At last night's meeting, Northampton County Council voted 5-4 to reject a $63.5 million bond for a new parking deck and 3-story office building at the courthouse campus, as well as a $14 million contingency for other projects that include a new roof at the jail and P-25 radio equipment, costing $6 million. The vote followed presentations made by several cabinet members.
Public Works Director Mike Emili brought a chunk of concrete that recently fell from the parking deck to match another chunk he displayed to County Council a year ago. The parking deck was built in 1975, and is nearing 50 years of service, well beyond its 35–40-year lifespan. In 2008, the county studied the possibility of adding new levels, but engineers determined that it would fail current seismic requirements and that there was a lack of footings at several locations. Over the years, the county has attempted to repair the parking deck, but there are still numerous leaks and falling concrete.
Emili noted that this falling concrete is particularly bothersome because, while unlikely, csomeone could get killed.
Emili also addressed the proposed 3-story office building. He noted that the elections office is operating at four different locations. With the new office building, they would have the entire first floor. It would free up space in the Human Services building by moving Community and Economic Development from its current location at Human Services to the new building. It would also free up space for the DA's office, which is "bursting at the seams."
The parking deck and new building combined would cost a little over $43 million. The county would also use the bond proceeds to refinance the 2021 GESA project (Guaranteed energy savings), leaving $14 million for additional projects that include a $6 million P-25 communications system for first responders as well as jail renovations.
Administration Director Nicole Pietrzack, who oversees the elections office, called the current layout of the elections office(s) "an absurdity." She noted that 7,000 people voted ballot on demand (sometimes called early voting) in the most recent election, including 1,100 voters in one day. "There were people lining the hallway on either side, two to three people deep, all the way to the end of the hallway and down to the cafeteria. ... For a third-class county, this is just unacceptable."
Human Services Director Sue Wandalowski brought pictures showing that four conference rooms, two interview rooms, several storage areas and a family visitation room all had to be converted to office space.
Council member John Goffredo was unmoved by these arguments. He suggested that the county add a level to the Human Services Building. When this is prohibited by zoning, he suggested seeking a variance. "We are going to build a palace for an exorbitant sum of money," he warned. He also complained that County Council was never informed of any need. "All of a sudden this came to us .... We'll be called obstructionists of we don't go along with this." He called the proposed three-story office building a "mega-office." He argued there is no need to build a new county building because office space is in high supply and low demand.
Council member John Brown echoed Goffredo. He said thousands of sq ft of office space is available throughout Easton, and that the county could lease for far less money than would be spent on a new building. "We don't need $64 million for a parking deck " he said and expressed wariness about a $14 million contingency "We could do it for far less money. ... I don't see this as an emergency that we have to run out tomorrow."
Council member Ron Heckman supported the bond. "No one wants to do a bond issue, but it's about what's in the best interests of the county. ... I don't see any way around this." He also said, "I like the idea, if possible, of keeping our county functions in our county seat." The law requires that the elections office must be in Easton.
Of the parking deck, Heckman said "I think they made it with play dough."
Council member Ken Kraft failed to use his mike during his supporting argument, so I missed most of what he said. I do know he pissed off Goffredo, who claimed that he had been insulted. One argument that I did catch, once he started using his mike, is that bond yields are surging following Trump's re-election. This is going to make mortgage rates higher and will also make it more expensive for government to borrow with each passing day.
Council President Lori Vargo Heffner and Council member Jeff Corpora both said they have no problem with building a parking garage. But they both said they'd like to hear more details on options about building the garage but delaying the county office building.
Council member Jeff Warren, however, requested that Council vote now, even though it was clear that Council lacked the necessary five votes.
Voting to support the bond were Kraft, Warren, Heckman and Kelly Keegam. Voting No were Corpora, Vargo Heffner, Brown, Goffredo and Tom Giovanni.
After the meeting, Executive Lamont McClure expressed his dismay, especially with respect to the parking deck. "Our first duty is public safety," he said. "It's why we form government." In addition to the hazards of falling concrete in the county parking deck, he noted that the number of people who thronged the hallways for early voting presented a fire hazard.
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