In a short meeting Jan. 9 Lehigh County Supervisors appointed Dennis Nemes to serve on the Lehigh County Election and Registration Commission. He replaces Gail Coffin. Nemes is a former principal at Northwestern HS; he later served as the principal at Allentown Catholic HS.

Commissioner Percy Dougherty was back in his seat after a hospital stay resulting from a fall at his home; he had missed two previous meetings. He thanked his fellow commissioners and members of the public who had visited him while he was in the hospital.

Two ordinances got final approval, resulting in the county donating a vehicle to the Lehigh County Conservation District and another authorizing the purchase of X-ray equipment of the office of the coroner.

The Alfred Benesch Company got preliminary approval to provide engineering services for the D & L Trail Improvements Project. Compensation was fixed at $207,800 for the project.

Commissioners gave first reading or preliminary approval for a $1 million grant from the PA Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program “to assist with the property acquisition or construction of the Union Hall and Training Facility at 101 S. 7th St. in Allentown.

The commissioners also gave preliminary approval for a similar grant from PA Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program $1 million grant to pass through to DeSales University.

Lehigh Commissioners approved a set of revised fees and charges for out-of-county clients of Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grimm.

SEIU Shop Steward Frank Gerlach, a case worker for the crisis intervention office of Lehigh County’s Human Services, attended the meeting, along with a contingent of union workers. Gerlach and Commissioner Marty Nothstein agreed to meet to discuss union issues. Gerlach had said to Nothstein, “You are all nice in public, but we haven’t had a contract in three years.”

Other union members, including Katelynn Kissling, attended. “I’m here to advocate for myself and for my family,” said Kissling, gesturing toward other union members in attendance.