Members of Lehigh County’s human services office again made a strong showing at the county commissioners’ April 24 meeting.

They have been making regular appearances recently at commissioners’ meetings arguing for more staff.

“We have a wholesale system breakdown,” Tony Lupo said, referring to the ability of staff to properly care for children referred to human services. “Caseworkers are not able to protect the children of Lehigh County. We can’t keep people. They run out the door.”

Lupo said he has 47 cases.

“I can’t protect that many children,” he told commissioners. “We are all overworked. We’re doing the best we can but we are burning out.

“We have to keep people and hire more people. It is essential for the most vulnerable people.”

Michele Fritz, human services worker, described the caseworker to endangered child situation as being terrifying and heartbreaking.

“This haunts me every day,” Fritz said.

In other matters, the Lehigh County Authority, the agency that owns most of the sewer and water infrastructure serving Allentown and nearby municipalities, will get a 43-year extension on its charter.

LCA CEO Liesel Gross told the board an extension of the charter would provide additional ability and flexibility in financial dealings.

“A 43-year extension is needed to pursue all available options to include Federal programs,” Gross said.

She said LCA’s communication with commissioners over the past year has improved dramatically, a trend that needs to continue.

Commissioners approved the resolution 8-0 in a first reading. When the final vote is taken at the next meeting, LCA’s charter will be extended until 2063.

Commissioner Marty Nothstein was absent from the meeting.

Commissioners also gave final approval for the new supervisory accountant position for the county’s Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Commissioners Dan Hartzell and Amanda Holt sponsored the bipartisan bill.

The change is due to Good Shepherd’s GS Management canceling the operations contract for the facility. This put management back to the county and thus the need to budget for and hire new staff.

Good Shepherd ended its contract Feb. 28.

The board also established a health care plan evaluation committee comprised of three commissioners to include the board president, currently Marty Nothstein, and three members of the executive branch.

Changes in the names and structure of some county departments and offices within county government prompted commissioners to change the title of some offices. Director of Cedarbrook is now nursing home administrator; the office of computer services is now chief information officer.