January

Northampton County Executive John Brown is sworn into office and declares, "I am here to serve." Later that month, he fires Sheriff Randy Miller, who supported Brown's opponent John Callahan. He also tries to appoint newly elected Judge Jennifer Sletvold's husband as chief public defender. This would make it nearly impossible for her to hear criminal cases. Brown eventually pulls this nomination after five council members make clear they will vote No. They do go along with Brown's appointment of Diane Donaher as Director of Community and Economic Development.

In Bethlehem Township, two elderly residents are threatened with citations for keeping birdfeeders.

Municipalities begin running out of road salt to deal with storms in what is proving to be a horrible winter. Seventeen local communities eventually run out.

A Northampton County Investigating Grand Jury exposes mismanagement at the National Museum if Industrial Steel. This includes both an overpaid CEO and Board members who appear to use their positions on the nonprofit to benefit financially.

February

Bethlehem City Council conducts six-hour meeting to select Bob Donchez' successor. Council decides on Cathy Reuscher.

John Brown fails to get Council's approval for a $715, 200 "business consultant."

Bethlehem City Council unanimously votes to fire a police officer for an off-duty DUI involving no personal injury. The officer, who was the first to arrive at the scene when Freemansburg Officer Robert Lasso was killed, was despondent that evening.

March

During his first "State of the County" address, Exec John Brown calls the NorCo worker its most valuable asset. "It's not how many speeches I give," he states, "but how the county workforce reacts with the public that matters."

Along party lines, NorCo Council refuses to condemn an $84,000 no-bid contract for a public relations consultant.

Lower Nazareth Supervisors ponder pulling out of Colonial Regional Police to form their own department. Chairman Eric Nagle concedes Colonial Regional Police are "the best in the state as far as I'm concerned," but is concerned by rising costs.

Bethlehem Planning Director Darlene Heller reveals that residential development has plummeted from a high of 681 units in 2007 to just 46 in 2013.

Northampton County Judge Edward G Smith is confirmed as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pa.

April

Bethlehem City Council member Karen Dolan comes under fire when reports surface that her nonprofit status at the Illick's Mill was revoked for failure to file nonprofit tax returns for three years in a row. After Bethlehem produces 90 pages of documents detailing a $127,000 debt owed by Dolan's nonprofit to the city, Northampton DA John Morganelli convenes an Investigating Grand Jury. Dolan as executive director of the nonprofit.

Executive John Brown names Cathy Allen as his Director of Administration. By a 6-3 vote, the nomination fails.

In Bethlehem Township, long-time commissioner Tom Nolan is replaced as president by Marty Zaworski.

May

Bethlehem Township Commissioners are unsympathetic to a township resident who wants to walk his dog in township parks. They're still getting used to people being there.

Bethlehem City Council unanimously confirms Diana Morganelli as a nominee to the Bethlehem Parking Authority.

June

NorCo Council bails out a failed golf course developer in Lower Saucon Township with open space funds.

NorCo Exec John Brown reports that eight of the county's 11 unions, which represent 75 percent of the workforce, have no contracts. Two more contracts are set to expire by year's end. The last will expire at the end of 2015.

Independent auditor reveals that the Northampton County ended 2013 with just $11.1 million in its unrestricted reserve.

Lower Nazareth decides to stick with Colonial Regional Police coverage. They make their decision before entertaining public comment, though that appears to violate the Sunshine Act.

July

Former Ass't Norco Solicitor Jill Mancini, let go when John Brown became Executive, sues for civil rights violations in federal court.

Brown names a sheriff (David Dalrymple), director of administration (Luis Campos) and finance director (Jim Hunter). All three are confirmed.

Lehigh County Commissioners appoint Amanda Holt to replace Scott Ott.

Tea Party stages weekend rally against unaccompanied minors housed at KidsPeace in Salisbury Township.

About 60 supporters of the Bethlehem Township Athletic Association, more commonly known as the Bulldogs, blitz a vommissioners' meeting after Michael Hudak suggests they be charged to use the fields. Supporters note that they serve 1,600 people a year, but Hudak insists he represents a majority of the township, and is inundated by calls from people who agree with him.

Traditions of America, a senior living developer owned in part by NIZ developer J.B. Reilly, proposes a gated community along the Green Pond Marsh, which is designated an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. The Save Green Pond Marsh movement is born, and over 100 people attend a Planning Commission meeting to raise concerns about traffic, stormwater and the environment.

Developer Charles Chrin proposes an 11-screen movie theatre, four-story hotel, convenience store gas station, bank and restaurant at the old V-7 driving range, next to Route 33.

Judge Joel Slomsky of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania rules that a an unusual "dry" or "secondary" drowning against both Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) and Liberty HS P.E. teacher Carlton Rodgers will move forward. He denies motions for summary judgment to a civil rights filed by Mica Spady, the mother of 15-year-old Juanya Spady. a non-swimmer who died shortly after a P.E. swimming class.

August

Northampton County Council adopts an ordinance requiring all cabinet officials to be county residents, but the measure is quickly vetoed by Executive John Brown.

September

Gracedale celebrates its 20th annual family fest.

NorCo Executive John Brown decides to make cuts in health care benefits provided to the 2,200-person county workforce. Over 200 county workers descend upon County Council to protest these changes. One of them, a 20-year veteran, admits she has to go to food banks. Employees also complain that staffing shortages are creating undue pressure on the employees as well as public safety concerns at places like the jail.

Under the watchful eyes of Bethlehem Township police, Traditions of America begins digging 39 holes in disputed wetlands at Green Pond Marsh. Save Green Pond requests the state DEP to investigate.

October

Norco County Executive John Brown proposes a $330 million budget for 2015 that includes no tax hike, but includes a $20 million line of credit that appears to be contrary to the Home Rule Charter requirement of a balanced budget.

County employees continue their protests at two more meetings in Courtroom #1. Glenn Geissinger goes on talk radio to complain that workers are being encouraged by unions to attend meetings and asks for some "support from the taxpayer." By a 5-3-1 vote with Seth Vaughn abstaining, ccouncil adopts a resolution asking the Executive to relent in his unilateral reduction of health care benefits.

Norco County Executive John Brown posts armed deputy sheriffs outside his office to keep council members away from a news conference at which he attacks them. A perturbed Council President Peg Ferraro responds. "[T]o have the Sheriff's Deputies stand - armed Sheriff's Deputies - standing guard at the door between a Council Chamber and the County Executive Chamber, to me, is absolutely appalling and sends completely the wrong message to the elected officials that sit up here on this dais with me."

Norco County Executive John Brown blocks the controller from mass emailing employees and removes a link to a fraud tip hotline, but changes course after being reminded that the Controller is an independently elected official. He also decides to offer gap insurance, free of charge, to County employees to ease the pain of the health care cuts.

Unanimously, Northampton County Council adopts a resolution condemning the Easton commuter tax, and calls on the executive to challenge it in court. A similar tax in Scranton is struck down.

For seventh year in a row, Hanover Towsnhip Supervisors propose a no-tax hike budget.

An investigating Grand Jury finds that Karen Dolan abused her position on Bethlehem City Council. It calls on her to resign her office, and refers conflict of interest findings to the state Ethics Commission for possible criminal sanctions.

November

State School Performance tests result in failing grades for high schools located in Lehigh Valley cities. Allen HS is the worst performing school, scoring only 50.8 percent. Liberty HS fails as well, achieving only a 57 percent score. Freedom is the only city-based high school with a passing grade.

An informational meeting about the proposed PennEast Pipeline, draws hundreds of interested residents to the Hanover Township Community Center.

Executive John Brown proposes a budget amendment removing the $20 million line of credit considered illegal, but now is proposing to leave the county with a rainy day fund of just $1 million in a county that spends $8-10 million per month. "We need a tax hike," concludes Hayden Phillips, council's most conservative member.

Northampton County refuses to produce email exchanges with the cost control consultant hired to reduce health care costs. The state Office of Open Records orders the county to produce 141 disputed emails for an in camera review.

State DEP determines that the Green Pond Marsh wetlands are much larger than the 27,000 square feet claimed by developer Traditions of America. Nearly the entire eight acres in dispute are determined to be wetlands.

Bethlehem zoners approve 20-unit apartment building behind Roosevelts 21st, near Moravian College.

Bethlehem Township proposes a no-tax hike budget for the sixth straight year.

December

NorCo Council adopts a 2015 budget that includes a 1-mill tax hike. Republicans blame the tax hike on Controller Steve Barron. Brown allows the budget to go into effect, but does not sign it.

NorCo Controller Steve Barron concludes that Executive John Brown and Deputy Director of Administration Cathy Allen improperly claimed about $1,500 in travel expenses.

The number of people who have retired in Northampton County is around 140, almost three times the average annual retirement rate.

Northampton County sues to stop the Easton commuter tax and is joined in a separate suit filed by deputy sheriffs.

Though police and minority communities are at odds throughout the country, Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio joins the NAACP and clergy to pray for justice.

Former Bethlehem Council member Karen Dolan moves to Vermont.

COMPILED BY BERNIE O'HARE