EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County officials proposed removing the county from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission at a county council meeting Thursday night, and made plans to cut funding for the body in 2024.
- Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and members of the county council explored pulling the county from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Thursday night
- McClure said he already has formed a committee exploring a possible Northampton County Planning Commission
- The discussion was prompted by the commission's planned move to a new headquarters in City Center Allentown, which raises costs for the county
During his regular report to the council, County Executive Lamont McClure said he doesn't yet endorse taking that step, but he has formed a committee to explore creating a new Northampton County Development Committee.
“Do we have to stay in an abusive relationship? I don’t know that we should have to,” he said, though he later said he regretted comparing a “governmental arrangement that isn’t working for our taxpayers” to abuse.
The idea springs from the LVPC executive board’s vote to move its headquarters from office space near Lehigh Valley International Airport to a new building along the Lehigh River in City Center Allentown.
McClure, a member of the board, said he “strenuously opposed” the move and voted against it, as did five other members.
He took issue with the new building’s higher rent, which will cost an additional $120,000 per year. Proponents of the move said it was needed to avoid making $2 million in renovations to the commission’s current space, according to McClure.
“Do we have to belong to the Lehigh Valley Planning commission? I would love to have a review of why and how it got started, and what our relationship is and where it's going.”Northampton County Commissioner Lori Vargo Heffner
He said the renovations aren’t all necessary.
“That building was remodeled less than 10 years ago," Commissioner Kevin Lott said. “I remember when it happened. I don't know how you'd spend that kind of money remodeling again.”
'$120,000 is ridiculous'
McClure said Northampton County “could not afford” its $60,000 share of the cost increase, and that he would decrease LVPC’s share of Northampton County funds in the 2024 budget as a result.
Several county council members seemed receptive.
“Do we have to belong to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission?” Commissioner Lori Vargo Heffner asked McClure. “I would love to have a review of why and how it got started, and what our relationship is and where it's going.”
A few minutes later, council President Kerry Meyers said, “I was going to ask the same question; if there's a possibility that we could pull out of this thing. A hundred-twenty thousand dollars is ridiculous.”
In addition to being more expensive, the move also will make it more difficult for Northampton County to find residents willing to serve on the commission, McClure said, as meetings will be farther away.
