Northampton County's new director of Public Works, Richard Young, can never say he wasn't warned.

"You have a big job ahead of you," is the first thing Council President Peg Ferraro said to him at his confirmation hearing March 20.

"That's what I hear," answered the soft-spoken engineer.

Allentown Director of Public Works Richard Young is taking over in Northampton County. Though he lives in East Side Allentown, he told council that his family is from Lower Saucon Township, going back at least four generations. He added that Young's Hill is named after his family.

"I look forward to serving the people of Northampton County," he added.

Young is a professional engineer with 39 years of experience. In Allentown, he has 11 years of experience, serving as city engineer, and most recently as director of Public Works. He has also worked for several respected engineering firms in the private sector, including Pennoni Associates, Huth Engineering, Keystone Engineering and Boucher and James.

His appearance comes after Hayden Phillips' Capital Projects Committee uncovered a maze of public works challenges some of which present public safety concerns.

Young will be paid a salary of $95,921, with the potential for increases going up to $124,975.

Though Young will replace current Director of Public Works Steve DeSalva, Brown has requested him to stay on board in a recognition that the county needs more than one professional engineer. DeSalva, like Young, is a professional engineer and is known for 60-hour work weeks.