ARTICLE 139

Authorities

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been established to provide a synopsis of legislation by Council creating various authorities within the City of Bethlehem.

CROSS REFERENCES

Municipal Authorities Act - See 53 P.S. §301 et seq.
Housing Authorities Law - See 35 §1541 et seq.
Urban Redevelopment Law - See 35 P.S. §1701 et seq.
Parking Authorities - See 53 P.S. §344 et seq.

Bethlehem Authority - The Bethlehem Authority was created under provisions of the Act of June 28, 1935 (P.L. 463), as amended by the Act of 1937 (P.L.739), the Act of 1945 (P.L. 3821), the Act of 1949 (P.L. 187) and by Ordinance 782, passed August 16, 1938, as amended by Ordinance 1045, passed July 19, 1949. The Bethlehem Authority owns the Municipal water system which is operated by the City under lease from the Authority.

City Center Authority - The Bethlehem City Center Authority was created under provisions of the Act of May 2, 1945 (P.L. 382), as amended by Ordinance 1871, passed August 12, 1964, enacted by Council of the City of Bethlehem and Counties of Lehigh and Northampton. The purpose of the Authority is to acquire, hold, construct, improve, maintain, operate and lease buildings intended wholly or partially for public uses.

Housing Authority - Resolution 2809, passed November 4, 1937, authorized formation of the Bethlehem Housing Authority under the Housing Authorities Law, the Act of May 28, 1937 (P.L. 955) as amended (35 P.S. §1541 et seq.).

139.01 Board Membership of Bethlehem Housing Authority

(a) The Mayor, with the approval of a majority of the members of City Council, shall appoint five persons to be members of the Housing Authority. All such members must be residents of the City of Bethlehem.

(b) One of the members of the Housing Authority Board must be a Housing Authority resident directly assisted by the Housing Authority. The resident member of the board shall become ineligible to continue to serve on the board, and shall be deemed to have resigned from the board, in the event said member is no longer a Bethlehem Housing Authority resident, in which event a replacement resident member shall be appointed.

(Ord. 4082 - Passed August 14, 2001.)

Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority - Under provisions of the Act of May 2, 1945 (P.L. 382), Council by Ordinance 959, passed July 9, 1946, created the Lehigh Airport Authority in conjunction with Lehigh County and the City of Allentown. Ordinance 963, passed September 10, 1946, provided funds for the development, operation and maintenance of the Airport and for distribution of assets in the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Authority. Ordinance 1026, passed November 9, 1948, approved the admission of Northampton County and the City of Easton into the Authority and created a Board of Governors. Ordinance 1046, passed August 9, 1949, changed the name of the Authority to the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority.

Lehigh Valley Solid Waste Authority – Resolution 10,129, passed March 19, 1985, authorized formation of the Lehigh Valley Solid Waste Authority. Deleted by Ordinance 4082, passed August 14, 2001.

Parking Authority - Ordinance 2196, passed June 2, 1970, authorized formation of the Parking Authority under the provisions of the Parking Authority Law, Act of June 5, 1947 (P.L. 458), as amended; Ord. 3218-Passed 10/18/88, Delegation of Powers from City to Parking Authority for Parking Operations; Ord. 3251 - Passed 2/21/89 Transferring Responsibility for Setting Parking Meter Rates and Locations from Council to Parking Authority in accordance with directions from the Mayor.

Redevelopment Authority - Resolution 4624, passed January 13, 1953, authorized formation of the Redevelopment Authority under the provisions of the Urban Redevelopment Law, Act of May 24, 1945 (P.L. 991) as amended (35 P.S. §1701 et seq.).

Tourism Authority - Resolution 10,806, passed May 3, 1988, authorized formation of the Bethlehem Tourism Authority under the provisions of the Municipality Authorities Act of May 2, 1945, P.L. 382, as amended.