Tempers Flare During Lansford Council Meeting
By Caleb Brown, WMGH News Director
Tempers rose during Lansford’s monthly council meeting after Mayor Hugh Vrablic read allegations aloud about the conduct of Council President Pro Tempore Michelle Bartek.
While giving his report, Vrablic produced a letter he alleged was written by part-time officer, Randy Schlatter and dated August 7. The letter detailed how the officer, while on patrol, observed borough workers planting trees near the pool when he was “flagged” down by Bartek, to whom she then approached the window of the patrol vehicle.
A conversation ensued where it is claimed she stated the officer and two others were “doing a good job,” before claiming she said, “Keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll be full-time soon.” Schlatter then replied, saying it was a team effort.
Speaking about two officers, it is claimed she stated, “Team effort beside those two c—suckers, and that she cannot wait to get rid of them.” Further allegations were levied against Bartek, including a previous incident where Schlatter supposedly wrote that she made comments about the two officers outside the Borough office, saying they “do nothing,” as well as asking for their stats.
After he finished reading the letter to those in attendance, Vrablic followed it by stating, “I’m reading this aloud because it is public knowledge and it came from one of the officers, and this is what she {Bartek} thinks of your police department.”
He further went on to state, “All I’m saying is this is what I have been dealing with folks. People like her. This is why we’re at where we’re at.”
Following this, an out-of-town resident addressed council claiming to be the mother of OfficeAmy Barclay. To this, she said, “I detest what you called those officers; you should be ashamed of yourself. Those officers deserve your respect, not your bad mouthing on the corners of your city’s streets.”
To these allegations, Bartek denied them. Responding, she said, “I did not do this because if I did, why didn’t it come to light sooner?” She further went on to state, “I have knocked myself out for them to get new equipment, alright, when the money was available. I have done everything to try and help the police.”
Shortly thereafter, when the topic of the civil service commission was brought up, she stated, “I wanted to get us our police force, be it part-time, full-time. I fight because we should have nine officers, alright, now we only have the money for one.” Bartek then stated that Vrablic had supposedly brought up “untrue” things about her before.
Vrablic then stated he did not immediately bring up the letter in order to investigate. He then claimed to have spoken with borough workers who, he states, backed up her exact wording present in the letter.
“And that’s ridiculous,” Bartek responded. Varablic then claimed it was turned in to the DA’s office.
Council President Bruce Markovitch intervened, asking for the letter stating his intention to talk with the borough crew and “see if they heard that.”
The discussion ended shortly after Vrablic stormed out of the meeting, which proceeded without him.
Photo: Members of council waiting to begin the meeting). Photo credit: Caleb Brown