Published January 06. 2022 06:39AM
By DOUGLAS GRAVES
Special to The Press
During their Dec. 15, 2021, meeting, Lehigh County commissioners heard a first reading of a resolution to create a county department of health.
The motion puts the action on the Jan. 12 agenda for the next regular meeting of the legislative body.
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic may be credited for the perceived need for a more regional or at least countywide health department.
Next will be to seek a certificate of approval from the Pennsylvania State Secretary of Health or for that agency to conduct a special investigation to determine whether the proposed county department of health conforms to state requirements.
This action breathes new life into an idea that died several years ago when a regional health bureau was nearing approval and failed to garner the necessary votes near the end of the process.
That bureau would have served both Northampton and Lehigh counties, and would have subsumed the existing health bureaus of Allentown and Bethlehem.
Commissioner Dr. Percy Dougherty was a proponent of the now defunct regional plan and is now a sponsor of the revised version, a countywide health department.
Dougherty, however, won’t be a Lehigh County commissioner to see this resolution through to success as Dec. 15, 2021, was his last meeting as commissioner. He did not run for office this year.
See related photos on page A2.
PRESS PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS GRAVES Bipartisan support for the proposed Lehigh County Health Department assures a smooth ride for the resolution for the time being. Commissioners Bob Elbich, Democrat; Percy Dougherty, Republican; and Geoff Brace, Democrat; sponsored the resolution. Commissioner Zakiya Smalls, Democrat; and Jeffery Dutt, Republican; are also sponsors.
Lehigh County Commissioner Dr. Percy Dougherty receives recognition for his long career as a county commissioner. Presenting the certificate is Commissioners' President Geoff Brace.
Three Lehigh County commissioners attended their last meeting, as all three did not run for the next term or have resigned to accept other duties. Commissioners Dr. Percy Dougherty and Marc Grammes did not run. Commissioner Amy Zanelli resigned to accept a judgeship to which she was elected this year.
