Lehigh County Commissioners approved 9-0 a revision to the 2019 county budget thus providing the money to pay a new director of the Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation Center. The action clears the way for hiring a new director to replace Good Shepherd, which has terminated its management contract.

The commissioners also approved an amendment to the intergovernmental agreement among the counties of Lehigh, Carbon, Lackawanna, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna and Wayne that will continue participation in the Northeast Pennsylvania Emergency Response Group to provide mutual aid and assistance in planning, preparation and response for disasters.

At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Nathan Brown expressed concern about shortages in volunteer firefighters; his idea is to extend tax credits of up to 20 percent to volunteer fire fighters.

Lowhill Township resident Samantha Brown asked the county commissioners to help her.

“I almost died,” Brown said, describing conditions in the house in which she lives. “It was negative 3 degrees outside my house. I had no heat. I was very cold.

“I don’t understand why there aren’t emergency services for cases like mine,” she said.

This was at least the third time Brown has appeared before the county commissioners with similar complaints and pleas for help.

Following the meeting she talked with Edward Hozza Jr., Lehigh County director of administration.