Northampton Council Meeting 5/20/2021
COVID, Housing, Public Funds to Private Pockets, Labor Unions
What: Northampton Council Meeting
Date: May 20th, 2021 at 6:30pm
Official Agenda and Recording
Summary:
What should Northampton County do with its $61 million from the American Rescue Plan?
That was the question facing County Council at its most recent meeting, the council’s first in-
person, maskless gathering since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
County Executive Lamont McClure has made two recommendations for the funding: bringing
high speed internet to low-income sections of Bethlehem, particularly for students doing remote
or hybrid learning.
McClure also recommended council approve another round of small business subsidies using
this money.
Meanwhile, council approved a $500 bonus for newly hired registered nurses at Gracedale,
aimed at attracting and retaining nurses at a time when hiring and turnover have been a
challenge at the county-owned nursing home.
Council Member John Cusick voted against this because he believes the bonus is not enough.
Other council members do not disagree with Cusick but want to keep the $500 bonus because it
was negotiated with the nurse’s union. It seems they do not want to open the door to re-
negotiate this and/or delay this bonus any further.
Council also approved grants for 12 open spaces projects. They are all public parks throughout
the county.
It’s also worth noting that all county buildings are now “mask optional'' for people who have had
the COVID vaccine, although it’s not clear how the county will enforce this. Two exceptions to
the rule: Gracedale and the county prison, where masks are still required.
DSA members: The county is set to get a sizable amount of money this week from the
American Rescue Plan and could spend a portion of it on small businesses. What are your
thoughts on these types of subsidies for small businesses (please comment below)?