Lehigh County commissioners have appointed Dennis Nemes to serve on the county board of elections.

Nemes, a former principal at Northwestern Lehigh High School, was later principal at Allentown Central Catholic High School.

He replaces Gail Coffin on the election board.

Commissioner Percy Dougherty was back in his seat after a hospital stay resulting from a fall at his home.

He had missed at least two meetings due to his accident and subsequent recovery time.

He thanked his fellow commissioners and members of the public who had visited him while he was in the hospital.

Two ordinances received final approval resulting in a vehicle being donated by the county to the Lehigh County Conservation District and another authorizing the purchase of X-ray equipment for the coroner’s office.

Alfred Benesch Company received preliminary approval to provide engineering services for the D&L Trail improvements project. Compensation was fixed at $207,800 for the project.

Commissioners gave first reading or preliminary approval for passing a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to help with property acquisition or construction of the Union Hall and Training Facility at 101 S. 7th St., Allentown.

The board also gave preliminary approval for a similar grant of $1 million for DeSales University and a set of revised fees and charges for out-of-county clients of the coroner’s office.

SEIU Shop Steward Frank Gerlach, a caseworker for the crisis intervention office of Lehigh County’s Human Services, attended the meeting along with a contingent of union workers.

Gerlach and Commissioner Marty Nothstein agreed to meet to discuss union issues.

“You are all nice in public but we haven’t had a contract in three years,” Gerlach said to Nothstein.

Other union members, including Katelynn Kissling, attended.

“I’m here to advocate for myself and for my family,” Kissling said, gesturing toward other union members in attendance.