BY MARIEKE ANDRONACHE

Special to The Press

At their Dec. 7 meeting, Lehigh County commissioners discussed accountability, public trust and transparency, within the framework of a specific contract, approving a professional services agreement with Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services Inc., which was up for final vote.

The 5-3 vote, with Commissioner Dave Harrington, a lawyer and chairman of the Courts and Corrections Committee, abstaining to avoid any possible conflict of interest.

The concern by commissioners was how to ensure the provider in the contract is held accountable to its work, regarding data; expectations set out in the contract and if public monies are being used properly.

Before the vote, Commissioner Dan Hartzell touched upon the quality of data collected for contracts in general.

Using culture and race as an example, Hartzell said there are more and more people of mixed-race, and how some either don’t know how to identify themselves in the categories presented or choose not to answer.

Hartzell said his opinion was this plays a role in data collected.

He did vote in favor for the resolution.

“Given everything that has been going on for a week or so here, and what we have learn tonight, I see no reason not to approve this contract,” Hartzell said.

Commissioner Bob Elbich, who voted against the resolution, addressed his concerns of accountability and clear expectations on such contracts to Lehigh County District Court Administrator Kerry R. Turtzo before the vote.

“If there were someone to sue on a basis of disbar impact, whom would they sue; would they sue the company; would they sue the county; or would they sue the court?” Elbich asked.

“A lawsuit would start by naming everyone, and then, entities get ruled out,” Turtzo responded. “I don’t know the answer to that question.”

The lack of obtaining proper data from a provider is an ongoing concern for Elbich.

He stated the importance of obtaining proper data from providers during budget discussions, making it clear it is a way to clearly judge if contract expectations are met.

“There is no mechanism to get more data from Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services,” Elbich said, regarding this particular contract. “There is no format that meets the state laws to evaluate the system.

“That’s why I’m asking these questions because it’s frustrating the heck out of me.

“Again, there are no checks and balances.”

In reference to contracts with the courts, commissioners’ Chairman Geoff Brace explained that in Pennsylvania courts function almost autonomously from the other branches in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“In day-to-day operations of the courts, the courts function without the constraints established by the General Assembly and the Executive Branch,” Brace said.

Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt spoke of the accountability to the public on votes such as this.

“We all do our homework,” Dutt said. “We all go through a process on which we vote on.”