NorCo's New Human Services Building: "We Care"

Executives John Brown and John Stoffa cut the ribbon and make it official

Despite April showers, over 100 faces were smiling in April 4 when Northampton County dedicated its centralized human services building, located at 2801 Emrick Boulevard in Bethlehem Township. Former Executive John Stoffa, who lobbied hard for this project over eight years, had called it a commitment to 18,000 county residents "who did not choose to get a mental illness; citizens who did not plan on being born with an intellectual disability; persons who never expected to become addicted to drugs or alcohol; children who did not ask to be sexually abused or physically harmed by their caretakers; and all of us who are aging, one day at a time, to the point that someday we will need someone to help us dress or eat."

Builder Jim Gentile, flanked by John Stoffa (L) and Ken Kraft (R)

His successor, John Brown, put it even more simply than the laconic Stoffa. "We care." He also credited Stoffa, who became teary-eyed before he left, calling the building the "capstone of a career dedicated to the service of others."

It's a 3-story, 66,375 sq ft building on 5.36 acres, with 256 parking places, being leased at a cost of about a million dollars a year in rent. After five years, the County can purchase the property.

Human services in Northampton County were previously performed at Easton's Governor Wolf Building and Bethlehem's Martin J. Bechtel Building. Both needed about $4.3 million in capital repairs over the next five years. The Wolf Building was plagued by caving ceiling, lead paint, asbestos and even guano. The Bechtel building lacked security.

Visitation can take place in safer conditions

Both of these buildings have since been sold for nearly $3.5 million, about $700,000 more than had been projected by consultant Ken Mohr. Sale proceeds have been dedicated to improvements at the new facility.

In addition to housing human services, the building will serve as a satellite revenue office and will house the juvenile probation department.

Stoffa reminded everyone of Hubert Humphrey's moral test of government - "how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped." He believes Northampton County can now say it passes that test calling the state-of-the-art facility the finest in the state and perhaps, the finest in the country. "It's not just a building. It's a re-dedication of our services to the people of Northampton County."

Council President Peg Ferraro surrounded by men

Construction was finished in just ten months. "Under budget and ahead of schedule," Council President Peg Ferraro reminded everyone.

"After eight years, we did it!" said builder Jim Gentile.

"Like giving birth to an elephant," joked Stoffa.

Gentile also thanked Council for "vetting me and waterboarding me."

Children Youth and Family Caseworker Kathy Dilts called it "simplicity in an otherwise confusing system." She stated that morale among workers has greatly improved, a fact that seemed to be borne out by a subsequent tour.

"I love it," Drug and Alcohol's Jane Roma said. "Everything is so new."

Mary Lou Figueroa (L) and Jane Roma (R) say Hi

Kevin Dolan works his staff to the bone, literally

Bethlehem Tp Manager Melissa Shafer and Comm'r Tom Nolan

You can see many more pictures at Google Plus .

Bethlehem Lawyer to Buy Bechtel Building

Centralized Human Services Bldg Ahead of Schedule

As time ticks away on John Stoffa's second term as Northampton County Executive, he has just announced the sale of Bethlehem's Martin J. Bechtel Building to prominent Attorney Justin K. McCarthy. Pricetag? $1.575 million. This sale is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle enabling a centralized human services facility in Bethlehem Township for 18,000 consumers.

Located at 520 E Broad Street in Bethlehem, the Bechtel Building is a 29,000 sq ft facility, built in 1962, on 2.12 acres. It includes 95 parking places and was purchased by the County in 1993 for $763,000. Named after the first County Executive, it houses 70 human services workers.

It needs $1 million in capital improvements and repairs over the next 5-10 years.

Another piece of the jigsaw puzzle, the Governor Wolf Building in Easton, needs $3.3 million in capital repairs and improvements over the next 5-10 years. Its 173 human services caseworkers have complained about conducting supervised child visitation amid asbestos, lead paint and bat guano. It is largely inaccessible to between 25-35 disabled veterans, who visit every week. The County has 23,690 vets.

The Wolf Building was sold in May for $1.925 million to developers Mark Mulligan, David Dallas and Bill Vogt.

The $3.5 million realized from the sale of the Wolf and Bechtel Building is about $700,000 more than was projected when County Council and Stoffa first considered centralizing human services.

Executive John Stoffa has called a centralized human services building at 2801 Emrick Blvd. in Bethlehem Township a "golden opportunity to do something terrific" for the 18,000 people who need human services. Stoffa, who has devoted his career to serving them, has said, "Most of them have two problems. They're lonely and don't have enough money. They don't have advocacy groups. They don't have PACs. They don't have people speaking for them."

Stoffa stated that the sale "contributes to the revitalization of Bethlehem, and Northampton County will reinvest the revenue from this sale into the new Human Service facility." He adds that the sale will put the property back on the tax rolls.

Attorney Justin K. McCarthy, a fixture in Bethlehem for several decades, will move his offices from the stately Dodson Building at 528 N. New Street. The former headquarters of the Lehigh Navigation Coal Company is being converted into a 21-unit apartment building. Other Dodson tenants, which include the McHale and La Porta insurance agencies, will follow McCarthy to Bechtel.

The Agreement of Sale is subject to Northampton County Council approval. When fully enacted, closing would occur immediately, Attorney McCarthy will move into 2,200 SF on first floor and lease the balance of the building back to Northampton County until they vacate sometime prior to March 31, 2013. In lieu of rent Northampton County would continue to pay the utilities and minor repairs and maintenance.

Attorney McCarthy said, “I would like to thank Northampton County for its quick response and flexibility in accommodating our conditions of purchase in particular the sale and leaseback so that we can promptly move into the Bechtel building.”

One person is "disappointed" at news of the sale. Bethlehem DCED Director Joe Kelly complained to The Express Times that the City of Bethlehem was largely left out of the process. He suggested that the County should have considered demolishing the building. County officials are puzzled by Kelly's contention, and have produced emails showing that both Bethlehem and Kelly have been approached repeatedly.

Bechtel Building Sold?

Northampton County consultant Ken Mohr has just asked Council to meet in executive session to discuss some "good news" concerning the Bechtel Building. He added he missed a finance committee meeting yesterday because of his involvement in some matter that will please them.

County Council is depending on the sale of its Wolf and Bechtel buildings to fund the centralized human services building in  Bethlehem Township.

But this matter must be discussed openly. Under the state Sunshine Act, leases and the purchase of real estate may be discussed in executive session, but for some reason, sales must be discussed publicly.