As Lehigh County prepares to begin budget season, commissioners introduced changes to the regional youth detention center agreement that would expand the partnership to include Delaware County.

The proposed bill would waive certain contractual requirements and approve an amended plan for the regional youth detention center. The measure would add Delaware County to the list of participating counties in the intergovernmental cooperation agreement.

County officials said Delaware County’s addition was anticipated after the county expressed its intent to join following the deadline established under the original agreement ratified April 22.

The bill will be considered at the board’s Sept. 9 meeting. It includes minor changes related to board oversight, bed allocations and other provisions to accommodate the additional county. The current timeline calls for the center to open in the second quarter of 2028.

The discussion came during the first meeting of newly elected Commissioner Phillips Armstrong.

Armstrong maintained a visible presence throughout the meeting, echoing colleagues as they shared memories of former District Attorney Jim Martin, who recently died. Armstrong also assumed leadership of the Courts and Corrections Committee as its new chair.

During citizen input, resident Ed Angelo congratulated Armstrong on joining the board while noting he would not have been Angelo’s first choice for the position.

Angelo praised former commissioner Jon Irons and questioned whether Armstrong would continue the initiatives Irons supported before stepping down from the board.

“Will you honor the kind of things that he discussed and he worked for?” Angelo asked. “Will you agree to not try to undo any of the great work that Jon accomplished?”

Chair Geoff Brace also highlighted a proposed data center development at 1024 N. Bradford St., in Allentown.

Brace said the board of commissioners does not typically become involved in many land development matters, but he consulted the county Department of Law because of the proposal’s proximity to Coca-Cola Park. The county has an interest in the matter because the stadium property is a significant county real estate holding.

Commissioners also discussed the planning commission’s recent housing summit.

Commissioner Joe Welsh and several colleagues spoke favorably about the county’s efforts to address housing affordability, noting community partnerships have been established to help tackle the problem.

Near the end of the meeting, Commissioner Sarah Fevig announced the start of the county’s annual budget process.

The full budget schedule is available on the commissioners’ website. A budget overview was scheduled for the Finance Committee meeting Sept. 2. The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9.