- Northampton County Conservation District seems bound for independence from the county administration, after a deeply contentious county council committee meeting Wednesday
- Representatives for the conservation district claim the county is mishandling their funds, which county officials forcefully deny
- The conservation district, simultaneously a state agency and part of county government, generally deals with water and soil conservation, and some permitting
EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County on Wednesday appeared poised to separate from its county conservation district, as deep distrust arose at a county council Governance Committee meeting.
There appeared to be no apparent path toward a resolution.
“It does seem like it is an appropriate time for [the conservation district] to transition to be independent,” county Director of Administration Charles Dertinger said.
Dertinger cited the district board’s threadbare trust in county officials, obvious throughout an hour and a half of acrimonious debate.
“How do you negotiate, how do you work with someone to fix something, when you don't share the same truth?”Northampton County Director of Administration Charles Dertinger
“How do you negotiate, how do you work with someone to fix something, when you don't share the same truth?” he said.
Conservation districts such as Northampton County’s were created by the state legislature in 1945, initially to promote soil and water conservation among farmers. Every county except Philadelphia has one.
In addition to its historic mission, today it largely handles permitting for agriculture, construction and other earthmoving projects dealing with erosion control and post-construction stormwater management.
The exact organization of a district varies. Northampton County’s is simultaneously part of the county government and a unit of state government.
The county pays for many of the conservation district’s expenses, though exactly how much is a point of contention.
No cause for concern, county says
Representatives for the district’s board of directors, led by Treasurer John Mauser, first approached a county council committee in July, saying the county administration was mishandling the district’s finances.
In July and again Wednesday, Mauser asked council to grant the body broad independence over its finances by amending the agreement defining the conservation district’s relationship with Northampton County.
"There are no issues with the conservation district’s finances. It’s been explained to [Northampton County Conservation District Treasurer John Mauser] ad nauseam.”Northampton County Director of Fiscal Affairs Steve Barron
Dertinger disputed virtually everything Mauser said. He said the conservation district was misunderstanding and misinterpreting its financial data.
He told commissioners that county Budget Administrator Brandon Dunstane walked Mauser through why there was no cause for concern.
“Every year, we are audited by the state, and County Council has hired their own external auditors," county Director of Fiscal Affairs Steve Barron said.
"There are no issues with the conservation district’s finances. It’s been explained to [Mauser] ad nauseam.”
Mauser responded that he had only met with the administration once, in May.
“We are responsible for those funds. I am not confident in the current administration's bookkeeping,” he said.
Dertinger said county administration was unwilling to negotiate changes to the agreement but would help the district become an independent agency.
