[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6345003,"mediaKeyId","2249958-628f32e793236fe5ca02dd4747fb87e8","parentId",2249958,"title","Northampton County Council pulls bond off table after heated debate over $35 million proposal for parking deck, radios and capital projects","audioSeconds",1723,"startMs",1868000,"endMs",3591000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249958-628f32e793236fe5ca02dd4747fb87e8&start=1868&end=3591","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249958-628f32e793236fe5ca02dd4747fb87e8/thumbnail_1868000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345003/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Northampton-County-Council-pulls-bond-off-table-after-heated-debate-over-35-million-proposal-for-parking-deck-radios-and-capital-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345003-4a7bf3ddfc134a10494a1a861898a7ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144135&Signature=H3aiv1Xh9luZ9SqfizaaapNc3kPGBWA34cgBLe5jYRXVccaTnGiKHWiYAPkF3GUOUFINb1W3HkajPsAM2yUTQdNQBRj4KtjLBy-DqmmnXv3HftAg1O37XyxSQrB-dLjicrYCuSoFRh4yO3zGXXp1cwnfhR1x~TR7TeQvyAqyJGJBqX2ZrbUs3hswT-unwzgRABXwLaqdlZ6cc2TiqaEIZ58dDMJH3jUtMmPzAp4AZZCEF66X5O3OxegTxrMmjZRmyAysVTdVUXnyN6SMEMI5rAyEX3I7Xs-khk97U3dEw4gIXny-82UDJqmShHdRHyhWX1pKCfMiI0yGz1NtuX67Dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-07T12:59:52Z","article","The Northampton County Council on Feb. 6 voted 7–2 to take a proposed bond ordinance with a $35 million maximum amount off the table for public consideration, reopening debate about replacing the county parking deck and related capital projects.

The motion to remove the bond from the table passed on a roll call after discussion; the tally was seven in favor and two opposed. Council members then spent more than an hour debating whether the county should seek the full amount or limit borrowing to the parking deck alone. Several councilors said the county needs a new garage for public-safety reasons and to replace a structurally challenged deck. Other members argued it is fiscally irresponsible to authorize the full amount before completing design, engineering and construction documents.

Council discussion identified a breakdown of the proposed funding that administration staff described: roughly $21 million for the parking deck construction estimate, about $6 million to buy out an existing 2021 equipment lease (associated with radios/energy equipment), and the remainder as a contingency or a general capital \"bucket\" that staff said could fund prison or other capital improvements if proceeds remain and council approves later allocations. \"The cost estimate was based not only on the preliminary study we conducted... it was also verified by the cost estimate that Skanska had put together for us,\" said a county administrator, citing consultant estimates.

Council members objected to borrowing the full $35 million before design work. \"To say we need $35,000,000 today to get going is a lie. It's wrong,\" said Council member Giffredo, who urged doing design and preconstruction work first and returning with a refined scope and costs. Giffredo and others described a standard project path of about nine to 12 months for design and roughly 18 months of construction once bidding starts; staff estimated construction would begin about a year after passing bond financing and estimated completion timelines accordingly.

Financial advisers and county finance staff described the financing structure and timing. Scott Shear of the county's financial advisor said about $6.0 million of the ordinance would be used to acquire remaining equipment from a 2021 lease; the proposed financing was structured as a roughly 16-year transaction with attention to matching useful lives of assets to amortization schedules. Shear noted the county must reasonably expect to spend at least 85% of proceeds within three years and that any leftover proceeds could be used later with council approval or to pay down debt.

Several councilors proposed narrowing the bond to cover the parking deck and emergency radio system only and to cap the amount in the $21–28 million range; others said the broader language gives the county flexibility to allocate surplus proceeds to other capital needs with council approval. No final vote approving the bond ordinance or its final amount took place that evening; the action recorded at the meeting was the vote to take the matter off the table and continue deliberations.

Clarifying details from the discussion: staff estimated the parking-deck cost at about $21 million (based on consultant and Skanska estimates); design work would likely take nine to 12 months; construction about 18 months after design completion; financing was being considered as a 16‑year issue. The council debated whether to authorize the maximum $35 million now or to limit borrowing only to defined projects. The meeting included calls for greater council input into scope and design before committing long-term debt.

The council also discussed public-safety photos of vehicle damage in the existing garage and testimony that operations and maintenance removed hazardous attachments after an incident. That evidence was cited by members who argued for earlier action to address safety risks. The motion to take the bond off the table passed 7–2, and the council signaled it would continue public hearings and committee review before any final borrowing authorization.

Votes at the Feb. 6 meeting
• Motion to take bond off the table: passed by roll call, 7 yes, 2 no (see vote record below).
• No final vote to approve the bond ordinance was recorded at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 6, 2025, Northampton County Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Northampton County Council on Feb. 6 voted 7–2 to take a proposed bond ordinance with a $35 million maximum amount off the table for public consideration, reopening debate about replacing the county parking deck and related capital projects.","taxTitle","Northampton County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2939,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6345008,"Lehigh students tell Northampton County Council long lines and broken machines blocked voting; urge more machines, campus access and outreach",4506,114000,4620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249958-628f32e793236fe5ca02dd4747fb87e8&start=114&end=4620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249958-628f32e793236fe5ca02dd4747fb87e8/thumbnail_114000.jpg","/articles/6345008/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Lehigh-students-tell-Northampton-County-Council-long-lines-and-broken-machines-blocked-voting-urge-more-machines-campus-access-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345008-67eeb6eef5bf6ad3800681fd7ded87ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144135&Signature=hEy-oYeOQmiGv71DF2NiDMFDwMBgLyzT90hFh~zUswbNQBRckmOKRCQ41dfb7xFJB1l~naShvaG4FrKFRMqyy9EmQGsA09u5k8r9smFk33tDNA08VJn4P8lcWkr1CW7uWyY7HjZYLknH0C-c2SPfjMpEEm~EGwmM3OLCkMthcfBTJVnpNx2kmn-3oIY64OjvVxhG5Ix~MnaHQ0Eucq8cNae3aFjbXKpibmdVUvVu-wfx~wHxwBiyrJ~bdTfrQAvOHfZ3BUxDjSgoXaru2XZxymx3kmDAIhRY~vcrAiAVtFtYYBAjtP2Iduh5S79ga2NOUZeir091ZQo~Az9GuEddWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 6 Northampton County Council meeting, a group of Lehigh University students told the council that long lines and equipment problems at several polling places on Election Day prevented some people from voting and created an accessibility problem for students and working residents.

The students said wait times at the Banana Factory and Broglen Middle School stretched to several hours and that some voting machines were unavailable or went down. \"I personally waited in the line for about 5 hours before I was finally able to cast my vote,\" said Bailey Baker, identifying herself as a Lehigh student. \"Many people waited too long. Many people didn't get to vote because of the really hours long wait.\"

The testimony matters because students and other residents described practical barriers that, speakers said, reduced turnout. \"I use the term voter suppression very deliberately,\" said Tommy Parisi, a Bethlehem resident and Lehigh student. \"Egregiously long lines and failing voting machines and arbitrarily restrictive processes are things that disincentivize voting.\" Speakers proposed fixes that county officials could pursue without changing state law: increase the number of machines at high-turnout sites, add accessible early-voting or ballot drop-off locations close to campus, place a polling location on campus and adopt mobile voter-outreach programs similar to one cited in Montgomery County.

Students described consistent patterns: limited machines at high-turnout sites, volunteer efforts to keep people in line, and friends who waited from midday until late evening. \"If there is a potential for 7,000 students to vote, simply two machines doesn't make sense,\" Bailey Baker said. Anna Sullivan said she waited about three hours at Broglen Middle School and later joined friends who had been in line since noon; she described lines around the building and volunteers handing out food to keep people in line.

Several students and speakers suggested concrete remedies. Suggestions included placing an early balloting site on or near Lehigh's campus, setting up additional ballot drop-off locations, increasing number and deployment of voting machines at sites known to have high turnout, and piloting mobile voter-outreach services to assist registration, mail-ballot applications and drop-off.

County staff and council members clarified legal limits. A county staff member noted that Pennsylvania's statutes do not explicitly authorize traditional \"early voting,\" referring specifically to Act 77 and Act 88, while also explaining limits on when mail ballots may be applied for or canvassed. Council discussion afterward focused on directing questions to the county registrar and whether to invite elections officials to a future meeting to answer operational questions raised by the students. Council members agreed there are outstanding operational questions to take to the registrars or the county election board.

The public comments prompted several council members to ask the administration for follow-up and to recommend the registrar or election commission appear before council or a committee to explain machine allocation, on‑campus options and other operational constraints. No formal council action on the voting requests was recorded at the Feb. 6 meeting.

Clarifying details recorded in testimony included multiple reported wait times (about three to five hours), reports that some polling places began with two machines and increased to as many as six by later in the day, and repeated student estimates that Lehigh has about 7,000 undergraduates. Speakers also described volunteer efforts, food distribution for voters waiting in line and media attention drawn by the lines.","At the Feb. 6 Northampton County Council meeting, a group of Lehigh University students told the council that long lines and equipment problems at several polling places on Election Day prevented some people from voting and created an accessibility problem for students and working residents.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6344998,"Northampton County Council adopts codification of ordinances for period ending Dec. 31, 2024; vote 9–0",93,4155000,4248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249958-628f32e793236fe5ca02dd4747fb87e8&start=4155&end=4248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249958-628f32e793236fe5ca02dd4747fb87e8/thumbnail_4155000.jpg","/articles/6344998/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Northampton-County-Council-adopts-codification-of-ordinances-for-period-ending-Dec-31-2024-vote-90","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6344998-cfdc8391fa2537e2c0de8088a2d7da1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144135&Signature=Ov2ZK~ylFqnxqs70tQSrLBFv6ec0U1oKsfSwnuCx1N9B18czj~5jMoWgG9PU7OqzWY64vqrWMYUpVWTJdbSNwn3gzLWG5p5gQRsLBHxAF8og3k8zJ19jwJ0BTlVuNk3JMjsFORKAiYWh3I3E71P93AW~oBwE3GqaSIYRtqRmKL~-FtoJnd1-nJAejMqMBYzCWfkpdipIOLegIfPbQ-AxyN27zdMiQjlRJefJ~cx0qPTmN01VOwHIYEKZL1MIuPagnKfYcmM7NcmrMf~B5ogHYEc7fClV-6xRAxMBg9KXswuzPpYgTCUBkJDrxqABotTEpaUMEEhZoX1UBCzdhNYSCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 6 meeting, the Northampton County Council adopted a resolution to codify county ordinances for the period ending Dec. 31, 2024, in accordance with the county Home Rule Charter. The action was taken by roll call and adopted by a 9–0 vote.

Council member Giffredo introduced the codification item and read the Whereas clause referencing Northampton County Home Rule Charter Section 606(c), which directs the council to provide for codification of ordinances \"as amended, having the force and effect of law.\" After brief discussion and a call for the vote, the ordinance codification resolution was adopted unanimously.

The resolution and its attached Exhibit A were entered into the record as the codified set of ordinances to date. Council members did not reserve any questions or amendments at the time of the vote.

The adoption completes a routine administrative step required by the Home Rule Charter to keep the county code updated through the end of calendar year 2024.

No additional fiscal impact or follow-up steps were recorded beyond standard publication and record-keeping for codified ordinances.","Council approved a resolution to codify ordinances passed through Dec. 31, 2024, citing the county's Home Rule Charter requirement. The motion passed unanimously on Feb. 6.","actionData","errors"]

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Northampton County Council pulls bond off table after heated debate over $35 million proposal for parking deck, radios and capital projects

Lehigh students tell Northampton County Council long lines and broken machines blocked voting; urge more machines, campus access and outreach

Northampton County Council adopts codification of ordinances for period ending Dec. 31, 2024; vote 9–0