At its Feb. 16 meeting, Northampton County Council unanimously approved a motion giving tax breaks for more than 242 acres of land in South Bethlehem.

The Bethlehem Area School District and city of Bethlehem have already approved the exemptions.

The Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act was passed in 1977 and allows tax exemptions for “certain deteriorated industrial, commercial and other business properties.”

The ordinance approved by council gives a tax break of 100 percent for the first year and gradually decreases for 10 years.

In other business, county Executive Lamont McClure announced Brittney Waylen will be taking over for Becky Bartlett.

Bartlett retired from her position as deputy director of administration and chief information officer, effective Jan. 27. She served in the position for five years and provided education to county residents regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in ballots and elections.

Waylen comes to the county after serving as vice president of government affairs for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Council also approved a request from Court Administrator Jermaine Greene proposing pay raises for six supervisors at the county’s juvenile justice center.

County council will next meet 6:30 p.m. March 16 at in the county building, 669 Washington St., Easton.