Our Poll: Vote of 'No Confidence' for Mayor Hoffman?
Citizens are disappointed the mayor won't respond or attend council meetings.
A National Search For A Brookhaven Chief Of Police?
Should there be a vote of "no confidence" for Mayor Rick Hoffman?
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Macungie Mayor Rick Hoffman has not attended the last three meetings of borough council.
And even though council has publicly supported 24/7 police coverage in the borough, the mayor has continued to insist on open shifts -- police shifts that are not covered by Macungie police.
Though citizens have begged and pleaded with the mayor to hear them, the only communication he has made is his refusal of complete police coverage.
Some have called for the mayor's removal. Others have suggested a vote of "no confidence."
What do you think?
Ron Beitler
8:21 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
The usual cast of characters is gonna bark about this... and again while I wholeheartedly think the mayor needs to be replaced next election... (due to his failure to regularly attend meetings and/or offering any reason whatsoever why he won't attend)... a no confidence vote is just more bad press/another black eye and more negativity for the borough. That and it has no teeth. What would it accomplish?
There are NO recall elections on the local level in the state of PA. The mayor is well aware of everything going on and already indicated he will not run again. The only way (from what I understand) to get rid of him is for him to resign or replaced in an election. Is the hope to get him to resign with no confidence vote? I doubt that would happen.
If someone posts what a vote of no confidence accomplishes I'm willing to listen. But I see it as just more unnecessary soap opera. You need to way the continuing negative press vs. what a vote would accomplish.
Ron Beitler
8:35 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Items I think would be more effective:
-Someone mentioned a demonstration. If done in a civil way and legally.
-Petition drive
-Door knocking effort
All more effective at getting the Mayor to resign and all citizen driven efforts rather then wasting council time on something that won't work. Council is not the Mayor's babysitter.
And let me put this in perspective on how this "distracts". Monday a potential investor in the borough (the sale is still pending) came to present a nice plan to redevelop a critical parcel in the middle of the downtown. A parcel that is pretty much a big hole now. This brought up a bigger debate about relocating lumber st. This plan got ZERO media coverage because of the mayor circus.
John Rogers
10:38 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ron, I do agree with you for the most part. A no confidence vote does not have any teeth. Besides, the majority of council would not have the courage to take such a vote. But, the pressure must be maintained for two reasons. First, if council continues to take the heat for the mayor, maybe, and I emphasize maybe, they will step up and pass an ordinance to do what the citizens want regarding police coverage. They do have that authority. Second, even the most uneducated, arrogant, stubborn and pompous of people has to be affected after a while by all the negativity heaped on him/her. Hoffman can not simply be given a "free ride" for the next year and a half. If he finally submits to the will of the citizens then maybe this community can move on to other issues.
Responsible Citizen
5:04 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Our sentiments exactly, John!
cant run from the past
4:34 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Maybe its time to divulge the nature of the mayors tenure with the Bethlehem Steel. Instead of just spilling it here in a comment, why doesn't someone ask him to explain what he did in his self admitted " youth" while there. Ought to be interesting to see his reaction.........more on this topic to follow.
John Rogers
11:55 am on Friday, July 6, 2012
Ooooh, ooohh, I know, I know. And this is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in Macungie who is going to straighten out the police...lol