At the end of the Feb. 20 Northampton County Council meeting, Mat Benol lashed out at the media, warning the public not to rely on what they read in the newspapers. He added that if they have questions, they should give him a call.

Benol is a newly elected member of council, one of five Republicans swept into office after November's election. He has never held government office before, though he ran and lost in the GOP primary against Congressman Charlie Dent in 2010. He is also a past chair of the LV Tea Party.

Firing pin

What set him off was the public outcry that followed Executive John Brown's proposal to hire Deana Zosky as a $715,200 business management consultant. That contract required council approval. Somebody leaked it to the newspapers on Feb. 14, two days after it was provided to council. The Morning Call broke the story, quickly followed by The Express Times and a local blog. Benol was angry that when he returned home from work that day and received a call from a reporter, he knew nothing about it.

Benol informally suggested that council members impose a 48-hour news blackout on communications from the executive, although the Zosky communication was already 48-hours at the time it was leaked.

"I can't sit here the next four years and let the media dictate what we discuss," he complained.

Malpractice

Benol, who supported the Zosky contract, insisted that there were inaccuracies in the media coverage, though he failed to specify what those were. He also objected to the depiction of the contract as a $715,200 contract, calling this "journalistic malpractice." He explained that the annual price is much cheaper.

All reporting concerning this contract, both here and in the two dailies, specified the contract price year by year, as well as a 30-day escape clause. But it is a $715,200 contract, and that price could be much higher because the county also agreed to pay unspecified IT costs for the implementation of dashboard software.

While denying that he is "trying to end transparency," Benol complained that stories that just happen on Friday are now appearing in the paper on Saturday.

Council blogger

He went on to chastise a council member, without naming him or her, for participating in a blog discussion of the proposed contract. He failed to explain why participating in a public discussion is improper.

In addition to stating, "I don't trust the media anymore," Benol expressed some suspicion of fellow council members.

"How do I freely express myself?" he worried. "I shouldn't have to be hesitant to reach out to fellow council members.

Benol then argued that he and other council members "should be able to have private conversations behind the scenes," which they would disclose after they vote on the matter.

Council supporter

Glenn Geissinger, another newly elected council member and supporter of the Zosky deal, echoed Benol.

Lamont McClure remembered that he and other council members were forced to go to "Sunshine Act camp" some years ago in a settlement deal reached in a suit filed by a local blogger. He suggested Benol read the packet of information that was supplied to him at that time.

"There are no secrets in politics," added council President Peg Ferraro.

Keeping secrets

After the meeting, Benol claimed that marking this $715,200 proposal "confidential" should have been enough to keep the public from seeing a matter being voted on in the next six days.

"I have lawyers working on it" he said."

According to the express language of the Sunshine Act, "secrecy in public affairs undermines the faith of the public in government and the public's effectiveness in fulfilling its role in a democratic society." That Act, with very limited exceptions, requires that even deliberations must occur out in the open. "Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants," noted former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis.