The county executive, a Democrat, proposed measures that may shake up the Republican-dominated Lehigh County Board of Commissioners; limit commissioner’s terms to three or 12 years; secondly, create an independent ethics oversight committee and third, get them out of the negotiating collective bargaining agreements business.

Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong addressed a crowded room at Coca-Cola Stadium in Allentown Feb. 21 to report the state of the county, tell the public what his administration has done over the past year and predict what the future holds.

His term limits proposal would directly target long-serving Republican Dr. Percy Dougherty who was elected to the board of commissioners and took office in January 1993.

Armstrong’s goal in setting up an ethics committee is to ensure that citizens know they have a government they can trust and that will “guarantee honesty and integrity in Lehigh County.”

Such a committee would have had an oversight role in such recent issues as when a Lehigh County contractor made an illegal campaign contribution to a member of the board of commissioners. When the county legal office objected, the illegal contribution was returned and there were no legal consequences to the matter.

Returning to Home Rule language desired by Armstrong would get the commissioners out of the business of negotiating collective bargaining agreements which hesaid is clearly “ineffective and has proven costly.” He said one arbitration award this year will cost county taxpayers $2 million.

Armstrong registered unhappiness with the county commissioners who last year overrode his veto of the millage rate he had sought for the 2019 budget (3.79 mills). The commissioners reduced the rate to 3.64 mills which, Armstrong argued, amounted to kicking the “can down the alley.”

Voting down the proposed millage rate by the board of commissioners was seen by one government official as the product of a desire to allow a person who was running for higher office to claim they “had cut taxes.”

“Well, the can has hit the brick wall at the end of the alley,” Armstrong said.

He said this decision by the commissioners will result in a loss of $8.3 million.

Armstrong turned his attention to voting machines; he announced the election board “chose to institute a paper ballot/scanner system in Lehigh County.”

This is because the State of Pennsylvania, in an apparent reaction to nationally reported election meddling, has ordered election systems to be able to leave a paper trail. Currently, Armstrong said, there is a Federal House bill proposing a paper ballot system. He said the cost would be about $3.5 million.

Armstrong also highlighted infrastructure, reminding his audience that the Coplay-Northampton Bridge is in its second year of construction; it is projected to be a three-year project to replace the bridge.

“The bridge is on schedule and on budget,” Armstrong said. It is the first in the state to use post tension technology and the first in the county to use electronic isolated tendon technology.

He briefly discussed his plan to seek a $5 per car registration fee that would bring in money for county-owned bridges. According to Lehigh County Director of Administration Ed Hozza Jr., municipalities could apply for funding from this program for deficient bridges and other vital transportation-related repairs.

Armstrong reiterated his commitment to the Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation Center by announcing the next director and administrator as Jason Cumello. “Taking management in-house will be more cost effective.” Cumello will move up from his current position as assistant administrator for Cedarbrook.

Armstrong said, “In the next few months the board of commissioners will approve the construction plan and bond financing for the $78 million expansion and renovation of Cedarbrook in Whitehall Township.”

“In 2018, we completely renovated the auditorium in the D Wing; in a few short weeks we will dedicate the space and celebrate the 175th anniversary of Cedarbrook.”

Armstrong lauded Kimberly Makoul of the public defender’s office for installing a new case management system “which has completely reorganized the handling of individual clients.” He said the new system will improve efficiency and productivity.

Armstrong turned to the issues of drugs, alcohol and the corrections system. He said 66 percent of the county’s budget goes to public safety and law and order.

“Our corrections system is committed to reducing recidivism and providing long-term life skills to ensure that those who interact with our judicial system may go back to being productive members of society,” Armstrong said.

He credited District Attorney James Martin with implementing the Blue Guardian program that provides followup services to people who have been administered Naloxone (also known as Narcan) Naloxone is used to reverse opioid overdoses.

“I’m proud to say that we are following through on giving people who pay their dues, their second chances,” Armstrong said.

“We’ve sent 732 inmates to our community corrections center for employment, treatment and to find a home plan. Three hundred eighty-four inmates have completed programs such as relapse prevention, Stepping Up and parenting program.”

Moving to the area of human services, Armstrong said his experience as county executive “has also shown me that county government is truly a safety net for those most in need and most vulnerable in our society.

He said the state has approved a $2.3 million forensic justice plan to prevent those suffering from serious mental illness from being incarcerated and to return those who have been jailed to their communities with support.

Armstrong spoke of the need to “protect and improve Lehigh County’s open spaces and its natural beauty. Last year we were recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for preserving our 300th farm.

“We rank fourth in total number of farms preserved and fifth in total acres preserved [over 25,000 acres].”

Armstrong said the county has received over $1 million toward work on the D& L Trail Gap.

In speaking of the 911 center’s consolidation with Allentown, he said it is “nearing completion. Armstrong said the $15 million project has been done with no county tax money.

“The City of Allentown 911 employees have been fully welcomed as county staff. This new consolidated 911 center will improve our communications capabilities.”

According to Armstrong, the county will distribute an annual newsletter to the 150,000 county residents. He said the newsletter will be paid for by advertising, but it would cost about $10,000 for postage.