The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners recently voted to replace 10-year member of the Lehigh County Authority (LCA) Emrich M. Stellar Jr.

The 5-4 vote to replace Stellar, of Upper Saucon Township, occurred at the board’s Jan. 27 meeting. Voting in opposition to Stellar’s reappointment were board Chairman Brad Osborne and commissioners Tom Creighton, Percy Dougherty, Marty Nothstein and Michael Schware.

Stellar was seeking another five-year term on the board.

County Executive Tom Muller said the board voted against Stellar’s reappointment based on unsubstantiated accusations originating from individuals, he said, who remain upset with Allentown’s lease of the city’s water and sewer systems to LCA.

Robert Hamill of Lower Macungie Township asked the board to reject Stellar’s reappointment, stressing the need for a new direction.

“We need change,” Hamill said. “I’d like you to signal a new policy. Don’t let un-elected bureaucracies run rampant over common sense. And, don’t reappoint Mr. Stellar.”

Stellar told the commissioners he is interested in continuing to serve on the LCA board.

In a recent email to The Press, Osborne said he wants to transition away from LCA board members serving long term. He said such a move will ensure “effective succession planning on a board with ever-increasing responsibilities.”

“I would like to see opportunities on the board for professionals in the water and wastewater field,” Osborne added. “This will provide the specific skill set at the board level for the challenges ahead in complying with EPA consent orders.”

According to Osborne, Muller recently appointed another candidate to serve on the LCA board. The candidate was to be considered by the commissioners in a committee meeting prior to the recent board meeting.