Full disclosure of what?

Somehow, Fayette County commissioner Vince Zapotosky believes that the appearance of private investigator Leonard Maharowski at Tuesday's meeting, to recite the same supposed findings already publicized at the Aug. 9 meeting of the Fayette County Housing Authority, an appearance made at the direction of those at the housing authority not named Beverly Beal, constitutes "full disclosure" of county activities.

We see it as the use of taxpayer money to carry out character assassination on Beal and her friend, Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink. Seriously, when is the last time ANY public agency in Fayette County felt the need to hire a private investigator to snoop around regarding the activities of a board member (Beal) and her friends? We challenge Zapotosky -- or anyone else, for that matter -- to come up with the answer. (We also think it would be a great idea for Zapotosky or anyone else to ask the housing authority chieftains and Maharowski if the Beal matter is the first time they've employed his services.)

But at Tuesday's commission meeting, where Ralph Mazza of Vanderbilt -- a bona fide World War II veteran -- invoked the name of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels in describing the desire of Zapotosky and Commission chairman Al Ambrosini to utilize a public relations person, Zapotosky kept the Nazi references flowing when audience members objected to Maharowski addressing the commissioners.

“You just got done talking about Joseph Goebbels,” Zapotosky said. “You can’t have it both ways. Either full disclosure, or not. No Joseph Goebbels. No Herman Goering. Full disclosure.” http://triblive.com/news/fayette/2451023-74/county-commissioners-zimmerlink-department-authority-zapotosky-heads-information-investigation-posit?printerfriendly=true

The question we have to ask Zapotosky is: Full disclosure of what?

Of the housing authority's use of money that's supposed to go toward housing poor people for hiring Maharowski to perform work above and beyond that of the Pennsylvania State Police?

Of the housing authority's willingness to instruct Maharowski to attend the commissioners' meeting for a second bite at the publicity apple, in what thus far shapes up as a case long on innuendo and short on evidence of criminal activity? (Just who are these three restaurant waitresses who allegedly saw Beal, Zimmerlink and Sonya Over having lunch, anyway? If Zapotosky believes in "full disclosure," shouldn't their names be the first to roll off Maharowski's tongue?)

Of an obvious attempt to discredit Zimmerlink by having a hired gun show up at one of her meetings?

We wonder how Zapotosky would react if a private investigator hired by someone else showed up at a commission meeting to lob an innuendo bomb his way.

If someone said, "I'm Ben Matlock, the private investigator hired to find out what you ever did to 'get to the bottom' of what happened at Fayette County Children and Youth Services, back when two children died. Would you kindly step over here for a private meeting with me, Commissioner Zapotosky?"

We're sure his answer would be, "Absolutely. I believe in full disclosure, and while some people might think you're here just to embarrass or humiliate me, or score political points, I'll gladly talk to you. Can we please adjourn the meeting for a while, so I can chat with this nice gentleman?"

Or if someone said, "I'm Columbo, the private investigator hired by Highlands Hospital to find out exactly what the commissioners knew -- and when they knew it -- about the new inpatient psychiatric contract with Uniontown Hospital. Commissioner Zapotosky, would you let me interview you?"

We're sure Zapotosky would reply, "In the name of full disclosure, I'll meet with you any time, any where."

And our favorite scenario: “Hi there, Commissioner Zapotosky, my name is Barnaby Jones. I’m investigating Commissioner Zimmerlink’s allegation that in the prior administration you conspired to keep her out of county decision-making. I’d very much like to talk to you privately about this, but I came to a public meeting to make that request. OK with you?”

Do you envision Zapotosky saying, “No problem, Mr. Jones. I’ll go against the advice of the county’s legal counsel and speak to you, because I’m all for full disclosure.”

In the parlance of Fayette County politics, what happened at Tuesday's Fayette County commission meeting was nothing but a good, old-fashioned dog-and-pony show. It's the type of thing that usually happens in the months leading up to an election.

Maybe somebody has decided to get an early start.