Lehigh County Commissioners have appointed Heidi Baer to the board of directors for the Lehigh County Housing Authority, a nonpaid position.

Baer resides in North Whitehall Township.

Since the appeal by Lehigh County of the suit seeking to remove the Christian cross from the Lehigh County Seal was ruled in the county’s favor, the $100,000 set aside in the 2020 budget for expenses predicted in case of a loss, commissioners heard a first reading to release the money set aside to go back in the stabilization fund balance.

The final vote will be at the next regular meeting.

The board passed, by an 8-1 vote, the Lehigh County Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, which had its first reading at the last meeting.

The program, known as the Lehigh County C-PACE Program” or Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, applies to building owners in the county who can obtain low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficiency equipment, low-flow plumbing products and renewable energy projects.

Outgoing Commissioner Brad Osborne voted against the measure.

He was concerned that since it “requires follow-up work from a committee,” the C-PACE Program should be approved by the next board of commissioners.

Osborne also expressed concern the program “expands the role of county government.”

The C-PACE Program is designed to “facilitate low-cost, long-term financing to owners of agricultural, commercial and industrial properties for energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy projects.”

The county is authorized to seek a third party to administer the program.

Commissioners also approved 9-0 the distribution of a $309,507 grant from Pennsylvania’s Emergency Solutions Grant Program that funds street outreach, renovation or rehabilitation of buildings used as emergency shelters, rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention assistance, Homeless Management Information System reporting and administration costs.

Distribution of money approved by commissioners is as follows:

·Catholic Charities - $25,216 for homelessness prevention;

·The Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley - $40,000 for rapid rehousing;

·The Lehigh Conference of Churches - $25,000 for street outreach;

·New Bethany Ministries - $20,555 for homelessness prevention;

·Salvation Army - $45,000 for emergency shelter and $60,000 for rapid rehousing; and

·Third Street Alliance for Women and Children - $65,000 for rapid rehousing and $17,130 for homelessness prevention.

Lehigh County receives $11,606 to administer the program.

Commissioners approved a contract with Etowah Dialysis, LLC a subsidiary of DaVita Inc. to provide hemodialysis services to Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation’s residents.

The Lehigh County Historical Society will continue its professional services agreement with the county to provide management for three museums or historical sites.

Commissioners approved a $96,000 payment to the historical society, which will be paid in 12 monthly increments.

The historical sites whose management is funded are the Saylor Cement Museum, Coplay; the Lockridge Furnace Museum, Alburtis and the Haines Mill Museum, Allentown.