Controllers duties? Im not sure anymore..

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and got to spend time with loved ones.  

Todays memes had me laughing so enjoy. Now lets get into the Truth. 

The agenda for this week's Council meeting is extremely light on actual action by our city government, but two areas caught my attention:
 1. The Controller’s reports and
 2. The renaming of John A. Valania Park.  

Let’s explore both below.
According to the Home Rule Charter the City Controller shall have financial oversight of City finances, independent of the Executive and Legislative branches and shall review all expenditures of the Mayor, City Council and City Boards, Commissions and Agencies.

Is it just me or does the Controller focus on the easy audits and does not tackle the areas that are hitting the city with the greatest financial impact.   The overtime for Public Safety and Public Works, the ever-increasing cost of the employee healthcare, and the promotions for a Solicitors office who outsource most legal services.  

When was the last time an issue within the city happened where an outside entity wasn’t contracted?  Yet, the city keeps giving this office more money for doing so much less.  I have heard from many current employees that the solicitor’s office is one of the most underperforming and lazy group of individuals who always have a reason not to be in the office. 

Seems to me like the Controller is rather deficient in his duties and focuses on the low hanging fruit. He has to justify the salaries in his department. At the same time he is hitting the audit "easy button"money is being wasted behind his back. Maybe he knows it is being wasted? Maybe he does not want to go against the administration? ....or is investigating the areas of big concern just too complex for him and his assistant?

This week’s Controller’s report focuses on chasing incorrectly posted accounts for charging, not resulting in any sort of savings at all.  Instead, it just corrects the accounts.    How much time was spent going through these transactions to correct a $9.99 book in Recycling that was charged to an account 68 erroneously and should be charged to an account 32?  Doesn’t seem to pass the commonsense test that any time was wasted by the Controller's office on this ----  Why are their auditors in finance if they don’t catch these misused accounts.  Wait, let’s ask Bina “I don’t have that information, but I can get back to you” Patel.  Hold your breath starting……now!

The renaming of John A. Valania Park.  The city website indicates that “John A. Valania Park was built and dedicated in 1976 using Allentown Redevelopment Authority funds. A contest was held, and it was decided to name the park after former Allentown School District principal John Valania, who died at the age of 43.”  

Doesn’t it seem that there are other areas of Allentown that could be renamed in honor of Clyde Bosket.   Here’s a thought, why not name the street that his barbershop was located?    How about something that was not renamed in honor of another person, especially one through a campaign where the people chose the name of the site?   Mack Pool?   Cedar Beach Pool?  The new Police Station or Fire Station?  The new police station would be a great idea.  Im sure Chief Roca would love that since Im sure he thinks it should be in honor of himself.

The influence that Mr. Bosket had on the Allentown community cannot be denied, my feelings are that we should not strip one dedicated space name and replace with another.   That is disrespectful and unfair.

I know my words are probably falling on deaf ears/blind eyes, but it is more and more obvious as I started to watch what is going on in Allentown after several missteps of the leadership, that these city leaders we elected accept mediocrity and avoidance as a fundamental of city administration.