BY MARIEKE

ANDRONACHE

Special to The Press

“When you collaborate, you are efficient,” said Lehigh County Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt about the board’s commitment to its five-year contract with Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania.” “I think this particular contract shows that.”

In other matters at the March 13 meeting, the board later consented to the purchase of an upgraded HVAC germ reduction system for Lehigh County Jail.

“It’s important to have something like this, in an area where people are housed together, and to try and mitigate as many viruses and those types of things as possible,” Dutt said.

“Unfortunately, they’re in jail, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have a right to proper quality care while they’re in there,” added Commissioner April Reddick.

Chairman Geoff Brace praised the work of the Police Athletic League, which he has experienced firsthand due his son’s involvement playing basketball with the organization.

Brace noted the leadership of Sheriff Joe Hanna and his son, who are respectively chairman and co-chairman of PAL, in making this organization a success.

He also praised the work of Allentown Police Community Outreach Officer Sgt. John Leonard and his fellow officers.

“No fewer than a dozen police officers, totally off-duty, give their time coaching, mentoring, refereeing - all kinds of fun stuff,” Brace said,

He noted this initiative and those involved, who give their time after school and Saturday mornings to work with these students, is “violence prevention.”

Reddick closed the discussion, building on Brace’s message of the importance of taking an active role in the lives of youth.

She mentioned how many Little Leagues across the county are looking for volunteers.

“I encourage everybody, if you have free time, it is such a reward to volunteer your time,” Reddick said. “The reward of it is a good feeling.

“When that child is 15 and they spot you in a supermarket and call you ‘coach,’ that’s the reward of it.

“The reward of when you coach somebody and give them the courage and the strength to do better.”