Lehigh County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new social workers’ union contract.

“It’s been a long time coming, but I’m very supportive of the outcome,” Commissioner Percy Dougherty said at the board’s Dec. 21, 2016, meeting.

The contract between the county and Pennsylvania Social Services Union and Service Employees International Union 668 runs from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 21, 2018. Included in the contract are three percentage-based wage increases, $1,000 contract ratification bonuses for rank and file workers, an additional $1,000 incentive for those deciding to retire within the next 90 days and increases in employee contributions toward healthcare insurance.

In other business, the board unanimously approved professional services agreements with attorneys Gwin Krouse, Brian Eves, Frances Sonne, Joanne Sallit-Hull, Susan Mauer, Catherine Kollet, Katherine Williams, Catherine Pierce, Michael Moyer, Gavin Holihan, Rebecca Torres and Michael Brunnabend to act in the capacity of juvenile dependency attorneys.

The attorneys will be paid $2,400 per month to work on dependency cases and $60 per hour if a case is filed with the orphans’ court

Also during the meeting, the board agreed to postpone a discussion on changes to Cedarbrook Nursing Home professional services contract.

According to Cedarbrook administrator Jason Cumello, the nursing home is seeking further clarifications to a few proposals.

The board will hold its next meeting 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 in the Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. 17th St.