When one is voted into public office, it is understood that certain expectations must be met. Accountability, public trust and transparency are key factors to ensuring the public official is meeting those expectations.

With issues dealing with public monies, it can be argued that the concept of checks and balances must be at the root of any decision made.

At their Dec. 7 meeting, Lehigh County commissioners discussed the above concepts, within the framework of a specific contract, Approving a Professional Services Agreement with the Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services Inc., which was up for final vote.

It was a close vote, 5-3, with Commissioner Dave Harrington, a lawyer and chair of the Courts and Corrections Committee, choosing to abstain in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

The main concern raised at the meeting was how to ensure that the provider named in the contract is held accountable for their work. Where is the data? Does it meet the expectations set-out in the contract? Are public monies being used properly?

Prior to 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. It is his opinion that this plays a role in the data collected.

Hartzell did vote in favor for the resolution, explaining, “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.”

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

Amongst the questions Elbich asked: “If there was someone to sue on a basis of disbar impact, who would they sue, would they sue the company, would they sue the county or would they sue the court?”

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

Getting proper data from a provider is an ongoing concern for Elbich. He raised the importance of getting this during budget discussions, making it clear it is a way to clearly judge if contract expectations are being met.

As for this specific contract, Elbich said, “There is no mechanism to get more data from Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services. 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 is no checks and balances” Elbich concluded.

Chair Geoff Brace said the courts function almost autonomously from other branches in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. “The courts function without the constraints established by the General Assembly and the executive branch.”

As for public accountability on votes such as this one, Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt said, “We all do our homework. We all go through a process on which we vote on.”

All commissioners agreed that, just like other public officials, they must be guided by the ideas of public accountability, public trust and transparency.