Well the last off the cuff friday for this web site before moving to The Berks Blogg Network. I’m sure the first thing will be about Mayor Inner Child McMahon thowing a fit because he might have to enforce a law. My view. Serves the prick right. I will have a more detailed article about this tonight, but if you want to talk about it a while now is your chace.
Have a Nice Weekend.
August 6, 2006 at 11:34 pm
McMahon is getting bombarded from all sides, with plenty of Charter Board complaints “shelling” this Administration.
Today’s news relates to a complaint filed specifically against Adam Mukerji, the Community Development Director, for not living in the city.
This complaint is helping to establish the foundation for subsequent Charter Board cases, like the one filed against the Mayor for not enforcing the “residency law” regarding upper management like Mr. Mukerji.
The penalty proscribed in the Charter under Article III, Section 305(b)
“The Mayor shall forfeit that office if the Mayor violates any express prohibition of the Charter.”
Pursuant to:
Article III, Section 308(a)
“The Mayor shall have the following duties: Execute, enforce, and obey the ordinances of the City and laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States of America.”
Article III, Section 308(h)
“The Mayor shall have the following duties: Ensure that all laws, provisions of this Charter and acts of City Council, subject to enforcement by the Managing Director, are faithfully executed by the Managing Director.”
Anonymous | 07.28.06 - 2:48 pm | #
I support the mayor on this. If some talented and qualified person actually wants to work in this dump of a city, who cares where he lives? They should be happy to get such a person and not some Puerto Rican who cannot even speak English.
Anonymous | 07.28.06 - 4:02 pm | #
“I support the mayor on this. If some talented and qualified person actually wants to work in this dump of a city, who cares where he lives?”
This sounds just like Illegal Alien was replaced with mayor. It’s not a question of where he lives, but how the law was broken. For a civil community to exist the rule of law must be respected. Something that Illegal Aliens, or Mayor Inner Child McMahon don’t.
Matt Heckman | Homepage | 07.28.06 - 4:23 pm | #
Gravatar Stupid laws should not be enforced and should be rescinded. This waters down the talent pool available, because, whether we want to believe it or not, not everyone can move to the city. Sometimes two in a couple both work and they live inbetween their jobs, for example. Shoudl they move in? Probably, but it’s not always cut and dry.
chris | Homepage | 07.28.06 - 6:55 pm | #
What is cut and dried, is that the law is what it is… and until the government changes the law, the Administration is charged with enforcing that law without prejudice!
Cry me a river about what the law SHOULD be, the mayor is bound by the Charter to enforce the existing law, like it or not.
The City Charter reqires Adam Mukerji to live in the city. The Charter can be amended, but Council can’t pass a law that violates the Charter. The mayor’s “antics” thus far in this regard have been shameful.
Enforce the laws, Mayor McMahon, or step aside!
Anonymous | 07.28.06 - 7:59 pm | #
Gravatar I think you need to keep something in mind here. Mr. Mukerji was hired by former Mayor Eppiheimer and wasn’t told about the residency requirement. He accepted this job in good faith but the City didn’t act in good faith when it hired him. Firing him would invite an automatic lawsuit the taxpayers cannot afford. There’s no way the City would win such litigation.
John Morgan | Homepage | 07.31.06 - 7:22 pm | #
Oh please John Morgan. For an OUTSIDER like you, perhaps learning the facts first would be preferable?
Adam Mukerji was hired from within, he was not an outside hire. He was promoted. He knew the Residency Law, but was told by “Mayor Plumber” that the law would not be enforced.
That was what McMahon did too upon taking over, but a funny little thing happened along the way, John… do you have any clue as to what I am referring to?
The citizens of Reading amended the Reading City Charter, establishing the City Charter Board, to begin ENFORCING the provisions of the Charter!
I don’t give a rat’s ass about excuses like the one you have stated above, I heard them all before. The law is clear, and the Charter Board is now enforcing it. Let me fill you in an a little secret too.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse!
So all this crying by Adam Mukerji supporters that he didn’t know the law is not only “the dumbest thing these people ever uttered,” it is completely irrelevant before the Court. We don’t have to establish whether or not Mukerji knew. I must also point out that the Residency Battle has been waging since 1999 when “The Plumber” took over, since he thought he was above the City Charter, hiring dozens of outsiders in violation of the law. Many citizens came to City Council and protested this, including Adam Mukerji’s hire, so how can you sit there with a straight face and make that extremely ignorant comment above?
Mukerji needs to obey the law or go find another job. If he is the greatest thing since sliced bread, like Al Boscov and Tom McMahon say, then Adam Mukerji will have hundreds of other cities across America lining up to hire him!
There is NO REASON to feel sorry for the “Son of a Bitch.”
Anonymous | 08.01.06 - 11:21 am | #
“Mr. Mukerji was hired by former Mayor Eppiheimer and wasn’t told about the residency requirement. He accepted this job in good faith but the City didn’t act in good faith when it hired him. Firing him would invite an automatic lawsuit the taxpayers cannot afford.”
Ah, ignorance.
Mr. Mukerji was ‘promoted’ to his position, well aware of the residency requirement, but that is all a big distraction. The law is what it is, and if the mayor refuses to enforce it, the Charter states the mayor forfeits his office. Do you believe the mayor should fall on his sword for a two-bit Community Development Manager or any other common employee that can be replaced?
P.S.- I would love to hear all these ‘SHIT HOUSE lawyers’ explain how ignorance of the law allows Mr. Mukerji some form of exemption from the City Charter? The residency law is over a decade old, Mukerji was hired in 2002, well after the fact. Let him file his frivolous lawsuit against the City, it will prove how much he loves and respects this city. First, his lawsuit will be dismissed, then the City of Reading can counter sue him for costs and punitive damages.
Anonymous | 08.01.06 - 3:30 pm | #
The cover up has begun with the reading eagle. They are not allowing comments about this topic, nor are they allowing comments from several posters including myself. The Reading Eagle is protecting Mayor McMahon at all costs right now.
Matt Heckman | Homepage | 08.01.06 - 3:59 pm | #