Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts Maria Casey returned to the open mic at the County Commissioners meeting this week.
And now she’s accusing new Commissioners chairman Boots Hetherington of running cover for embattled fellow Commissioner George Halcovage.
Halcovage was not at this week’s meeting. And Casey called in by phone after Hetherington told her two weeks ago to “please, sit down” after she blasted him for changing procedure on Public Comments at the last minute.
The week prior to that, more than a handful of women claiming to be County Courthouse employees expressed concern or fear over coming to work where Halcovage would be.
An internal County investigation found enough credible evidence exists to say Halcovage violated several workplace policies, including sexual harassment. Halcovage denies the accusations but in the meantime, has stepped aside as Schuylkill Commissioners chairman.
Is Boots Running Cover for George?
So, on Wednesday, with Casey phoning in to make comments, she accused the new Commissioners chairman of running cover for Halcovage.
The two had another testy exchange. But it started somewhat cordial.
Casey started her comments by saying, “This is Maria Casey, your Clerk of Courts.”
Hetherington replied and said, “Good morning, Maria.”
That’s about where the niceties ended. Casey made a snide remark about Hetherington’s rule that speakers during the second Public Comment portion of the meeting – on non-Agenda items – give their name and municipality.
“Good morning, Boots. Do you want my Social Security Number to verify it’s me?”
Boots wasted no time in replying and said, “No, your voice does it pretty well and your municipality is fine, Maria. Just follow the rules.”
Casey then went into what seemed like an impromptu rant on the new rules. And in doing so, accused Hetherington of running cover for the embattled Halcovage.
“The rules were imposed by you in an effort to squelch the women who wanted to testify against George. And now you’ve done that because they’re afraid to call in because they know how you retaliate,” Casey said. “Highly improper motive, again, helping to continue to let him have his way in the Courthouse and continue his misdeeds and, indeed, criminal behavior.”
Casey says she wants Hetherington to “revisit” his new rules on Public Comment at the Schuylkill Commissioners meeting. She says the only reason changes were made was to silence those who think Halcovage is a danger to them.
“It’s meant solely to squelch the voices of women who would otherwise testify against him. It’s highly improper. And you always talk about your 3 daughters. I don’t think you’d want them to be in this position,” she said.
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Just sayin
July 23, 2020 at 9:53 pm
Well she’s right…
Canary Commenter
July 23, 2020 at 11:03 pm
Those people calling in could have been anyone.
Edward Retired
July 26, 2020 at 11:02 am
BAR ATTORNEY CASEY tainted the jury pool.
Case closed.
GEORGE wins!
Jason Bourne
July 24, 2020 at 12:15 am
Of course she’s right. There should be an investigation then a vote on impeachment. I’m sure if Halcovage was black he would’ve been impeached.
Canary Commenter
July 24, 2020 at 12:57 am
Maybe you should read up on how a County Commissioner can get impeached and then look into how it’s not going to happen. Kudos to you for somehow inserting race into the conversation. We ask this of a lot of our delusional readers – those on the right and left – what color is the sky in your world?
Zille
July 24, 2020 at 10:23 am
Well said CC, well said….
Canary Commenter
July 24, 2020 at 10:38 am
That was sarcasm. If I want to eat a hard-boiled egg and call it a meal, that’s my right. I eat like a bird.
Wendy
July 24, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Let’s not make this a racist issue, seriously look around you and watch the news,white people aren’t perfect either, this isn’t about color it’s about a married creep with children,terrorizing innocent women and leaving them unable to feel comfortable in what is known as their place of employment. May they find peace and be able to move on.
EndSchCoCorruption
July 24, 2020 at 10:14 pm
Is that what this is about? Or is it an elected official expecting Schuylkill county employees to actually work and not just half fast work. Idk, I know that it’s common knowledge that many of those employees don’t know how to do their jobs, do very little of what they do do and god forbid you say anything about how they do their job or lack thereof, make sure you’re ready for it cause you will be in their sights. And then the courthouse gossip mill goes into overdrive. Looks like Maria Casey is in charge of it now.
Jason Bourne
July 24, 2020 at 6:39 pm
Look. This guy should be gone. Nobody else would get away with this. If your a security guard or anyone else at the courthouse you’re fired. What makes Halcovage any different?Because he’s part of the good ol’ boys network? It shouldn’t take this long. Halcovage knows he’s guilty and so do the people defending him.
PTFloridians
July 24, 2020 at 7:47 pm
Why don’t you tell us all what he was found to be guilty of…?
…i don’t even know the guy, but what the heck?
…anybody could say anything about anybody, anywhere…and what, you’re fired?…get a grip. That’s not the way it works.
…Bootsy ol boy wants order, respect and due process…Maria Drama-Mia isn’t about any of that…look at her history…
EndSchCoCorruption
July 24, 2020 at 10:32 pm
I agree with you 100%!!! If I was gonna bet, I’d bet Commissioner Halcovage did upset some of these Sch Co Courthouse employees but it was prob due to their poor work ethic or simply incompetence. I don’t know Halcovage at all either but after hearing the few women speak to the press with vague and petty complaints, I feel bad for this man who could be have his entire life and his family’s lives destroyed due to ignorant vindictive spiteful women. I mean the gossip mill spokes-queen Maria Casey really wants people to know how fearful these “mystery” women are to even go to work. For real??? Please, someone, anyone, tell us one thing that Commissioner Halocovage did which rises to the level necessary to truly make these women fear going to work. Being a shitty employee who doesn’t do their job or know how to do it would cause me anxiety too if there was someone at my work that holds me accountable. Just sayin.
Frank
July 24, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Fired? Would a black county commissioner get fired? No. Could a black county commissioner get fired? No. Please keep up dude. Your hate is taking up too much space.
Canary Commenter
July 25, 2020 at 1:50 am
How do you know he’s guilty? What evidence have you seen? If you’ve seen it, please share with us at newscanary@gmail.com. We’ve asked numerous people who swear he’s guilty but they’ve only offered more slings and arrows. If and when the day comes that evidence is presented of his guilt, we’ll report on it. Until then, these are just accusations.
Jason Bourne
July 24, 2020 at 11:39 pm
Frank, what planet are you on? A black commissioner couldn’t get fired here? First of all, he wouldn’t even get elected here. You people are just trying to protect our white privilege. I’m just gonna keep pounding away on you until you admit it.
Canary Commenter
July 25, 2020 at 12:33 am
Go on. Your clicks = $
PTFloridians
July 26, 2020 at 5:32 pm
Straight outta the Dem/Prog playbook…
…accusations
…harassment
…impeachment
…race
…sexual stuff
…name-calling
…guilt before innocence
Its all the same…like a broken record.
Lisa Price
July 25, 2020 at 10:04 am
There are so many things that are questionable about these allegations, the first being the timing. Huh, no election is coming up…..or is someone afraid Halcovage may take a run at Meuser? And I covered commish meetings for years, for newspapers…..public comment peeps always state name and town. That’s nothing new. It’s polite. Congrats to newbie Boots for trying to maintain order at an official meeting. Makes you wonder…..what else has happened recently in Skook that would inspire people to frantically try to create a major distraction and attack Halcovage? I believe there’s a definite answer to that question.
Canary Commenter
July 25, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Great insight, Lisa! And yes, asking for names and municipality is nothing new. Even the part about separating comments on Agenda and non-Agenda items is something done at many municipal meetings. It seems these comments are being made about Halcovage knowing that we’ll never hear the other side of the story. Hell, we’re not even hearing the first side of the story, just innuendo.
TuftedTitmouse
July 27, 2020 at 9:42 pm
These “accusations” are absurd. “He yelled at me” is the essence of one of these “accusations.” Since when is yelling at someone sexual harrassment? Courthouse employees are well known for slacking off, and occasionally even boozing on the job. And idk what kind of crack Jason Borne is smoking – making this about race? Take that bs somewhere else, dude.