ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday confirmed a slate of new county employees, one of whom brought extensive public comment.
When the time came for the appointment of Kyle Russell as director of corrections, several commissioners and residents had provided their opinions.
County Executive Josh Siegel commended Russell’s “open-mindedness and fresh perspective he brings to the role.”
He said Russell will work on reducing recidivism and ensuring that those in the county’s care can find a solid footing in society after incarceration.
Commissioner Jon Irons supported the appointment, and so did Commissioner Sarah Fevig.
Chair Geoff Brace commented on mental health and its relationship with incarceration, and he said Russell’s responses to interview questions gave him confidence.
“We want to see more improvement… we look forward to how we can do this challenge together,” Brace said.
Speakers took the opportunity to comment on solitary confinement and its use at the jail, as well as voicing support for restorative approaches to incarceration.
Defense attorney and a local criminal justice reform advocate Ed Angelo asked for transparency from the new director. He also asked him to work to lower the number of inmates in the jail.
Jessica Baraket
Jessica Baraket, former deputy director of finance for the city of Allentown, was named director of administration.
Siegel said Baraket would bring transparency and direct communication to the role.
Further, Siegel said she would “make sure we are prioritizing our employees and the well-being of our employees on a daily basis.”
Commissioner Sarah Fevig supported the appointment and showed enthusiasm for Baraket’s plans for human resources and professional development and commitment to frequent and proactive communication.
For her part, Baraket said she was looking forward to working with everyone in Lehigh County.
Bethany DiMatteo
Former County Treasury Manager Bethany DiMatteo was confirmed as the county’s chief fiscal officer, replacing former officer Tim Reeves.
Siegel said DiMatteo is “extremely knowledgeable” and will provide budget transparency for the public. She is a volunteer on the board of directors for the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley.
Brace supported the appointment, saying, “You’ve lived through two budget cycles, and you’re not running away.”
Samantha Pearson, Andrew Elliott, Samuel E. Cohen
Samantha Pearson was confirmed as director of the department of community and economic development. She previously served as acting director for the department.
Other appointments included Andrew Elliott, who was named director of general services, and Samuel E. Cohen, who was named county solicitor.
The candidates were interviewed by the board of commissioners’ governance committee.
DHS eviction
In the midst of the plethora of comments surrounding the department of corrections, several speakers addressed a recent eviction notice to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from the county.
DHS has been leasing office space from the county for almost three years, but the county said it has never received rent, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley announced last week.
The office space is in the Hamilton Financial Center on West Hamilton Street.
Pinsley said the back rent totals $115,000.
He also said the county shouldn’t sign another agreement with DHS.
“I think their presence is a threat to public safety and public trust,” County Executive Siegel said last week. He confirmed that the county will be issuing the notice, then they’ll have 30 days to vacate the office.
Lehigh County is issuing an eviction notice to the Federal Department of Homeland Security.
District Attorney Gavin Holihan previously said ICE doesn’t work out of that office, and the federal agents in that office help him investigate human trafficking.
He’s also said that he would pay the rent from the Lehigh County drug asset forfeiture money “to keep our partnership with DHS going.”
Pinsley said that work can continue, just not in a county building.
69 News previously reached out to both DHS and ICE about the rent, but didn’t hear back. Siegel said an eviction was issued last week. He also filed a notice with the court about the county’s intention to pursue payment for the unpaid rent. Pinsley said he believes it will be a legal fight to get DHS to pay up.
Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-7) weighed in last week, saying, “Politics should never get in the way of allowing law enforcement to do its job.” Mackenzie said Pinsley has “chosen to attack an office that works to investigate human trafficking and other serious crimes.”
On Wednesday, Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi gave his support to the eviction.
“After three years of not paying rent, eviction is probably a good idea,” Cole-Borghi said.
Joe Welsh, founder and executive director of the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute, spoke as a private citizen on Wednesday and also commended Siegel’s action.
“ICE needs to get off our streets and out of our courthouse,” he said.
County election board member Michael O’Hare questioned evicting the federal agency, given the regional task force’s work on human trafficking.
Instead, he encouraged “more communication and less grandstanding, more cooperation, less obstruction, and more grace and less condemnation.”
Speaker Sharon Finegan supported the eviction, citing little to no transparency from the agency.