Tamaqua Mayoral Election

We need a mayor who is able to work with the police department we already have, not replace it.
The relationship between the mayor and the police must be productive, never antagonistic
If this is not possible, the mayoral candidate is not fit for the job.

The chief of police, I believe, is an honorable guy. Unless I am wrong, the mayor should relate to the chief and his views in a respectful fashion, and never attempt to dominate a situation by use of mayoral power. However, if there comes a time when the police are exhibiting conspicuously defiant insubordination, ONLY THEN, after all other reasonable measures have failed, should the mayor resort to disciplinary measures.

Personally, I don't believe our police department is capable of being so out of line. So, if Morrison gets in, I will be watching to see that he is working hard to repair the rift between himself and the officers he is supposed to LEAD on the people's behalf.

Have I said anything wrong? Have I ...whined?

Simply wanting to re-arrange the work schedule was too much for the locked door police department in Tamaqua. Er excuse me "the para military organization". Anyone get the slime letter the republicans have sent out with Kathy Kunkel being a supposed writer for the local rag yet here she is showing nothing but her bias? The town is so much better with all these republicans in there, I mean our streets are the worst they have ever been, the police ignore trucks committing traffic violations on a daily basis, look at how they ignore Hope's towing and all the illegally unregistered parked vehicles across the street from his business and no he does not own that property but then he does employ the former police chief, ah the privilege of being connected, incompetent police car purchase, a code enforcement officer riding around in a police car fully equipped with a CIS computer and police radio, but fear not soon it will be december and the council will all vote in lock step to retain all the appointed positions and just maybe we will have a new mayor sitting at the table like a bobble head doll, his head just up and down always agreeing even when he has no clue about what is being discussed. The country moves forward and Tamaqua takes a step backwards as usual.

For once and I can't believe I am writing this...I have to agree with Im tired of it. Very well said for once.

Old Dog wrote:

Simply wanting to re-arrange the work schedule was too much for the locked door police department in Tamaqua. Er excuse me "the para military organization". Anyone get the slime letter the republicans have sent out with Kathy Kunkel being a supposed writer for the local rag yet here she is showing nothing but her bias? The town is so much better with all these republicans in there, I mean our streets are the worst they have ever been, the police ignore trucks committing traffic violations on a daily basis, look at how they ignore Hope's towing and all the illegally unregistered parked vehicles across the street from his business and no he does not own that property but then he does employ the former police chief, ah the privilege of being connected, incompetent police car purchase, a code enforcement officer riding around in a police car fully equipped with a CIS computer and police radio, but fear not soon it will be december and the council will all vote in lock step to retain all the appointed positions and just maybe we will have a new mayor sitting at the table like a bobble head doll, his head just up and down always agreeing even when he has no clue about what is being discussed. The country moves forward and Tamaqua takes a step backwards as usual.

EXCELLENT POINTS!

The Times News is the most biased rag ever printed and Kunkel is a panderer.

Everyone on Council has forgotten about Trudich's purchasing foibles, because the public has a short memory.

The borough appointed officials do as they please with impunity.

If there is a new mayor named Hadesty in our future, he will not automatically shake his head in agreement in council meetings. They will have to wake him up first!

You know, what I'm gathering from all of this is that
I have been right all along. We need to clean house!

P.S.: If anyone is in agreement with me, only today, because I mentioned Morrison's name, just remember than I am probably against all of them.

The remark about the police being like a "para military organization" is really strong. Myself with memories of growing up in a large city and a police department I literally despised, it's hard for me to see many similarities with the police department/s I witnessed in action.

I'm a fair person. Rather than call me names for my views, enlighten me and the readers by telling us what exactly makes them so "para military".

Chief Mattson himself referred to the Tamaqua PD as a para-military organization. I would think he of all people would know the truth as to the type of group he leads.

Right View wrote:

Chief Mattson himself referred to the Tamaqua PD as a para-military organization. I would think he of all people would know the truth as to the type of group he leads.

I wonder if the chief would openly admit to saying the statement you attributed to him. If so, I would like to explain himself. "Para-military" means they act like the military, right? If that's what you mean, then explain how their operations affect the community negatively?
Are there ethical breaches is what it boils down to. So far, I guess we've already established that a sector of the community (don't know how big) feels that the police have shown favoritism in who they do and do not throw the book at, and this definitely deserves more discussion. We've also established that there may be other questionable conflicts, such as, for example, the Hope's Towing issues that keep cropping up.
Please, be constructive so the community can hear all of the facts. In time, we have heard enough substantiated negative facts, certainly there will be a show down.
Let's continue this discussion in the weeks and months ahead.

Chief Mattson was quoted in "The Times News" as saying these words.--->(Tamaqua Police Dept. is a paramilitary organization) He was trying to make a point that the Mayor was not the proper person to be in charge of the Police Dept. because he was a "civilian". Chief Mattson feels his group should not have oversight by such people.

Right View wrote:

Chief Mattson was quoted in "The Times News" as saying these words.--->(Tamaqua Police Dept. is a paramilitary organization) He was trying to make a point that the Mayor was not the proper person to be in charge of the Police Dept. because he was a "civilian". Chief Mattson feels his group should not have oversight by such people.

Okay, this is what the chief feels, but it is not right just because this chief said it. Oversight by someone from the police ranks is, in no way, guarantees that there would be good leadership. In fact, it could lead to lots of nepotism which is quite common.
The use of the term "paramilitary" bothers me. Was it meant as a statement of fact, or to infer that the police is acting out of line, almost like a bunch of renegades?
If we're going to get to the bottom of this, we must discuss it in depth from all angles.
Anyone eles who has something constructive (positive or negative) to say about OUR police department (which, by the way, ties up lots of OUR tax dollars) concerned people want to hear you out.

Actually, Chief Mattson has repeatedly explained his view as being that civilians in charge of the police department should have to undergo training. I can't believe I'm defending him, because I think he is the department's biggest problem, but what's fair is fair. As for the PD being a paramilitary organization, that was a poor choice of words for the chief. i don't think he knows the definition of paramilitary.

Websters defines paramilitary as " of, relating to, being, or characteristic of a force formed on a military pattern especially as a potential auxiliary military force."

I would say that a police force could loosely be called a paramilitary organization in that it is meant to serve and protect, much like the U.S. military. The real point isn't that the chief thinks that the police are a paramilitary organization, it's that he want's no outside oversight on the way he runs his organization. Without some sort of check and balance system in place, that's way too much power for one person, even if he's running a unionized force. Mayor Morrison could have done a better job working with the police, but he was doing what he saw as his mayoral duty, and I agree with him.

Unionized...
I don't like it.
You are correct. We need checks and balances, AND, good leadership.
These unions are going to kill us.
Ooooh yes they are.

Thank you for enlightening us to this union fact. As much as I tend to side with the police, when dealing with unions, we need to proceed cautiously and lessen the conflicts of interests. I guess they made their own bed on this matter.
Still, we have to find a way to make the situation productive because, again, WE have a lot of money tied up in that department, and WE deserve to know what we are getting for our money.
Union....... It was the deal breaker.

I agree that Chris could have done a better job working WITH the officers. AND, I don't believe a union itself is a deal breaker. I'm hoping both sides will now work together for what's best for the community. Otheriwse, it will be a long, ugly four years.

Not confused wrote:

I agree that Chris could have done a better job working WITH the officers. AND, I don't believe a union itself is a deal breaker. I'm hoping both sides will now work together for what's best for the community. Otheriwse, it will be a long, ugly four years.

I think Chris has learned from his dealings with the police department and council. I know him personally, and he was truly disheartened by the whole ordeal, especially the money that was spent on legal fees. He was more disheartened by the fact that the $10,000 bill was laid at his feet, when the council was the one at fault, and a Republican council at that. The whole reason he did what he did was to SAVE taxpayer dollars, not waste them.
I was disgusted by the flyer that the republican council hopefuls put on my doorstep that said it was all the mayor's fault that this money was spent. What a political spin! And their smiling, smug faces in that picture made me wonder what's going to happen if these liars get in office. Well, that day is here..... It`s going to be a bumpy four more years to say the least!

Not confused wrote:

I agree that Chris could have done a better job working WITH the officers. AND, I don't believe a union itself is a deal breaker. I'm hoping both sides will now work together for what's best for the community. Otheriwse, it will be a long, ugly four years.

There was no reason for men of the Tamaqua community to vote in a union. Again, this is not a private sector corporation where people are unappreciated, disrespected and overly underpaid. This is a LOCAL governmental organization comprised of LOCAL people. It does not make sense any way I look at it. Now, if Walmart workers unionize, I'll be the first to scream "Bravo!"

Yo-Yo-Yo wrote:

<quoted text>
I think Chris has learned from his dealings with the police department and council. I know him personally, and he was truly disheartened by the whole ordeal, especially the money that was spent on legal fees. He was more disheartened by the fact that the $10,000 bill was laid at his feet, when the council was the one at fault, and a Republican council at that. The whole reason he did what he did was to SAVE taxpayer dollars, not waste them.
I was disgusted by the flyer that the republican council hopefuls put on my doorstep that said it was all the mayor's fault that this money was spent. What a political spin! And their smiling, smug faces in that picture made me wonder what's going to happen if these liars get in office. Well, that day is here..... It`s going to be a bumpy four more years to say the least!

What I gather is that we have a corrupt newspaper. Hey, if they are not going to report the COMPLETE story, objectively, they are corrupt in my book. As a citizen, I still don't know the whole story, so hereafter it is important for us to, somehow, get all of the facts to the public.

...maybe we need an official Tamaqua Blog or a Yahoo Tamaqua Group TO CIRCUMVENT the newspapers!(I truly have a distaste for the newspapers).
Of course, there will be commenters who will purposely tell a story with a certain slant (or even lie), and others who will tell the story exactly as it happened. At least the public will have more information and can make up their own minds.
We need MORE INFORMATION, not less, so there are no good guys end up being sacrificial lambs.
I'll give Morrison another chance because I know I don't have a full handle on his agenda. If both sides act honorable, everything will run smoothly.

Go Startzel 2012!! Great job kid. You earned my respect. This isn't the end of him!

Old Dog wrote:

Simply wanting to re-arrange the work schedule was too much for the locked door police department in Tamaqua. Er excuse me "the para military organization". Anyone get the slime letter the republicans have sent out with Kathy Kunkel being a supposed writer for the local rag yet here she is showing nothing but her bias? The town is so much better with all these republicans in there, I mean our streets are the worst they have ever been, the police ignore trucks committing traffic violations on a daily basis, look at how they ignore Hope's towing and all the illegally unregistered parked vehicles across the street from his business and no he does not own that property but then he does employ the former police chief, ah the privilege of being connected, incompetent police car purchase, a code enforcement officer riding around in a police car fully equipped with a CIS computer and police radio, but fear not soon it will be december and the council will all vote in lock step to retain all the appointed positions and just maybe we will have a new mayor sitting at the table like a bobble head doll, his head just up and down always agreeing even when he has no clue about what is being discussed. The country moves forward and Tamaqua takes a step backwards as usual.

I can't comment on all of your issues but if you happened to look past your own nose on the way out of Tamaqua, toward Hope's, you would notice a sign that says SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP. This sign is right before the vehicles you have obviously noticed. The vehicles that you are so angry about the Tamaqua Police not doing anything about aren't even in the Bourough of Tamaqua, thus it is not a issue that the Tamaqua Police or Code Enforcement can deal with.