The second bimonthly meeting of the Lehigh County Commissioners convened Nov. 25 to accommodate the Thanksgiving holiday.

Commissioner Geoff Brace opened the Chair’s Review portion of the meeting with a report from the finance committee, stating the “anticipation of having to pursue a loan in the early part of 2026 for cash flow purposes did not materialize.”

In other words, at the conclusion of the state budget impasse, the state was in fact able to push out funds and help to replenish approximately 60% of what was due to Lehigh County. The cash flow will of course continue to be monitored; however, they don’t foresee needing to pursue any additional lending at this time.

During citizen’s input, Bob Melvick, Weisenberg Township, took to the podium and questioned how far the county should venture into the free market system as it pertains to tourism. Specifically given the recent discussions at past board and committee meetings pertaining to plummeting hotel occupancy, he highlighted the construction of at least five new hotels. Looking at the bigger picture, Melvick asked, “are there any studies that indicate other tourist-oriented businesses in the Lehigh Valley are in crisis, or is it just the hotels?”

Moving into the regularly scheduled agenda items for the evening, five bills received their second reading.

Bill 2025-67 was approved and enacts an updated ordinance to require electronic plan submissions, as well as a revision for consistency and to specifically repeal the Lehigh County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance of 2003. Commissioners Ron Beitler and Antonio Pineda sponsored the bill and spoke highly of the paper savings this bill will now bring about.

Bill 2025-68 was also approved and will amend the 2025-2029 county capital plan to update the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Forensic Center’s fleet.

Bill 2025-69 was described by commissioners as a “win-win-win” and approved agreements for the sale and purchase of agricultural conservation easements to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in perpetuity.

The commissioners explained further that by this bill, the two county-owned properties will forever be preserved in their continued use as agricultural land.

Bill 2025-70 was approved to amend article VIII as a means to update purchasing policies and procedures beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Pineda clarified this bill will ensure the Board “will always do [their] due diligence on large professional services agreements.”

Bill 2025-71 approved an emergency on-call payment structure for Cedar View Apartment Maintenance employees to be enacted retroactively to the pay period beginning Oct. 11, 2025.

Following approval of the aforementioned bills, a series of six resolutions and two bills were read, the latter of which received their first reading.

The resolutions approved a professional services agreement with Lehigh Carbon Community College to offer educational services to adult offenders in the Department of Corrections’ custody to better prepare them for release.

Additionally, a professional services agreement with Zelenkofske Axelrod LLC renewed the contract to ensure the state-mandated annual audit will be conducted in a timely and professional manner.

Yet another amendment to the agreement with Tactical Public Safety LLC was approved and outlines a complex plan for the radio project upgrade to improve the communications system to dispatch police, fire, emergency medical and other services.

Resolution 2025-65 approves a professional services agreement with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission to fund three different projects, including a “trail connection strategy study, an economic development study, [and a] watersheds assessment,” Pineda clarified.

The remaining two resolutions on the agenda included supporting applications for a grant from the PA Gaming Local Share account for the purchase and installation of two natural gas-powered generators for the 911 communication center, as well as to help fund the Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science and Technology Inc.’s purchase of capital assets to help expand educational outreach programs. Specifically, the board is providing their blessing to pursue this endeavor as the center seeks funds to purchase equipment to support a mobile planetarium.

As the meeting neared conclusion, Rick Molchany took a few moments to report positively on the recent Limerick Emergency Center Operations drill. He stated that there was a large showing of support from both staff and volunteers. Molchany summarized with a takeaway to be proud of, stating that both representatives from PEMA and FEMA expressed “if they lived in Lehigh County, they would feel very relaxed knowing that our emergency management systems and team provides public safety.”

Lastly, Lehigh County Commissioners Sheila Alvarado and Pineda summarized the three priorities determined by CCAP at the fall conference. The three priorities for the following year include 911 funding reauthorization and funding increase, mental health funding and assisting counties with reassessment.

The final board meeting of 2025 is set for Dec. 18, both in person and virtually.