The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners’ Dec. 18, 2025, meeting was the last for District 5 Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt, as his time serving on the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners has ended.

Several commissioners praised and shared stories of their interactions with Dutt.

Chair Geoff Brace presented Dutt with a plaque, on behalf of the board, commemorating his 2020-25 term.

Dutt said he wants to explore the opportunity to open his own business part time, while continuing to work in education full time. He is excited about these new opportunities ahead and quoted Thomas Jefferson, stating, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.”

With all nine commissioners present, both the meeting minutes from the Nov. 25 and Dec. 10, 2025, meetings were unanimously approved.

Among addressing regularly scheduled agenda items, Brace convened with the clerk to address and acknowledge the fact several appointments were accidentally left off the agenda for the evening. Given that a diversion from the meeting agenda can be seen as a violation of the Sunshine Law, Brace was not able to initiate a vote on the appointments; however, he indicated he and the clerk would begin working on what actions should be taken the very next morning and an update would likely be presented during the Jan. 5 organizational meeting.

Moving on to old business, four bills received their second reading and were unanimously approved by the commissioners.

Bill 2025-74 establishes procedures and guidelines for the installation of Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems associated with the Lehigh County Communications Network as a means to ensure adequate network coverage for emergency responders and to ensure no degradation to the public safety communications network.

Bill 2025-75 approves a revised lease agreement with Conference Homes LLC for the property located at 626 N. Penn St., Allentown.

Bill 2025-76 approves a ground lease with Dennis P. Trexler Farms and Leroy C. Stahler Inc. to allow them to continue leasing agricultural properties located at the Seem Seed Farm.

Bill 2025-77 approves a memorandum of agreement between Lehigh County and United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1776KS.

Sponsoring Commissioner Sheila Alvarado clarified this memorandum of understanding is “an extension to their program, and this new agreement includes a 3% increase for all bargaining unit employees. There will be no compensation increases in 2026.”

There were a series of resolutions also reviewed in accordance with the evening’s agenda.

Resolution 2025-71 and 2025-72 approved and renewed a series of professional services agreements with select attorneys to represent criminal defendants who have conflicts of interest with the public defender’s office, as well as to serve as juvenile dependency attorneys under court administration, respectively.

Resolution 2025-73 approved a second amendment to the professional services agreement with Cetronia Ambulance Corps Inc. to provide ambulance services for the residents of Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation.

Resolution 2025-74 declared it desirable for the health, safety and welfare of the people of Lehigh County and the area served by the facilities of Thomas Jefferson University for the General Purpose Authority to undertake financing of a project to renovate and improve facilities through the issuance of bonds not to exceed $110 million.

The county board met Jan. 5 for the organizational meeting and then Jan. 14 for the commissioners meeting.