The Northampton County Council met Feb. 3 to hear from county residents and discuss a vaccine incentive for corrections officers.

At their Jan. 20 meeting, council approved a motion that would divide $863,076 in grant money among 67 small businesses across the county.

Many small business owners, including Bath mayor Fiorella Mirabito and Lost Tavern Brewery CEO Ken Rampolla, were present at this meeting to express their gratitude for the grant money they received. These small business owners also urged council not to get rid of the program that is greatly helping their income.

Councilman Ronald Heckman explained that council, at least from his perspective, has no intention of getting rid of the small business grant program, and he is unsure where they got that impression from.

He said hecompletely understands the need for the meeting, and simply wants to reconsider the distribution process, which was the meaning for all his questions at the previous meeting.

In other business, council heard county executive Lamont McClure’s proposal for a vaccine incentive for corrections officers at the Northampton County prison.

McClure explained that when there is an increase in COVID infections in corrections officers (COs), the numbers also increase in the inmates. He went on to say that at their last check only 48 percent of COs were vaccinated.

If 75 percent of COs get vaccinated, every vaccinated employee, including those in the 48 percent already vaccinated, will receive a 25 percent incentive pay increase for the two-week pay period directly after the three-fourths vaccine majority is reached. McClure believes that incentive pay is “better than a mandate,” which will be coming if the 75 percent is not reached.

Council passed the motion declaring incentive pay for corrections officers unanimously.

Council also approved a motion saying Northampton County will stand with the 2022 priorities of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. These priorities include supporting the mental health system, addressing the human services workforce crisis, election integrity, and broadband expansion.

Northampton County Council will meet next on Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m; the meeting will be held in person at 669 Washington Street and will also be streamed on the county’s YouTube page.