Council Minutes
January 18, 2005 Meeting Minutes
BETHLEHEM CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, January 18, 2005 – 7:30 PM – Town Hall
1. INVOCATION
2. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
3. ROLL CALL
President J. Michael Schweder called the meeting to order.
Reverend Gilberto Garcia-Rodriguez offered the invocation
which was followed by the pledge to the flag. Present were
Ismael Arcelay, Jean Belinski, Robert J. Donchez, Joseph F.
Leeson, Jr., Magdalena F. Szabo, and J. Michael Schweder,
6. Gordon B. Mowrer was absent.
Citation – Honoring James Bartos
President Schweder read a Citation honoring James Bartos
who retired from the Water and Sewer Resources Department
after 38 years of service to the City. The Members of Council,
along with the assembly, applauded Mr. Bartos and wished him
well in his retirement.
Citation – Honoring Irene Pulli
President Schweder advised that the Citation honoring Irene
Pulli who retired from the Parks & Public Property Department
after 28 years of service will be forwarded to her since she
was unable to be present this evening.
Citation – Honoring Rosemarie Sweeney
President Schweder read a Citation honoring Rosemarie Sweeney
who retired from the Financial Services Department after 44
years of service to the City. The Members of Council, along
with the assembly, applauded Ms. Sweeney and wished her well
in her retirement.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of January 4, 2005 were approved.
5. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (for public comment on ordinances
and resolutions to be voted on by Council this evening)
FAA Tower Proposal on South Mountain
William Scheirer, 1890 Eaton Avenue, expressed that he would
like to speak on a Communication that he understands Council
is contemplating taking action on. President Schweder explained
that, technically, under the Rules, you can only speak on
ordinances or resolutions. Mr. Scheirer asked if Council was
planning to pass on the comments of the Planning Commission
to the FAA, and more or less endorse them. He said that constitutes
an action of Council and questioned if citizens are not permitted
to speak beforehand. President Schweder said it was a recommendation
that it was felt there was insufficient time and information
at this point to make a final determination. He said it was
a recommendation that there be a combined letter from the
Department and Council stating that to the FAA and to continue
it that way, not in the form of a resolution. Mr. Scheirer
said he is in accord with that action but thought that it
does represent an action because the consent of the full Council
is necessary to do that. He said he thought that the intent
of Robert’s Rules is that citizens are allowed to comment
on it beforehand, just like they would comment on an ordinance
or a resolution. President Schweder said that if it is a letter
from Council that would not require a vote by Council at this
point, and we have precedent of that, that individual Members
of Council would sign that or that he would as President.
President Schweder acknowledged that Mr. Scheirer would like
to say something with respect to it, so he would accede to
Mr. Scheirer if he wanted to be recognized.
Mr. Scheirer stated the following:
“We have now received the evaluations of the supposedly
investigated sites for an FAA radar tower on South Mountain.
They take the form of an addition to Appendix A of the draft
environmental assessment. Nothing else in the assessment has
changed. The "new" information does not include
what was conveyed to us at the open house at the air traffic
control tower at LVIA, nor does it include new information
gleaned at the public information workshop.
In fact, the only thing really new is the assertion that
the glass exterior of Homer Research Labs would be reflective.
But Broughal school may move up there with its playing fields
as well, implying that there is plenty of room to place a
radar tower. Past minutes of FAA meetings state that this
site was dropped because Lehigh University denied access for
the purpose of making precise measurements of radar coverage.
Why would Lehigh prefer to have Broughal there rather than
a radar tower? One reason could be that if Broughal moves
to South Mountain, Lehigh can obtain the Broughal property
on the South Side. The upshot of this would be that over an
acre of trees would be cut on the top of the mountain so that
Lehigh could obtain the additional land it wants on the South
Side at Packer Avenue.
The new appendix also does not include the assertion, found
in the past minutes, that the Bethlehem Authority denied access
to the Star of Bethlehem site. The Authority has no recollection
nor documentation to back this up. In fact, just five days
ago, the Authority voted without objection to grant the FAA
access to the site for precise measurements of radar coverage.
The new appendix does say that the tower would be too close
to the Star, but fails to mention that we have since been
told that the tower would not have to be lit at night, eliminating
any visual conflict. I have also been told by Jim Linney,
the project manager for the ASR-ll radar towers at FAA Headquarters,
that he doesn't want to consider the Star site because of
potential problems of church and state, which he agreed would
have to be settled by his general counsel. I have yet to speak
to anyone in the Valley who feels this is a potential issue.
The new appendix does say that the Star and Homer sites "would
not satisfy air traffic coverage requirements to the same
extent" as the two airport sites, South Mountain Park,
and the preferred site,about half a mile east of the Star.
This somewhat contradicts what Mr. Linney told me, that the
Star and Homer sites would be almost as good, based on preliminary
measurements made offsite. But more importantly, if the airport
sites are in the same group when it comes to the level of
air traffic coverage, why then is it important to have the
radar on South Mountain at all? Further, how could there then
be any appreciable difference between the coverage from the
preferred site and the coverage from the Homer and Star sites?
Finally, the site evaluations still give no indication that
the preferred site is inconsistent with the existing zoning,
as was stated by Lower Saucon Township at the public information
workshop.
The new pages amount to a somewhat muddled bureaucratic straddle,
tending to deflect any movement away from their present course
of action, after over a million dollars has been spent, according
to Mr. Linney. Aside from job security at the FAA, it doesn't
make sense to throw good money after bad. It would make more
sense for the FAA to seek return of some of the money collected
by Raytheon and SRI International for sloppy or nonexistent
work.
I would hope that this council would make the same recommendation
as the planning commission: the case has not been made for
the preferred site, especially because the Star and Homer
sites have not been adequately investigated. The FAA needs
to reopen the site investigations, with a different contractor
if necessary, and do a proper job.”
6. OLD BUSINESS
Bethlehem Authority
Mr. Donchez asked Dennis Reichard, Business Administrator,
about the $900,000 that is owed and the possible $200,000
on top of that and the fact that this was found by the new
financial arm of the Bethlehem Authority, according to the
newspaper reports, Public Resources Advisory Group (PRAG).
Mr. Donchez said he takes it for granted that this was happening
over a couple of years to get behind in these payments. He
asked who bears the responsibility for these monies not being
paid, will City Council receive a full report on this issue,
and if it is Concord Financial, the old financial arm of the
Authority, or whoever it is, will legal action be taken against
them.
Mr. Reichard responded that he received a call this evening
from Chris Gibbons of Concord Public Finance and as usual,
there is a dispute in the numbers. He said there is a $2.1
million negative arbitrage that was not taken into account
and said that he spoke with Attorney Peter Carlucci today
who was not sure of those numbers, they were still providing
information to the new financial advisor and there is a dispute.
Mr. Reichard said if, in fact, Mr. Gibbons is correct, the
number won’t even be $100,000, and Mr. Gibbons has the
documents to prove it. Mr. Reichard said that Mr. Gibbons
will be in contact with Ronald Donchez, Chairman of the Bethlehem
Authority, tomorrow and also with PRAG. Mr. Reichard said
that in discussions he had with Attorney Carlucci on Friday,
Attorney Carlucci was not done supplying information to the
new financial advisor on this. In answer to Mr. Donchez’s
question, he responded that the auditors are the ones who
should find this, and it would not be Parente Randolph, the
City’s Auditors. Mr. Reichard said he believes they
just receive the information from the Authority auditors and
incorporate that into the City Audit. He said that may change
down the road, but as of now that is the way that audit is
done. There is a difference of opinion here, there are two
different numbers, and Mr. Gibbons is sending him his memo
from 1997-98 with those calculations. He was in discussions
with the Authority about it. Mr. Reichard said he does not
know what the number is tonight, but Mr. Gibbons is confident
in his numbers.
Mr. Donchez said he doesn’t understand why this wasn’t
found by the Auditors. He said we have a new financial arm
of the Water Authority making the statement that there is
$900,000 plus maybe $200,000 in interest or penalties, we
are facing the IRS, and now we have low numbers of $100,000.
Mr. Reichard responded that he cannot answer that, he is not
in charge of the Authority or hiring those auditors. He said
again he does not know what the number is. He has a number
from Mr. Gibbons who has documentation and is backing that
up. There is a number from Mr. Huestis, the new financial
advisor, and we still have Attorney Carlucci providing some
information. He said the arbitrage is not as simple as what
it may seem, there are different types of tests, whether it
is an under $5 million bond issue or over $5 million bond
issue. He said that from what he was told today was that the
$2 million that they had available from the dam project it
was a negative $2.1 million arbitrage to go against that.
That was missed from what Mr. Gibbons was telling him today,
and that really changes the focus of these numbers. Mr. Reichard
said he does not have any information from PRAG and has not
talked to Ronald Donchez on this.
Mr. Donchez asked if it is $2.1 million or even if it is
at the low end of $100,000, whose responsibility is it, and
who made the error. Mr. Reichard replied that he would think
that it is the auditors who should have found this. He said
again you also have financial advisors, auditors, bond counsel,
a number of people involved, and said he does not want to
determine who was at fault. Mr. Donchez asked if that will
have to be determined. Mr. Reichard said yes it is. He said
he does not have control over this, it is the Authority, not
the City. Mr. Donchez asked what the time frame is. Mr. Reichard
said that Mr. Gibbons was sending him his information, but
Mr. Reichard felt the information should be sent to Mr. Donchez,
the Chairman of the Bethlehem Authority, followed by discussion
with the new financial advisors and Mr. Gibbons to determine
who is right.
Mr. Donchez requested that at the Public Works Committee
Meeting scheduled for 6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 1, 2005,
that an update be presented to Council as a Whole or that
a written report be provided. Mr. Reichard said that he thinks
that should be requested of Mr. Donchez of the Bethlehem Authority
and not the Administration. Mr. Donchez said we need to define
these lines and get a clear role of what the Authority does
and what the City does, there is too much gray. He said you
had Concord Financial, the financial arm of the Water Authority
and the financial arm of the City, there is Mr. Gibbons versus
Mr. Settley, and they work for the same firm. He said when
this final Strategic Report is completed these roles really
need to be clearly defined. Mr. Reichard said he did not know
a number until a reporter asked him after the board meeting
last week. He said he had no clue on the number, but vaguely
knew there was an interest rate rebate analysis going on.
He said he was not informed by anyone until the reporter asked
him.
Mr. Donchez said that he will make a written request from
the Bethlehem Authority that an update be provided to the
Public Works Committee Meeting in two weeks.
Joseph F. Leeson, Jr., said that he would like to echo Mr.
Donchez’s comments. He said for quite some time he has
been complaining about the transactions between the City and
the Authority, and said in his estimation there is a situation
of fuzzy math here. Either somebody’s in charge or nobody’s
in charge, and he said really it has gotten to the point of
being a big joke, as to what the Authority owes, what the
City owes the Authority, what the Authority owes the IRS,
and we can’t seem to get straight answers. Mr. Leeson
said even to this point in time, after having asked for months,
we still don’t have anything in writing as to what the
City owes the Authority, whether interest is owed on top of
that, and now the latest with this IRS issue. Mr. Leeson told
Mr. Reichard he is not blaming him personally, but we already
have had problems with the IRS years ago, and you would have
thought that the professionals that we deal with would have
gotten the message to keep a close eye on the finances and
if there is a problem with the IRS, deal with it promptly,
immediately, and if there is any fuzzy math involved, hire
the auditors who have the talent to get to the bottom of it.
Mr. Reichard responded that he doesn’t disagree with
his comments, but concerning what is owed the Authority, he
just got to a number but has not sat down with Ronald Donchez,
and the Board has not looked at the number to get back to
the Administration to say this is the number they think is
owed. He said Linnea Lazarchak, Director of Financial Services,
was working with the financial advisors on that two weeks
ago and it was said they thought they had the number, but
he has not gotten anything from the Authority on that. Mr.
Reichard repeated again that he had no clue whatsoever about
this number and that he found out from a reporter, and Mr.
Gibbons today said he disagreed with that the number, they
missed some document. Mr. Reichard agreed that for the past
couple years there has been a problem with the lines of authority
here and with who is in charge of what. Mr. Reichard said
the Authority has always just basically owned the system and
the bond issues were done through them. The City runs the
operation and pays the bills, and that is the way it was set
up. He said in reference to Mr. Donchez’s question,
he will not step on any toes or accuse anything of any Authority
Board members, the request will have to be made to the Authority,
it is their bond issues. They are the ones responsible for
it, they are the ones who had a financial advisor, they have
an auditor, and accountant, they have a Board, they have the
fiduciary responsibilities. They have to make the determination
of who is right, Mr. Gibbons or Mr. Huestis of PRAG.
Mr. Leeson said he feels it is getting to the point that
there needs to be a change of attitude on the part of Council
and the Administration. He said, again, it is nothing directed
personally to Mr. Reichard, he was talking about the City
as an institution, everybody. He said there needs to be a
change of philosophy and we need a change of thinking because
somebody needs to take charge of the finances and because
the City guarantees the Bethlehem Authority issues, everything
falls back on the City ultimately and reflects on the City.
He continued on by saying that he thinks the Administration
needs to look at stepping in and taking a more proactive role
going forward. He said in the past he agrees that the system
seemed to work for many years, but it is broken and doesn’t
know how it got that way, and there is no point in trying
to figure out how it got that way other than to know it is
now broken. He said it is not working and we need a new formula,
a new management structure. Mr. Leeson said maybe when David
Brong, Director of Water and Sewer Resources, comes out with
his recommendations financial overall responsibility will
be a component part, but something needs to be done to take
charge of what is going on here, and somebody needs to be
in the driver’s seat.
Mr. Reichard added that hopefully the Strategic Plan will
help solve that.
Jean Belinski commented that it was two years ago we hired
a full-time Executive Director for the Bethlehem Authority
and she would think that he shares some of the blame here.
She questioned whether he should have been looking over this.
Mr. Reichard said he doesn’t want to point fingers at
anybody because the arbitration rules are very tedious and
they are not easy. He said a few years ago we had to have
a spending schedule when we floated the equipment during Mayor
Cunningham’s term. We had to spend that interest within
a certain amount of time, principal and interests and within
a year had this certain amount of expenditure and so forth,
not to become eligible for any rebate back to the IRS. He
said it is very tedious, you have to know what you are doing.
He said he has learned that there are different rules for
issues above and below $5 million, you can’t make more
than yield depending on those years and the type of bond issue
you are floating. Mr. Reichard said one of the things that
Mr. Gibbons was telling him was missed was the $20 million
Pennvest was a taxable, that was missed in the calculation
and it has no arbitrage, and plus the $2.1 million negative
arbitrage was missed. He said that is what was told to him
by Mr. Gibbons, and asked Mr. Gibbons to get that immediately
to Mr. Donchez and Mr. Carlucci with a copy to the Administration.
Magdalena Szabo stated that during 2004 we had a lot of
discussions on bonds and what is due and not due and the financial
condition. She said that during every discussion she has found
less and less confidence in the companies that are taking
care of such issues. She thinks it was time the Bethlehem
Authority made the big decision to change their financial
advisors and time for us to do an evaluation and consider
that subject, too. Ms. Szabo said she hopes she is not the
only one who feels this way. She would like to seriously talk
about this, along with the Administration. Mr. Reichard noted
that the Bethlehem Authority did change financial advisors.
Mr. Leeson, in follow up to Ms. Szabo’s observations
which he said he endorses, said not to forget that the same
people who are now in controversy with the Authority are still
the City’s financial advisors. He said he hopes there
are not any more surprises from them. Mr. Leeson said he thinks
it is time to sit down and have a chat with these people unless
they are going to be replaced. He thinks they should be told
we have had enough of this and they have to get their act
together.
President Schweder, commenting that he did not think Council
would be able to get to the bottom of this in two weeks as
suggested, thought the question to ask either the Bond Counsel
or the financial advisors is where is the money, whether the
amount is $100,000 or $900,000. Mr. Reichard said he is not
sure and is trying to get all the facts, but what he was told
on Friday was that it was in the Bond Redemption and Improvement
Fund. Mr. Reichard said, again, these are just conversations
he has had, he did not receive any official correspondence
from Bethlehem Authority or from Concord. He said after many
conversations with many people, he does not yet have all the
pieces. He is waiting for memos and backup. President Schweder
said he thinks these are very important questions, whether
it was used for something else by the Administration, or by
the Authority, or if it’s sitting somewhere. He said
he would like Mr. Reichard to really question Mr. Carlucci
and the people at Concord that in each of these years when
these payments came due did they notify him as to what amount
had to be paid to the Authority to cover what was owed on
these bonds, and if so what were those figures. President
Schweder questioned who missed this along the way as part
of paying off what we were required to do and none of those
payments evidently were made. Mr. Reichard agreed and said
it is an analysis that is done based on the size of issue,
what the yield is, where it is invested, and all those calculations
need to be done. He said he thinks that the money is there,
it is in one of the funds, and said he was told it was not
used. Mr. Reichard said he has requested the total picture.
President Schweder said the concern is no matter what the
figure is, someone did not serve the City well. Mr. Reichard
agreed, saying the number should be $0, there should be no
monies rebated back to the IRS. Mr. Reichard said he is not
excusing anyone, this is not what we should be doing.
7. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Police Commissioner – Reimbursement for Police Training
The Acting Clerk read a memorandum dated January 11, 2005
from Francis R. Donchez, Jr., Police Commissioner, requesting
consideration of a resolution necessary to receive reimbursement
from the State for 60% of the salaries of Officers Brian K.
Quinn, Jon R. Buskirk, Chad W. Wasserman, Bradford E. Jones,
and Jeffrey J. Lutte for the 20 weeks they will be attending
the Allentown Police Academy.
President Schweder stated that authorizing Resolution 11
A is listed on the Agenda.
B. Director of Planning and Zoning – FAA Tower Proposal
on South Mountain
The Acting City Clerk read a memorandum dated January 14,
2005 from Darlene L. Heller, Director of Planning and Zoning,
concerning the matter of the proposed FAA Tower on South Mountain
which was referred to the Planning Commission from City Council
at their November 16, 2004 meeting for comments and recommendation.
The matter was discussed at both the December 9, 2004 and
January 13, 2005 Planning Commission meetings. The Planning
Commission made a motion at their January 13 meeting to recommend
that further review of these sites is needed before a final
determination can be made regarding whether Site 12 should
remain the preferred site. Specifically, the FAA should further
research the viability of sites 4 and 5, Home Research Center
and the Bethlehem Star site. The FAA must clarify whether
the proposed tower must be lit. The differences in the amount
of coverage between sites 4, 5 and 12 must be clarified. This
information is necessary before a determination can be made
about whether the proposed site is the best site for the tower
location.
President Schweder stated that along those lines, a letter
will be drafted by the City Clerk in conjunction with the
Administration to forward to the FAA which will be available
for review by Members of Council.
C. Assistant City Solicitor – Revisions to Article
925 – Stormwater Management Ordinance
The Acting Clerk read a memorandum dated January 15, 2005
from Joseph M. Kelly, Assistant City Solicitor, to which was
attached a proposed ordinance to delete the existing Article
925 and replace it with a new Article 925. Pursuant to recent
state and federal regulations, the City has a permit relating
to its Stormwater Management Plan. As part of the permit process,
the City adopted a protocol established by the Pa DEP. The
protocol requires the City to have in place a stormwater ordinance
which complies with the Clean Water Act. In an effort to help
municipalities, the Pa DEP developed a model ordinance, which
they strongly recommended that all municipalities adopt. The
model ordinance must be adopted by March 10, 2005 for the
City to stay in compliance with its DEP permit. The LVPC modified
the ordinance as part of its Act 167 Stormwater Management
Plan which the City is obligated to follow. The Pa DEP approved
the modifications proposed by the LVPC.
President Schweder referred the matter to the Public Works
Committee.
8 . REPORTS
A. President of Council
President Schweder requested the following Annual Report
be made part of the record.
“In 2004, City Council held over 37 Committee Meetings,
adopted 62 Ordinances, and passed 278 Resolutions.
The year 2004 began with a Special City Council Meeting to
fill the vacancy on City Council that was created when former
Council Member John B. Callahan was elected Mayor for the
remaining two years of the term of former Mayor Donald T.
Cunningham, Jr. for 2004 and 2005. At the Special City Council
Meeting on January 8, 2004, Council appointed Joseph F. Leeson,
Jr. to fill the vacant City Council seat until January 2,
2006.
City Council filed a Notice of Intervention in the Notice
of Land Use Appeal docketed at Lehigh County related to the
rezoning of 1001 Eighth Avenue, the former Durkee property,
from LI Light Industrial to IR Industrial Redevelopment and
RT Residential, that occurred in 2003. The appeals process
continues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania courts.
Action taken by City Council in 2004 included the following
Ordinances to rezone property: Rezoned Arden and Ravena Streets
from I Institutional to RG Residential; Rezoned Schoenersville
Road from PI Planned Industrial to CS Shopping Center, and
revised the Shopping Center District regulations; Rezoned
South Mountain from CS Shopping Center, RM Residential and
RG Residential to RR Residential.
Among the Bond Issues approved in 2004 were two of a historical
nature.
The first was a Bond Issue of $7.39 Million to fund the settlement
of the wrongful death lawsuit in the John Hirko case. City
Council voted to override Mayor Callahan’s veto of the
Ordinance containing Council’s debt service payment
schedule.
The second was a $35 Million Pension Bond to address the
City’s unfunded Pension Liability, following the enactment
of State legislation allowing municipalities to use this funding
vehicle.
Additional Bond Issues approved by City Council in 2004 were:
To finance General Fund Equipment of $366,120 and Sewer Capital
Projects in the amount of $2 million; and to approve the Refinancing
of the Bethlehem Authority’s 1994 Bond Issue in the
amount of $66,090,000.
Council took further action in connection with the $7.39 Hirko
lawsuit settlement. The Members of Council voted to allocate
tax revenues of ½ mill from 2005 through 2015 towards
payment of settlement costs, and to reduce General Fund expenses
by the amount of $200,000 for the years 2005 through 2015
for the purpose of paying towards the settlement. Related
actions were adoption of an Ordinance requiring the City to
maintain liability insurance coverage in the amount of $10
million; and, at the urging of Finance Committee Chairman
Donchez, Council adopted a Resolution requiring the Administration
to annually report to City Council on the types of insurance
coverages maintained by the City, in addition to notifying
City Council whenever insurance coverage is changed.
Other actions related to the City’s finances taken
by City Council in 2004 were: To amend the Firemen’s
Pension Fund and the Police Pension Fund, in accordance with
Union negotiated settlements, that provided for 70% pension
percentages after 25 years of service; to authorize the City’s
participation in the Pennsylvania Capital City Automotive
and Equipment Contract, administered by the City of Harrisburg,
to purchase supplies and services from the contract; to request
that the City’s independent auditors to conduct a forensic
accounting investigation of the bank accounts and financial
records of the former Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation;
to require that after January 1, 2006 no municipal bonds shall
be issued containing items that have a purchase price or cost
of less than $75,000 each, while providing for a temporary
suspension of the restriction by the affirmative vote of 5
Members of Council.
Following Finance Committee review, City Council adopted
Resolutions to obtain grants for: Acquisition of the Norfolk
Southern Railway in South Bethlehem in connection with implementation
of a greenway; support of the efforts of the Illick’s
Mill Foundation to restore the Illick’s Mill; continuation
of the South Side lighting project; and a study of North Side
neighborhoods that could be included in a revitalization program
called the Elm Street Program initiated by the State.
Several matters reviewed by the Parks and Public Property
Committee in 2004 were approved by City Council.
A portion of Johnston Park was leased to the Bethlehem Housing
Authority, and in turn the Authority assisted the City with
repairs to the stone walls in the Park.
A Resolution was adopted for a Use Permit Agreement for the
new Gaelic Sports Spectacular Event in May 2004.
The Committee learned about the conditions and playing field
arrangements at Saucon Park, and heard a proposal for the
hiring of a South Side Recreation Coordinator that was approved
in conjunction with the 2005 Budget.
A Lease agreement between the City and Norfolk Southern Railroad
for lease by the City of 1 mile of green space along the abandoned
railway lines in South Bethlehem to establish a greenway project
was explained to the Committee, and the agreement was revised
following the Committee’s questions.
Following the suggestion of Mr. Mowrer and review by the Committee,
City Council approved the renaming of the City Center Plaza
to Payrow Plaza to honor former Mayor H. Gordon Payrow, Jr.
City Council approved a Certificate of Appropriateness to
install a 16 inch square ceramic mosaic memorial in the ground
adjacent to the Serenity Garden in commemoration of the 40th
anniversary of the Sister City relationship between the City
of Bethlehem and Tondabayashi, Japan.
In matters reviewed by the Public Safety Committee, City
Council: adopted a Resolution to lease 520 Broadway for a
Police Substation to service the area; added the 900 block
of East Fifth Street to the Residential Permit Parking program;
and heard the Administration’s proposal to set the position
of Fire Inspector at the level of Lieutenant in an effort
to fill the present vacancies in Fire Inspector positions.
The Community Development Committee reviewed, and City Council
adopted, the new Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, set
the fees for enforcement of the new Code, and adopted requirements
and qualifications for individuals to obtain licenses to perform
electrical and plumbing work in the City.
The Committee heard an update on the programs conducted by
the City’s Health Bureau.
The LERTA Program for the Enterprise Development Area and
for the North Side Central Business District were Re-enacted
for another two year period.
In the area of Public Works, the Public Works Committee heard
a presentation on the strategic plan in connection with the
water system.
City Council adopted an Ordinance to authorize the purchase
of the City’s street lights in the amount of $5,115,000.
A Resolution was adopted to submit to the Department of Environmental
Protection for approval a revision to the City’s Official
Sewage Facilities Plan for the development of Bethlehem Commerce
Center so that it can be served by a sewer extension.
City Council approved several Resolutions in conjunction
with the $1.8 million project for replacement of the Paint
Mill Bridge to authorize execution of agreements with PPL
for relocation of electric facilities, with UGI pertaining
to gas lines, and a Federal Aid Reimbursement Agreement to
reimburse the City for 95% of the costs.
The Human Resources and Environment Committee recommended
and City Council approved a Resolution amending Rule 3 B of
the Rules of Council to institute a time limit of twelve minutes
for individuals who address City Council under Courtesy of
the Floor.
Following the Committee’s review and recommendation,
City Council adopted the new Pennsylvania Food Code.
Several Committee of the Whole Meetings were held in 2004
including meetings: to receive a presentation on the Watershed
Management Plan; to hear the results of a Study on the Five
Points Traffic issue; to review the Five Year Capital Plan
for 2005 through 2009.”
B. Mayor
1. Administrative Order – Bryan L. Ritter – Codes
Board of Appeals
Acting Mayor Dennis Reichard read Mayor Callahan’s
Administrative Order appointing Bryan L. Ritter to the Codes
Board of Appeals effective until December 2005. Mr. Donchez
and Mr. Arcelay sponsored Resolution 14,548 to confirm the
appointment.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Mr.
Leeson, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 6. The Resolution passed.
2. Administrative Order – Mary Wright – Fine
Arts Commission
Acting Mayor Dennis Reichard read Mayor Callahan’s
Administrative Order appointing Mary Wright to the Fine Arts
Commission effective until November 2007. Ms. Szabo and Mr.
Donchez sponsored Resolution 14,549 to confirm the appointment.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Mr.
Leeson, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 6. The Resolution passed.
3. Administrative Order – Constantine Loupos –
Zoning Hearing Board
Acting Mayor Dennis Reichard read Mayor Callahan’s
Administrative Order reappointing Constantine Loupos to the
Zoning Hearing Board effective until January 2008. Ms. Szabo
and Mr. Donchez sponsored Resolution 14,550 to confirm the
appointment.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Mr.
Leeson, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 6. The Resolution passed.
4. Administrative Order – Ruth Sigmon – Fine
Arts Commission
Acting Mayor Dennis Reichard read Mayor Callahan’s
Administrative Order reappointing Ruth Sigmon to the Fine
Arts Commission effective until August 2007. Mr. Donchez and
Mr. Arcelay sponsored Resolution 14,551 to confirm the appointment.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Mr.
Leeson, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 6. The Resolution passed.
5. Administrative Order – Donald Spieth – Fine
Arts Commission
Acting Mayor Dennis Reichard read Mayor Callahan’s
Administrative Order reappointing Donald Spieth to the Fine
Arts Commission effective until January 2005. Mr. Donchez
and Mr. Arcelay sponsored Resolution 14,552 to confirm the
appointment.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Mr.
Leeson, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 6. The Resolution passed.
6. Administrative Order – John J. Tallarico –
Bethlehem Authority
Acting Mayor Dennis Reichard read Mayor Callahan’s
Administrative Order reappointing John J. Tallarico to the
Bethlehem Authority effective until January 2010. Mr. Donchez
and Mr. Arcelay sponsored Resolution 14,553 to confirm the
appointment.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Ms.
Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 5. The Resolution passed.
7. Administrative Order – Peter Wolle – Board
of Historical and Architectural Review
Acting Mayor Dennis Reichard read Mayor Callahan’s
Administrative Order reappointing Peter Wolle to the Board
of Historical and Architectural Review effective until January
2010. Mr. Arcelay and Ms. Szabo sponsored Resolution 14,554
to confirm the appointment.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Ms.
Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 5. The Resolution passed.
9. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE
None.
10. NEW ORDINANCES
None.
11. RESOLUTIONS
A. Requesting Reimbursement – Police Trainig
Mr. Arcelay and Mr. Donchez sponsored Resolution 14,555
which authorized the City to obtain reimbursement of monies
for expenses incurred for Officers Brian Quinn, John Buskirk,
Chad Wasserman, Bradford Jones, and Jeffrey Lutte pursuant
to the training provisions of the Municipal Police Officers’
Education and Training Act, and agreeing that while receiving
funds from the Commonwealth pursuant to said Act, the City
shall adhere to the rules established by the Commission.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Mr.
Lesson, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 6. The Resolution passed.
B. Authorizing Execution of Amendment No. 1 to Lease Agreement
– Golf Course Clubhouse – Mali’s Café,
LLC
Mr. Arcelay and Ms. Szabo sponsored Resolution 14,556 which
authorized the Mayor and the Controller to execute Amendment
No. 1 to Lease Agreement between the City of Bethlehem and
Mali’s Café, LLC for use of the Golf Course Clubhouse
Restaurant for operation of the restaurant with a liquor license
for the renewal term of two years, beginning on March 1, 2005
and ending on February 28, 2007.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Mr.
Leeson, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 6. The Resolution passed.
President Schweder, referring to Certificate of Appropriateness
11 D, 415 North New Street, said he does not recall minor
changes to the back of a house normally being reviewed. Ms.
Heller, stating she is not familiar with the case, said that
on the north side anything that is visible from the public
right-of-way is reviewed, which includes a street in the rear,
for example rear garages.
Considering Resolutions As A Group
Mrs. Belinski and Mr. Arcelay moved to consider Resolutions
11 C through 11 F as a group.
Voting AYE: Mr. Arcelay, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Mr.
Leeson, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 6. The motion passed.
C. Certificate of Appropriateness – 423 Heckewelder
Place
Mr. Arcelay and Ms. Szabo sponsored Resolution 14,557 which
granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install flags
at the Bach Choir Office at 423 Heckewelder Place.
D. Certificate of Appropriateness – 415 North New Street
Mr. Arcelay and Ms. Szabo sponsored Resolution 14,558 which
granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install windows
at 415 North New Street.
E. Certificate of Appropriateness – 123 East Church
Street
Mr. Arcelay and Ms. Szabo sponsored Resolution 14,559 which
granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a screen
door and replace a bulkhead basement door at 123 East Church
Street.
F. Certificate of Appropriateness – 79-81 West Broad
Street
Mr. Arcelay and Ms. Szabo sponsored Resolution 14,560 which
granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to alter the exterior
of the Arcade Building at 79-81 West Broad Street.
Mr. Donchez stated that he understands that within the last
four to five weeks that work was being done on the property,
that permits were not pulled and there was an order to stop
all work according to an email he received from Tony Hanna,
Director of Community and Economic Development. Mr. Donchez
questioned if everything was within the law and if all the
permits were now pulled. Ms. Heller said the work was stopped
and there was a recommendation from the Historical and Architectural
Review Board to get approval for the work that they want to
do there. She said they do have to go back with some minor
things, she believes signage and something else. Ms. Heller
said she thinks this recommendation includes the work within
the sidewalk that was originally the issue. Mr. Donchez asked
if they still have to go back to HARB. She responded yes,
on some minor things on signage. She said everything wasn’t
approved, but this allows them to go ahead with the work on
the sidewalk. Mr. Donchez then asked if everything up until
this point now is within the law and if all permits were pulled.
Ms. Heller said she doesn’t know whether or not they
pulled what they needed for building permits because they
would go to HARB first, and if a building permit is necessary,
they will need to go to the permit department and make sure
that everything also complies with the building code. Mr.
Donchez asked if she would get back to him on that.
President Schweder, as a follow up, commented that there
hasn’t been a situation like this for a while where
somebody just went ahead and did something. He said some time
ago there were a rash of these where people went ahead and
asked if anything has been done to change the enforcement.
Ms. Heller responded not to her knowledge and generally what
they try to do is bring them into compliance. There are no
penalties built into the ordinance unless they don’t
come into compliance.
Voting AYE on Resolutions 11 C through 11 F: Mr. Arcelay,
Mrs. Belinski, Mr. Donchez, Ms. Szabo, and Mr. Schweder, 5.
The Resolutions passed.
12. NEW BUSINESS
Letter – FAA Tower
Ms. Szabo asked what purpose the letter to the FAA concerning
placement of a tower on South Mountain will serve, does it
do any good, will we get any action or response, or is this
a dead issue and they are going to go ahead and do what they
want to do. President Schweder answered that he cannot guarantee
that any action will be taken by the FAA, but certainly believes
that if both the Planning Commission and the elected City
Council ask them, at least, to do a review of all these locations,
it would be his hope that they would adhere to this and it
would be his recommendation that we would send copies of the
letter to Congressman Dent as well as the two United States
Senators, and make them aware of our concerns as a City with
respect to that and we will follow up with those offices as
well. Ms. Szabo asked what purpose a resolution would serve.
President Schweder said really nothing more. Ms. Szabo questioned
whether he thought we would get a response. President Schweder
said he thinks we will get a response, whether it’s
the one we want, he doesn’t know, but thinks that what
we are doing is trying to go on record as saying we would
like them to further review this. President Schweder said
that the letter will be available for review by Members of
Council.
Mrs. Belinski commented that the rumor is that the Environmental
Advisory Committee, Lower Saucon, is very upset, and if the
FAA persists and say they are going to put it up on Lower
Saucon’s property, their alternative is to take them
to court and sue them.
Ms. Szabo added that there would more destruction on the
top of the mountain and the mountainside. She thinks people
shouldn’t fool around and cut down all the trees, cutting
down acres. Mrs. Belinski said it would be two acres to put
it in the Lower Saucon site, and they are very much against
it.
13. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
Tree Removal – Ontario Street
Eddie Rodriguez, 436 Pawnee Street, thanked Michael Alkhal
and Charles Brown concerning work done on Ontario Street.
He said he would appreciate if in the future anybody doing
any jobs for the City, whether contractors or contracted by
the City, that they clean up after each other because a mess
was left after they took down those trees. He said the same
thing happened at Madison Park. When the City crews put the
paving on City streets he would hope they follow up. He said
the job was not done property.
Daly Avenue – Debris
Mr. Rodriguez asked if the Daly Avenue area is where a greenway
is supposed to be erected. President Schweder responded not
the entire length of that but he thought it would be out to
the Minsi Trail Bridge. Mr. Rodriguez asked if that area could
be looked at. He said there is a lot of junk, rocks, boulders,
bricks. He thinks it is a dangerous situation, some of those
properties are in danger of the land eroding and he thought
maybe a retaining wall could be erected.
Financial Matters
Mr. Rodriguez commented, regarding finances, that he thinks
someone is messing up, and he thinks this is wrong. He said
that is why there are City officials supposedly doing their
job and it is costing City taxpayers a lot of money. Mr. Rodriguez
said he thinks the City is getting a bad reputation. Mr. Rodriguez
said somebody has to report to City Council, the governing
body. He said he thinks City Council is bright and knowledgeable,
and not to be fooled.
Litter
Mr. Rodriguez said there is a lot of litter, especially
on the South Side from the railroad crossing all the way out
to Third Street and at the back of Daly Avenue. He said something
needs to be done before it starts entering, which it already
does, into the Five Points area. He said when it starts coming
into the North Side, nobody will like it. He said somebody
needs to be penalized and fined because there are ordinances.
Mr. Rodriguez said he makes calls to the Mayor’s office
almost every other day in reference to it.
FAA Tower – South Mountain
Tom Maxfield, Lower Saucon Township Council, thanked Council
for its consideration of the FAA tower matter which is a very
important thing to the Township and also to thank the Planning
Commission’s consideration and Council’s referral
to them. Mr. Maxfield said the communication is an important
piece for Lower Saucon. He said they met today with Lehigh
University and it seems they are finding more holes in the
information that was presented to them. There were things
that were claimed about Lehigh University that Lehigh has
no knowledge of. He said the issue for Lower Saucon is becoming
more and more questionable. Mr. Maxfield thanked City Council
for their participation.
Susan Yerger, Lower Saucon Township Council, also thanked
City Council for their consideration. She asked that Council
support Darlene Heller’s letter and the Planning Commission’s
recommendation. Ms. Yerger said she thinks it is important
that the FAA hears from Bethlehem as well as Lower Saucon
and would like to see a joint effort in having the FAA be
held accountable for this important project for both municipalities.
President Schweder thanked them both for coming to the meeting
and stated that Council will do whatever they can to assist
Lower Saucon Township.
Financial Situation
Dean Bruch, 625 Hawthorne Road, asked why the Bethlehem
Authority got rid of the first financial advisor and asked
whether they anticipated trouble. President Schweder responded
that neither Dennis Reichard or himself could answer that
question. Mr. Bruch said he would like a letter sent to him
by someone who has the authority to know why. Mr. Bruch asked
if the City of Bethlehem owned the Authority’s land.
Mr. Reichard said the Authority owns it, it has always been
set up that way. Mr. Bruch asked if the City sets up an authority
is there money exchanged. Mr. Leeson said that years ago there
were restrictions on the ability of Third Class Cities to
borrow money, for example during the 1960’s borrowing
for City Hall, they had to form an authority to get around
certain borrowing limits. He said over time those borrowing
restrictions have been relaxed but the Bethlehem Authority
was set up before those legal restrictions were relaxed. It
was designed to circumvent the law, and it was a legal way
to do it. Mr. Leeson said as part of the plan you had to give
the Authority title to the property in order for them to go
out and borrow the money and pledge the assets of the water
system as security for the loan. He said it is a system we
have had for 50 to 60 years, if not longer, and until recently
the system worked well. Mr. Leeson said he felt there was
universal agreement now that the system is no longer working.
He said he thinks some mistakes were made on the part of professional
advisors, and we need to get to the bottom of it and have
somebody take charge of the whole system.
Mr. Bruch asked if the Authority could go bankrupt. Mr.
Leeson said any municipal agency can go bankrupt, but did
not think that was going to happen. Mr. Bruch asked who is
responsible for the money then, and then stated it becomes
the City’s again. Mr. Bruch stated he “can’t
believe how many crooks” there are. Mr. Leeson said
he did not agree with that. Mr. Bruch added that this is getting
unmanageable. Mr. Bruch, referring to a newspaper article,
asked how close the City is getting to a similar financial
condition. President Schweder said he hopes not close. Mr.
Bruch added that residents like himself have no weight except
at the voting booth.
Certificate of Appropriateness – 79-81 West Broad
Street
Lisa Villani, 79-81 West Broad Street, stated that no building
permit was required for the work at the building, no permit
was required for the work immediately planned, the only permit
required was an excavation permit which was issued by the
Engineering Department on August 17, 2004. On December 3 the
work was not stopped. A building inspector came by at noon
after plumbing and electrical permits were pulled that morning
and asked what was going on. At 3:00 PM she said they had
a meeting and showed the plans to renovate the building. She
said the people from the City were supportive and they were
told they did not need a building permit at that point. She
said the work was never stopped except for between noon and
3:00 PM. Ms. Villani said the Morning Call article was wrong,
all the items they asked for were approved. She added that
there was also a meeting with Christine Ussler, Historic Officer,
concerning certain building materials.
FAA Tower – South Mountain
William Scheirer, 1890 Eaton Avenue, said that Mr. Maxfield
informed him that Lehigh University this afternoon told them
that they have no recollection of ever denying access to any
part of their land. He said they do have documentation that
granted access to the FAA for anywhere on Lehigh University’s
property. Mr. Scheirer asked if the letter being sent will
convey the sense of the Council that more information is required
on this. President Schweder responded that is his intent.
Bethlehem Authority
Stephen Antalics, 737 Ridge Street, referring to the Bethlehem
Authority matter, said in 1937 the City turned over to the
Bethlehem Authority ownership of the whole water system. He
said the Authority does own the water system and the City
leases it. As he has alluded to in the past six months, Mr.
Antalics said to define the lines, Authority versus Administration,
who takes charge. In the past, amounts of monies have been
lost by timbering, we looked for timber it wasn’t there,
we lost water and paid for consultants and there were cross
purposes in responsibilities. He said he has suggested to
Council to delineate responsibilities. We have a system working
on a very poor foundation. Administration, Authority and Council
are all concerned with the same problems but the bottom line
is the taxpayer pays for indiscretions of any one of the three.
He said the problems have existed for the last number of years
and will continue until the issue is addressed. City Council
on two previous ordinances expanded the life of the Bethlehem
Authority, so they do have the power to shut down the Authority.
In 1967 the State of Pennsylvania decided to eliminate the
Authority idea because they were a scapegoat and a necessary
evil which ceased to have need, but they didn’t because
of lobbies. City Council, if they wish to solve this problem,
can do that by passing an ordinance to retire the Authority
and put the entire water system within the Administration
with full responsibility, or put the Authority as a full operating
authority like the Parking Authority. He said he has suggested
this at earlier meetings, but the problem continues because
the root cause is not being looked at. He said the root cause
is the system is based on a faulty foundation which by definition
cannot work because of general delineation of responsibility.
Mr. Antalics said you have $250,000 here, $900,000 here, $37,000
here, and who is paying the bill, we are. He said the seven
Members of Council have the responsibility to solve the problem
if they have the initiative to look for the solution. He said
to dissolve the Authority, by ordinance, or give the Authority
full control and take water out of the Administration, or
he said, the best solution, would be to privatize. He said
in the corporate privatized structure none of this would ever
happen because heads would roll. Mr. Antalics said at the
Authority meeting when this came out, there was shock, and
the proper questions were not asked. In the corporate structure
when you don’t show a return to your stockholders, answers
have to be made or somebody goes. He said someone has to decide
what we are going to do. The taxpayers have a financial burden
because of mismanagement, but no one knows who is mismanaging.
Mr. Antalics said pass an ordinance to retire the Authority,
put the entire water system within the Administration under
the jurisdiction of the Mayor, or privatize, but something
has to change. It is only going to get worse, from loss of
timber to loss of water, to what we are seeing today, because
no one is taking responsibility. He suggests Council, as the
elected representatives, take responsibility for that.
John Tallarico, 274 Wedgewood Road, thanked City Council
for appointing him for another term on the Authority. He said
he has served for less than year, and agrees that the house
is not in order. He said they are managing $144 million in
debt and that in itself is a job, the numbers are staggering.
He said they do not control the revenue side nor are they
in the position to, that is the Administration’s expertise.
He said what it comes down to is an enormous amount of cooperation
between the Authority and the Administration, primarily Engineering.
He said he sees them moving forward in the right direction
as far as the filtration plant. He said it is going to be
a tough couple of years. Mr. Tallarico, referring to Mr. Bruch’s
question concerning changing the financial advisor, said that
in moving forward they felt there were some issues as far
as dealing with Concord as both the Authority and the City’s
financial advisor, that there were some conflict issues. Mr.
Tallarico feels he can honestly say that their work is cut
out for them, there are really great people on the Board who
are very passionate about straightening things out. He said
they are looking forward to moving ahead and are optimistic
even though it is an enormous amount of debt. He said they
are strictly limited to the finance end of it, some bonds
might have to be restructured to spread out the payments,
and those are the areas they have to concentrate on. Mr. Tallarico
said the timbering and other things should be addressed by
the City because they have the facilities and staff to do
that. He said he looks forward to serving over the next few
years.
Mr. Leeson thanked Mr. Tallarico for his service. He said
that remarks made during the discussion that occurred tonight
were not a reflection on the board members, but thought some
important questions were asked and there needs to be answers.
Mr. Tallarico agreed, and said he did not know if those original
numbers will hold, but said if it is $100,000, it is $100,000
too much. He said some of these arbitrage go back to 1999.
He said this is another reason why there is a new financial
advisor, to get another opinion. Mr. Leeson suggested that
the Authority’s solicitor be commissioned to conduct
an investigation to determine if there is any professional
liability on the part of any of the professional advisors.
Mr. Leeson said there shouldn’t be an arbitrage problem
in the first place. One of the cardinal rules professional
advisors go through in training is that arbitrage issues should
be avoided. He said after reading the press over the last
few years, every single government agency that got involved
in arbitrage, got themselves involved in a mess. He said he
has never in his thirteen to fourteen years of being associated
with the City ever heard of anybody endorsing the concept,
much less ever wanting to even get close to it. Mr. Leeson
said that the idea that we even have this is a shock to everybody
involved. He encouraged Mr. Tallarico to get to the bottom
of it and ask the solicitor to investigate it, and to share
those findings with the City. Mr. Leeson then asked Mr. Tallarico
if the $144 million is just the principal debt, that doesn’t
include interest. Mr. Tallarico said yes that is the principal.
Mr. Leeson then said he believed that the principal indebtedness
combined with the interest puts the number to over $300 million
at this point in time, which he said he thinks is an all time
high. Mr. Tallarico said it is an all time high and the job
of the Authority is to manage debt. He said he is very confident
in the new financial advisor, who were put in a tough position
with this arbitrage. Mr. Tallarico said it is an enormous
responsibility. He said they cannot control the revenue stream,
that is what the City has to do. He said the strategic plan
and everything has to work together if it is going to get
better, and they are optimistic.
Support of Dana Grubb
Mr. Antalics, referring to an article in the Morning Call
concerning the former Deputy Director of Community Development,
communicated that bothered him, the demonizing of a person
who has been very supportive of the City, had been a gentleman
to him and supplied him with information whenever he asked,
and was very free with that and took the time, and there are
people on Council who look at him in the fine light also.
What he read today, really disturbs him very deeply and said
there are options like letters to the Editor, statements to
people like them, saying what you really think of that gentleman
to get a balance, so the public who only makes judgments about
what they read at this point see a demon. He thinks that is
very unfair. Mr. Antalics suggested that supporting the former
Deputy Director would be a fine gesture, from gentleman to
gentleman.
City Debt
Chuck Nyul, 1966 Pinehurst Road, referred to last year’s
$7 million bond issue for the Hirko case, $35 million bond
for pension program, $6 million above last year’s budget,
all the things Council passed last year, including the budget
that was just passed. Mr. Schweder said, for the record, he
did not vote for any of those. Mr. Nyul said $94 million of
taxation was passed for the City of Bethlehem.
Moravian Village
Mr. Nyul related a story concerning a person who bought
an apartment at the Moravian Village who is not happy about
gambling on the South Side. Mr. Nyul said he does not think
gambling is going to make it in the City of Bethlehem.
FAA Tower
Mr. Nyul said he is in the flight pattern of Lehigh Valley
International Airport and he feels that a FAA tower is needed
on the mountain for the entire Lehigh Valley, not just for
the City of Bethlehem. He said this is a Lehigh Valley situation.
Van Bittner Hall – Parking
Mr. Nyul, focusing on parking for City Hall, suggested City
Hall move its whole complex to Martin Towers where there would
be ample parking, and thinks this is a good time to do this.
Selling Water
Mr. Nyul suggested someone in the Authority sell bottled
water to make money for the City.
LVIP Safety Record
Mr. Scheirer said the Airport has compiled its exemplary
safety record for the radar tower on the airport property.
Support for Dana Grubb
Mr. Scheirer said there have been many positive aspects
of his returning to Bethlehem within the past two years and
one of the most positive has been the opportunity to get to
know Dana Grubb.
Comments Concerning the Bethlehem Authority
Mr. Bruch apologized to Mr. Tallarico for his remarks against
Bethlehem Authority.
14. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
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