The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners have postponed a vote on a possible three-year contract with Cedarbrook Nursing Home, Allentown.

The proposed contract would include an annual wage increases of 1.5 to 2.5 percent for 523 employees as well as a reduction in sick days. The proposed new contract will afford employees six sick days.

The commissioners at the July 23 meeting voted 8 to 1 to delay the vote due to new information received prior to the meeting which they want to review.

Voting in opposition was Commissioner David Jones Sr.

Commissioner Vic Mazziotti said he could not vote for the contract without first looking at the costs associated with it.

"I'm not comfortable voting on this contract until I can get my arms around what it will cost to implement," he said.

Commissioner Brad Osborne added the board must ensure it carefully reviews the information. He stressed the board review the new information to make sure members fully understand what has been presented.

Jones said the commissioners already had an opportunity to review the bulk of the required information with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 based on earlier negotiations.

He argued delaying the vote would lead to another round of costly negotiations.

"If we don't accept this we're asking the administration to go back to the bargaining table," Jones said.

Commissioner Michael Schware said the board is duty bound to approve the contract.

Commissioner Percy Dougherty told the board by law the commissioners can cast the final vote on contracts. Voting between the county administration and the union is not binding, he said.

Commissioner Geoff Brace questioned if the board as a whole will require additional information beyond what has been presented to make a final decision.

Brace stressed the commissioners review the new information within the next week so they are adequately prepared to possibly vote on the matter at a future meeting.

Schware told his colleagues he will consider the contract with Cedarbrook in terms of the status of the county budget.

County Director of Administration Daniel McCarthy urged the board to accept the agreement.

"The contract is favorable to Lehigh County," he told the board.

The board will hold its next meeting 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown.