Welcome to Northampton County Council
Northampton County Executive Secretary – County Council
Easton, PA – the Office of County Council is accepting applications for the position of Executive Secretary. Full time in person position, salary range $44,819 – 63,768. Position requirements include traditional secretarial support services and substantive assistance in the organization and implementation of management functions. Work includes typing, organization, and related support to the Clerk of Council and Council Members. Experience in transcribing minutes is preferred. Please send cover letters and resume to Alene Shafnisky ashafnisky@norcopa.gov by November 27, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.
County Council is the governing body of Northampton County and meets generally on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.
The 2025 Budget Hearings will be held, beginning at 4:30 pm on the following dates:
October 9, 2024 - General Government
October 23, 2024 - Dept of Community & Economic Development, Public Works, Capital Projects and Capital Improvement Plans
November 6, 2024 - Court System and Corrections
November 13, 2024 - Human Services
November 26, 2024 - Budget Amendments
Lori Vargo-Heffner
President, At-Large Council Member
Contact Lori
Council President Lori Vargo Heffner MA, EdM, LPC, LCADC was sworn in January of 2018 as an at-large member. She has spent 35 years in counseling, specializing in mental health and addiction treatment and prevention in the public school, college and public sectors. She uses her training to focus on fostering healthy communications both at the office and the County.
A resident of Lower Saucon Township, Lori received her undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology from Moravian College and an MA Counseling degree from Kutztown University, along with an EdM in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University. She now works as a Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor for St. Luke’s University Hospital.
She is a member of the General Purpose Authority, the Gracedale Advisory Board, the Mental Health/Early Intervention and Developmental Programs Advisory Board, and the Retirement Board. She is the Chair of the Council’s Finance Committee and Human Services Committee, also serving on the Courts and Corrections and Personnel Committees. Outside of the County she is the President of the Northampton County Council of Democratic Women, the Corresponding Secretary of Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women, and a Committee person for Lower Saucon Township 8. She has also served in the past as President and Treasurer of Saucon Valley Performing Arts Association and is a member of Assumption BVM Liturgy Board.
Lori recently participated in the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Center for Excellence in County Leadership. The two day training focused on fostering individual growth through high-level classroom training aimed at enhancing communication, management and leadership skills. CEL includes classes in styles of leadership, managerial versatility, interpersonal dynamics, crisis communication, media management, daily communication problem solving, decision making and other areas. The program is open to county commissioners or council members, chief clerks, county administrators and solicitors of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Lori believes in transparent government that finds untapped funding to accomplish its goals. She focuses on positive, open conversation in order to meet the needs of the County. She puts a focus on the preservation of farmland, filling gaps in health and human services to meet the needs of those who need it most, and believes it can be done without raising the tax base. “I believe that good government is transparent, efficient and effective,” she said. “I bring good energy and an ability to listen to needs, opinions and use information to solve problems.”
Standing Committees:
Chair: Governance Committee
Chair: Election Integrity Committee
Member: Personnel Committee
Member: Retirement Board
Liaison:
Discover Lehigh Valley, Airport Authority, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, MH/EI/DP Programs Advisory Board
Ronald Heckman (Ron)
Vice-President, At-Large Member
Contact Ronald
Standing Committees
Chair: Human Services Committee
Chair: Finance Committee
Member: Governance Committee
Member: Election Integrity Committee
Member: Personnel
Member: Pension Board
Ken Kraft
District 1 Council Member
Contact Ken
Standing Committees:
Chair: Capital Projects and Operations
Member: Economic Development
Member: Courts and Corrections
Member: Energy, Envir and Land Use
Liaison:
Jail Advisory Board, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
Kelly Keegan
District 2 Council Member
Contact Kelly
Standing Committees:
Chair: Energy, Envir and Land Use
Member: Human Services Committee
Member: Finance Committee
Liaison:
Farmland Perservation, Recycling and Solid Waste
Jeff Warren
District 3 Council Member
Contact Jeff
Jeff Warren was sworn-in January 2024 and represents District 3. He works for Court Appointed Special Advocates for Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties (CASA SHaW), a nonprofit that assists foster children and their families as the Director of Community Outreach. Prior to his election to County Council, he served as a member of Easton City Council, having won two terms (2007, 2011). After his family moved to Hanover Township, he was elected to serve as a member of the Hanover Township Board of Supervisors (2019).
He was born and raised in the Easton community and graduated from Easton Area High School in 1995. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Penn State University in 1999 and his Master’s degree in Electronic Media from Kutztown University in 2010. A former aide and Director of Outreach to Pennsylvania State Senator Lisa M. Boscola, he has been community-minded having previously sat on the Board of Directors for Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania, and the Easton Boys and Girls Club. He has also been a committee volunteer with Miller-Keystone Blood Center for the past decade.
Jeff loves spending time with his wife and twin daughters, and focuses on embarking on various family adventures throughout the year. He also enjoys podcasting about Philly sports, working on videography projects through his small side business, vlogging, and writing and recording music in his home studio.
Standing Committees:
Member: Economic Development
Member: Finance
Member: Capital Projects and Operations
Member: Energy, Envir and Land Use
Liaison:
Agricultural Extension, Industrial Development Authority, MH/EI/DP Program Advisory Board
Thomas Giovanni
District 4 Council Member
Contact Thomas
Council Member Thomas Giovanni is the elected District 4 representative for Northampton County. He and his wife Sharon have raised three children, Aaron, Sara, and Kaitlin. After obtaining a degree in Business Management, he moved to the Nazareth area where he has spent 31 years as a businessman and volunteer.
Presently Tom is employed as an IT Consultant and Purchasing Manager for the Project Team at East Coast Network Services, LLC. He is a former founder and owner at Hi-Tech Laser Systems, Inc. He also currently serves on the Board of Director for Nazareth Mutual Insurance Company, sitting as the Chair of their Technology Committee. He volunteers for the Nazareth School District Technology Committee. Additionally, Tom serves on the Advisory Board on the Slate Belt YMCA, and their Construction Committee.
Tom is a past Chair and Vice President of the Greater Valley YMCA Corporate Board, and he is a former Board Member of the Nazareth Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Public Policy Committee of GLVCC. He also served on the Board of the Nazareth/Bath Chamber of Commerce, and is a former President of the Board of Trustees for Schoeneck Moravian Church.
Standing Committees:
Chair: Courts & Corrections Committee
Chair: Personnel
Member: Economic Development
Member: Election Integrity Committee
Member: Retirement Board
Liaison:
Housing Authority, IT Governance
John Brown
At-Large Council Member
Contact John
Standing Committees:
Member: Human Services Committee
Member: Governance Committee
Member: Finance Committee
Member: Capital Projects and Operations
Liaison:
Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority
Jeffrey Corpora
At-Large Council Member
Contact Jeffrey
Standing Committees:
Member: Human Services Committee
Member: Courts and Corrections Committee
Member: Governance Committee
Member: Personnel Committee
Liason:
Gracedale Advisory Board