Last week, a prisoner escaped the Fayette County Prison by jumping out a window 25 feet above ground. He was quickly apprehended, but in the aftermath of this event, Commission Chairman Vincent Zapotosky took advantage of a public relations opportunity and weighed in.
"This is a great concern, and the other commissioners, along with myself, are taking this very serious," Zapotosky told HeraldStandard.com. "Too many bad things could have happened. Thank God, nothing did.
"The commissioners are going to work to ensure that this does not happen again."
That assessment had a familiar ring to it. So we searched the Fayette Patch Hunky archives and found an eerily similar quote from 2011. Here it is:
"I will assure the people of Fayette County there will be accountability. I will work on it and I will find out what went wrong, and we will do everything we can to hopefully prevent future incidents of this kind."
That comment was made in January 2011, after a 15-month-old girl died in Point Marion, in a case where criticism was levied at Fayette County Children and Youth Services. The person who spoke those words? Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky.
Nine months later, in September 2011, CYS came under fire again, after a 4-year-old boy from Springhill Township died. When Zapotosky then said that his solution woud be to seek help from state and federal officials, we pointed out that as a county commissioner, Zapotosky had the power to make changes at CYS, including the hiring of more caseworkers if they were needed.
Although Zapotosky and fellow Commissioner Al Ambrosini raised county property taxes 28 percent this year -- roughly double what Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink supported -- we aren't sure if any addition money for more CYS staff was included in the budget. (We sure would not expect to read some sort of follow-up in the Herald-Standard, either way.)
Some guys over at the fire hall are saying that with Zapotosky again in the vanguard of solving a problem, there is better than a 50-50 chance that another inmate will escape the prison in the near future.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Just don't gore my ox
It is a well-known tactic in Fayette County politics to bank on the public's weak memory in order to carry out your agenda. Luckily for you -- but not so luckily for the local politicos -- we here in the patch have good short-term and long-term memory.
Thus we were a bit perplexed last week when Dominick Carnicella, the human relations guru from Felice Associates, proclaimed that Amy Revak, the former Herald-Standard.com reporter, was qualified to be the county's new chief clerk. This was because, Carnicella said, only about 20 percent of the job is budget-related.
Here's where the short-term memory kicks in: Just a couple weeks ago, Commissioners Vincent Zapotosky and Al Ambrosini were angling to get Revak a $2,600 raise in her starting pay -- because the job had such a strong budget-related component.
Perhaps Carnicella said at that time, "Hey, guys, the budget is only 20 percent of the job, so I can't recommend a $2,600 raise." But since that argument never appeared in print, we will have to assume he made no such utterance.
So it appears that the game being played is this: When it is time to angle for a Revak raise, the budget component is a big part of the job. But when you're facing criticism from the public over Revak's hiring and absence of budgeting experience, the budget component suddenly becomes very minor.
Now to long-term memory.
At last week's county salary board meeting, Franklin Township resident Jerrie Mazza questioned Revak's qualifications for the job. Mazza made some very good points, including raising the question on why retired county manager Warren Hughes is needed to teach Revak (will will be paid $32,000 a year) the job to the tune of $50 per day.
To the rescue, predicably, rode Vincent Zapotosky. And what did he say in response to a citizen's criticism? Well, he didn't say that Revak is a numbers whiz who is about to do a boffo job with the budget.
No, here's what Zapotosky said: "For her (Revak) to come under this kind of scrutiny is wrong." ("Resident questions qualifications of Fayette County's new chief clerk, Herald-Standard.com, May 10).
Here in the patch, we were so glad to hear Zapotosky say that having Revak come under this kind of scrutiny is wrong. That is because it gives us the opportunity to remind the world that his current position doesn't quite square with the tune he was singing a couple years ago.
Remember Ruth Thompson, the supposed fake letter to the editor writer who duped Herald-Standard editor Mark O'Keefe? When Revak's "investigation" of the phone number used on that letter led to an unfair and unsubstantiated implication of former Fayette County Housing Authority board member Beverly Beal, how did Zapotosky respond?
He and fellow Commissioner Vincent Vicites, who were robustly criticized in the Thompson letter, held a press conference. At this press conference, they praised the Herald-Standard to high heaven for the "scrutiny" that Revak had supposedly doled out.
No where in the pubic record have we heard of Zapotosky saying back then, "Having her (Beal) come under this kind of scrutiny is wrong."
What's the old saying? --- ah, yes ... something about it depends on whose ox is being gored.
Thus we were a bit perplexed last week when Dominick Carnicella, the human relations guru from Felice Associates, proclaimed that Amy Revak, the former Herald-Standard.com reporter, was qualified to be the county's new chief clerk. This was because, Carnicella said, only about 20 percent of the job is budget-related.
Here's where the short-term memory kicks in: Just a couple weeks ago, Commissioners Vincent Zapotosky and Al Ambrosini were angling to get Revak a $2,600 raise in her starting pay -- because the job had such a strong budget-related component.
Perhaps Carnicella said at that time, "Hey, guys, the budget is only 20 percent of the job, so I can't recommend a $2,600 raise." But since that argument never appeared in print, we will have to assume he made no such utterance.
So it appears that the game being played is this: When it is time to angle for a Revak raise, the budget component is a big part of the job. But when you're facing criticism from the public over Revak's hiring and absence of budgeting experience, the budget component suddenly becomes very minor.
Now to long-term memory.
At last week's county salary board meeting, Franklin Township resident Jerrie Mazza questioned Revak's qualifications for the job. Mazza made some very good points, including raising the question on why retired county manager Warren Hughes is needed to teach Revak (will will be paid $32,000 a year) the job to the tune of $50 per day.
To the rescue, predicably, rode Vincent Zapotosky. And what did he say in response to a citizen's criticism? Well, he didn't say that Revak is a numbers whiz who is about to do a boffo job with the budget.
No, here's what Zapotosky said: "For her (Revak) to come under this kind of scrutiny is wrong." ("Resident questions qualifications of Fayette County's new chief clerk, Herald-Standard.com, May 10).
Here in the patch, we were so glad to hear Zapotosky say that having Revak come under this kind of scrutiny is wrong. That is because it gives us the opportunity to remind the world that his current position doesn't quite square with the tune he was singing a couple years ago.
Remember Ruth Thompson, the supposed fake letter to the editor writer who duped Herald-Standard editor Mark O'Keefe? When Revak's "investigation" of the phone number used on that letter led to an unfair and unsubstantiated implication of former Fayette County Housing Authority board member Beverly Beal, how did Zapotosky respond?
He and fellow Commissioner Vincent Vicites, who were robustly criticized in the Thompson letter, held a press conference. At this press conference, they praised the Herald-Standard to high heaven for the "scrutiny" that Revak had supposedly doled out.
No where in the pubic record have we heard of Zapotosky saying back then, "Having her (Beal) come under this kind of scrutiny is wrong."
What's the old saying? --- ah, yes ... something about it depends on whose ox is being gored.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Then what is the other 80 percent?
In today's issue of the Herald-Standard, Franklin Township resident Jerrie Mazza questioned the qualification of former Herald-Standard.com reporter Amy Revak to perform the job of Fayette County chief clerk.
Jennifer Harr, who wrote the story ("Resident questions qualifications of Fayette's new chief county clerk"), included these two paragraphs, which are printed here verbatim. (Please pay attention to the words we've underlined.)
The questions, Mazza said, were only about Revak's qualifications for the position, which does include some work with the county's budget. Revak has a four-year degree in English.
Dominick Carnicella, human resources director through Felice Associates of Greensburg, said that Revak's experience qualified her for the position and noted that about 20 percent of the job is budget-related and those numbers come from the controller's office.
Luckily, we were able to obtain a copy of the job description, as it was posted on the county's website. We leave it up to you, the loyal readers of Fayette Patch Hunky, to digest this and decide if the job, as advertised, includes some work with the counthy's budget, to the tune of about 20 percent.
FAYETTE COUNTY
CHIEF CLERK
Position Description Exempt
OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF JOB:
To perform a variety of complex financial and administrative duties to assist the County Commissioners in the management of the County, its programs and expenses.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB:
1. Develops budget and monitors County expenditures.
2. Assures that the Commissioner's Office adheres to governing laws and regulations.
3. Collects, interprets, analyzes and summarizes information to be used as a basis for the executive actions of the Commissioners.
4. Prepares agendas and makes arrangements for hearings or meetings for the Commissioners.
5. Ensures accurate minutes of public meetings are recorded and maintained.
6. Attest documents, orders and voucher checks issued by the Commissioners.
7. Maintains up-to-date on developments affecting public policy and County government.
8. Studies and analyzes administrative operations and problems, prepares reports of findings and makes recommendations to Commissioners regarding changes, adjustments or other necessary and required information.
9. Reviews correspondence, reports, news sources or publications and informs Commissioners of subsequent developments and/or problems.
10. Communicates with County officials, offices, news media and general public in regard to essential job duties.11. Acts as a liaison between the Commissioners and elected officials, department heads, other employees and the public.
12. Assists in the management of County programs, and assures that policies, procedures and regulations are adhered to.
13. Supervises staff engaged in clerical/administrative or technical support within the Commissioner's office, as delegated.14. As Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) liaison forward matters of this regard to the Director of Human and Community Services.
15. Administer oaths and affirmations pertaining to the business of the office.
16. Process Right To Know Requests in your role as the Right To Know Officer.
OTHER DUTIES OF JOB:
1. Represents the County at meetings, seminars, etc. as required.
2. Performs special assignments as received from the Commissioners.3. Attends meetings, hearings, training, etc. as required.
4. Serves on various committees as needed.
5. Performs other job-related duties as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Receives some instruction and supervision from Commissioners in regard to daily work duties.
SUPERVISION GIVEN:
Supervises staff as delegated by Commissioners.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
1. Works indoors in adequate work space, temperatures, ventilation and lighting.
2. Works with average indoor exposure to noise and stress, but subject to frequent disruptions.
3. Normal indoor exposure to dust/dirt.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITIONS:
1. Must possess ability to record, convey and present information, explain procedures and follow instructions.
2. Must be able to sit for long periods throughout the workday, with occasional walking, standing, twisting, bending, reaching and driving as necessary to carry out essential job duties.
3. Dexterity requirements range from coordinated movements of fingers/hands to simple movements of feet/legs/torso as necessary to carry out work duties.
4. Sedentary work, with occasional lifting/carrying of objects with maximum weight of ten pounds.
5. Must be able to cope with the physical and mental stress of the position.
6. Must be able to pay close attention to details and concentrate on work.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To do this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
A. EDUCATION/TRAINING
Bachelor's degree, preferably in Accounting, Public Administration, Business and/or related field.
B. WORK EXPERIENCE
At least 4 years experience in Accounting, Public Administration, Business and/orany equivalent combination of experience, education and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
1. Must be able to speak and understand the English language in an understandable manner in order to carry out essential job duties.
2. Must possess ability to prepare annual budget for department and control expenditures accordingly.
3. Must possess initiative and problem solving skills.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED (Contd):
4. Must possess ability to function independently, have flexibility and the ability to work effectively with staff, government officials, general public and others.
5. Must possess ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with employees, consultants, other governmental agency representatives, municipal officials and the general public.
6. Must possess ability to maintain confidentiality in regard to County information and records.
7. Must possess ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
8. Must possess ability to learn of principles and practices of county administration, programs and policies and the ability to ensure that these are carried out within the County programs.
9. Must possess ability to develop and implement administration policies and procedures, and to evaluate same for efficiency and effectiveness.
10. Must possess a willingness to travel as necessary to carry out essential job duties.
11.
12. Must possess ability to analyze and make thorough recommendations to County Commissioners.
13. Must possess ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in serving as the Commissioners' representative.
***************************************************************
I HAVE READ THE ABOVE POSITION DESCRIPTION AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE
REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH THEREIN. I HEREBY ACCEPT THE POSITION OF CHIEF CLERK AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES SET FORTH. I WILL PERFORM ALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
________________________________ ____________________
Signature of Employee Date
________________________________ _____________________
Signature of Supervisor Date
DRAFT
In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Employer will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the Employer.
Jennifer Harr, who wrote the story ("Resident questions qualifications of Fayette's new chief county clerk"), included these two paragraphs, which are printed here verbatim. (Please pay attention to the words we've underlined.)
The questions, Mazza said, were only about Revak's qualifications for the position, which does include some work with the county's budget. Revak has a four-year degree in English.
Dominick Carnicella, human resources director through Felice Associates of Greensburg, said that Revak's experience qualified her for the position and noted that about 20 percent of the job is budget-related and those numbers come from the controller's office.
Luckily, we were able to obtain a copy of the job description, as it was posted on the county's website. We leave it up to you, the loyal readers of Fayette Patch Hunky, to digest this and decide if the job, as advertised, includes some work with the counthy's budget, to the tune of about 20 percent.
FAYETTE COUNTY
CHIEF CLERK
Position Description Exempt
OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF JOB:
To perform a variety of complex financial and administrative duties to assist the County Commissioners in the management of the County, its programs and expenses.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB:
1. Develops budget and monitors County expenditures.
2. Assures that the Commissioner's Office adheres to governing laws and regulations.
3. Collects, interprets, analyzes and summarizes information to be used as a basis for the executive actions of the Commissioners.
4. Prepares agendas and makes arrangements for hearings or meetings for the Commissioners.
5. Ensures accurate minutes of public meetings are recorded and maintained.
6. Attest documents, orders and voucher checks issued by the Commissioners.
7. Maintains up-to-date on developments affecting public policy and County government.
8. Studies and analyzes administrative operations and problems, prepares reports of findings and makes recommendations to Commissioners regarding changes, adjustments or other necessary and required information.
9. Reviews correspondence, reports, news sources or publications and informs Commissioners of subsequent developments and/or problems.
10. Communicates with County officials, offices, news media and general public in regard to essential job duties.11. Acts as a liaison between the Commissioners and elected officials, department heads, other employees and the public.
12. Assists in the management of County programs, and assures that policies, procedures and regulations are adhered to.
13. Supervises staff engaged in clerical/administrative or technical support within the Commissioner's office, as delegated.14. As Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) liaison forward matters of this regard to the Director of Human and Community Services.
15. Administer oaths and affirmations pertaining to the business of the office.
16. Process Right To Know Requests in your role as the Right To Know Officer.
OTHER DUTIES OF JOB:
1. Represents the County at meetings, seminars, etc. as required.
2. Performs special assignments as received from the Commissioners.3. Attends meetings, hearings, training, etc. as required.
4. Serves on various committees as needed.
5. Performs other job-related duties as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Receives some instruction and supervision from Commissioners in regard to daily work duties.
SUPERVISION GIVEN:
Supervises staff as delegated by Commissioners.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
1. Works indoors in adequate work space, temperatures, ventilation and lighting.
2. Works with average indoor exposure to noise and stress, but subject to frequent disruptions.
3. Normal indoor exposure to dust/dirt.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITIONS:
1. Must possess ability to record, convey and present information, explain procedures and follow instructions.
2. Must be able to sit for long periods throughout the workday, with occasional walking, standing, twisting, bending, reaching and driving as necessary to carry out essential job duties.
3. Dexterity requirements range from coordinated movements of fingers/hands to simple movements of feet/legs/torso as necessary to carry out work duties.
4. Sedentary work, with occasional lifting/carrying of objects with maximum weight of ten pounds.
5. Must be able to cope with the physical and mental stress of the position.
6. Must be able to pay close attention to details and concentrate on work.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To do this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
A. EDUCATION/TRAINING
Bachelor's degree, preferably in Accounting, Public Administration, Business and/or related field.
B. WORK EXPERIENCE
At least 4 years experience in Accounting, Public Administration, Business and/orany equivalent combination of experience, education and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
1. Must be able to speak and understand the English language in an understandable manner in order to carry out essential job duties.
2. Must possess ability to prepare annual budget for department and control expenditures accordingly.
3. Must possess initiative and problem solving skills.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED (Contd):
4. Must possess ability to function independently, have flexibility and the ability to work effectively with staff, government officials, general public and others.
5. Must possess ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with employees, consultants, other governmental agency representatives, municipal officials and the general public.
6. Must possess ability to maintain confidentiality in regard to County information and records.
7. Must possess ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
8. Must possess ability to learn of principles and practices of county administration, programs and policies and the ability to ensure that these are carried out within the County programs.
9. Must possess ability to develop and implement administration policies and procedures, and to evaluate same for efficiency and effectiveness.
10. Must possess a willingness to travel as necessary to carry out essential job duties.
11.
12. Must possess ability to analyze and make thorough recommendations to County Commissioners.
13. Must possess ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in serving as the Commissioners' representative.
***************************************************************
I HAVE READ THE ABOVE POSITION DESCRIPTION AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE
REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH THEREIN. I HEREBY ACCEPT THE POSITION OF CHIEF CLERK AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES SET FORTH. I WILL PERFORM ALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
________________________________ ____________________
Signature of Employee Date
________________________________ _____________________
Signature of Supervisor Date
DRAFT
In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Employer will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the Employer.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Give Pritchard some credit
Here in the patch, we are howling with delight that even a resident political gadfly like Ted Pritchard sees and acknowledges what HeraldStandard.com will not: That there is absolutely nothing in the work experience of former HS reporter Amy Revak to even remotely suggest she is qualified to manage the Fayette County budget as chief clerk.
Pritchard has filed court papers seeking judicial action to block Revak from starting her new job on Monday. According to Jennifer Harr's May 8 story "Lawsuit opposes Fayette hiring," Pritchard alleges that Revak does not possess the qualifications to develop the county budget and monitor expenditures, which are part of the job.
While we doubt that Pritchard's legal maneuver will put a halt to Revak's hiring, his willingness to at least try to raise questions about the situation puts HeraldStandard.com and editor Mark O'Keefe to shame.
Anyone with an iota of insight knows that Revak's biggest qualification for this job was her friendship with Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky. Everyone who read the job description as posted on the county website knows that there was a lot of discrepancy between the skills being sought (accounting, budgeting, finance) and those used to justify the hiring of Revak (English degree, familiarity with the media and open records requests).
If county commissioners Zapotosky and fellow Democrat Al Ambrosini wanted to hire a press secretary or media relations person, shouldn't they have openly advertised the position as such? That would have clued in other people who possess that skill set that this was a job they might be interested in, or have a chance to get. Even if media skills are what matters in the job, there are much better people to get than Revak.
Yet HeraldStandard.com remains strangely silent on this matter. Harr's story recites that Ambrosini and Zapotosky voted for Revak. It also notes that Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink made a motion for a different candidate, but that motion failed for lack of a second.
What the story doesn't note is that the candidate favored by Zimmerlink holds a master's degree in business administration. That's just a few words, but they are important to any fair presentation of this controversy -- and curiously, they were omitted from the story. Why? It isn't as though Zimmerlink was seeking to hire someone who worked at a flower shop, or had last worked as a greeter at Wal-Mart. She wanted someone who actually had a business degree. An advanced business degree.
Using the hiring standard employed by Zapotosky and Ambrosini, anyone who voted for them should immediately call up and ask about gaining employment for themselves or their friends or their relatives.
Using the Revak Standard, the qualifications for any county job, it appears, will be skewed and minimal:
"I have a driver's license. Can I be in charge of Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation?"
"I got three kids. Let me head up Children and Youth Services."
"I just served on jury duty. I learned a lot, so I would like to replace retiring Judge Ralph Warman."
"Man, I'm certifiably crazy. Can I run MH/MR?"
"I have voted in every election for the past 20 years. I would like to run the Fayette County Election Bureau."
The job of chief clerk is a taxpayer funded position, and one that, on paper at least, seems to be viewed as important to the overall operation of Fayette County government. O'Keefe has an editorial platform that he hasn't hesitated to use in the past to influence public opinion.
Why isn't he using it now, either way? He can tell us why Ambrosini's and Zapotosky's hiring of Revak was a good move, or why it was a bad one. He can tell us why Zimmerlink's preference for a candidate with an MBA was a good move, or a bad one.
But the worst thing he can do is what he's done so far: Say nothing.
P.S. -- We found another letter in our email for the "On the Mark" video feature:
Dear Mark:
Is it ethical for a reporter to date someone on the beat that they cover, and to still be doing stories for the paper that involve that person?
Sign me,
Isn't That Supposed to be a No-No?
Pritchard has filed court papers seeking judicial action to block Revak from starting her new job on Monday. According to Jennifer Harr's May 8 story "Lawsuit opposes Fayette hiring," Pritchard alleges that Revak does not possess the qualifications to develop the county budget and monitor expenditures, which are part of the job.
While we doubt that Pritchard's legal maneuver will put a halt to Revak's hiring, his willingness to at least try to raise questions about the situation puts HeraldStandard.com and editor Mark O'Keefe to shame.
Anyone with an iota of insight knows that Revak's biggest qualification for this job was her friendship with Fayette County Commissioner Vincent Zapotosky. Everyone who read the job description as posted on the county website knows that there was a lot of discrepancy between the skills being sought (accounting, budgeting, finance) and those used to justify the hiring of Revak (English degree, familiarity with the media and open records requests).
If county commissioners Zapotosky and fellow Democrat Al Ambrosini wanted to hire a press secretary or media relations person, shouldn't they have openly advertised the position as such? That would have clued in other people who possess that skill set that this was a job they might be interested in, or have a chance to get. Even if media skills are what matters in the job, there are much better people to get than Revak.
Yet HeraldStandard.com remains strangely silent on this matter. Harr's story recites that Ambrosini and Zapotosky voted for Revak. It also notes that Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink made a motion for a different candidate, but that motion failed for lack of a second.
What the story doesn't note is that the candidate favored by Zimmerlink holds a master's degree in business administration. That's just a few words, but they are important to any fair presentation of this controversy -- and curiously, they were omitted from the story. Why? It isn't as though Zimmerlink was seeking to hire someone who worked at a flower shop, or had last worked as a greeter at Wal-Mart. She wanted someone who actually had a business degree. An advanced business degree.
Using the hiring standard employed by Zapotosky and Ambrosini, anyone who voted for them should immediately call up and ask about gaining employment for themselves or their friends or their relatives.
Using the Revak Standard, the qualifications for any county job, it appears, will be skewed and minimal:
"I have a driver's license. Can I be in charge of Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation?"
"I got three kids. Let me head up Children and Youth Services."
"I just served on jury duty. I learned a lot, so I would like to replace retiring Judge Ralph Warman."
"Man, I'm certifiably crazy. Can I run MH/MR?"
"I have voted in every election for the past 20 years. I would like to run the Fayette County Election Bureau."
The job of chief clerk is a taxpayer funded position, and one that, on paper at least, seems to be viewed as important to the overall operation of Fayette County government. O'Keefe has an editorial platform that he hasn't hesitated to use in the past to influence public opinion.
Why isn't he using it now, either way? He can tell us why Ambrosini's and Zapotosky's hiring of Revak was a good move, or why it was a bad one. He can tell us why Zimmerlink's preference for a candidate with an MBA was a good move, or a bad one.
But the worst thing he can do is what he's done so far: Say nothing.
P.S. -- We found another letter in our email for the "On the Mark" video feature:
Dear Mark:
Is it ethical for a reporter to date someone on the beat that they cover, and to still be doing stories for the paper that involve that person?
Sign me,
Isn't That Supposed to be a No-No?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Lally not lollygagging
Here in the patch, we don't know the meaning of life, or even why the Pittsburgh Penguins got bounced from the NHL playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers. But we do know that if you are sick, you should listen to the doctor, and that the sudden clunking sound from your car's transmission is best diagnosed by a good mechanic.
So we took great interest when Fayette County controller Sean Lally threw a big monkey wrench into the plan of Fayette County commissioners Vince Zapotosky and Al Ambrosini to give a $2,600 pay raise to the new county chief clerk-in-waiting before she even works one day on the job.
The job is already on the books with a $32,064 starting salary, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Zapotosky and Ambrosini, who voted April 17 to hire Herald-Standard.com reporter Amy Revak for the job, would like to throw some extra cash her way before she accepts the position.
Revak, you will recall, has absolutely zero experience in accounting or finance, which are key skills for anyone who would be expected to help devise and manage the county's multi-million-dollar budget.
Zapotosky and Ambrosini may be willing to gloss over the big gaps in Revak's resume when it comes to the job they wish to put her in. But Lally, who knows a thing or three about accouting and budgets, clearly isn't afraid to point them out, as he did in Wednesday's Tribune-Review story, "Fayette OKs public works post, unofficially":
http://triblive.com/news/fayette/1163924-74/salary-meeting-revak-board-ambrosini-commissioners-position-zapotosky-zimmerlink-accounting
Lally wanted to keep the starting salary at $32,064 because Revak, who has a bachelor's degree in English, lacks accounting education and experience. He said the $34,600 figure is slightly less than the salary of an employee in his office who has four years' experience and a degree in accounting.
Lally said his employee, who would provide Revak with the figures needed to prepare the budget, would then be "making a whopping $1,300 a year more, with four years' experience and a four-year degree in accounting.
Every resident of Fayette County should read those two paragraphs very closely. Then they should ask themselves two questions:
1. Why would Zaptosky and Ambrosini want to hire someone to manage the county budget if that person lacks accounting education and experience?
2. Why would a chief clerk with no accounting background (who would basically serve as a fiscal figurehead) deserve $2,600 more if an employee already working in the conroller's office is simply going to provide all the figures needed to prepare the budget?
That raise didn't happen at this week's salary board meeting, because Lally wouldn't play ball.
But there is another paragraph in the Trib story that should also be digested by all residents:
(Commissioner Angela) Zimmerlink said that leaves commissioners with two ways to set Revak's salary - via a memo signed by at least two commissioners and then ratified during a commissioners' meeting, she said, or by waiting until the next commissioners' meeting in May to allow all three commissioners to vote on it before it is approved.
Either of those moves would appear, on face value, to remove controller Lally from the equation. These two methods would let Zapotosky and Ambrosini outvote (or out-sign) only Zimmerlink.
Does anyone besides us get the gnawing feeling that all those election-time promises about "running the county like a business" are starting to ring very, very hollow?
So we took great interest when Fayette County controller Sean Lally threw a big monkey wrench into the plan of Fayette County commissioners Vince Zapotosky and Al Ambrosini to give a $2,600 pay raise to the new county chief clerk-in-waiting before she even works one day on the job.
The job is already on the books with a $32,064 starting salary, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Zapotosky and Ambrosini, who voted April 17 to hire Herald-Standard.com reporter Amy Revak for the job, would like to throw some extra cash her way before she accepts the position.
Revak, you will recall, has absolutely zero experience in accounting or finance, which are key skills for anyone who would be expected to help devise and manage the county's multi-million-dollar budget.
Zapotosky and Ambrosini may be willing to gloss over the big gaps in Revak's resume when it comes to the job they wish to put her in. But Lally, who knows a thing or three about accouting and budgets, clearly isn't afraid to point them out, as he did in Wednesday's Tribune-Review story, "Fayette OKs public works post, unofficially":
http://triblive.com/news/fayette/1163924-74/salary-meeting-revak-board-ambrosini-commissioners-position-zapotosky-zimmerlink-accounting
Lally wanted to keep the starting salary at $32,064 because Revak, who has a bachelor's degree in English, lacks accounting education and experience. He said the $34,600 figure is slightly less than the salary of an employee in his office who has four years' experience and a degree in accounting.
Lally said his employee, who would provide Revak with the figures needed to prepare the budget, would then be "making a whopping $1,300 a year more, with four years' experience and a four-year degree in accounting.
Every resident of Fayette County should read those two paragraphs very closely. Then they should ask themselves two questions:
1. Why would Zaptosky and Ambrosini want to hire someone to manage the county budget if that person lacks accounting education and experience?
2. Why would a chief clerk with no accounting background (who would basically serve as a fiscal figurehead) deserve $2,600 more if an employee already working in the conroller's office is simply going to provide all the figures needed to prepare the budget?
That raise didn't happen at this week's salary board meeting, because Lally wouldn't play ball.
But there is another paragraph in the Trib story that should also be digested by all residents:
(Commissioner Angela) Zimmerlink said that leaves commissioners with two ways to set Revak's salary - via a memo signed by at least two commissioners and then ratified during a commissioners' meeting, she said, or by waiting until the next commissioners' meeting in May to allow all three commissioners to vote on it before it is approved.
Either of those moves would appear, on face value, to remove controller Lally from the equation. These two methods would let Zapotosky and Ambrosini outvote (or out-sign) only Zimmerlink.
Does anyone besides us get the gnawing feeling that all those election-time promises about "running the county like a business" are starting to ring very, very hollow?
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
And the best job candidate is ...
Fayette County is looking for a new chief clerk, and the overall objective of the job, as posted on the county's website is: To perform a variety of complex financial and administrative duties to assist the County Commissioners in the management of the County, its programs and expenses.
The listed education/training requirement for this job? Bachelor's degree, preferably in Accounting, Public Administration, Business and/or related field.
The listed work experience? At least 4 years experience in Accounting, Public Administration, Business and/or any equivalent combination of experience, education and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
You can view the entire job description here: http://www.co.fayette.pa.us/JobPost/Documents/Chief_Clerk.pdf
So it makes perfect sense that Commissioners Vince Zapotosky and Al Ambrosini are hiring Herald-Standard.com reporter Amy Revak, who:
1. Has zero work experience performing a variety of complex financial and administrative duties.
2. Has a bachelor's degree in English (which doesn't sound to us like a field related to accounting, public administration or business).
3. Has zero work experience in accounting, public administration or business.
Forget about this being an obvious political hire, which it is. The larger issue, and it's a big one, is Revak's nonexistant resume when it comes to fulfilling the obligations of this very important job. As a beat reporter for the Herald-Standard, and before that the Washington Observer-Reporter, she has not one visible shred of administrative or management experience.
The only financial experience she probably has is balancing her check book, which is not exactly the type of skill that qualifies you to help develop the county's multi-million-dollar budget.
Only Zapotosky and Ambrosini know why they favor Revak over a candidate who holds a master's of business administration degree. But that didn't stop Zapotosky from saying this to the Tribune-Review :
Zapotosky said he favors Revak over the candidate with accounting experience because of her knowledge of county government while working as a reporter.
"She brought that to the table, plus her writing skills and media background," Zapotosky said. "Another candidate had accounting skills, but the overall, well-rounded skills from one candidate exceeded those of the other."http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/fayette/s_791777.html
If Revak's "knowledge of county government while working as a reporter" qualifies her to be the county's chief clerk, then any of the gaggle of other reporters who have done a far superior job are qualified to be U.S. Secretary of State. (And that list includes the Tribune-Review's Liz Zemba, who unlike Revak at least deemed it newsworthy that the county district attorney was convening a grand jury.)
As far as Revak's "writing skills," we will wait to see the list of journalism awards she has won. And we will wait a very long time to see that list.
With Revak officially hired on Tuesday (sorry for the typo that originally said Thursday), her stories about letter to the editor writer Ruth Thompson and disaffected Marcellus Shale Task Force member Karen Jensen are coming into clearer focus.
Zapotosky and Ambrosini could still back out of this potential mess, but that is highly unlikely. What is certain is that Revak's days covering county government should be over. It even appears that at next Wednesday's Salary Board meeting, she will be getting a raise. The job has a starting salary of $32,064, but Zapotosky told the Trib that.the figure could be adjusted higher when the salary board meets. .Why would he even be mentioning that if it weren't already in the works?
We are eagerly waiting to see Sunday's issue of Herald-Standard.com, to see how editor Mark O'Keefe weighs in on this hire. He used to cover county government, so he is intimately familiar with the demands of this job. And he is certainly familiar with Revak's work background and abilities.
Revak is now fair game for editorial commentary. Let's see what is said.
The listed education/training requirement for this job? Bachelor's degree, preferably in Accounting, Public Administration, Business and/or related field.
The listed work experience? At least 4 years experience in Accounting, Public Administration, Business and/or any equivalent combination of experience, education and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
You can view the entire job description here: http://www.co.fayette.pa.us/JobPost/Documents/Chief_Clerk.pdf
So it makes perfect sense that Commissioners Vince Zapotosky and Al Ambrosini are hiring Herald-Standard.com reporter Amy Revak, who:
1. Has zero work experience performing a variety of complex financial and administrative duties.
2. Has a bachelor's degree in English (which doesn't sound to us like a field related to accounting, public administration or business).
3. Has zero work experience in accounting, public administration or business.
Forget about this being an obvious political hire, which it is. The larger issue, and it's a big one, is Revak's nonexistant resume when it comes to fulfilling the obligations of this very important job. As a beat reporter for the Herald-Standard, and before that the Washington Observer-Reporter, she has not one visible shred of administrative or management experience.
The only financial experience she probably has is balancing her check book, which is not exactly the type of skill that qualifies you to help develop the county's multi-million-dollar budget.
Only Zapotosky and Ambrosini know why they favor Revak over a candidate who holds a master's of business administration degree. But that didn't stop Zapotosky from saying this to the Tribune-Review :
Zapotosky said he favors Revak over the candidate with accounting experience because of her knowledge of county government while working as a reporter.
"She brought that to the table, plus her writing skills and media background," Zapotosky said. "Another candidate had accounting skills, but the overall, well-rounded skills from one candidate exceeded those of the other."http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/fayette/s_791777.html
If Revak's "knowledge of county government while working as a reporter" qualifies her to be the county's chief clerk, then any of the gaggle of other reporters who have done a far superior job are qualified to be U.S. Secretary of State. (And that list includes the Tribune-Review's Liz Zemba, who unlike Revak at least deemed it newsworthy that the county district attorney was convening a grand jury.)
As far as Revak's "writing skills," we will wait to see the list of journalism awards she has won. And we will wait a very long time to see that list.
With Revak officially hired on Tuesday (sorry for the typo that originally said Thursday), her stories about letter to the editor writer Ruth Thompson and disaffected Marcellus Shale Task Force member Karen Jensen are coming into clearer focus.
Zapotosky and Ambrosini could still back out of this potential mess, but that is highly unlikely. What is certain is that Revak's days covering county government should be over. It even appears that at next Wednesday's Salary Board meeting, she will be getting a raise. The job has a starting salary of $32,064, but Zapotosky told the Trib that.the figure could be adjusted higher when the salary board meets. .Why would he even be mentioning that if it weren't already in the works?
We are eagerly waiting to see Sunday's issue of Herald-Standard.com, to see how editor Mark O'Keefe weighs in on this hire. He used to cover county government, so he is intimately familiar with the demands of this job. And he is certainly familiar with Revak's work background and abilities.
Revak is now fair game for editorial commentary. Let's see what is said.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Extra! Extra! Read all about it ... in the Tribune-Review!
Here in the patch, we think Herald-Standard.com editor Mark O'Keefe needs to expand his plea for new tips. It clearly isn't enough that he has implored the public to please let him know what's going on in the news. He now needs to make a direct appeal to Liz Zemba, the Tribune-Review reporter who works for his chief competition.
It was Zemba who skunked Herald-Standard.com a couple of weeks ago, by reporting that during a meeting of the Fayette County Salary Board, District Attorney Jack Heneks revealed that staffing changes he asked for would facilitiate creation of a grand jury he plans to convene a in the near future. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/fayette/s_788886.html
Amazingly, Herald-Standard reporter Amy Revak, who attended the same March 28 meeting as Zemba, did not mention anything about a grand jury in her story. Nor did Revak follow up the next day, as did Zemba, who on March 29 got further explanation from Heneks in the story, "Fayette DA seeks to empanel grand jury." http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/fayette/s_789079.html
It is not every day that the district attorney seeks to put together a grand jury. (And here in the patch, even we know that one of the likely matters headed for this particular grand jury concerns voting in Bullskin Township.)
In any county, the news of an impending grand jury is certainly a newsworthy event. And by mentioning it at a public meeting, Heneks was certainly not trying to make a secret of the fact. He was pretty much opening the door and inviting any inquiring mind to ask.
After Zemba pretty much covered all the bases with her Thursday story, O'Keefe's charges finally got into the act. On Sunday, April 1 -- four days after the salary board meeting -- the Herald-Standard's Jennifer Harr finally did a story that basically mirrored what Zemba had put in print two days earlier. We have little doubt Harr was given mop-up duty on this one.
The question O'Keefe should be asking himself -- and that readers as well as upper management should be asking themselves -- is why any of his reporters could have been so asleep at the switch. Does anyone besides Amy Revak really think that the reclassification of four sheriff's deputies and the resulting pay raises of $2,500 each is more important and newsworthy than the convening of a grand jury?
It was Zemba who skunked Herald-Standard.com a couple of weeks ago, by reporting that during a meeting of the Fayette County Salary Board, District Attorney Jack Heneks revealed that staffing changes he asked for would facilitiate creation of a grand jury he plans to convene a in the near future. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/fayette/s_788886.html
Amazingly, Herald-Standard reporter Amy Revak, who attended the same March 28 meeting as Zemba, did not mention anything about a grand jury in her story. Nor did Revak follow up the next day, as did Zemba, who on March 29 got further explanation from Heneks in the story, "Fayette DA seeks to empanel grand jury." http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/fayette/s_789079.html
It is not every day that the district attorney seeks to put together a grand jury. (And here in the patch, even we know that one of the likely matters headed for this particular grand jury concerns voting in Bullskin Township.)
In any county, the news of an impending grand jury is certainly a newsworthy event. And by mentioning it at a public meeting, Heneks was certainly not trying to make a secret of the fact. He was pretty much opening the door and inviting any inquiring mind to ask.
After Zemba pretty much covered all the bases with her Thursday story, O'Keefe's charges finally got into the act. On Sunday, April 1 -- four days after the salary board meeting -- the Herald-Standard's Jennifer Harr finally did a story that basically mirrored what Zemba had put in print two days earlier. We have little doubt Harr was given mop-up duty on this one.
The question O'Keefe should be asking himself -- and that readers as well as upper management should be asking themselves -- is why any of his reporters could have been so asleep at the switch. Does anyone besides Amy Revak really think that the reclassification of four sheriff's deputies and the resulting pay raises of $2,500 each is more important and newsworthy than the convening of a grand jury?
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