While several of the recent Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meetings have focused on discussions of the state budget impasse or the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids on county courthouses, the second meeting of August also featured citizen concerns over the impending rule change for public comment by virtual participants.

This change will go into effect in October, but the registration feature has already been added to the commissioners’ webpage.

Ed Angelo virtually took to the podium and spoke of what he believes to be an “unconstitutional prior restraint” on speech. He expressed frustration with the approved rule change — ordinance 2025-149 — citing logistic challenges with requiring a 24-hour prior notification of intent to comment.

Additionally, Angelo said he finds “any kind of prior restraints on speech abhorrent. So long as [he’s] not yelling ‘fire’ in a crowded theater, it should be freely granted.”

Mary Tomlinson, of Allentown, echoed the same beliefs, expressing opposition and concern about the barrier to speaking freely at commissioners meetings.

Also during the citizen’s comment portion of the meeting, Sharon Finnegan, of Allentown, spoke in regard to the recent discussions about ICE entering the courthouse. She questioned whether “Staff Only” signs could be placed outside the judge’s chambers or other vulnerable areas to protect individuals, as this application in the business environment prohibits ICE from apprehending individuals while in those areas.

In response to Finnegan’s comments, Commissioner Geoff Brace reiterated the proper point of contact for these inquiries is the sheriff’s office and the president judge, as the “board of commissioners can’t set policy on those facilities.”

Angelo commented on the ICE memo released by the board of commissioners. He said the board of commissioners is “washing its hands of any culpability, any responsibility, any involvement” on this matter. Angelo explained he doesn’t feel a thorough examination was completed to produce that memo, citing what he believes to be false reports of where apprehensions have occurred in the courthouse.

He spoke of an in-person sidebar with Judge Thomas Caffrey, who indicated the apprehensions have, in fact, occurred in the courtroom holding cells.

The regularly scheduled agenda for the evening’s meeting included an appointment to the Lehigh County Personnel Review Board. No public comments or comments from the commissioners were made; thus, the appointment of Ellie Andino was confirmed.

A couple of bills had their second reading, and with no oppositions or comments, both bills were unanimously adopted. These included a temporary discretionary overtime bonus program within both the 911 communications center and the department of corrections, through Oct. 10.

Both bills were sponsored by Commissioners Jeffrey Dutt and Sheila Alvarado and will come before the board in 90 days to be reassessed at the current staffing levels. Dutt commented positively of both bills, reinforcing “this is how good government works.”

An additional two bills were approved by the commissioners to award funds from the Community Development Block Grants Cares Act program, which will provide support to Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative, as well as funds allocated to the county to take care of certain programs federally mandated.

Several bills were read and were expected to be brought forward during the Sept. 10 meeting for a second review. These included a reallocation of funds to Slatington borough, which would move funds from one road construction project to another to balance funding appropriately. Additionally, a bill proposes a modified structure to the terms for individuals serving on the human relations commission. The proposed modification would specify individuals can continue to serve until their replacement is named, unless they don’t want to do so.

Throughout the evening, the continued struggles with the absence of the state budget were mentioned. Reflecting upon their time spent at the 139th County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Conference and Trade Show, Commissioners Antonio Pineda and Alvarado summarized everyone feels similarly that the budget is a problem and the state needs to do its job. The absence of a state budget will impact state-mandated programs across the counties.

Brace reiterated he and Dutt, along with Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, sent a letter to the General Assembly expressing the concerns with the absence of a state budget. Brace encouraged all to articulate their concerns as well to bring a heightened urgency regarding this matter.

Toward the conclusion of the meeting, Dutt reviewed the 2026 budget hearing schedule, including the release of Armstrong’s 2026 proposed budget Aug. 28. The commissioner hearings were scheduled for Sept. 8 and 15.

The budget will receive its first reading during the regularly scheduled commissioner meeting Oct. 8 and its second reading Oct. 22.