Northampton County Executive John Stoffa looking to delay Braden Airpark (N43) sales talks by 6 months

Although Northampton County Council is willing to go to court to stop the potential sale of Braden Airpark, County Executive John Stoffa said a lawsuit may not be needed any time soon.

During tonight's council meeting, Stoffa said he has negotiated a tentative agreement with the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority that would delay any sales talks through March. By then, a new county executive and council will be in place, and a resolution between a group of local pilots and the authority may emerge, Stoffa said.

"I don't want to sue the authority. They can't afford it. We can't afford it. We're in court too much already," Stoffa said.

Stoffa's announcement came moments before council passed a resolution calling on the county executive to file litigation against the authority if it proceeds with the sales plans. Council members said if the six-month delay does emerge, the resolution would still show the airport authority and future county officials how seriously they're taking the matter.

"What you've done today and this resolution, I don't think, fight each other," Councilman Scott Parsons told Stoffa.

The resolution was drafted by Robert Brown, a lawyer who has entered discussions about purchasing Braden Airpark. Brown addressed council members and encouraged them to consider subsidizing the authority $5,000 a month to ensure the airport will not be closed. He also advocated for the county to purchase Braden and create a second authority to manage it.

"It's not an investment for general aviation but an investment in the community," he said.

During a committee meeting Wednesday, no council members expressed interest in having the county purchase the property. Brown wrote in his proposal the airport authority is seeking $3.5 million for the property, although local pilots believe the value is closer to $2 million.

Charles Everett, the authority's executive director, has said the authority must sell the Forks Township facility in order to finance a $16 million court payment due in 2015 from a lost lawsuit. He has previously said the authority would not need either county's approval to move forward on any deal, though neither he or the authority's solicitor has outlined their legal reasoning.

County attorneys have opined that selling Braden would require a change in the authority's articles of incorporation. Both Lehigh and Northampton counties would have to approve those amendments, they have said.

Original article:  http://www.lehighvalleylive.com