June 18 started off as a bad day for Northampton County Executive John Brown. The Morning Call's Bill White inducted Brown into his dubious Hall of Fame. But when Brown addressed council that evening, he turned that bad day into a good day.

He gave what appeared to be a heartfelt apology for his role in creating the friction that currently exists between his office and council. What impact this had on council has a whole remains to be seen, but Scott Parsons appeared to be visibly moved and thanked Brown.

What struck White is Brown's "bizarre determination to do so many things the wrong way."

Things came to a head with council over secret raises he has handed out without seeking their approval. Council Solicitor Phil Lauer has ruled that this is completely contrary to the merit pay system in place. When fellow Controller Steve Barron uncovered what was going on, Brown circled the wagons. Finally, after several more weeks, council unanimously demanded he justify these raises by June 17 or face the consequences in court.

Though the amount in dispute is minimal, council's power to set wages was being challenged, along with the merit pay system in place that encourages professionalism, and not cronyism, in the workforce.

Brown did ultimately release this information, but it was accompanied by a "lawyer letter" from his solicitor, Ryan Durkin, adding fuel to the fire. That letter reserved "all of the Executive's past, present and future rights, claims and defenses in the ongoing disagreement" and contained other language that is routine in the legal arena, but made council members even more angry.

On June 17, when this matter came to Ken Kraft's Personnel Committee, he decided to forward the entire matter to the full council without discussion. The stage was set for anything, from the suspension of these raises to a vote that would simply abolish all the positions.

But nothing happened. The matter was tabled by an 8-1 vote with only Seth Vaughn voting no because he was concerned about innocent employees being stuck in limbo. Council is willing to work with the executive because instead of coming out with guns blazing, he did something different.

He apologized.

He conceded that all parties, including council, "were and are acting in good faith." Instead of slamming prior administrations, he agreed with former executive Jerry Seyfried's remarks that "one branch of government suing another to resolve differences of opinion is a waste of time, money and only hurts Northampton County."

He reflected on how he would feel if he were a council member. "Standing in council's shoes, reviewing not only the authorizing documents guiding the county but also the specific actions taken and the lack of communication with and inclusion of council in those activities, it is absolutely reasonable council would conclude I was trying to circumvent the county's guidelines, usurp council's authority and be offended."

He then publicly apologized for any offenses his action may have caused, and told council, "I have voluntarily agreed to not authorize any additional salary adjustments without bringing the matter before council until a formal resolution of the matter can be achieved."

He also apologized to the 14 employees who received pay raises "for any public and private upset caused," calling them innocents who had "nothing to do with my decision to authorize the salary adjustments without bringing the matter before council."

He also apologized to Cathy Allen, his deputy director of administration, referring to her as "a surrogate target of council's frustration from my lack of understanding and consideration of council's need and concerns." And in case they missed it the first or second time, he apologized to council again.

Scott Parsons, who has repeatedly asked for more transparency from Brown, immediately thanked him. Even Lamont McClure and Ken Kraft, Brown's harshest critics on council, seemed willing to give peace a chance.

At least a ceasefire.