Lehigh County commissioners have voted to replace Emrich M. Stellar Jr., 10-year member of the Lehigh County Authority.

The 5-4 vote to replace Stellar, of Upper Saucon Township, occurred at the board’s Jan. 27 meeting.

Voting in opposition to Stellar’s reappointment was board Chairman Brad Osborne and Commissioners Tom Creighton, Percy Dougherty, Marty Nothstein and Michael Schware.

Stellar was seeking another five-year term on the board.

County Executive Tom Muller said the board voted against Stellar’s reappointment based on unsubstantiated accusations originating from individuals upset with Allentown’s lease of the city’s water and sewer systems to the LCA.

Robert Hamill of Lower Macungie Township asked the board to reject Stellar’s reappointment, stressing the need for a new direction.

“We need change,” Hamill said. “I’d like you to signal a new policy. Don’t let unelected bureaucracies run rampant over common sense. And, don’t reappoint Mr. Stellar.”

Stellar told commissioners he is interested in continuing to serve on the LCA board.

In an email Monday to The Press, Osborne said he wants to transition away from LCA board members serving long-term.

He said such a move would ensure “effective succession planning on a board with ever increasing responsibilities.”

“I would like to see opportunities on the board for professionals in the water and wastewater field,” Osborne added. “This will provide the specific skill set at the board level for the challenges ahead in complying with EPA consent orders.”

According to Osborne, Muller recently named another candidate to serve on the LCA board.

That individual was ecpected to be considered by the commissioners in a committee meeting prior to the Feb. 10 board meeting.