[0:00] you know are any of us though
no thank you what are you getting
[0:05] married congratulations
[0:12] I heard you have a good efficiency
all right we're good
[0:16] all right oh she's probably more ready
than weird good evening everyone
[0:21] are gonna get started tonight I ask we
all rise for the pledge to the flag
[0:37] one nation under God indivisible with
liberty and justice for all
[0:48] thank you and thank you to the young yet
booming voices I heard out in the
[0:52] audience this evening thank you for
joining us
[0:55] the clerk to call the roll Mr gramsey
Smith
[0:59] Dr Enix present this queer Tech present
Miss Leon sentence Dr Van Wert Ms
[1:05] Wilhelm present and Mr cologne present
councilwoman cramsey Smith and Dr Van
[1:12] Wert they are not going to be joining us
this evening as they
[1:16] enjoy their vacations
before we get started with our regular
[1:20] council meeting we do have
city council will have a public hearing
[1:26] to accept public comment concerning a
proposed zoning text amendment to
[1:30] clarify the definition and parameters
for Environmental Education Centers
[1:35] community recreation centers and nature
preserves this includes articles this
[1:41] includes article 1302 definitions 1304
allowed uses in primarily residential
[1:48] districts
1305 allowed uses in primarily
[1:53] non-residential districts and article
1322 additional requirements for
[1:59] specific uses
this public hearing is for informational
[2:04] purposes only there will be no vote
during the public hearing
[2:08] and then in connection with this public
hearing there are two Communications I
[2:13] will ask the clerk to read both
communication 6A and 6B
[2:16] communication 6A a May 4th 2023
memorandum from Darlene Heller director
[2:22] of Pliny and Zoning recommending
approval of zoning text amendments
[2:26] related to Environmental Education
Centers and similar uses City Planning
[2:30] Commission voted 5-0 on April 13 2023 to
recommend approval of the amendments
[2:36] communication 6B June 23 2023
correspondence from Jillian Seitz senior
[2:43] community planner with High Valley
Planning Commission the site states that
[2:47] the application proposes to amend the
city's zoning ordinance by adding
[2:51] definitions for community recreation
center Environmental Education Center
[2:56] and nature preserve and allows day care
centers as an accessory use to
[3:00] Environmental Education Centers this
proposal supports numerous actions to
[3:05] Future LV the regional plan the
amendment also aligns actions and
[3:10] recommendations of the city's climate
action plan besides asserts
[3:15] thank you
[3:18] the public hearing is now called to
order we will start by recognizing a
[3:22] representative from the administration
to discuss
[3:29] the amendment Ms Heller
[3:34] this color field mind just identifying
yourself for those who aren't familiar
[3:38] with who you are sure
Arlene Heller the director of Planning
[3:43] and Zoning for the city of Bethlehem
and if there are zoning amendments to
[3:50] come that we would propose to come
before Council
[3:54] um they are also first submitted to our
Planning Commission and to the Lehigh
[3:59] Valley Planning Commission and you did
read off those letters the Lehigh Valley
[4:05] Planning Commission was supportive uh as
was the city's Planning Commission
[4:12] um it's a very uh brief Amendment that's
proposed it's pretty specific as you
[4:17] noted in your comments uh it's uh
specifically to
[4:23] um
clarify definitions for community
[4:27] recreation center environmental engine
education center and nature preserve we
[4:33] don't have those definitions now
um there are three different uses and
[4:39] the definitions do clarify those
uh there's a couple of other sections
[4:45] here in article 1304 of the zoning
ordinance which is the use chart for
[4:51] both residential uses and Commercial
uses we are proposing that because a
[4:58] daycare center is permitted in any
lawful
[5:02] place of worship as an accessory use it
should also be permitted as an accessory
[5:08] use in an Environmental Education Center
in both commercial and residential zones
[5:14] um
we also list in the specific uses
[5:19] chapter 1322 that under the requirements
for a daycare where
[5:26] um a daycare is permitted as an
accessory use for a place of worship it
[5:30] should also be included as an accessory
use in Environmental Education Center
[5:36] and then in that same section
1322 we add some basic Provisions for an
[5:44] educational environmental Educational
Center
[5:47] one is just what accessory uses might be
included in there
[5:53] playscapes plant nurseries there's quite
a variety of things in there and the
[5:59] second provision talks about parking and
if a daycare is included the parking
[6:06] requirements for daycare use
and also that if a daycare is included
[6:13] that the daycare should include all of
the other requirements for daycare use
[6:18] in the city
um it's very brief it's very specific we
[6:24] put it together to try to support
um the uses that are now in the city and
[6:29] to um support others that would have an
interest in coming to the city as you
[6:34] noted in your comments and as lvpc did
it also supports the recommendations of
[6:39] the climate action plan that were the
plan was proposed and approved a couple
[6:44] of years ago and in a variety of ways we
try to move some of those
[6:47] recommendations forward
so if you have any questions I'd be more
[6:52] than happy to answer those
thank you Miss Heller I'll turn it over
[6:56] a members of council any questions from
members of council for miss Helen I have
[7:00] one quick question
um thank you so the we added a
[7:05] definition for community recreation
center
[7:08] however didn't add the accessory use of
a daycare center in that instance is
[7:13] that because that's already within the
use of a community center or is that is
[7:18] there a reason why that was not included
uh that's a good question I do believe
[7:25] it's included in the range of uses that
would be
[7:29] um included within a community
recommendation Center I I liken that to
[7:35] um the Boys and Girls Club something
along those lines exactly so but I was
[7:38] just confused a little
um because we're adding a definition
[7:42] which means we didn't have a definition
before correct
[7:45] um but we know what the uses are for
that so we just needed a definition
[7:51] to clarify what it is but we already
have acceptable uses
[7:55] for a community center within the rest
of the zoning ordinance that's what
[8:00] you're saying
these things already exist so the use is
[8:04] doing we do have uses similar to this in
the city yes yeah but we haven't really
[8:08] clarified them as a listed permitted use
in the ordinance itself okay
[8:13] um well I'm just wondering if that might
be something that would be worth doing
[8:17] since right now it seems like the list
of um
[8:21] the the the accessory uses comma daycare
center
[8:26] um we're we're adding Environmental
Education Center
[8:31] and
places to lawful places of worship like
[8:35] those are the only two
places that can have a daycare center as
[8:39] an accessory use we can add that for
clarification if you like it doesn't I I
[8:44] mean I think it would be great I mean
sure I think most people think oh yes
[8:48] they have their care centers at things
like the YMCA and the boys and girls
[8:51] club but I just want to make sure that
we have it in there that that's
[8:55] a use sure we can do that thank you
Miss Heller is adding that a significant
[9:01] enough change that I would have to go
back to
[9:04] the Planning Commission
I would defer to your legal counsel on
[9:10] that
um it's uh
[9:14] it's minor in nature if it's already
permitted in the city but really that's
[9:18] that's not my call yeah I'm of the
opinion that I don't think that would
[9:21] have to go back to the Planning
Commission I think that's just more
[9:24] clarification as opposed to an amendment
uh Mr spark I don't know if you disagree
[9:28] or agree with me on that but I don't
think that's something that needs to go
[9:30] back
you said they're permitted already well
[9:34] we do have similar uses to that in the
city and I would use a Boys and Girls
[9:39] Club as an example
[9:42] correct
that's specifically called out excess
[9:46] reduces
well the community recreation center is
[9:49] going to be a primary use
um
[9:52] we had presumed a daycare would be
accessory to that and the request is
[9:57] that it be called out as a permitted
assessory used to daycare
[10:01] and you're saying we would have
interpreted our existing zoning
[10:04] ordinance
oh Mike I'm Jack Mike
[10:12] so we would just have presumed that when
it said Community Recreation Center it
[10:17] came with it without calling it out yes
and sometimes I mean in our minds we can
[10:21] visualize what we intend but it's if
it's not clarified then Others May
[10:25] interpret it otherwise so
um
[10:29] it's good to include things for
clarification I would certainly agree
[10:32] that that's a good Amendment
but wouldn't agree necessarily that that
[10:37] wouldn't require it to go back through
the process no I I think not the lawyer
[10:42] no I'm yeah I'm just I'm not agreeing or
not agreeing I'm just
[10:48] perfect deferring to someone else
[10:52] thank you Mr Panella thank you Miss
Heller for that and then miss Heller can
[10:57] you just clarify So when you say
accessory uses so we talked about within
[11:02] a
um
[11:04] Environmental Education Center a daycare
could be an accessory use can you just
[11:08] explained briefly what that means
[11:15] functions are
pretty broad Community Gardens
[11:22] meeting space performance space wildlife
habitats Wildlife viewing areas
[11:29] interpretive signage hiking walking
trails
[11:33] playscapes
native plant nurseries so it's it's it's
[11:36] a wide range of uh uses that they can
include so
[11:43] um
what we're envisioning is that there
[11:47] could be daycare or child education that
would be nature based would include an
[11:54] educational element I think there's
different types of daycare and certainly
[11:59] um
you know this would be something unique
[12:01] that might be specific to
an environmental education center but if
[12:07] it's listed as an accessory and
accessory use is there any further
[12:11] permission needed do they have to go to
the zoning hearing board or anything
[12:15] like that or it's just rolled into it's
just rolled in what what their uh
[12:19] classified as correct so I thought just
want to make sure
[12:23] I don't have any other questions or
comments any other members of council
[12:28] questions or comments from a teller I
don't have any additional questions but
[12:31] I just wanted to point out that that was
my one question was just wondering about
[12:35] that so just to sort of underscore that
it did make me scratch my head a little
[12:39] bit so it might be worth clarification
and and so can I clarify my own purposes
[12:44] that accessory use just means something
not within sort of the typical realm of
[12:50] what you would expect there so in a
place of worship that's not its primary
[12:53] use so this is
um and then I guess the presumption was
[12:56] that at a community recreation center
that is a place where young people
[13:00] go for recreation and and so that the
daycare kind of just is rolled into that
[13:05] naturally right
um but we can clarify that and we can we
[13:09] can forward an amended version of this
to your for your next meeting
[13:14] um the ordinance does have a specific
definition for primary use and accessory
[13:19] use I mean I can't
recite them right now but it is pretty
[13:24] clear in the ordinance that there is a
differentiation great
[13:29] any other questions or comments from his
Heller
[13:35] thank you Miss Heller thank you
[13:39] so we're going to turn it over to public
comment now this is public comments
[13:44] specifically on these amendments which
we're taking information on tonight so I
[13:48] know there were a few people who had
signed up for a public comment related
[13:52] to Nature education so I'm going to go
around the room this would be an
[13:56] appropriate time to give feedback if you
wanted to about these amendments so I
[14:00] will start on the left was there anyone
who wanted to give comment about these
[14:06] potential zoning changes
I turned to the center was there anyone
[14:11] who wants to give comment man
[14:15] good evening Victoria bastidas 1311
Santee Mill Road Bethlehem Pennsylvania
[14:23] um so I would just like to to keep your
meeting a little short I represent all
[14:29] of these young families if everybody can
stand
[14:35] we would all like to thank you for your
support of Environmental Education open
[14:43] space and your community center
this is the future of your city and we
[14:50] are just so thankful that you are moving
forward on this so you guys can sit for
[14:55] just a minute
yes even our young 75 year olds are here
[15:00] um the one thing I would like to offer
though as clarification of the daycare
[15:06] um
[15:08] for us to do Environmental Education
this is an Environmental Education
[15:13] Center
um four children if you are going to
[15:18] have children without their parent
then you must be regulated by the
[15:23] Department of Human Services for the
state
[15:26] which means
anything that has a child outside of
[15:31] school hours
during the school year or children below
[15:36] the age of school age during the summer
you do have to go through the Department
[15:42] of Human Services it only makes sense
to make sure that our site is safe
[15:47] to make sure that our teachers are you
know
[15:51] accredited it all makes sense it's all
in the best interest it is not that
[15:56] nature centers traditionally do daycare
it's that in order to serve those
[16:01] children we must be under the regulation
of the state
[16:06] um that does not go for summer camp
though summer camp is a whole other
[16:10] thing apparently in the state and they
as long as your kids aren't below the
[16:14] age of school age they
you get a little permit for 25 bucks and
[16:19] you can run a summer camp but I just
want to tell you thank you so much
[16:23] um this was this was a wonderful thing
you did today thank you
[16:27] thank you Miss pastitis
is there anyone else in the wide Center
[16:31] who wanted to make comment about the
potential zoning changes
[16:36] I will turn to the right was there
anyone to the right who wants to make
[16:39] comment ma'am in the last row
[17:03] hi my name is Liz Doyle and I live on
Center Street in Bethlehem and I've been
[17:07] in Bethlehem about 10 years and
discovered
[17:11] the farm by accident looking for a
preschool for my grandson I have now six
[17:16] grandchildren and it's a big job but um
I came across this ad on Craigslist and
[17:23] it was profoundly beautiful about what
they could do for teaching children
[17:26] nature and teaching them you know the
basics of education and I called up and
[17:32] Vicki said come up to the open house for
having I was just amazed that two miles
[17:36] from my house there was a farm an open
space and trees and it was just a
[17:41] beautiful
spot it was like holy crow this is right
[17:46] down the road and uh it's been since
then to get to this point where Vicky's
[17:52] possibly going to be able to do this
preschool she's done it for
[17:57] small group of kids and they've just
done amazingly they've had phenomenal
[18:01] results
so my son's 10 my grandson's 10 and he
[18:06] was eating elderberries the other day so
I don't know if they're good for your
[18:10] dad he said no Miss Vicki said it's okay
we could identify them see it's got this
[18:15] here and that there and so it's fine and
they proceeded to eat the whole
[18:19] container so that's the kind of
information
[18:22] that they can learn from no place else
you don't you don't have that space in
[18:27] the environment anywhere in our
backyards and I just thank you if you
[18:31] can make this move forward and really
become preschool for the town it would
[18:35] be a wonderful place thank you thank you
man
[18:41] is there in the last row in the back
[18:49] we're not going anywhere
but you might want to
[18:52] um my son Finn will be entering first
grade at Spring Garden in the fall
[18:58] and we stumbled upon camel's hump
um I was looking for preschool in the
[19:02] middle of a pandemic to get him
socialized
[19:05] um and we stumbled upon it and it was an
amazing experience he and two other kids
[19:11] went for two years
um
[19:14] like like Miss Liz said he can go and
pick things oh this is goldenrod and oh
[19:19] these are wine berries but be careful
those are thorny and um he's writing
[19:23] entering kindergarten at Spring Garden
and he he flourished there
[19:28] um all because of what we did at camel's
hump
[19:30] um my middle daughter who's three and a
half when can I go to farm school when
[19:34] can I go to farm school and I have a
one-year-old so I just want to you I
[19:39] can't thank Victoria and the farm enough
for what it's done with for our family
[19:44] um and it's just incredible and so to
have this opportunity
[19:48] um is is we're really hopeful
um to finally get this to get this going
[19:53] so thank you your name oh sorry my name
is Heather Irvin thank you
[20:02] foreign
was there anyone else
[20:07] welcome
[20:20] thank you all mayor Reynolds and city
council
[20:24] I remember before I came tonight to this
Nature Center I was bored at home with
[20:30] my older sister and younger brother
because my parents had work but now I
[20:34] can go outside and at explore nature and
have fun with my friends instead of
[20:40] watching TV all day long so I love Camp
what was your name Crystal vinegar
[20:46] Crystal thank you for coming tonight
[20:51] I know right
is there anyone else who wanted to make
[20:56] comment this evening
anyone in the center
[21:01] anyone to the right
going once I see some maybes going twice
[21:08] all right we're going to conclude our
public comment this evening thank you
[21:13] everyone who came out to speak and just
a reminder we're not voting on anything
[21:16] tonight but the ordinance will be put on
the agenda for August first meeting
[21:20] coming up in a couple weeks thank you
and the public hearing is adjourned
[21:29] get home safe everyone
[21:32] we're going to move on with our
regular city council meeting
[21:38] we'll start with the approval of minutes
for July 5th 2023 any comments on the
[21:44] minutes
[21:47] CNN a minute to stand approved
[21:55] let me empty out quick
[21:58] we're going to go through as we
typically do
[22:02] through our
sign up list of those who had signed up
[22:05] in advance I think some of these folks
may have spoken already or at least want
[22:11] to speak about it so I'll start with
Thomas
[22:14] and it's Kester
I believe that was for the Environmental
[22:18] Center
foreign
[22:21] money
[22:27] ask everyone who speaks film on just
sharing your name for the record and
[22:31] we'll allow everyone five minutes
[22:34] hi my name is Erin Loney I am here with
my husband Raul Gomez hello we reside at
[22:40] 1224 Setter Street in Bethlehem
and
[22:45] lived there for 17 years now and we're
here to advocate for the residents of
[22:50] the 1200 block of Center Street as well
as other area residents that reside in
[22:55] duplex homes uh believed to be built
around 1900.
[22:59] our block is located between Locust
Street and Elizabeth Avenue it is the
[23:04] last block of one-way traffic northbound
[23:09] the joy of duplex homes is that
to remediate anything it requires
[23:16] two halves of
owners to come together and to work
[23:22] together
without
[23:25] both of their involvement
it can't be done
[23:32] in Bethlehem there's been a demonstrated
history to condemn and demolish both
[23:37] sides of a duplex when one side has a
structural failure
[23:41] one side can't stand without the other
this has been evidenced by the
[23:47] experience of our neighbors who are here
tonight Bernard and Diane Wilson
[23:51] here
they reside they were our neighbors at
[23:54] 1220 Center Street it was the northern
side of that duplex
[24:00] in August of last year as you know the
Southern Wall of the duplex had already
[24:05] failed they were given two weeks
to clear out their home of 19 years
[24:12] and to vacate
[24:15] their property was deemed unfit and is
no longer there there is now two empty
[24:21] lots where their home stood
[24:25] We Fear as far as the residents of
Center Street that theirs will not be
[24:30] the last
Bethlehem did try to assist in
[24:34] remediation but work was considered too
dangerous and no one would take on the
[24:39] task that they could not find a willing
crew
[24:44] so now they are left with a mortgage on
a house that's no longer there
[24:48] and a lien has been placed on their
mortgage
[24:52] for the demolition regardless that those
costs were paid by RDA with funds
[24:57] received by the Commonwealth
our neighborhood watched as their home
[25:02] was torn down with the absolute fear
that we would follow
[25:06] the Wilsons were an anchor in our
neighborhood
[25:09] their absence is felt every day
and the field that was once their home
[25:15] it's a constant reminder
we're all at risk
[25:24] their absence is avoid that
that's felt daily we share their
[25:29] heartbreak and hope together we can find
a better narrative for all of us
[25:35] last week Ralph and I received a hand
delivered letter from the city
[25:38] requesting a structural report for our
home
[25:43] within five days
we complied
[25:47] and we've been working with bethlehem's
building and housing inspector Philip
[25:51] rotor who has been extremely helpful and
extremely kind throughout this process
[25:58] um during the entirety of the time we've
lived there
[26:01] the adjacent structure has been owned by
landlords
[26:04] who have not lived there do they live
elsewhere and have not intended in any
[26:08] way to engage with us
[26:13] the other half of our building was sold
in August to 1222 Center Street LLC
[26:19] we've never seen anyone on the premises
we've
[26:23] never seen them mow the lawn
pick up their mail
[26:27] it's just been left
[26:32] we could be more prepared to remediate
our half of the duplex but we fear
[26:36] similar circumstance
if we were to put the money into the
[26:40] structure necessary
that does not guarantee us that we will
[26:44] not lose our house
[26:49] per the article that was written back on
February 26th about Diana Bernard's
[26:55] experience um
the morning call letter I'm sorry
[27:01] article written by Lindsey Weber had
stated that in July 22 an engineering
[27:06] report suggested that issues with the
soil in the neighborhood could be a
[27:10] factor and it could also be effective
affecting our structures
[27:13] so we're here today to ask for your help
the Wilsons have needed your help for
[27:19] some time we need your help now and our
neighbors are going to need your help
[27:22] tomorrow
please help us save the equity we have
[27:26] spent years building help us to find a
more effective way to handle joint
[27:29] remediation ongoing
we're grateful for your time insight and
[27:33] assistance and we deeply appreciate any
efforts to help each of our families
[27:38] whether
our need
[27:41] arises so my guilt to you all
[27:46] thank you Mrs Moni and thank you Mr moon
for coming out if you want to stick
[27:49] around to the end of the meeting speak
to any members of council or any members
[27:53] of the administration you're welcome to
that would be wonderful thank you
[28:01] our next speaker signed up was Rachel
Abbott I think Rachel may have left with
[28:05] the
departing group
[28:12] our next speaker
it just make out a name I believe it
[28:17] says flum yeah
may have also been here
[28:23] for the opening act
our next speaker signed up is Artie
[28:27] keratola
[28:45] hi I'm Marty kuritola at a13 Lawford
Street Born and Raised on the south side
[28:52] of Bethlehem whose Grandparents were
born and raised in Italy and I'm proud
[28:56] of it as someone's going to talk bad
about the South Side people or Italian
[29:01] people I'm not going to cry about it
like some little baby who's insecure
[29:06] about his or her race color or Creed
here in the United States of America we
[29:11] have a thing called freedom of speech
and they say let them talk I won't walk
[29:17] I will hear though I'm not queer let me
add queer has nothing to do with being
[29:21] gay since over one-third of the world's
adult population had homosexual
[29:27] experiences there is nothing weird
strange or queer about being gay so
[29:31] throw that queer thing away and stop
being offended by it if you're gay
[29:35] uncool individuals who use the word to
offend homosexuals they're queer
[29:41] anti-semitic that's queer freedom of
speech we're walking on eggs with this
[29:47] anti-semitic Guff where's the freedom of
speech here
[29:52] if you speak from the heart and you've
got to be afraid that someone of the
[29:57] press is going to use their freedom of
press to downgrade you as a homophobic
[30:03] anti-semitic racist redneck derelict
keep in mind you're hired by we the
[30:09] people running a city is business not
personal
[30:14] my best friend and partner for well over
20 years at the creative Sound Studio in
[30:20] Philadelphia Jerry dream and rest his
soul was Jewish Norman and jelly Joyce
[30:24] of the Jolly Joyce theatrical agency
gave me my start as a theatrical agent
[30:29] at the young age of 18 in Philadelphia
in 1966. they were Jewish
[30:37] so for any of you today to be pointing
at our finger at me and crying to the
[30:43] Press he's anti-semitic he hurt my
feelings we got to cut him down a peg or
[30:48] two you have low self-esteem and are not
that confident in yourself or the party
[30:53] who I'm running to replace in 2025.
[31:00] My Views and ideas that I brought to
your table and brought up in December
[31:06] were stepped on with this anti-Semitism
As I Lay said then and I'm saying now
[31:14] our city of Bethlehem named after the
city that Jesus Christ was born who
[31:19] strongly stated that we should strive to
be a good example to all needs to be
[31:23] looked at carefully by attacking and
correcting any issues or articles that
[31:28] would make our city not as credible as
it could be
[31:32] and there's a lot of issues and articles
that need to be corrected two businesses
[31:37] in our city that we need to help correct
who are making us look bad are artsquest
[31:43] and the Bethel Parking Authority
we cannot give them free reign to do
[31:49] whatever they want
around 10 years ago I performed a comedy
[31:54] show at the Manco Cinema for Arts Quest
because I made a joke or two about the
[31:59] Mexican people and the Irish people I
was barred forever for being labeled a
[32:05] racist by performing any venues at
artsquest or Music Fest even though not
[32:11] one of the hundred or more people in
that theater walked out on my
[32:15] performance boot or were offended Ryan
Hill the head of the comedy division of
[32:20] artsquest used his racist thing as a
crush so that I wouldn't move in on his
[32:25] position he is so naive to believe that
I would have any interest at all to make
[32:31] the Lehigh Valley a funny place to be
so with his childish self-confidence he
[32:37] labeled me a racist and takes away my
freedom of speech at artsquest freedom
[32:44] of speech
this buffoon couldn't entertain and hold
[32:48] the crowd for 10 minutes but I make a
good living entertaining and holding
[32:52] grouts for over an hour in clubs
theaters parties and corporate events I
[32:57] gave Hill many opportunities before he
got to ask you to leave out any other
[33:02] private citizens in your comments please
okay but the thing is the fact the fact
[33:08] is
I perform
[33:11] many places many corporate bookings many
parties many clubs and you know I I'm
[33:18] not like some people that
seem like they're rehearsing for a
[33:21] nervous breakdown but the thing is you
know I go Non-Stop
[33:27] I you could check with the garden of e
Garden of Easton in Butler on Butler
[33:33] Street this past Friday I performed solo
for over an hour and a half non-stop
[33:37] without losing one audience member
they even go to the restroom for
[33:41] performances lasting for over three
hours This Racist has been performing
[33:44] Mexican restaurants all over the
tri-state area for well over 10 years
[33:49] and for five years at the Mexico Lindo
restaurant 720 Main Street in Bethlehem
[33:54] every second Saturday of the month from
six to nine plus for old other special
[33:59] occasions took care till I ask if you
could please okay bring this to a
[34:03] conclusion okay that's a Mexican owner
who I brought here to City Hall
[34:06] conference meetings thought my jokes
were funny but art supplies took my
[34:10] freedom of speech away may you city
council members and use somatic
[34:15] synthesizers
maybe you love to take my freedom of
[34:18] speech away I have no more to say God
bless you all
[34:23] that exhausts our list of everyone who
had signed up I will go around the room
[34:29] starting to the left is there anyone who
wanted to make comment on anything not
[34:33] being voted on this evening
Mr Rodriguez
[34:54] Eddie Rodriguez
336 13th Avenue Bethlehem
[35:00] uh I came here tonight because I wanted
to say something about
[35:06] uh if you've had an interest of a
private property on Stefko Boulevard
[35:12] and the Blackboard the three dumpsters
are at
[35:16] opposite the United Check Cashing to see
if you can get some interest
[35:22] and what you have on Third Street for
the kids a skate park
[35:27] maybe it would help if you got together
and create something there
[35:34] in that area
for the kids and it would hopefully
[35:39] uh help some of these folks
in that sector
[35:45] with uniting and maybe they can come up
with the city and the ownership of that
[35:50] property I don't know who owns it
I went to Livingston Street Apartments
[35:55] and I made a couple
uh calls but I just can't find out who
[36:01] owns it
so I'm asking the city to get involved
[36:05] we're trying to see if they can create a
skate park in that area it's a huge huge
[36:10] area behind there huge
and before anything happens that
[36:14] something is bought and something else
is put there which is really unwanted
[36:20] and the kids are left out not good
not good
[36:24] I want to see something happen with
those with that area for the kids
[36:29] uh it'll stop a lot of uh I think that
of what's happening in the private
[36:36] parking lot
in the stepco parking lot area
[36:40] with skateboarding and that immediate
area where they're going up and down the
[36:46] streets
uh in front of the store owners
[36:49] and not caring about you know who's
coming in or what's going who's going
[36:54] out
that's very dangerous
[36:56] because they're doing doing a lot of
speeding in that area
[37:00] and the other thing I want to talk about
is is that you know for the longest time
[37:04] there was a restaurant in the Westgate
area
[37:09] and I'm wondering why is it that you
don't have
[37:13] created why haven't you created a
restaurant in that immediate area
[37:18] and what's the problem with trying to
gain the ownership
[37:22] of that new of that restaurant that's no
longer
[37:27] uh is there is visible it's like a ghost
sound there
[37:32] we need a restaurant in that area there
are the folks out there they got the
[37:36] uh the restaurant on shannonsville road
Italian
[37:42] and maybe a couple Pizza owners around
there but not a restaurant
[37:48] we got stores not a restaurant
I go to a restaurant every morning for
[37:53] breakfast and I just would like
something you know inexpensive so I
[37:57] won't have to go down to another
restaurant no names mentioned and pay
[38:02] almost double the price
that's unreal
[38:06] there's a lot of uh illegal vehicles I
always stated you know since I've been
[38:11] coming here
for the longest time but it's getting
[38:14] worse the illegal vehicles on these
streets
[38:18] without plates no inspections loud
mufflers every single night through this
[38:25] entire city
we see motorcycles
[38:30] and it's not just for a plane there are
drugs involved in these uh
[38:37] involving these motorcycles but you the
police have not been able to handle
[38:41] anything on that because they don't have
the proof
[38:45] but
there is a lot of speeding
[38:50] a lot of dumping and litter on our
streets throughout our city that is
[38:56] sickening
we need something done about this
[38:59] because
you know they're dumping out of their
[39:02] vehicles you know McDonald's stuff
Burger King stuff it's not their fault
[39:06] it's the people that don't care about
where they're dumping
[39:10] and then the neighborhoods
uh have to pick up after them
[39:17] so do we need a little more containers
in certain areas I don't know
[39:24] but I know that is happening because
it's all over
[39:28] The Dumping of which is the last meeting
that I came to which was taken care of
[39:34] the owner of that stuff couple of our
property
[39:37] did something with the
uh
[39:41] the uh
trucks that pick up garbage
[39:47] and somehow
is no longer there
[39:51] I guess he paid for it but
The Dumping that's happening there
[39:57] comes from I believe because I've been
checking here and there when I go around
[40:02] that area especially sometimes when I'm
boarding out and I go specifically to
[40:09] that area and what do I find
mattresses household items it's coming
[40:15] from people that are collecting Mr
Rodriguez I'm going to ask you to start
[40:20] bringing this to us please
collecting
[40:25] household items
and they're dumping it there
[40:30] and that that shouldn't be the
responsibility of the property owner and
[40:35] now they're anyone else
so I'm asking you is also to get the
[40:38] police department I thought to our
police chief about this hopefully
[40:44] something can take place so I thank you
for
[40:47] allowing me to speak
thank you for the surgeries
[40:52] is there anyone else to the left who
wants to make comment this evening
[40:56] I turned to the wide Center is there
anyone who wants to make comment Mr
[41:00] antalix
[41:14] before I start
I have
[41:20] two items I wish to discuss
[41:24] and they are both on the agenda
and I probably will not have enough
[41:32] to address both with five minutes so
I would like to
[41:37] discuss one of them here at this
courtesy of the floor
[41:43] if there's no objection
[41:52] Stephenson Alex 77 Ridge
[41:56] in relation to Administration order 7b7
[42:01] there appears to be a number of points
which should be discussed in an open
[42:05] Forum before decisions before the
citizenry and in the spirit of
[42:11] transparency
before a vote is taken
[42:17] the points may be number one
can an employee of the city be appointed
[42:23] as head of a board or authority
[42:28] number two
is there a conflict of interest when the
[42:32] appointee is head of community and
economic development department which is
[42:37] involved in quiz matters
[42:42] number three
boards commissions and authorities
[42:46] members are appointed
by Administration
[42:51] with the approval of counsel
but are intended to be independent of
[42:56] both
[43:00] number four
[43:08] the official organization chart of the
city of Bethlehem shows the line
[43:12] connected all boards
[43:16] authorities and commissions as being
connected to the line between the lines
[43:21] connecting the city and the
administration as equal
[43:25] partners
[43:29] so it's independent of both Council and
[43:35] Administration
[43:42] if the candidate
is appointed as head of Bria
[43:48] should they resign their position as
head of CED since if if they hold both
[43:54] positions it would violate organization
chart thereby giving the administration
[43:58] control of the Priya
[44:03] so if that appointment is made
and the person doesn't resign
[44:10] you are now connecting
[44:13] the authority to this to the
administration which violates the
[44:18] official organization chart
[44:24] so this raises a very serious question
[44:29] it also raises a question
of the 75 000 people in Bethlehem
[44:37] is there no one else qualified to fill
that position
[44:42] and
[44:45] the gentleman who's running that
organization now I understand is well
[44:50] qualified
[44:54] so
this Smacks
[44:59] of another issue
[45:03] the appointment to a stark board
by not reappointing a highly qualified
[45:08] person
[45:14] so the question is
[45:18] is this
in the benefit of the city
[45:23] or this is this
[45:28] a way
maintaining control
[45:33] console fuel citizens and honest answer
so
[45:40] that
I assume
[45:43] rather nice but I feel that there even
should not be a vote because of the
[45:49] violation of the city organization chart
[45:56] thank you Mr antalix
is there anyone else in the wide Center
[46:01] who wants to make comment
on anything you choose this evening
[46:07] I turn to the right I know to the right
sir in the front
[46:13] so there's a microphone right behind you
if you'd be more comfortable
[46:17] bringing that to you
[Music]
[46:26] good evening
um do you mind just sharing your name
[46:30] please Bernard Wilson thank you
[46:33] a victim at 1220 Center Street
and my question is to find out why I had
[46:41] no assistance
from any council members or whatever
[46:46] that you could put your neighbor out
they tell me the city that my house is
[46:53] all right
and
[46:56] that what they were going to do was lift
my house up and then put a retaining
[47:02] wall on it well it left it empty for a
year and a half almost and then they
[47:09] came at me and told me um I had to move
[47:15] bad thing about this is I lived there I
thought I was going to die on that block
[47:21] eventually
because I like the neighborhood
[47:24] basically the city came in and they just
took my house put me out refused to give
[47:32] me even a dollar
a place to stay
[47:36] he told my insurance company that
because by one dropped me they told my
[47:43] insurance company that
[47:46] you no longer um is structural damage
they canceled my insurance on me
[47:54] the city told that I have it in writing
and so far so far but me and I don't get
[48:00] into this tit protect but the only black
homeowner on that block
[48:07] and they directly came and they treated
me like you know and I have a lot of
[48:11] health issues and um I mean they gave us
seven days in the house 18 19 20 years
[48:18] you can't move your stuff
I mean and then they said we'll let you
[48:25] come back to get your stuff
at a given time I would have never
[48:31] stayed in that house
if they had told me or warned me before
[48:34] then
who died with my kids coming home and
[48:38] grandkids but the thing the question
that I want to know is how can the city
[48:46] condemn or allow people to do this and
just don't offer me anything the same
[48:52] people who dropped me from the insurance
saying that the city said that this has
[48:59] been going on since 2018. there's never
been nothing in writing sent to me you
[49:04] know and um I basically almost had a
stroke just
[49:09] it just agitated me I didn't know any
insurance my taxes are paid I was a good
[49:16] person that you know paid his bill never
had a disturbance at my home I've never
[49:21] received any more I wasn't even allowed
to come in this building
[49:25] at a certain point
so they could keep just certified and
[49:31] send me letters and no one's cared about
me now that I'm living in a one-bedroom
[49:37] apartment
that you know it's my wife it's hard to
[49:43] when you're living in a house and you
know you have equity in it so now what's
[49:48] going on is now my mortgage companies
acting funny I asked them
[49:53] I paid through February I asked them
would they allow me
[49:58] um
they put it on the back end of the
[50:00] mortgage because I didn't believe that
we were going to go that far and then
[50:04] once they got rid of the insurance
insurance company took over and they
[50:09] were carrying me at a higher rate but
then it's now and I understand they're
[50:14] getting where they already bulldozed of
my house you know and I had personal
[50:18] things in there that I assumed that I
was coming back for and um
[50:24] I know someone in the city or to
counseling people someone had to see it
[50:29] but no one's ever addressed it it's like
you know I can't afford 25
[50:34] 000 to retain an attorney you know so I
think the program is you work waking
[50:41] about and then you just you know he
moves on you know I understand they're
[50:45] getting ready to put my lot up for
auction soon you know and I'm not
[50:51] stopping they have contacted attorney
general and a few other people you know
[50:56] EEOC because I felt that I being the
first was discriminated just get out and
[51:03] they didn't come like in a way of
talking to you they came and just
[51:07] dictated they talked to me real low
just said what they wanted to be and um
[51:15] I'm not going to keep going on and on I
just wanted to address the matter why no
[51:20] one in the city ever looked at my issue
I mean the morning Cole had it on the
[51:25] front page the paper five pages and no
one no one's ever came to us and said
[51:33] this or that they didn't even know if
when I moved you can't I didn't have the
[51:37] money and I'm going to go with your
timer but
[51:40] I
had to get some people to move us
[51:45] and my daughter got someone and they did
this we got other people they didn't
[51:51] even want to pay
storage yes stuff's in stores we'll give
[51:57] you eight months but she had to wait
every other month and take it and then
[52:00] they sent her a little check I just
think it's horrible that in this city
[52:06] though nobody I mean it's like see it
God you know I'm living in a one bedroom
[52:13] that me and my wife we can't even get
along but we we don't have anybody to
[52:17] reach out I've been through you know the
bar association trying to get someone to
[52:23] help me I went to
pro bono I went to Legal Aid I've been
[52:28] through so many people
that you know
[52:32] and and if they knew this since 2018
why did they leave me there and then
[52:38] it's coming give me seven days if you
let me stay there a year and a half
[52:43] after they put the neighbors out
yeah two years whatever it was I'm just
[52:49] saying they in my house was the only one
that showed no outside structural damage
[52:57] and pictures disproved that but the
houses and some people are still there
[53:02] they got
exclusive or plywood on it and bricks
[53:07] and fell and you know
I mean I know it must not mean nothing
[53:12] to you you're trying to rush him just
basically you know
[53:17] trying to be as calm as I can it's no
reason to act out of order you know and
[53:22] I'm college educated go to Syracuse
University but I'm saying you know they
[53:28] treated me like a piece you know
I've had two daughters that three or
[53:33] whatever they went to Liberty High
School
[53:35] you know they have masses Bachelors you
know
[53:38] so it's not like we
were people that you would have a
[53:43] problem with but I just want to know why
this city of Bethlehem
[53:48] no one came to my age wouldn't even give
me a loaf of bread
[53:52] the insurance company that dropped me
said this city
[53:57] is solicit or whatever somebody from
City Hall said that we gotta go
[54:02] and he said we can't cover you anymore
I'm gonna get off but I'm just trying to
[54:07] vent to you something that has destroyed
my life by cardiologists he wrote two
[54:14] letters to the city tell him you don't
know what you're doing this young man
[54:17] you know I
you know eight fan uh you know but as I
[54:24] shared with your neighbors the monies
earlier sir if you'd like to hang out
[54:27] for after the meeting once we get
through the agenda to talk to any
[54:29] members Council uh or welcome to this is
gonna be done
[54:34] see me I get into it I can't talk
[54:44] [Music]
[54:49] thank you Mr Wilson our public comment
is I'm not going to speak on things that
[54:54] I'm not familiar with at the moment but
as I said I will invite everybody if you
[54:58] want to talk to any of us afterwards
stick around after the meeting
[55:04] [Music]
well we're all members of city council
[55:08] sir but we
[55:11] we could all discuss this after the
meeting
[55:16] is there anyone else you wanted to make
comment during our public comment
[55:19] section on anything to be
talked about
[55:25] so we're gonna move on to our next
public comment this is for anything that
[55:29] is being voted on this evening anything
that is on the agenda
[55:32] there's no one signed up so I'll go
around the room starting to the left
[55:37] I turn to the center
Mr italics
[55:53] Stephen and Alex again
737 Ridge
[56:00] I train make my comma subjective after
some research that rarely my opinion
[56:10] which is by definition subjective
in reference to resolution 10A for Iran
[56:18] purchase
[56:21] I wish to quote from a high profile blog
a comment concerning a member of
[56:27] consoles voting no on gun sales in the
past
[56:31] as a matter of conscience
[56:37] blogger said rather than a matter of
conscience
[56:41] they called it blatant virtue signaling
[56:46] not my word
what was interesting
[56:51] is that all the comments made my public
to the logger or in support of the
[56:57] Blogger
[57:00] which is was significant
[57:05] because it represented
[57:09] the majority of people favoring gun
sales
[57:15] and unfortunately some of the comments
were rather negative which
[57:21] I think we're in Pro inappropriate but
they try to make a point
[57:29] we're all free as private citizens to
have personal opinions
[57:35] but a Citizens voted to public office by
the public
[57:40] and it was just behind that table
becomes a public servant
[57:45] and their priorities change
[57:50] in public welfare
becomes Prime
[57:54] while the private views now become
secondary
[58:01] the six votes supporting the sale of
weapons reflects the will of the people
[58:09] while the one vote reflects one's
personal View
[58:15] might that loan voter reconsider their
position
[58:25] is there anyone else in the center who
wanted to make comment on anything being
[58:29] voted on this evening
[58:32] or I'll turn to the right anyone who
wanted to make comment on anything that
[58:35] we're voting on to make
we will move forward with our agenda
[58:41] old business any old business for
members of council
[58:45] see none Communications Communications
succeed
[58:50] July 5th 2023 memorandums from police
chief Michelle Cott with an attached
[58:55] resolution and agreement for the
purchase of a Duty Weapon by a retired
[58:59] officer of the Bethlehem police
department pursuant to the third class
[59:02] city code retired officers May purchase
their Duty Firearms at fair market value
[59:08] resolution 10A is on the agenda this
evening communication 6D July 6 2023
[59:14] memorandum within detached resolution
and exhibit from Health director Kristen
[59:18] wenrick requesting the destruction of
records from the health Bureau this
[59:22] winrick has reviewed the municipal
records retention Act
[59:26] and the records listed on the exhibit
fall within the categories where
[59:29] destruction is permitted
and a resolution will be placed on the
[59:34] August 1st city council agenda
communication 6E the July 7 2023
[59:39] memorandum with proposed resolution from
Edward bascola director of water and
[59:44] sewer resources recommending an
agreement with Great Western Services
[59:48] Incorporated of Allentown cost is 194
4448 dollars and 75 cents to provide
[59:56] materials and labor to restore Water and
Sewer utility trenches at various
[1:00:00] locations within the city contracts will
run for up to 60 days from the notice to
[1:00:04] proceed there are no renewals
resolution 10B is on the agenda
[1:00:10] communication 6f the July 12 2023
memorandum with an attached resolution
[1:00:15] from police chief Michelle Conn
requesting the destruction of records
[1:00:19] from the police department the chief has
reviewed the municipal records retention
[1:00:23] Act and the records listed on the
exhibit fall within the categories where
[1:00:26] destruction is permitted
and a resolution will be placed on our
[1:00:31] August 1st city council agenda
communication 6G July 12 2023 memorandum
[1:00:37] and proposed ordinance from Michael
outcall director of Public Works
[1:00:42] requesting a budget transfer of 252
502 in the 2023 capital budget for
[1:00:50] non-utilities the amount reflects Paving
reimbursement received from UGI for
[1:00:55] Street overlay work that would be
completed in 2023 using in-house
[1:01:00] resources for portions of East wall West
Broad West Market and Main Streets
[1:01:06] an ordinance 9A is on the agenda for
first reading communication 6h July 13
[1:01:12] 2023 memorandum with proposed resolution
Associated amendment number two special
[1:01:17] event permit agreement from city
solicitor Jonas Burke Jr for hand work
[1:01:22] flats and leader plats permits are
the permittees are artsquest and akm
[1:01:29] entertainment LLC equipment is for
August 4th through 13th of 2023 and
[1:01:35] August 2nd through 11th of 2024 for use
of certain city and Redevelopment
[1:01:40] Authority property for carnival ride
inflatable bounce attractions and use of
[1:01:45] other Redevelopment Authority property
located in the sun in Courtyard during
[1:01:49] Music Fest 2023 and Music Fest 2024.
resolution 10c is on the agenda tonight
[1:01:57] communication 6i the July 13 2023
memorandum and proposed resolution from
[1:02:02] Laura Collins director of community and
economic development and Brandon seeks
[1:02:07] permission to apply for a two million
dollar multimodal Transportation fund
[1:02:11] Grant from the Pennsylvania Department
of community and economic development to
[1:02:15] address safety and connectivity concerns
along West 3rd Street between
[1:02:20] Northampton Street and Broadhead Avenue
Grant has an application deadline of
[1:02:24] July 31st
resolution 10d is on the agenda tonight
[1:02:31] reports I have one report
I will be reappointing Marilyn Kelly
[1:02:38] kavoda to the human relations commission
it's a clerk to read the council manic
[1:02:43] appointment
[1:02:45] councilman a appointment of Marilyn
Kelly kavoda human relations commission
[1:02:50] resolution to confirm is sponsored by Dr
Enix and Ms Leon
[1:02:55] also same as Kelly's been serving on the
human relations commission for
[1:03:01] over six years I've kind of lost count
at this point and currently serves as
[1:03:05] our chair and has been a great volunteer
serving so I'm I was happy to hear she
[1:03:09] was interested in continuing to serve
any other discussion for members of
[1:03:14] council
we'll call the roll Dr Enix
[1:03:17] aye Ms quick
aye Ms Leone
[1:03:20] aye is Wilhelm I am Mr cologne all right
past is five zero
[1:03:26] Mr spurk
[1:03:29] thank you president come on a number of
administrative orders if I may
[1:03:34] final straight of order number
2023-14 I hereby reappoint Stacy Elise
[1:03:40] Brennan 5407 Locust Valley Road
Coopersburg to the Fine Arts commission
[1:03:45] this appointment is effective through
November 2026.
[1:03:49] Administration administrative order of
Stacy Elise Brennan Fine Arts commission
[1:03:54] resolution to confirm is sponsored by Dr
Enix and Miss Liam discussion
[1:04:00] we'll call the roll Dr Enix
aye is Leon
[1:04:04] aye is Wilhelm I am Mr cologne
all right past five zero
[1:04:09] like administrative order number 20 2315
I hereby reappoint Sandra bat Gillen 804
[1:04:16] Wood Street to the Fine Arts commission
this appointment is effective through
[1:04:19] December 2026.
administrative order of Sandra Gillen to
[1:04:24] the Fine Arts commission resolution is
sponsored by Dr Enix and Ms Leon
[1:04:29] discussion
[1:04:39] your administrative order number 20 2316
I hereby reappoint Janet B Pressler 1728
[1:04:46] Woodstown road to the Fine Arts
commission this appointment is effective
[1:04:50] through November 2026.
administrative order of Janet B preszler
[1:04:55] to the Fine Arts commission resolution
to confirm is sponsored by Dr Enix and
[1:05:00] Ms Leone
we'll call the roll Dr Enix
[1:05:05] aye Ms queer Tech aye Ms Leone aye Ms
Wilhelm aye Mr cologne
[1:05:10] aye it passes 5-0
administrative order number 2023-17 I
[1:05:15] hereby appoint Missy hartney 1912 Hart
Street to the Fine Arts commission this
[1:05:20] appointment is effective through October
2024.
[1:05:24] administrative order Missy hartney to
the Fine Arts commission resolution and
[1:05:28] confirm is sponsored by Dr Enix and Miss
Leone discussion
[1:05:34] Dr Enix
aye Ms
[1:05:37] Leon hi it's will home aye Mr cologne
aye past five zero administrative order
[1:05:44] number 2023-18 I hereby reappoint Ian
and Eco
[1:05:48] 1939 Hart Street to the Fine Arts
commission this appointment is effective
[1:05:52] through September 2026. the
administrative order of Ian Panico to
[1:05:58] the Fine Arts commission resolution to
confirm is sponsored by Dr Enix and Ms
[1:06:03] Leone
discussion
[1:06:06] call the roll Dr Enix
aye Ms queer Tech aye Ms Leon
[1:06:10] aye Ms Wilhelm hi I'm Mr cologne
aye past seven zero my administrative
[1:06:15] order number 2023-19 I hereby appoint Dr
Jill sperandio 510 High Street to the
[1:06:21] Fine Arts commission disappointment is
effective through April 2026. the
[1:06:26] administrative order of Jill spirandio
to the Fine Arts commission resolution
[1:06:30] to confirm is sponsored by Dr Enix and
Ms Leon discussion
[1:06:36] we'll call the roll Dr Enix
aye Ms
[1:06:40] aye Ms Liam aye is Wilhelm hi I'm Mr
cologne
[1:06:44] aye past five zero
and finally administrative order number
[1:06:48] 2023-20 I hereby appoint Laura Collins
Esquire 77 West Greenwich Street to the
[1:06:53] Bethlehem revitalization and Improvement
Authority disappointment is effective
[1:06:58] through October 2027. the administrative
order of Laura Collins Esquire Bethlehem
[1:07:04] revitalization and Improvement Authority
resolution confirm is sponsored by Dr
[1:07:08] Enix and Ms Leone
before I open up for discussion I'm
[1:07:12] going to ask Mr we heard some comments
during public comment regarding this
[1:07:16] appointment and and Council voting on it
I'm gonna turn to our Council solicitor
[1:07:21] Mr Panella here to my left just to weigh
in on Mr Panella share whatever thoughts
[1:07:27] you have about is would it be
appropriate for Council to vote on this
[1:07:32] for the appropriateness it will save
that for a moment but I will say upon
[1:07:36] review of not just the third class city
code but the optional third class CD
[1:07:39] code of course which operates and
controls Bethlehem there is no technical
[1:07:44] prohibition of a city employee serving
on this Authority uh beyond that there's
[1:07:50] actually from looking back on it there's
a little bit of the historical precedent
[1:07:54] of that happening in Bethlehem uh Mr Joe
Kelly when he was actually in the exact
[1:07:58] same position as attorney Collins here
uh he actually served on the same
[1:08:03] Authority when it was created
whether or not it's appropriate or what
[1:08:07] have you that's something for Council to
vote on and decide but I will say
[1:08:11] confidently that there is no legal
prohibition against uh her serving on
[1:08:15] this board if Council was to vote for
that
[1:08:19] maybe appropriate was the wrong choice
of words
[1:08:23] you answered what I meant to ask and
before I open up to other members of
[1:08:27] council I will simply say I will be
supporting this tonight for some of the
[1:08:32] reasons that Mr Patel had already
outlined this position and Miss Collins
[1:08:35] is here by the way of course if anyone
has questions from Miss Collins but the
[1:08:39] as Mr patella had a referenced the
position that Ms Collins currently
[1:08:43] occupies was once occupied by the
predecessor in this role and the the
[1:08:50] burrito board is one of five if I'm not
mistaken so there this is not a a
[1:08:55] appointment to be a chairperson or
executive director or anything like that
[1:09:00] this is to be one of one of five voting
members to essentially the careers
[1:09:05] Authority so I will be supporting this
tonight any other discussion from
[1:09:10] members of council
start with Miss Wilhelm and then I will
[1:09:14] I will also be supporting this tonight
but I I want to make sure I
[1:09:17] understood you correctly
um solicitor Pinella
[1:09:21] um and I'm not sure who to whom to
direct my questions
[1:09:24] [Music]
[1:09:30] I do have questions
um so I don't know Ms Garner would you
[1:09:33] be the one to answer them
um just can I confirm whose term is up
[1:09:38] on on the Bria
I will um defer to miss Carter on
[1:09:43] questions on historical context and she
can answer yours if you have any
[1:09:46] questions for me personally I'm happy to
answer this as well but these are just
[1:09:49] historical
foreign
[1:09:54] could you try Dr Van wert's microphone
and see if that gives you feedback
[1:09:58] I'm sorry to make you do some Jenga here
that's okay there we go okay okay Miss
[1:10:01] Leon also has one if you need one I'll
just make my way down
[1:10:05] um could you please confirm whose term
is up that Ms Collins would be replacing
[1:10:10] well the the terms are um they run
through October the end of October of
[1:10:15] each year so the term that expired was
held by Joe Kelly
[1:10:19] um and so the bylaws The Authority
indicate that you don't serve until
[1:10:23] replaced you your term ends when your
term ends so it's technically been a
[1:10:27] vacant position since that time thank
you for clarifying um and when was Joe
[1:10:32] Kelly appointed
uh in November of 2013 when the
[1:10:36] authority was created and the other
board members the initial board members
[1:10:40] of The Authority were also appointed at
the time okay so he was appointed when
[1:10:43] when Bria was was initially created yes
okay and his role at the time that he
[1:10:51] was appointed to Bria was what he was
director of the Department of community
[1:10:55] and economic development okay so Joe
Kelly at the creation of Bria was the
[1:11:01] director of community and economic
development and can you articulate I
[1:11:06] know uh I don't think you were you were
in your role at that time I was not in
[1:11:10] my role obviously not I wasn't I was not
appointed until January of 2014. thank
[1:11:14] you so can are you able to give us some
insight on why it might have been
[1:11:18] determined that the director of
community and economic development would
[1:11:22] be of value to the Bria board
so at the time the authority was created
[1:11:27] we needed we as the city needed a
municipal authority to be able to apply
[1:11:31] for the careers new opportunity that was
presented
[1:11:36] um to third class cities that had
certain sizes within Pennsylvania and so
[1:11:43] um I think that there was a
well first of all we have moved in the
[1:11:50] city under the last Administration and
continued that under this Administration
[1:11:53] to try to use our Economic Development
tools comprehensively and I would
[1:11:58] describe those as being not just the
quiz Authority but the Redevelopment
[1:12:02] Authority and the Bethel and Economic
Development Corporation and so to ensure
[1:12:06] that we are all as I'd like to say
rowing the boat in the same direction
[1:12:10] um
Staffing those
[1:12:13] participating those managing them
comprehensively so that we can maximize
[1:12:20] our Economic Development efforts and so
I think that it is a excellent example
[1:12:25] of ensuring that that Authority had
continuity with the Department of
[1:12:30] community and economic development at
the time that makes sense to me so I'll
[1:12:33] just confirm again that I understand
that at the creation of Bria the
[1:12:37] director of community and economic
development was appointed to the board
[1:12:40] by the mayor who created Bria that's
correct thank you
[1:12:48] did answer quite a or ask sorry I am
really
[1:12:54] I am so sorry I apologize it's all very
confusing the council person to my
[1:13:00] immediate right asked a lot of questions
that I would have had um
[1:13:04] but you did say that it's considered a
vacant position so you're not actually
[1:13:08] replacing anybody because the con the
position is currently vacant because
[1:13:13] he doesn't continue to serve that's
correct time is over so this isn't
[1:13:16] replacing one person with another this
is filling the term is vacant yeah it
[1:13:21] expired at the end of October okay and
um I could see why a person from
[1:13:26] Administration would be there like
conceptually I thought it was
[1:13:31] um weird at first but when I went back
and and saw kind of the the background
[1:13:35] workings of it I guess that that kind of
um does make sense it's a board of five
[1:13:39] people do we have anybody else from the
administration currently serving on not
[1:13:43] on the board of directors not on the
board of directors and those are the
[1:13:45] people who who like vote and make the
decisions and stuff like that those are
[1:13:49] the the voting members of the board okay
so this wouldn't like change the dynamic
[1:13:54] of power on the the board at all you not
on the board now
[1:14:01] I think that's it but now I'm all
flustered from from this so I have
[1:14:04] something else to ask we'll be here
okay xenix I'm not understanding the um
[1:14:13] Authority structure I I represent the
Council on the Water Authority and I do
[1:14:21] not
um
[1:14:23] I do not vote and there is a member of
the administration on that Authority who
[1:14:29] doesn't vote and who we are not in
executive sessions so give me a clear
[1:14:36] picture of the role that the uh member
of the administration would play play on
[1:14:43] this
so there are board members they would
[1:14:47] vote they would participate in all
conversations they would be the officers
[1:14:53] of the authority they would make motions
in seconds and all the things that come
[1:14:58] with being board members and so this is
an appointment
[1:15:03] for a board position it's not a liaison
it is a board position
[1:15:12] okay I understand it's board position
but the person is on the administration
[1:15:19] isn't that
kind of a conflict there
[1:15:25] uh I think your solicitor answered that
question for you
[1:15:29] um that's not a question that I think
um is mine to answer I would I would
[1:15:35] assure you that we have a history we not
only had the director of community and
[1:15:40] economic development for the city of
Bethlehem we had the director of
[1:15:42] community and economic development for
the city of Easton on the board at one
[1:15:46] time and so there's a long history of
needing technical expertise
[1:15:52] on this Authority okay okay and so there
is an importance placed on
[1:15:57] qualifications
uh understanding of Public Finance of
[1:16:03] understanding the specific requirements
of the quiz Authority there are
[1:16:09] role there's a role that this Authority
plays that you don't see on a Water
[1:16:13] Authority or you know some of the others
and so it is very very much centered
[1:16:19] on economic development and the
importance is place not so much on a
[1:16:24] position held but by the expertise they
bring to the table and so I would say to
[1:16:29] you that this is a position that needs
to be filled when possible by the
[1:16:35] director of community and economic
development for the city of Bethlehem
[1:16:39] and there are five members yes ma'am
okay
[1:16:43] thank you
[1:16:47] attack
very briefly
[1:16:51] um our authorities boards and
commissions they're all very distinct
[1:16:56] and have their own way of running things
each one one to another you can't really
[1:17:01] compare
for instance I am a liaison
[1:17:06] um to several I have a vote on one and
not on two of the others so each of them
[1:17:13] has their own uh bylaws of their own
organizational structure and and
[1:17:18] practices right yeah and some are
created under different state acts so
[1:17:22] this is a municipal Authority we have a
Redevelopment Authority created under
[1:17:26] the Redevelopment Authority Act which
you are a liaison on right so yeah they
[1:17:30] are they are different thank you
[1:17:34] any other questions or comments from
members of council
[1:17:38] I'll just add until
a few days ago I thought this position
[1:17:43] it was written was on the authority uh
just how we have our
[1:17:49] our chief zoning our inspector is on
certain authorities and things like that
[1:17:54] because to me it just made sense when
when I saw it come through so
[1:17:58] if there's no other discussion I will
ask the clerk to call the roll
[1:18:05] [Music]
[1:18:09] zero
[1:18:13] nothing further from the administration
thank you Mr shirt moving on to
[1:18:18] ordinances for final passage clerk will
rebuild 27 2023 an ordinance of the city
[1:18:23] of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh and
Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
[1:18:27] amending the 2023 general fund Bill 27
2023 is sponsored by Dr Enix and Ms
[1:18:35] Grimsby Smith
discussion
[1:18:41] how's the clerk to call the role Dr Enix
aye Ms queer Tech aye Ms Leon
[1:18:46] aye Ms Wilhelm hi I'm Mr cologne all
right past is 5-0
[1:18:52] rebuild 28 2023 an ordinance of the city
of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh
[1:18:57] Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
amending the 2023 capital budget for
[1:19:02] non-utilities Bill 28 2023 is sponsored
by Dr Enix and Miss Grimsby Smith
[1:19:08] discussion
5-0
[1:19:20] Bill 29 2023 the ordinance of the city
of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh and
[1:19:25] Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
amending the 2023 capital budget for
[1:19:30] non-utilities ill-29 2023 is sponsored
by Dr Enix and Miss Crimson Smith
[1:19:36] discussion
we'll call the roll Dr Enix
[1:19:41] aye is clear Tech aye is Leon aye Ms
Wilhelm hi and Mr cologne
[1:19:48] aye passes five zero
Bill 30 2023 the ordinance of the city
[1:19:54] of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh
Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
[1:19:57] amending the 2023 capital budget for
non-utilities Bill 30 2023 is sponsored
[1:20:04] by Dr Enix and Miss Ramsey Smith
discussion
[1:20:13] [Music]
[1:20:19] and Bill 31 2023 an ordinance of the
city of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh and
[1:20:24] Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
amending the 2023 Community Development
[1:20:29] block grant budget Bill 31 2023 is
sponsored by Dr Enix and Miss Ramsey
[1:20:35] Smith discussion
call the roll Dr Enix
[1:20:40] aye Ms queer Tech hi it's Leon hi Ms
Wilhelm hi I'm Mr column all right
[1:20:46] passes five zero moving on to new
ordinances for which we have one this
[1:20:50] evening we'll read bill 32 2023. an
ordinance of the city of Bethlehem
[1:20:55] counties of Lehigh and Northampton come
north of Pennsylvania amending the 2023
[1:21:00] capital budget for non-utilities Bill 32
2023 is sponsored by Dr Enix and Ms Leon
[1:21:07] discussion
we'll call the roll Dr Enix I is queer
[1:21:13] Tech aye is Leon
aye Wilhelm I am Mr cologne all right
[1:21:18] past five zero
[1:21:22] moving on to resolutions resolution 10A
be it resolved by the Council of the
[1:21:26] city of Bethlehem that the mayor and
controller and or such other City
[1:21:30] officials is deemed appropriate by the
city solicitor or hit by authorized exe
[1:21:34] acute an agreement to effectuate the
transfer of the city issued handgun
[1:21:39] Sergeant Sean Connolly a retired police
officer the resolution is sponsored by
[1:21:45] Dr Enix and Miss Leon
[1:21:49] discussion
yes hi I would like to uh just offer
[1:21:55] some facts
um
[1:21:59] guns are the leading cause of death for
U.S children and teens since they're
[1:22:02] passing car accidents in 2020. Firearms
accounted for nearly 19 percent of
[1:22:07] childhood deaths ages 1 through 18 in
2021 according to the Centers for
[1:22:12] Disease Control and prevention database
nearly 3 600 children died in gun
[1:22:17] related incidents that year that's about
five children lost for every 100 100 000
[1:22:23] children in the United States in no
other comparable country are firearms
[1:22:27] within the top four causes of mortality
among children according to a kff
[1:22:33] analysis that's the Kaiser Family
Foundation those are facts and the
[1:22:38] another fact is that we as council
members vote on the sale
[1:22:45] of firearms to retiring officers
there are opinions as to whether or not
[1:22:51] retired officers are safer with their
weapons than other people those are
[1:22:56] opinions I don't have uh data on that I
don't know that there's data available
[1:23:00] but I do know that one of the things we
can vote on one time that I have a vote
[1:23:07] where I can do something about the
prevalence of firearms in our society
[1:23:13] and the fact that no other comparable
country
[1:23:16] um has this kind of rate of child
killing by Firearms is in these votes
[1:23:23] and so I will continue to vote no thank
you
[1:23:27] any other discussion for members of
council
[1:23:30] Ms Leon I will say that like I I totally
respect that that opinion but having
[1:23:35] been not an opinion I totally respect
your facts
[1:23:40] um well
I also just want to give voice to the
[1:23:44] fact that First Responders
the prior military they they just see
[1:23:49] these things these
sidearms very differently
[1:23:53] um they tend to be extremely cautious
and careful with them and
[1:23:58] not that this is a good fact but the
receiving end of violence from those
[1:24:02] sidearms tend to be there themselves
because of the things that they endure
[1:24:06] during their periods of time so I just
not negating what you're saying
[1:24:11] just saying that there's reasons why
they're seen as a protection mechanism
[1:24:16] for people that are First Responders
thank you for those words councilwoman
[1:24:21] Leon and I would respond by saying that
death by Suicide with a firearm is a
[1:24:26] very big problem for our uh
First Responders former First Responders
[1:24:33] former military service people and
the fact that that firearm would be in
[1:24:42] their home
means the likelihood is higher so
[1:24:46] suicide prevention is also a concern I
shared the the statistics about
[1:24:53] um
you know Firearms being the leading
[1:24:56] cause of death in children ages 1 to 18
because I think that's a pretty shocking
[1:25:00] statistic especially since uh you know
no comparable country has that kind of
[1:25:06] problem so that's why I chose to choose
that chose to share that statistic but I
[1:25:12] agree with you that death by Suicide is
a is a huge problem and a great concern
[1:25:16] and many times a firearm is used in the
commission of of that death and uh
[1:25:23] if it wasn't there there might have been
an opportunity to prevent that suicide
[1:25:27] so
yeah thank you for your for your
[1:25:31] thoughts
[1:25:33] any other discussion for members of
council as well
[1:25:37] I do wish somebody were here for me to
confirm this publicly but
[1:25:41] um I think I just want to clarify and
put this in context
[1:25:46] that you know the implication is that
this weapon will not and end up in
[1:25:52] someone's hands and
um you know the first time uh we were
[1:25:57] called to make such a vote
uh I did a lot of research and thought
[1:26:02] about it very hard and I did a lot of um
in inquiring as to what happens if we
[1:26:09] vote no what happens to the gun and
unless something has changed the gun
[1:26:13] will be sold
um
[1:26:16] I I think it's important to at least
um clarify that the the opposite of
[1:26:26] uh allowing an officer to purchase their
weapon uh is not that the weapon is then
[1:26:33] never to be used again
um and and I I just also want to just
[1:26:38] clarify that
um it's a decision that we all put a lot
[1:26:42] of thought into and uh it's it's a lot
of gray area
[1:26:49] um and
I think I just wanted to clarify that
[1:26:53] that it's not um we're not voting to
keep this gun
[1:26:59] um active versus having it be locked
into a closet uh somewhere never to be
[1:27:05] used again
um
[1:27:07] okay
So yeah thank you thank you Miss Wilhelm
[1:27:12] any other comment from Members Council
it's just that I would welcome I know
[1:27:16] this is my third
um so I won't support again floor is
[1:27:19] yours I would welcome my fellow council
members to consider whether there was a
[1:27:25] way for us to change that so that the
opposite of not selling you know of
[1:27:31] selling the gun to the retiring officer
is not that it goes out on the open
[1:27:35] market if there is a way that we can
legally change that so that it would
[1:27:40] remain in the possession of the police
department stored safely used for
[1:27:46] training or uh destroyed if it's uh no
longer you know worthy of of use by the
[1:27:54] department I would welcome a
conversation about that at some point
[1:27:58] as would I
um and that is a different vote
[1:28:04] I'm going to share some thoughts as
early now we've had
[1:28:08] a few of these votes over this current
term and then in my you know years on
[1:28:15] Council and I'll be supporting this
tonight as I have but one thing that
[1:28:20] that I think warrants mentioned is we
heard during public comment this almost
[1:28:25] like uh polling or representation of
what the the will is as elected
[1:28:32] officials I don't remember any election
that were unanimous for turnout so as we
[1:28:38] talk about what the the will we hear a
lot in these Chambers from
[1:28:42] up here the community whoever decides to
give input about sort of the will of of
[1:28:48] the electorate the will of the community
the will of the city
[1:28:52] I don't really think any of us could any
worse person company included can a
[1:28:55] speaker included can take ownership of
saying that and I think this these votes
[1:29:00] as they've been and seems they will be
tonight are a good example of democracy
[1:29:06] we're going to have some split votes at
times this is something that is
[1:29:11] sensitive for for good reason as we've
had repeated discussions as we've had
[1:29:16] these repeated votes uh echoing the
comments by councilwoman Leone as the
[1:29:22] nephew as it has been referenced here
before of two retired police officers
[1:29:26] one who served here in the city of
Bethlehem I understand the the
[1:29:30] attachment that our officers have to it
and I will also note that none of these
[1:29:35] votes have ever failed in the time that
we've been voting on them so I think
[1:29:40] that even though I will be supporting
this to to shape the conversation around
[1:29:46] a a different perspective that's shared
as if somehow that's a disservice this
[1:29:52] when as representatives of the community
we all for anything we vote on represent
[1:29:58] different perspectives and I'm not going
to do my own polling but I would say
[1:30:03] with confidence that there are likely
some measure of community members who
[1:30:09] don't agree with me when I vote in the
affirmative to say this I just think
[1:30:15] that that bears mentioning that wow okay
again I will be supporting this and and
[1:30:20] don't think I'll be changing that
perspective uh anytime soon that to
[1:30:25] again paint as if somehow that counsel
anytime there's a disagreement or it's
[1:30:31] not unanimous or if it is unanimous
against one side of the argument that
[1:30:35] that's somehow a disservice to those who
have elected us I just think that's a
[1:30:39] mischaracterization
if there's no other comment from members
[1:30:44] of council we'll call the roll Dr Enix I
is squid Tech nay Ms Leone aye Ms
[1:30:50] Wilhelm aye and Mr cologne
all right passes four one
[1:30:55] the clerk will read resolution 10B you
resolved by the Council of the city of
[1:30:59] Bethlehem that the mayor and controller
and or such other City officials is
[1:31:03] deemed appropriate by the city solicitor
or hereby authorized execute agreement
[1:31:07] with Great Western Services Incorporated
to restore Water and Sewer utility
[1:31:12] trenches at various locations within the
city of Bethlehem or Associated
[1:31:16] sponsored by Dr Enix and Miss Leon
discussion
[1:31:21] we'll call the roll after Enix I is
queer attack aye is Leon hi this is
[1:31:27] Wilhelm aye and Mr cologne hi passes
five zero resolution 10c it resolved by
[1:31:33] the Council of the city of Bethlehem the
mayor and controller endorse such other
[1:31:37] City officials is deemed appropriate by
the city solicitor by authorized execute
[1:31:42] an amendment to a special event permit
agreement with artsquest and akm
[1:31:47] entertainment LLC for activities at hin
work class and leaderplatz during Music
[1:31:53] Fest 2023 in Music Fest 2024 resolution
is sponsored by Dr Enix and Ms Liam
[1:32:00] discussion
[1:32:03] 5-0
[1:32:12] resolution 10d be it resolved by the
Council of the city of Bethlehem the
[1:32:16] appropriate city office officers are
authorized to execute all documents and
[1:32:20] agreements between the city of Bethlehem
and the Pennsylvania Department of
[1:32:24] community and economic development to
assist in obtaining
[1:32:28] a multi-modal transportation fund Grant
to be used for the West 3rd Street
[1:32:34] Corridor resolution sponsored by Dr Enix
and Miss Leon discussion
[1:32:40] we'll call the roll Dr Enix
aye Ms Leon hi Miss Wilhelm hi I'm Mr
[1:32:46] cologne
all right past five to zero
[1:32:51] moving on to our coas I'll accept a
motion in a second to consider
[1:32:55] resolution 10 resolutions 10 e through
10g as a group
[1:33:00] so moved
motion by councilwoman cleotec so I can
[1:33:06] buy councilwoman Leone
any discussion on the motion
[1:33:11] we'll call the roll on the motion Dr
Enix
[1:33:14] aye
aye this is Leon hi Wilhelm hi and Mr
[1:33:18] cologne I motion passes five zero please
read the group certificates are
[1:33:23] appropriateness under the provisions of
the act of Pennsylvania legislature
[1:33:27] Bethlehem resolutions are granted for
515 Main Street to replace a restaurant
[1:33:32] sign install a double-sided blade sign
and repaint certain building facade
[1:33:38] elements 46 East Church Street to add a
screen door to the front entrance of the
[1:33:43] house and
418 420 Main Street to remove slate tile
[1:33:50] roofing and replace it with GAF slate
line designer shingles as well as
[1:33:54] replace the copper gutters and
downspouts the resolutions are sponsored
[1:33:58] by Dr Enix and Ms Leon
any discussion on the group
[1:34:04] we'll call the roll Dr Enix
aye Ms queer check aye Ms Liam aye Ms
[1:34:09] Wilhelm aye and Mr cologne
bye
[1:34:12] passes five zero any new business for
members of council
[1:34:18] is
all right um a few weeks ago we took a
[1:34:22] vote on an issue that I had expressed a
great deal of hesitation surrounding
[1:34:25] voting on it I felt like I hadn't done
my due diligence on it
[1:34:29] um
I had uh wanted a bit more time but it
[1:34:34] as these things happen it just wasn't
the case but I continued to have the
[1:34:37] conversations that I would have had
regardless
[1:34:40] um including conversations with people
within the administration
[1:34:44] um at the county level
um some
[1:34:47] prior officers as well as a few of the
immigration lawyers that serve over on
[1:34:52] the south side and my understanding of
these things continues to evolve and as
[1:34:58] they evolve
um I mean we can't turn back time but I
[1:35:02] hope that that memorandum of whatever
it's called that thing you know what I'm
[1:35:07] talking about what's it called it's a
memorandum of understanding
[1:35:11] when the mem I would hope that at some
point the memorandum of understanding
[1:35:15] could come back to council we can
address some of the the the questions
[1:35:18] that that I had that led me to having
the discussions with some of our
[1:35:23] community members and some of the
officers
[1:35:26] um I feel like that's a conversation
that we would all benefit from
[1:35:30] thank you councilwoman any other new
business for members of council
[1:35:34] just just a reminder on Thursday our
West Side Town Hall at seven o'clock at
[1:35:39] the DAR house
um councilman cologne and I will be
[1:35:43] there to uh give updates and answer
questions from folks on the west side
[1:35:49] I'll be there and I want to thank
members of the administration who had
[1:35:52] followed up with us regarding some
questions we had just so we're prepared
[1:35:56] to give updates to those who come out
for information on on Thursday
[1:36:00] any other new business for members
Council
[1:36:03] get home safely everyone this meeting is
adjourned