Lehigh County Commissioners appointed Heidi Baer as a member of the board of directors for the Lehigh County Housing Authority, an unpaid position, Dec. 11. Baer is from North Whitehall Township.

The county has restored $100,000 for expenses it had expected to need following a suit that sought to remove the Christian cross from its official seal. It has since won on appeal, and so the predicted expenses never arose, and the money was moved back to the Stabilization Fund Balance. Final approval is expected at the next regular meeting.

Commissioners passed 8-1 the Lehigh County Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, which had its first reading last meeting. The program shall apply to building owners within Lehigh County and be known as the “Lehigh County C-PACE Program” or Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Program. The program allows building owners to obtain low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficient equipment, low-flow plumbing products and renewable energy projects.

Outgoing Commissioner Brad Osborne voted against the measure. He said he was concerned that since it “requires follow-up work from a committee,” that the C-PACE Program should be approved by the next board. He also expressed concern that the program “expands the role of county government.

The Lehigh County C-PACE Program is designed to “facilitate low-cost, long-term financing to owners of agricultural, commercial and industrial properties for energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy projects.” The county is authorized to seek a third party to administer the program.

Commissioners also approved 9-0 the distribution of a $309,507 grant from Pennsylvania’s Emergency Solutions grant program that funds street outreach, renovation or rehabilitation of building used as emergency shelters, rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention assistance, Homeless Management Information System reporting and administration costs.

Distribution of money that the commissioners approved: Catholic Charities – $25,216 for Homelessness Prevention; The Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley – $40,000 for Rapid Rehousing; The Lehigh Conference of Churches – $25,000 for Street Outreach; New Bethany Ministries – $20,555 for Homelessness Prevention; Salvation Army – $45,000 for emergency shelter and $60,000 for Rapid Rehousing; Third Street Alliance for Women and Children – $65,000 for Rapid Rehousing and $17,130 for Homelessness Prevention. The county receives $11,606 to administer the program.

It is not clear who determined the allotments for each agency, nor clear who selected the benefitting nonprofit organizations.

Commissioners also approved a contract with Etowah Dialysis, LLC a subsidiary of DaVita Inc. to provide hemodialysis services to Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation’s residents.

The Lehigh County Historical Society will continue its professional services agreement with the County to provide management for three county museums or historical sites. Commissioners approved a $96,000 payment to the society which will be paid in 12 monthly increments. The historical sites whose management is funded are the Saylor Cement Museum, Coplay, the Lockridge Furnace Museum, Alburtis, and the Haines Mill Museum, Allentown.

Lehigh Commissioners agreed to a four-year lease for space in Coopersburg for use as a senior center. The lease amount is $300 per month for a 1,300-square- foot space in St. John’s United Church of Christ of Coopersburg at 538 Thomas St.