Montco Meshugas and DROP

I can’t get enough of the Montgomery County story of the two commissioners being investigated for violating the sunshine law because they talked county business over breakfast. I love it because for years I’ve watched public officials doing their business in private and nobody ever doing anything about it.

The blogger Above Average Jane has an interesting look at past controversies involving alleged sunshine law infractions in the county.

Speaking of which, is there something in the water in Montco?

In addition to the political infighting over who’ll run for county commissioner, Lisa Mossie reports on the blog PaWaterCooler that within the past month, two former county commissioners have suffered house fires, and a current commissioner’s car was vandalized.

Youse could make it in South Philly.

Speaking of Philadelphia, I keep wondering when City Council will get around to addressing the much-reviled Deferred Retirement Option Plan, which will give six Council members six-figure payments next year and could be political poison.

You may recall that Mayor Nutter urged Council to abolish the program after a city-funded study showed it has cost taxpayers $258 million.

Council responded by commissioning their own study, and I’m told the two consultants have been meeting lately, trying to see if they can agree on the real cost of the program.

The longer Council waits, the more problematic the issue could be. Candidates start circulating nomination papers a week from tomorrow for the spring primaries, and the last thing incumbents want are loud, contentious hearings on the issue while they’re running for re-election.