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.
58 comments:
Lori Barbara Hafer is a Menace 2 Society and must resign.
Jeff Corpora is a coward. He knows what the right thing to do is and yet he fails to do it. Also - what’s up with Don Giovanni practically sitting in his lap at meetings ?
Bernie O'Hare, please be sure to post the Krazy Keegin TikTok show she does about the council meetings. Also do you think this is dead or will it come up again or in a different format? Watched it and yes Ken Kraft was his usual miserable insulting self.
Lori Vargo Heffner won’t protect women’s health.
That Goffredo kid is really sharp. He made sure there won’t be any P25 coverage in the Slate Belt. He’s put first responders at risk.
LVH 4 CE! Good call Council. Drop the luxury office building and just do the parking deck. The smaller items should be included in the 2025 budget.
It’s really sad. Northampton County used to be “the first county to do this/do that”. No more. This council can’t agree on anything. You can take a chance on a daycare at Gracedale for retention and recruitment for their staff but you can’t take a chance on a health center or a parking garage/new space for current staff. Brown screwed employees in the past and just keeps trickling on.
Yes you have constituents but you have county employees you are responsible for. Lori is always asking employees or departments “tell us what you need”. Well the county is obviously telling you and no one is listening or even offering suggestions. Things are only going to get more expensive moving forward. Nothing is ever going to get cheaper.
I love that council continues to rant about our county staff needing to be paid more. Gofredo and Heckman both said it during budget hearings. Cusik said years ago staff needed to be paid more, but NEVER during budget season did council ever give non-union staff raise increases on top of what the County Executive gave.
But yet you vote to get physical budget books instead of electric versions. Good one since Giovanni was hinting to save costs with staff trying to remote work and someone mentioned working towards electric records.
They all talk a good game but in the end, this council will go down in history as a council that basically accomplished nothing, only for the benefit of themselves.
Take a lesson from Lehigh County so-called "reform team". They ditthered the cedarbrook project forebears when interest rates were low and there was compettive bidding when unemploymne was high. At no fault to this current administration, the project will cost the taxpayers more money for smaller scale improvements. The past reformist were pennywise pound foolish. History will repeat itself in Northampton County.
Trump
Truly a Do Nothing Congress.
Bond prices and interest rates have an inverse relationship. When interest rates go up, bond prices go down, and vice versa so by waiting it may get more expensive for the county to build, its been over a year now and the do nothing council is living up to its name
There is not enough chain in all of norco to pull some people's heads out
Common sense is not a flower that grows in Norco council chambers.
The parking deck will be closed very soon.
The majority of this County Council keeps voting against county employees and our workforce. Vargo Heffner cares more about her axe to grind with McClure than doing the right thing for us employees. The Republicans and Vargo Heffner stink.
How abut Corpora… last night he voted to stop a parking deck from being built to replace one that is literally dropping rocks on cars (hopefully never people) and then wants to amend a resolution to allow for a “formative experience” to allow and exception for the Easton Bonfire. This could cause potential loss of life and property with these current dangerous fire situations. It will be formative for sure in the lives of people if that fire gets out of control and kills someone or several someones. Good job council.
While trying to stick it to McClure Lori has made council dangerous and wreckless.
So while a wildfire rages Little JP (slate belt native) votes to make fire fighters less safe by not providing the radio coverage they need. It’s ok though they get a tax break. That $250 will go a long way when those medical bills come in when one of those guys gets hurt because they could not communicate effectively.
How does J.P. Goffredo hold a hose with those little hands ?
Are the going to take Goffredo’s tiny little plastic fire helmet from him ?
I keep checking for the newest TikTok. Ohhh Kelly tell us your opinion! Did she make it?
The left side of the dias is flat lined. Do any of them have a brain? You have catatonic Corpora and Giovanni, Goffredo who couldn't possibly be anymore arrogant, Brown who looks like a beaten dog, and Lori who refuses to do anything but go on trips on our dime. Shameful place we are in.
She’s done. County Executive that’s a joke
I agree with Heffner and Corpora on this one. The parking deck absolutely needs to be replaced. But the new building is not needed. I see potential in the current buildings of poorly used space. And I am not sure where this quote that the DA's office is "bursting at the seams" is coming from. Even when it was at full staff years ago, there were still a handful of empty cubicles. How about they get rid of those cubicles that they're likely never to use, even at full staff?
I am surprised he did not ask the sheriff during the budger hearing for a badge all his own. Also the sheriff department has some pretty cool balloons I hear!
OK nice insult. But why can't this item just be included separately in the 2025 capital budget from operating funds? Is the county so strapped they need a credit card for this?
It’s because of people on this forum that other people avoid political office.
Nasty a$$ motherf$ckers here.
Yeah, sure thing. None of the responsibility falls on Cunningham, Muller, or Armstrong. The fiscally prudent thing to do was sell it like most counties in PA have done over the past decade. Only 11/67 are still in the nursing home business.
Lehigh county needs an overhaul too many Democrats the county gave away 30000 dollars so stressed-out kids can ride a horse just one example of how your tax money is spent. This county has a problem they voted for Harris that should tell you something about the voters in Lehigh County. Here is a fact Democrats spend and tax the people of Lehigh county must like that.
Lori Vargo Heffner may not be re-elected to Council. She will have Labor working against. She’ll have almost zero Party support. She’ll be intentionally excluded from the ticket, and there will be a sustained paid media campaign to tell voters about her taxpayer funded vacation to Florida. She’s finished.
Republicans do not run in Lehigh county because the people are democrats and only vote for democrats except for rhinos like Dent
Jeff Copora is a small man. I’m not referring to his stature. I’m referring to his character. He portrays himself as honest and forthright, but he’s craven and duplicitous. He’s a man of low character and fits nicely with Don Giovanni.
So to all of the attorneys here, if a chunk of concrete falls on someone's head who can a civil suit be brought against? The county, then everyone will complain that taxpayer money was used to settle the suit, or the 5 that decided the garage is safe as is?
Thank you for clarifying. So now we know what this project and Dixie are about....rewarding the building trade unions who contribute to your campaigns. How did all that "paid media" work for Anna Thomas? Who vacations in Florida in July...nobody. She attended the National Association of Counties annual conference. Let's hope LVH runs again.
Bernie, do you ever hear your party talk about the country deficit and who in the future is going to pay that debt? Our children or maybe China will buy more of our country's assets or US land. The Dems just want to spend, spend without any accountability. The county per McClure has a 48 Million dollar surplus but he wants to borrow on a 63.5 million dollar bond. Mr Kraft says that is the way government gets the large projects done. That is the problem with governments, inflation was going through roof because of influx of money. People didn't like Trump but needed a change to put food on the table because of high prices and the economy. I think all of county council members agrees the parking garage needs to be replaced but there are other options for building space.Take 6 millions dollars from the surplus for P26 radio project and do a smaller bond of 25 million dollars. Smaller bond less interest to pay back regardless of the bond rate.
Keegan has her TikTok posted. Where's Dead Reagan to report her on social media during the work day?! Oh my bad, he's dead.
The media will continue to lie as they already are doing after Trump's landslide victory The question is will this blog continue to spread lies?
Why would anyone work with Keegan when she goes on Tic Tok and calls out people. Say it to their face. That’s a coward. She is a puppet and remember when her term is up. She won’t have any inside crap going on. She will be challenged.
Why does it have to be all or nothing. McClure wants it all. Sounds like there was agreement on a deck. They can’t work together because McClure doesn’t want that. Remember he’s up for re-election next year. Time to remove the dictator.
Reminder, this type of name calling cost the democrats the Presidency, the Senate and probably the house. Americans are tired of this BS. Keep it up and McClure and his puppets will be next.
Voter are smarter than you think. She’s doing a good job, not just approving everything McClure wants. That’s not how government works. No rubber stamps. Check and balance.
Aye
How can the DA’s office be “bursting at the seams” when so few people work there?
I think McClure and Barron probably have a slightly better idea of how to meet the County’s needs while be fiscally and financially prudent. Their track record is impeccable.
This is why democrats got their asses kicked, with stupid, moronic, childish comments like this. Thanks for posting it. It will be saved and used against the democrats come election time.
I was wondering the same. There are also families who park in that lot, not just employees. Heaven forbid something happens to a child, like a piece of concrete falls on him/her, you know the parents will sue. But can they bring suits against the commissioners who voted SEVERAL times to not be fixed or even council as a whole? Good thing these meetings are recorded for any legality purposes regarding statements said. Seems to me a HUGE liability for the county/council when you have several contractors saying the parking garage is not safe, yet still allow people to park in it.
A hybrid work schedule can help cut down office space by possibly sharing work stations or making smaller ones by split scheduling office employees, which would also take up less parking spaces daily, and improve overall employee happiness/retention.
Offering remote positions, if job duties allow, would also free up a lot of office space. I think a lot of people would be fine with the county's salaries with the ability to work from home with no commuting costs.
Electronic filling will also help cut down filling space to free up more office space.
McClure is whining on social media. This guy is a big baby. Maybe he is angry that Keegan is pushing the feminist '4B' agenda. I feel sorry for her husband. Introspection is not a trait of these looney dems.
11:40, I believe you make some good suggestions. I really like the idea of a hybrid work schedule. In addition to the benefits you mention, it would make the county government more responsive to the citizenry by keeping its doors open. But I'm unsure whether workers would like it. It is something you'd have to sit down and discuss with them and get their feedback.
As for the remote work option, that would probably work for human services caseworkers, but a previous experience with it during the pandemic was a failure. I believe it could work if workers were properly trained, as it does in the private sector. But there are many county departments where remote work is impossible, like the row offices or veterans affairs. E-filing is already happening and the county hopes to paperless by next year.
2:34, The DA needs more room. It is true that he is short-staffed but is adding to his staff and is budgeted for a larger staff that will eventually be there. You have to realize the population is growing, and with it the volume of crime. And from what I understand, the office needs more storage space for trial exhibits.
Thank you for your reply. I think a hybrid work schedule would be a great option to the employees. I'm pretty sure if you tell an employee they can work from home a couple days a week, they won't be against it, but it can certainly be optional. This would also be beneficial for sick call outs. If you aren't feeling well, can ask to work from home (if job duties allow), which is another benefit, and work won't fall behind. Maybe they can survey the employees again for their opinions like with the Health Center.
Remote work has certainly come a long way since the pandemic so something else to consider too. Yes, training is everything and can do trial runs.
Lori does not like to be questioned.
I respectfully disagree. Take a tour of the space. You will find that even at full staff, there are unused cubicles. There is also a 2nd conference room that is rarely used.
Toomuch opportunity for goofing off and wasting our taxpayer dollars.
The people in the hall to vote was a problem the county created because they didn’t do what they did last presidential election. That was mismanagement on the county’s part. I’m sure there’s offices in the current building that can be moved and switched. Again… mismanagement. Put the money towards better healthcare for the employees or COLA increases. Maybe address the current HVAC situation… some offices you die of the heat in others you freeze all in the same day. I’m sure either case is an unhealthy workplace. Why pay people what they’re due when you can build an eyesore with your name on it.
The county created the voter registration office by taking space away from the recorder of deeds office. Why didn’t the county realize back then the office would not have enough space and it would create a traffic jam in the corridor. Simply poor management, the county has always been like that no matter what administration is in charge. Bernie, see if you can get a copy of the engineers report on the parking garage, I would like to have someone review it, since I believe the footers are all in place according to one of the principals who was involved with construction of it. We have all kinds of structures in Easton, stone, brick and wood construction dating back to the 1800’s no building is falling apart because the owners maintain their property. Although, the county wants a new deck they should continually maintain their parking garage like every homeowner does with their property. Next question, if the county builds a new garage where will everybody employees and public park while the old garage is torn down and the new one constructed?
The voter registration office was at Governor Wolf in Easton, but that was a hellhole. Then it was moved to the Milides bldg in Easton, where there was space. But that building was demolished because it was going to slide off a cliff. The elections office was moved next to the recorder of deeds. Yes, title searchers lost most of the space we had as a result of the move but most searching now is done remotely. The move was made the very year that Act 77 was adopted. This was the election reform bill, which basically magnified the work of the elections office. What was one election every 6 months became three elections every 6 months (in person, ballot on demand, mail-in ballots). The staff had to expand and the county had to purchase new election systems. At the time that the elections office moved into the courthouse, there probably was insufficient space. But what really made the need clear was the adoption of Act 77, which occurred almost simultaneously with the move. I do not believe county officials could have anticipated these ramifications or even the sudden influx of ballot by demand voters that only occurred this year.
If you look up positions with the state (Commonwealth of PA), a lot of their positions offer the opportunity to work from home part-time, some up to 3 days per week.
Eliminating a long commute/dealing with route 22 & 33 a couple days a week would do wonders for your mental health and save money on gas and car maintenance too. There's a whole list of advantages it would bring to employees.
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