Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong attended the March 18 Catasauqua Borough Council meeting to provide an update on county affairs.

He reported Lehigh County has been recognized statewide and nationally as one of the first counties to initiate the Pardon Project in Pennsylvania.

“The Pardon Project of Lehigh County was created to help members of our community who were once convicted of a nonviolent crime, completed their sentence and turned their lives around - and only their past is holding them back from pursuing their potential,” according to the Pardon Project website.

Armstrong reported the county hired a lawyer to help people get pardons to improve their future prospects. These pardons will help with housing, education and job opportunities. As part of additional efforts to cut down on repeat offenders, the county has also hired two social workers to help people coming through the county defender’s office. PA CareerLink also works with inmates to help them prepare for and get jobs upon their release.

Armstrong reported Lehigh County is also one of the first counties in the state to institute video or FaceTime 911 calls. He commented this new service is coming at no cost to taxpayers.

“The technology is there, and we’re doing it,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong also introduced Adrianna Calderon, the county’s community liaison and public information officer. She will serve as a point of contact to help get through to the county easier.

Additionally, Armstrong noted the county hired a company for the digital radio conversion for emergency management. The expected rollout will be in 2025 or 2026. He noted the county will need to know how many radios the borough will need.

He said he is attending meetings and pushing to keep Lehigh County “at the table,” both statewide and nationally.

“The county is really on the leading edge,” Armstrong said. “We’re making ourselves well known.”

He also complimented the borough, noting he used to be a resident.

“Catasauqua is a great place with great people,” Armstrong said.