Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elections And Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County executive says primary was secure as council hears updates on elections, housing and services
Summary
County Executive Nazarinsky told council the county’s recently redistricted primary was conducted “free, fair, secure, and accurate,” outlined steps to improve polling operations and described housing, public‑safety and human‑services initiatives.
County Executive Nazarinsky reported to Northampton County Council that the county’s recent primary election — held after redistricting — was conducted "in a manner that was free, fair, secure, and accurate," and she said the Commonwealth court had approved the district maps on Feb. 4. She told council turnout was about 20 percent of registered voters and said the elections commission expects to certify results next week.
Nazarinsky said the county will review polling‑place changes, bring new electronic poll books online and perform a post‑event analysis with judges of elections to identify and fix problems ahead of the fall general election. She also said the elections office has two vacancies that will be filled.
On housing, the county executive described an Affordable Housing and Opportunity roundtable in Easton with Joseph J. DeFelice of HUD and said the county will pursue connections from that discussion through its housing task force; she noted the Commonwealth is preparing for a new cycle of opportunity‑zone nominations and said there are four such zones in Easton and four in Bethlehem.
Nazarinsky summarized several other departmental updates: the Grow Norco small‑business program closed with more than 60 applications; the county is reopening its hotel‑tax grant program on July 10; public‑works is advancing a parking‑deck replacement and evaluating a shuttle contract to reduce disruption; the county is piloting selective work‑from‑home eligibility to reduce shuttle demand; and parks renovations (Waiheduk Park) plus the planting of "over 800 trees" are under way.
She said human services has reduced out‑of‑home placements to 156 over five years through diversionary services and highlighted a retirement in the department. In public safety, she noted deputies are participating in crisis‑intervention training, and in corrections she said 15 individuals were placed into inpatient treatment in May, saving 264 bed days and more than $50,000 that month (about $540,000 saved year‑to‑date).
Why it matters: Council members used the report to press for transparency on election processes (including whether drawing of lots would be streamed) and to seek more detail about staffing and budget implications for human‑services programs. The administration framed several of the items as operational improvements ahead of the fall election and as part of an ongoing push on housing and community services.
The council moved from the county executive report to several agenda items and follow‑up questions; no formal votes were taken on the operational topics discussed in this report.
