Josh Peters, president of the Northampton County Fire Chiefs Association, told the council during public comment that police, fire and EMS agencies across the county need assistance to buy radios for a new public-safety communications system. Peters said approximately 1,100 radios are needed and estimated the total cost at about $19.5 million; he said Motorola has offered a potential bulk discount if the county participates.

Peters described recent operational failures: during the Heights Market fire in Bethlehem Township, units operating in the basement experienced communication failures and could not reliably transmit. He said the associations have asked for county assistance at prior budget meetings and that some departments are not eligible for grants. "Any amount of support from the county would significantly alleviate the strain on our agencies," Peters said.

Chief McClure later told council that several departments are scheduled to receive money for radios from the county's public-safety grant program in the adopted budget and that he would make sure the chief is informed of that support. Council did not take further formal action on the request at the Nov. 20 meeting; budget deliberations and grant allocations remain subject to follow-up in December.