Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Trying to decipher Norristown code report

The consultant's report on the Norristown code enforcement department is finally out.
I was under the impression is was going to be out a while ago, but, as they say, better late than never. Or is that really the case here?
The report tells us the department is in disarray. We knew that didn't we? The report tells us the department is understaffed. We knew that, too, didn't we? And the report also says the department needs a true leader.
Ah, now we're getting somewhere. Just what happened to the leader of the department?
Where is Charlie Sweeney?
Last I heard he was waiting for another hearing on whether he's going to get his job back.
Where was that little tidbit in the report?
We know something happened to cause Charlie to be fired, but what was it?
I can certainly understand the idea behind the report was to determine all of the departments faults and attempt to move forward in a positive fashion to create a department that will run smoothly and efficiently in the future.
But what about the past?
I'm still under the impression that Charlie was fired for doing something he was told to do.
I'm also under the impression that Charlie was told to do something for a Montgomery County mover and shaker and when the favor didn't go as planned the hammer came down on Charlie.
Now I don't know how productive all of this is in moving the department forward, but I do know that exposing past practices will go a long way in assuring the people of Norristown that those practices no longer exist.
We all remember the FBI raid, don't we?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Any Norristown official who is found doing favors for 'movers and shakers' needs to be fired immediately and an investigation commenced to see how deep the corruption is. Didnt they learn thier lessons from before? I guess history repeats itself.

Anonymous said...

Stan:
Can the report be printed or will I see more information on this ?
I agree. This department is in disarray and can be fixed if the right procedures are put in place. The problem in Norristown is that all of the other problems tend to feed into others and this is a good example. The problems of crime, corruption in Norristown are making this department work harder, because the wrong focus continues on not fixing the root cause of the issues. Norristown needs a "clean sweep": Zero Tolerance for the crime a corruption. Other communities have been able to clean up the problems, yet Norristown can't seem to do it after so many tries. It sounds easy, I know its not. Lock up the criminals and prostitutes. They need to know they are not welcome in Norristown. That is where I would start. Make us feel safe and think this can get better. I am near the point of giving up on Norristown. I know many still think it can get better. I just don’t see it improving to a point where anyone would want to raise a family in the borough.

Big Larry

Anonymous said...

Call it what it is, same old Norristown BS all over again. IF the chief of police is involved, he needs to resign and the attorney/redevlopement authority person from the county too. Let's call it for what it is and quit beating around the bush Stan. "Top Cop" = Chief of Police. This whole thing is getting old. USe the information that you have gathered and write the story. It has to be more accurate then this report that we have waited for so long. Call Capystranao, Bixler and Sweeney if you want more infomration. They are local and easy to contact.

Anonymous said...

Really, does the "report" say anything that any reasonable manager wouldn't say. That makes the report out to be an excuse for some action, that may or may not be change. What council has ignored is the need for 1st class management for all of public safety. That void shows itself in the loss of volunteers for the Fire Department, inadequate and untrained code inspectors, police officers and the use of people paid as code officers and the use of oveburdened police as crossing guides.
That looks like poor use of personnel and revenue to me.

Anonymous said...

Stan:

What ever happened to the elusive code report and follow-up from the Tmes Herald? Nothing has been said and the report hasn't been made public. Can we expect to see more coverage from the Herald?