[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_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",6167387,"mediaKeyId","5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43","parentId",5410651,"title","Personnel committee advances slate of board reappointments; councilor questions Gracedale Advisory Board meeting frequency","audioSeconds",489,"startMs",22000,"endMs",511000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43&start=22&end=511","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43/thumbnail_22000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6167387/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Personnel-committee-advances-slate-of-board-reappointments-councilor-questions-Gracedale-Advisory-Board-meeting-frequency","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167387-ddf139dbf855f0ee3dc7285b0196a2c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663961&Signature=Y~MWXhgkpO1p2V4EmwF72xWkaMSuReuEytmzncFOQ4cGFEU84Z8ixsYeK1pYvdlV7sdhiyZXQgx-SlCcSu6RR0htkzyHQygJNJBT31bExbvZJ7fBbTk2nKLTGIQsK3ikXKBAP---NMTin~SOrtO4dMzdXsBbJvgEnh8FWjupxivXxNLvMHTkJtyOtBhlNJO-IVwuguyvCYnzJvgeMyN0iZTymaVNbXV1WcqET~-UG-dMeGwZnNnzAuCnXwW3MRzIXUdAwFLoQ~7QFS8ZByAgSGKI~zmjbhBvfHE8~E2rfwcIkWSdnriGZq5oN64xkO6Z5QtXqpYwIAjiu7HL34Ukkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-17T10:40:39Z","article","The countys personnel committee reviewed and moved forward a slate of executive appointments and reappointments on July 9, including nominees for the Children, Youth and Family Advisory Board; Northampton County Conservation District Board; Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board; Farmland Preservation Board; Gracedale Advisory Board; and the Lehigh Valley Workforce Board.

Committee members asked for clarification about the Gracedale Advisory Board before approving several reappointments. One council member asked whether the advisory board had met this year; a council liaison said he had not attended meetings and was not aware of any recent meetings. Another committee member said the advisory board had met multiple times during the year and offered to notify the liaison of future meeting dates.

A committee member suggested that council act on the county executives membership recommendations now and then review the boards function and meeting practice once membership is filled. Several reappointments were advanced without recorded opposition; the chair repeatedly called motions to \"move forward\" as appointments were presented.

The committee also reviewed executive recommendations for two Workforce Board seats representing youth and business interests. The committee did not take other substantive action on these appointments and advanced the slate for routine processing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 16th, Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The personnel committee advanced multiple county executive reappointments to advisory boards and sought clarity about the Gracedale Advisory Board, with a councilor asking why appointees were being approved if the advisory board had not been meeting.","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},6167393,"Finance committee reviews $156,487 restroom contract and questions single-bid coffee contract for Gracedale",279,661000,940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43&start=661&end=940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43/thumbnail_661000.jpg","/articles/6167393/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Finance-committee-reviews-156487-restroom-contract-and-questions-single-bid-coffee-contract-for-Gracedale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167393-39f460b1bc62e5e68e506607f0fa8d42/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663961&Signature=MNv4rgCFv1Kay-mP0sK6pC2XCel6VMktEpLv~D8GMh3wRrOpvk83ZhmSt30vsXgCvn0PN7sHEUWWKMUUcdjIW4bz6g3KmkjwGv7aU5Yg4DVWJhQxcNXaFmcSBhHEiXCB52lPCns6EDacULc09gA8o7Ep-UPONlSxgS2n3MZqCBhAEX6P9EdnX5BfTX1Ox02GxRmq33XCDVT2sJE1Q~fAz90f2RaGIHtbhiWiQk~69zFDs1CEsejcEoFQ86qZKDqS0tEsgxFChkoMW0QOSebyV3HqKqAe-no5gt0AN5IyEfh4c03AkGj6sE6reLdJlNuIw-5zc3Vn7F75nt4zVbCXpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The finance committee on July 9 reviewed two procurement items: a $156,487 six-month contract with H & K Group Inc. for restroom replacement and trail improvements, and a three-year coffee-and-tea contract with Interstate Gourmet Coffee Roasters Inc. for Gracedale Nursing Home and the Area Agency on Aging.

Committee members had no substantive questions about the H & K Group contract and moved it forward after confirming prior counsel review. The chair said the county executives office had submitted the request and that the administration and counsel had reviewed the contract.

Committee members raised questions about the Interstate Gourmet Coffee Roasters contract, which totaled $163,625.61 for three years with two optional one-year renewals. Several members noted only a single bid was returned and asked whether the county currently receives coffee and tea through a different institutional vendor (Sodexo) and whether the new contract would yield cost savings. County procurement staff said institutional buyers who can supply large volumes sometimes do not bid because of supply-chain uncertainty and import considerations, and that the county puts such items out to bid when it believes a better price may be secured than through existing institutional agreements.

Committee members asked staff to provide additional context about historical spend and projected savings before final approval. The committee moved both items forward for routine committee processing with direction to supply the requested comparative cost information on the coffee contract.","The finance committee advanced a $156,487 six-month contract for restroom and trail work and discussed a $163,625.61 three-year coffee-and-tea contract for Gracedale and Area Agency on Aging that drew questions because only one bid was received.",{"_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},6167399,"Council seeks detailed breakdown of agency nurse costs as Gracedale agency staffing remains high",412,1664000,2076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43&start=1664&end=2076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43/thumbnail_1664000.jpg","/articles/6167399/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Council-seeks-detailed-breakdown-of-agency-nurse-costs-as-Gracedale-agency-staffing-remains-high","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167399-0f173925dca7bacc26b3f7c944f1943b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663961&Signature=PttUTfmk8gdGDoACRSJQhHL-aWAX~~DGfPrygE5rwZDXAVAMeSXPfjPyC4AXrVdEzjMQwg~UpMBIzrzYAVK9Cmd2XWjqAQC6wGh~pm47vUnjLTKo2drKlUM4P3kb4mpaX7MPkO~Rik8E5o8Wx2onSyQg0DwZv8XetW8~JQ2rnBeTKPG5oYQhzQg5ZQeI3OBpaoBU7ldlb4kk1KX5N4SHfqMVHaVj-IaHIpM3JlUJZ~fuwoJZpxCtlqYap9H-8yMWFHcE7qq3-FT3ceCmhthYRnyf26vwjWxrdux5ygnozyusANBaCXRPGW2kJgdOAUX0fgu0rMMoO~adTr~XRwjNxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members asked county staff on July 9 for a detailed report on nursing-agency usage and costs at Gracedale Nursing Home, citing concern over high reliance on contract agency staff.

Committee members requested a multi-year breakdown of agency usage and fees (2023'025 year-to-date), the number of agency and county-employed nurses and aides, rate variability among agencies, and copies of executed agency contracts. Committee members also asked for counts of vacancies so they could see agency staff relative to total authorized positions.

County staff said they will provide an accounting of how many agency staff were used, which agencies supplied them, and the rates paid for 2023'025; staff said some contract documents are retained at Gracedale and that the human-services committee could assist obtaining executed contracts and staffing reports from Gracedale administrators. The finance representative said he would provide the requested financial detail to the finance committee in writing.

Committee members also asked the Gracedale administrator to provide staffing and vacancy data. The Gracedale administrator had prepared a report for the Human Services Committee but staff said copies could not be distributed in full the same day; council members asked for printed copies in advance of the next meeting so they could review numbers before the Human Services session.

Officials said high agency usage has been a significant operating cost driver; one council member cited prior peaks near an 80/20 agency-to-staff ratio and said the rate had recently fallen to roughly 70% agency staffing. County staff said they would provide current and historic counts and cost summaries for council review.","Council asked county staff for a line-item breakdown of agency nurse usage and fees at Gracedale after officials reported agency staffing at roughly 70% of total nursing staff and historical peaks near 80%.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6167404,"Gracedale daycare inching toward opening; $800,000 in staffing funds set aside",592,954000,1546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43&start=954&end=1546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43/thumbnail_954000.jpg","/articles/6167404/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Gracedale-daycare-inching-toward-opening-800000-in-staffing-funds-set-aside","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167404-361cdccc0f2cc7cfeba922e37f05b4eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663961&Signature=KEAMCsRXn-c2aLEsEV857QH33m5Jgiu11SaBeSmiGnSHijksbYL8plIaqMwMcDe8d21~ZNOG9ENGTCtndc-J0zP97B4jyx23e01DhIAPz4BEaf1yWapFErtuXeOgSg2Z-T5FqmlfrNJdC5nHT-3eZuWneV4QWGeUE9lpL7yfguwBh-Qy0AdB3dMBcCi9kwPUUBsxe7CVr2HhiITWNmez4CZqYAYO-oUpqOJ7P6kFrdy4kSvEz6sJ6Q~ykohwK2ltIDaKliltqW2qp~aFQwL7lO8pFcRlDagCYW5Ri0AAKfhLdBKlMHXLgXvPgd~iu1RvmwVlHCyWVw7dmh4XYxPDLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff told the finance committee on July 9 that the Gracedale Nursing Home daycare is closer to opening after the owner received confirmation that state child-care licensing inspections are scheduled for Aug. 15. Staff said the facility needs two site visits before final licensing and that the daycare has already secured a certificate of occupancy from the township.

Committee members asked how ARPA and county funds allocated for the daycare have been spent. County staff said about $2 million of ARPA funds had been allocated for daycare renovations, and that most construction costs were expended in 2023 and 2024. The county has moved $800,000 into the human-resources budget to cover operating costs and staffing; staff said that amount is intended to cover roughly two years of operating expenses assuming no subsidy revenue is collected.

County staff said to date the county has paid only minimal invoices directly to the daycare provider for setup (less than $2,000), and that construction and furnishing costs were largely complete. The county said outdoor play equipment, cribs, tables and classroom furnishings have been installed and that only minor purchases (first-aid kits, trash cans) remain.

Staff said the daycare will prioritize county employees and their families but that if space remains, other county employees (for example, 911 center personnel) may be eligible; the county moved management of the daycare budget to HR because the benefit is intended for employees county-wide, not only Gracedale staff.

Committee members asked about capacity and staffing. County staff described the facility as five classrooms plus a lunchroom and estimated total capacity between roughly 25 and 50 children depending on age-group ratios (for example, infant ratios are four infants per caregiver). Staff said admissions will be first-come, first-served and that HR will survey staff again to establish a final head count before opening.

No formal vote was taken. Committee members requested a line-item summary of construction and equipment costs and asked the administration to include daycare funding projections and any anticipated subsidy revenue in the 2026 budget presentation.","County staff said the in-house daycare at Gracedale Nursing Home has received township occupancy clearance and is awaiting state DHS licensing; $800,000 was moved to the human-resources budget for operations and staffing in 2025 and remaining construction costs were paid from earlier ARPA allocations.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6167409,"Council questions $9.9 million transfer to Gracedale Nursing Home after audit",1297,2254000,3551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43&start=2254&end=3551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410651-83fa3a7c18a95d5d6722e16c0a518c43/thumbnail_2254000.jpg","/articles/6167409/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Council-questions-99-million-transfer-to-Gracedale-Nursing-Home-after-audit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167409-e673e3f2278f87938519f62a1628d461/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663961&Signature=kQza6veSD4PLPWwKfXkHECZ~RShlEQzdOp3-BLYo3UEgMKehjOtRL9id2gLZNb6-vLFUo7j5OrmbaWASCRPvC5HTw22GTYmuAto1Tm9b2lvcUQSyLpKQt6rZL3KUhlBlKenGDlg-ZGpH6pIem0GZ20cbucNbdqj6wQzjN8kd1Fz1-3YC4EYu3WkOA9YTLiNHDpycCWO6dKZc9Wpinfv34arddFC7dlX2bESpJaZTJ4zlO4mJKB7MHRONggb8ImPVHZ5EY5dPkeePFcFcncApq1JAIwS84yn4-yvILzpwkAGyntwrBkc5X1wVokwOvUzD690p4jsmRVVsr~51fHFF2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Northampton County Council members pressed county finance staff on July 9 after the countys annual consolidated financial report showed a $9.9 million general-fund transfer to Gracedale Nursing Home to cover operating shortfalls.

The transfer appeared in the audited financial statements after earlier unaudited reports showed an $8.55 million movement into the Gracedale fund; later audit notes increased the total to $9.9 million. Council members said the transfer did not come before council and asked how the countys unassigned general-fund balance was used to cover the shortfall.

The concern centers on process and budget authority: council members said budget control resides with council and that material transfers ordinarily should be presented in a budget amendment. \"It did not come before county council, and there should be accountability for it,\" a council member said during the finance committee meeting. The council member asked for steps to hold administration and accounting staff accountable for moving funds without council approval.

County staff described accounting and timing factors that contributed to the way the transfer was recorded. County finance staff told the committee Gracedale has unusually long receivables (staff said Gracedale is carrying about 10 months of receivables), which complicates budgeting under modified-accrual accounting. Staff also said a prior-period adjustment, an accounting mechanism, has been used in past years to address timing differences and was applied in this instance.

The countys finance representative said the transfer was funded from the general fund unassigned balance and that the administration has discussed the issue with external auditors and with the countys lobbyist to address longer-term reimbursement issues tied to Medicaid/Medicare payments and IGT settlements. \"I do not like doing it that way,\" the finance representative said, referring to prior-period adjustments, but added the county received an unqualified audit opinion this year.

Council members said the audit raised further questions about how Gracedales operating losses have been managed, pointing to years of operating deficits and declines in fund balance. One council member urged the body to consider an independent review of the ARPA and other funds spent on Gracedale, saying council needs clearer records for decisions on the county budget going forward.

County staff said they will provide council with the federal reports filed with the Treasury, and that additional information on receivables and budget movements will be made available to the council and committees for further review.

The finance committee did not take a vote on a remedy at the July 9 meeting; members requested additional documents and said the matter would be discussed in upcoming committee sessions.","County auditors' consolidated financial report shows a $9.9 million general-fund transfer to Gracedale Nursing Home to cover operating deficits. Council members said the transfer was not approved by council and pressed administration for accountability and documentation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Personnel committee advances slate of board reappointments; councilor questions Gracedale Advisory Board meeting frequency

Finance committee reviews $156,487 restroom contract and questions single-bid coffee contract for Gracedale

Council seeks detailed breakdown of agency nurse costs as Gracedale agency staffing remains high

Gracedale daycare inching toward opening; $800,000 in staffing funds set aside

Council questions $9.9 million transfer to Gracedale Nursing Home after audit