Northampton County Council met for the last time this year on Dec. 14. For four of them (Mat Benol, Glenn Geissinger, Hayden Phillips and Seth Vaughn) it was their last meeting, at least for now. As Council President John Cusick observed, “There are second acts in government.”

Seven of the nine council members were there. Bob Werner, who is dealing with a family illness, was uncharacteristically absent. Seth Vaughn, whose combined attendance at meetings was just 67 percent during his tenure, was also missing.

The previous week, Executive John Brown had sought a one-mill tax cut, which would throw his own budget out of balance and require deficit spending. Because the Republicans on council were unable to agree whether to cut taxes a mill or a half mill, the 11.8 millage rate originally proposed was adopted.

Brown could have vetoed the budget, millage rate ordinance or both. But earlier in the day, Brown signed off on the spending plan. He chose to leave office on a high note, he told council.

The median value of a Northampton County home is $220,800. If assessed properly at $110,400, that means a 2018 county bill of $1,302.72.

“The 2018 budget is balanced and balanced on its own revenue,” Brown told Council..”We did not need to use any of the general revenue funds to balance the budget.”

Going all the way back to 1982, Brown said this was the first time the ounty has seen a budget that involved no deficit spending. He noted that four years ago, he had to spend $19 million in cash reserves just to balance the budget. He spent his time in office looking for operating efficiencies. He thanked his “team” and wished the new council good luck.

A member of that team, Solicitor Ryan Durkin, complimented Brown’s integrity and organizational skills. “You had a hell of an executive here,” he said.

Departing council members were presented with plaques thanking them for their dedicated public service, guidance and wisdom. Ironically, dedicated public servant Seth Vaughn was playing hookey so his plaque will be mailed. Phillips said he would “treasure” his four years. Geissinger admitted to “mistakes along the way.” Benol presented his decalogue, which mysteriously vanished twice over the past four years, to Ken Kraft.

Kraft went out the next day to license a new car, and the last three digits are “666.” (WHAT?)

“You made my life a living hell.,” Kraft joked with departing Republicans

Council President John Cusick hinted that next year, someone else will be Council President. Now that Democrats have a 6-3 majority, Kraft is reportedly interested in assuming taking the helm of county council.

Council Solicitor Phil Lauer may very well be on his way out, too. Like the departing council members, he was presented with a plaque and thanked for his “dedicated public service, guidance and wisdom.” Lauer said that when he first came on board, he knew very little about County government. Now that he’s finally figured it out, he’s getting kicked out.

Lauer will likely be replaced by Bethlehem Attorney Chris Spadoni, who served as solicitor on Bethlehem City Council for 17 years. Spadoni is an experienced trial attorney who has also served as an assistant District Attorney and assistant County Solicitor.

In other business, council hired the Haviland Hughes law firm to pursue litigation against opioid manufacturers. I will have a more detailed story about this next week. I will be speaking to Lehigh County attorney Bill Platt, who is a member of that firm.

Finally, as it does every year, Council dipped unto its contingency fund for three worthy entities that were unable to make timely applications for grant awards.

* The State Theatre’s Denise Smith asked for and got $20,000 to help the State update its ticketing system so patrons can print out tickets online. “She’s a money pit, but she’s absolutely gorgeous,” Smith said, in reference to the theater, not Executive Director Shelly Brown.

* “Because of a Dog” got a $5,000 grant for a kennel in Bethlehem to hold stray dogs. Because Bethlehem has no kennel, police officers lose time on patrol while taking dogs to temporary shelters.

* Stephens Place, a halfway house for nonviolent but addicted adult males who are reintegrating from prison to society, received $5,000.

DaVinci Center’s Lin Erickson was also hovering at this meeting even though she had just been awarded a $10 million grant.