Northampton County Council orders audit of Gracedale retention-bonus funds, sets May 30 deadline

Northampton County Council on March 20 voted to request an audit of funds set aside for retention bonuses at the county nursing facility Gracedale, amending an initial 20-day deadline to no later than May 30, 2025. The vote followed more than two hours of discussion about the scope, timing and who should perform the review.

Council member Michael Brown introduced the resolution asking the Northampton County Controller to prepare and submit an audit of the funds related to Resolution 70-22. Council members pressed for a quick answer after reports that employees were told retention bonuses would not be paid as originally intended. "Employees are being told they're not getting these monies," Council member James Warren said, arguing for urgency.

Northampton County Controller Cerinsky told the council the controller's office could not complete the requested work in 20 days. "The controller's office will not be able to complete that in 20 days," she said, and recommended changing the…