McClure is Doing What He Said he Would Do

McClure and most of his cabinet

The Express Times stopped covering Northampton County government at some point during Executive John Brown's administration. Every now and them=n a stringer shows up. The Morning Call provides some coverage, but it is very limited. As a result, most people have no clue about what is going on Northampton County or whether Executive Lamont McClure is making a difference. I think he's doing pretty much what he said he would when he delivered his first State of the County address at Hotel Bethlehem in March. The real goal of county government, he said then, is to "protect the most vulnerable." That's what he's been doing.

Protecting the Vulnerable. - At the last Council meeting, I was surprised to see a large number of Gracedale residents in the room. They were there because McClure invited them. This invitation, in and of itself, sends a message. It tells these people that they still matter. They have worth.

McClure has addressed staffing shortages at Gracedale and Children, Youth and Families by adding new positions. “Protecting our vulnerable residents is our most important job,” he said. “Making sure our human services departments are fully staffed is critical for public health.” Gracedale’s quality measurements have improved in recent months and, to alleviate future shortages in medical professionals, the County will start paying tuition for Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) programs beginning the Spring of 2019. He is also focusing on the dangers of elder abuse.

He actually attended a retiree luncheon, something Brown routinely skipped until he was up for re-election. More than that, he ended the decades-old practice deducting medical costs from retiree pension checks.

Diversity in Government. - He appointed NorCo's first female County Solicitor, first female Chief Public Defender and has women installed in the ranks of three other cabinet positions. He also reinstated the jail's first ever black Captain.

Protecting the Environment.- Action has been taken on environmental concerns with the banning of sewage sludge from County farmland as well as providing $500,000 in funding to redevelop Lake Minsi. Land known as the Gall Farm has been purchased with plans to develop it as a park, and the County is exploring options in renewable power.

“The future of Northampton County is green,” McClure says. “Our administration is aggressively preserving farmland and open space while seeking options for a sustainable energy plan that reduces carbon emissions.”

Protecting the Citizenry. - When a gas station in Wind Gap was selling tainted gas, it was shut down. The problem was discovered by the county's Department of Weights and Measures.

Affordable Housing. - McClure has teamed up with Easton on a joint venture to create more affordable housing.

Protecting the Taxpayer. - McClure is going after millions in unpaid fines, costs and restitution by bringing in collections agencies. He stopped a $10 million giveaway to the DaVinci Center for what in essence is nothing more than a glorified ant farm. He stood up the General Purpose Authority, which charged over $800,000 in legal fees over a two-year period. McClure is refusing to pay any more.

Reforming the Administrative Code. - Problems with the Administrative Code have resulted in multiple lawsuits between Executive and Council over the years. Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron and Procurement completely re-wrote these controversial passages.

Transparency. - In addition to regular news releases, Northampton County is now using Twitter and Facebook to reach out to the public. If you call his office, someone will actually get back to you.