March 19, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Invite the government into your private life and you may reap the whirlwind.
Northampton County Council created a Human Relations Commission on Thursday, adding a board that will have seven appointed residents to evaluate complaints about discrimination.
I prefer government not to expand, even with good intentions. Creating a commission invites complaints and takes up government time. It may give people false hope.
During the meeting, there were about 50 minutes of public comment on the commission and none on anything else, even projects involving millions of taxpayers’ dollars.
I didn’t listen to all the passionate testimony. I had a double root-canal last week and have suffered enough. I agree with the speakers who oppose discrimination, but not with forming a commission that gets into some very personal issues.
When I did listen, I heard some good points and some puffery. I appreciate those who kept their comments brief and to the point. That’s the best way to address government. The council members quickly grasp where you stand.
Can I complain every time somebody calls me a “Boomer?” I am a Boomer, born in the 1950s. To be fair, I’m also a white male, so I don’t have a lot of experience with being attacked by bigots.
County Commissioner Jason Boulette (council members are known as commissioners) said in a letter to this blog that the HRC won’t be costly and will make a difference. His comments can be found as a response to this earlier blog post.
Lehigh County has an HRC and yet discrimination, ageism, racism and all kinds of bad things persist.
Discrimination is bad. Creating a commission won’t end it. Boulette said it will help some people.
We will see.
Vargo Heffner asked for review of some of the financial aspects of the ordinance. Boulette said in his comment on the blog that costs would be minimal.
County Executive Tara Zrinski said commission members may get reimbursement for travel expenses to Harrisburg, for example.
Vargo Heffner said no other county board or commission members get reimbursements.
Council President Ken Kraft said county rules should be consistent.
The vote to create the HRC was unanimously in favor: Boulette, Jeff Warren, Nadeem Qayyum, Kelly Keegan, David Holland, Theresa Fadem, Thomas Giovanni, Kraft and Vargo Heffner.
The outcome was never in doubt, but sometimes those votes draw the most talk. Hmmm.
Executive Zrinski spoke about Gracedale, the county nursing home in Upper Nazareth Township.
“There will be some changes coming to Gracedale,” the executive said. She said there will be additional fiscal and administrative oversight at the home. I’ve visited Gracedale a couple times and found it to be a pleasant place. I have relatives who’ve worked in nursing homes. There are a lot of challenges.
Perhaps that’s why many counties aren’t in the nursing-home business. Federal and state regulations and soaring costs are problems.
Here’s a link to the web page listing meeting agendas and below is a cut-and-paste version of Thursday’s business. Also the meeting can be watched on the county’s YouTube channel.
Northampton County Council
Agenda
March 19, 2026
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence/Prayer
Roll Call
6:30 p.m.
Approval of the Minutes – March 5, 2026
Courtesy of the Floor
County Executive Report
Old Business
Public Hearing of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING A HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION FOR THE COUNTY OF
NORTHAMPTON”
New Business- Introduction of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE BY THE
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY COUNCIL CONCURRING AND AGREEING WITH THE
BOROUGH OF WILSON AND THE WILSON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT TO
PARTICIPATE IN AND AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF A PROPOSED TAX
INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT TO BE KNOWN AS THE 1921 AT DIXIE
AVENUE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE POWERS CONFERRED UPON MUNICIPALITIES BY ACT 113 OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, AS
AMENDED (53 P.S. § 6930.1 ET. SEQ.)” - Introduction of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING THE GRANTING OF A PERMANENT EASEMENT TO SPLENDOR
INDUSTRIES II, LLC., TO PERMIT THE INSTALLATION OF AN ACCESS
EASEMENT ON A PORTION OF LANDS OWNED BY THE COUNTY OF
NORTHAMPTON AS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK VOLUME 2016-5, PAGE
218, AND TAX PARCEL NO. L5184 PKB 0508C”
Posted to https://www.norcopa.gov/ALLDEPTS/Pages/Meetings.aspx
March 18, 2026 4:00 p.m. EDT - Introduction of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING
PERMANENT EASEMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF
SIGNAL INSTALLATION – SULLIVAN TRAIL – PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP” - Introduction of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING
PERMANENT EASEMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF
SIGNAL INSTALLATION – SULLIVAN TRAIL – PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP –
DONNA M. GARRITY” - Introduction of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING
PERMANENT EASEMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF
SIGNAL INSTALLATION – SULLIVAN TRAIL – PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP –
RICHARD AND LORRAINA L. FIELD” - Introduction of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE CREATING
PERMANENT EASEMENTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF
SIGNAL INSTALLATION – HENRY ROAD TRAIL – DANIEL SPETH” - Introduction of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE
COUNTY COUNCIL OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY AUTHORIZING THE
AMENDMENT OF THE EXISTING GARRITY TRAIL EASEMENT WITH DONNA
M. GARRITY, RECORDED ON MAY 21, 2021, TO MODIFY THE EXISTING
EASEMENT AREA FROM 18,873 S.F. TO 17,902 S.F., MORE OR LESS,
AS DETERMINED BY SURVEY OF REAL PROPERTY, BY THE COUNTY OF
NORTHAMPTON IN PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA. THE TRAIL
EASEMENT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT MODIFIES THE EASEMENT AREA WITH
NO CHANGES TO THE TERMS, CONDITIONS, RIGHTS, AND
RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE TRAIL EASEMENT AGREEMENT. THE
GARRITY TRAIL EASEMENT IS PART OF THE TWO RIVERS AREA TRAIL
GAP 9A.” - Introduction of an Ordinance Entitled, “AN ORDINANCE LEASING
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY OWNED REAL PROPERTY TO JACOB KLEIN,
EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA AND TO ESTABLISH THE BAUER PROPERTY LAND
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT” - Consideration of the Executive’s Appointments/Reappointments
Resolution: Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council; Jail
Advisory Board; Mental Health, Early Intervention and
Developmental Programs Advisory Board; Parks, Recreation and
Open Space Advisory Board; Revenue Appeals Board; Workforce
Board Lehigh Valley - Consideration of a Personnel Request: Office of the Public
Defender
Posted to https://www.norcopa.gov/ALLDEPTS/Pages/Meetings.aspx
March 18, 2026 4:00 p.m. EDT - Consideration of Administrative Code Article XIII Contract
Resolutions:
a) HT Lyons, Inc.
b) Patriot Workwear
c) Tenex Software Solutions/Data Center Warehouse - Consideration of South Bethlehem Greenway Land Amendment
Resolution - Consideration of a 2026 County Council Contingency Account
Transfer Resolution – SoberPlatz at MusikFest 2026
Council Committee Reports
Council Liaison Reports
Council Clerk’s Report
Council Solicitor’s Report
Adjournment
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 