Pocono News Section

Media Criticized For Investigation Into Felon Authority Head

Media Criticized For Investigation Into Felon Authority Head - Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 11:50PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 @11:50pm EST

TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP- Glaring inconsistencies are emerging from different sides over the hiring of an agency leader in Monroe County.

Meanwhile, it was standing room only at Wednesday night's Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors meeting. Media and residents jammed into tight quarters, calling the past week "embarrassing."

Richard Van Noy is chairman of the board of supervisors. An I-Team investigation has revealed Van Noy helped James Lambert, a convicted felon, land the job of executive director at the Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority.

Lambert served five months in a federal prison after pleading guilty to corruption-related charges after heading a similar agency Mercer County, NJ. He remains on supervised release through March, 2009.

"Mr. Lambert did an excellent job at the Mercer County Improvement Authority and he's doing an excellent job for us at this authority," Van Noy said while exiting the packed meeting. Van Noy is an appointed member of the Monroe County waste authority. He worked with Lambert more than 10 years ago, according to findings of the I-Team's month-long investigation.

Newly elected Monroe County Commissioner Theresa Merli told WBRE News she found out about Lambert's criminal record only several days ago. We asked her, as a duly elected official of the county is she was comfortable with Lambert's record. She told us the authority has an impressive track record and this is the first questionable move by the (authority's) board.