EASTON, Pa.- What’s bugging people in Northampton County? The new woman in charge is about to find out.

On Friday, Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski, who was just sworn in on Monday afternoon, will hold a summit at Northampton Community College.

Zrinski briefly talked about the gathering on Thursday night, during her first report as county executive before Northampton County Council.

Zrinski said her administration distributed 100 surveys to residents, community and business leaders, and other local stakeholders, asking for their input on a number of topics. 86 of the surveys were returned.

More than 100 people are expected to attend the summit on Friday morning to discuss the results of the survey. “We are really trying to get enough information to understand what’s been working in the county, what hasn’t worked in the county, and how we can move forward in the next 100 days in various areas such as housing, the environment, economic development and emergency management and so on,” Zrinski said. 

Zrinski also said she’s busy fleshing out her administration and will announce several appointees on Tuesday.

Blood Donor Awareness Month

Council also approved a resolution recognizing January as National Blood Donor Awareness Month in Northampton County.

Representatives from Miller Keystone Blood Center were on hand to receive a proclamation about the designation. “It’s an important month. The winter is rough on blood donations,” said Lina Barbieri, the center’s chief philanthropy officer.

National Blood Donor Month was first recognized in 1970, following a proclamation from then-President Nixon, in an attempt to spur more donations during the winter months.

Other business

Council also made quick work of a public hearing and vote on an ordinance to amend the Subdivision And Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) to require plans to be submitted electronically.

Council’s vote was unanimous, 9-0.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission approved the change in September for both Northampton and Lehigh counties. 

The amendments pertain specifically to municipalities in the two counties that don’t have similar plans at the local level. In Lehigh County, only Slatington is in that category. In Northampton County, Chapman, Glendon and West Easton don’t have their own SALDOs. 

The amendments were needed because the LVPC is in charge of administering the SALDO, which guides the subdivision land development process, for any municipality that doesn’t have its own.

The digital shift is part of a larger effort by the LVPC to develop an online portal aimed at modernizing and streamlining the way it does business.Â