Council MInutes
BETHLEHEM CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATIONAL
MEETING
OLD COUNCIL
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 – 7:00
PM
10 East Church Street - Town Hall
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1. INVOCATION
2. PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
3. ROLL CALL
President Donchez called the meeting to order. Father Anthony
Mongiello, of St. Anne’s Church, offered the invocation
which was followed by the pledge to the flag. Present were
Jean Belinski, David T. DiGiacinto, Karen Dolan, Eric R. Evans,
Gordon B. Mowrer, J. William Reynolds, and Robert J. Donchez,
7.
CITATIONS
Citation - Honoring Gordon B. Mowrer
President Donchez presented a Citation honoring Gordon B.
Mowrer as a Member of Council from 2004 through 2011, and
previously from 1972 to 1974, in addition to serving as Mayor
from 1974 to 1978 and 1987 to 1988. The Members of Council
and the assembly applauded Mr. Mowrer and expressed their
sincere appreciation for his years of service on City Council
and to the community, and wished him well for the future.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Minutes of December 21, 2011 were approved.
5. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (for public comment on ordinances
and resolutions to be voted on by Council this evening)
Council Member Gordon Mowrer
Stephen Antalics, 737 Ridge Street, stated that Gordon Mowrer,
Member of Council, is truly a gentleman. Mr. Antalics observed
that on issues that have come up with very diverse opposing
opinions Council Member Mowrer had the ability to objectify
everything he said politically or otherwise, and never made
it subjective. Mr. Antalics remarked that Mr. Mowrer would
look at the person he was speaking to in an objective way,
and respect that person as an individual. Mr. Antalics added
that he and Mr. Mowrer had discussions on issues, especially
the five minute time limit rule for the public to address
Council. Mr. Antalics communicated that Mr. Mowrer was always
very polite and pleased to see him which he finds a very rare
talent. Mr. Antalics expressed that he has the deepest respect
for Mr. Mowrer, and added that he will be missed by the City.
6. OLD BUSINESS
None.
7. COMMUNICATIONS
None.
8 . REPORTS
A. President of Council
1. Councilmanic Appointment – Irene Follweiler –
Recreation Commission
President Donchez appointed Irene Follweiler to membership
on the Recreation Commission to fill the unexpired term of
Loretta Leeson, effective until January 2014. Mrs. Belinski
and Mr. DiGiacinto sponsored Resolution 2012-1 to confirm
the appointment.
Voting AYE: Mrs. Belinski, Mr. DiGiacinto, Ms. Dolan, Mr.
Evans, Mr. Mowrer, Mr. Reynolds, and Mr. Donchez, 7. The Resolution
passed.
2. Annual Report
President Donchez summarized his Annual Report for 2011.
The 2011 Annual Report of the President of Council follows:
City Council conducted more than 23 Committee meetings, adopted
41 Ordinances, and passed 218 Resolutions in 2011.
Ordinances adopted in 2011 included:
- Guaranteed Lease Revenue Bonds in the amount of $17,805,000
- Requiring candidates to file a copy of Campaign Finance
Reports to be put on the City’s website
- Replacing the Emergency Alarm Systems Ordinance along
with Fees
- Establishing a separate account under Council’s
control for tax proceeds for public safety related projects
- Approval of the establishment of the Bethlehem Human Relations
Commission
City Council re-enacted and amended the Earned Income Tax
Ordinance and adopted a Resolution required to establish conformity
with the Local Tax Enabling Act, to appoint and designate
a liaison between the City, Northampton Tax Collection Committee
and Keystone Collections Group to collect EIT taxes for the
City of Bethlehem. Similar ordinances and resolutions were
passed by all municipalities and school districts located
within Northampton County.
The Police and Firemen’s Pension Fund Ordinances were
revised to comply with various pension fund and IRS regulations.
Various fees were approved in 2011 for Police and Fire exams,
funeral processions, and fire safety and code enforcement
inspection fees.
Council authorized the application and Cooperation Agreement
for ArtsQuest to obtain funds from the Redevelopment Assistance
Capital Grant Program (RACP) of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
to be passed through the City in the amount of $2,000,000
for the purpose of assisting ArtsQuest in the construction
of the Festival Center at SteelStacks.
Authorization was also given for a Lease Agreement between
ArtsQuest and the Redevelopment Authority for lease by ArtsQuest
of property at the Bethlehem Works Redevelopment Area in the
TIF District for the Visitors Center, Levitt Pavilion, and
SteelStacks public plazas.
The Resolution approved by Council between the City and ArtsQuest
for Musikfest in 2011 included a new site at the SteelStacks
area on the South Side for the first time.
Approval was given for an application for an Economic Development
Liquor License for at 1223 West Broad Street for the new Mint
Restaurant, and Council approved Resolutions to file required
forms to obtain financial assistance for Tropical Storm Lee
and Hurricane Irene.
Resolutions were adopted that approved a grant application
to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
for the Monocacy Creek Dam Removal project, and an application
to PennVest for financing sewer system projects.
City Council adopted the Historic Preservation Plan in 2011,
and authorized the Agreement for the purchase of the East
Allen Township water system.
Authorization was given for a Use Permit Agreement for the
first VegFest that took place along the Greenway in the Fall.
A Resolution was adopted that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness
for a two story addition at the rear of the Kemerer Museum
for a collection storage facility to house thousands of artifacts.
Council authorized its Solicitor, Attorney Christopher Spadoni,
to enter his appearance for City Council and to intervene
in the Zoning Appeal to object to a residential treatment
facility application for 111 Dewberry Avenue.
City Council authorized the execution of an Intergovernmental
Agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation and the City for the State Route 378 project
to implement revised pavement markings and signing to re-establish
parking on the east side of Route 378 from Broadway and Dakotah
Streets to Third Street and Delaware Avenue, and to remove
the left turn lane.
City Council conducted several meetings to review the proposed
new Zoning Ordinance, and final review will take place during
2012.
In Council’s approval of the 2012 CDBG and HOME Programs
last November, funding was provided towards the development
of affordable apartments units at the site of St. Stanislaus
Church in South Bethlehem.
In adopting the 2012 Budget, City Council approved Renovation
of the former Dewberry Avenue Fire Station for an EMS Facility
and of the EMS Center on Stefko Boulevard. Personnel changes
were approved for several Departments, and an Energy Savings
Project was presented by the Administration in conjunction
with the 2012 Budget.
Following review of the Rules of Council by the Special Council
Committee, the Members approved amendments to the Rules of
Council and procedures for nomination and election of the
President and Vice President of Council.
B. Mayor
None.
9. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE
None.
10. NEW ORDINANCES
None.
11. RESOLUTIONS
A. Certificate of Appropriateness – 10 West Fourth
Street
Mr. DiGiacinto and Mrs. Belinski sponsored Resolution 2012-2
that approved a Certificate of Appropriateness to construct
an addition at 10 West Fourth Street.
Voting AYE: Mrs. Belinski, Mr. DiGiacinto, Ms. Dolan, Mr.
Evans, Mr. Mowrer, Mr. Reynolds, and Mr. Donchez, 7. The Resolution
passed.
12. NEW BUSINESS
None.
13. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
Various Issues
Nancy Matuczinski, 716 Sixth Avenue, Apartment 12, noted
she found out through her neighbors that Mayor Callahan is
ordering a fee for Police escorts for funeral processions.
Stressing that citizens pay taxes and service fees to the
City for all of the services for all of their lives, Ms. Matuczinski
remarked now there will be a fee of $150 for deceased people
on their way to the burial site. Ms. Matuczinski, emphasizing
that she has great respect for Police Officers because they
have a dangerous job, pointed out that a Police Officer is
paid a wage whether they escort a funeral procession or arrest
someone. Ms. Matuczinski said she does not see why there should
be a $150 fee for a Police escort. Ms. Matuczinski thought
that all appointed and elected politicians and government
employees should be forced to take a gross permanent 10% pay
cut, should pay half or all of their medical insurance premiums,
and cut out all perks. Ms. Matuczinski added she thinks this
should be for all levels of Government, Federal, State and
Local, and all branches of Government, Executive, Legislative,
and Judicial. Ms. Matuczinski, turning to parking matters,
said she does not understand why there is angled parking on
Main Street by the Moravian Book Shop. She thought this was
dangerous and said she expects to see a horrendous accident
one day with people coming off the bridge and from Church
Street. Ms. Matuczinski, turning to leaf collection and snow
removal this year, asserted the leaf collection was horrible
and remarked she can just imagine what the snow removal will
be like. Expressing the hope that people will not be fined
for putting buckets and chairs in places that they shoveled,
Ms. Matuczinski stressed if the City did their job correctly
people would not have to do this. She asserted that the streets
should be cleaned curb to curb down to the macadam for the
leaves and snow. Ms. Matuczinski, congratulating all of the
people coming into the new City Council, asked them to remember
that they are public servants to the citizens of the City
of Bethlehem, not slaves or royalty.
Council Member Gordon Mowrer
Robert Pfenning, 2830 Linden Street, stated that he wishes
Council Member Gordon Mowrer well and added that he enjoyed
watching him serve on Council. Noting they have not always
agreed on issues, Mr. Pfenning said Council Member Mowrer
was very respectful and is his own man. Mr. Pfenning related
that Mr. Mowrer is a principled man which is a quality that
people could use more of.
Mary Pongracz, 321 W. Fourth Street, noted that she has
known Council Member Mowrer a long time, and added and that
his father was the owner of the Dairy. Ms. Pongracz expressed
it is very encouraging to see that a family like the Mowrers
have given so much back to the community from the grandparents
to Council Member Mowrer’s father, to his brother, and
also his children. Ms. Pongracz remarked that too often in
the world today people forget that we only survive as a community
when we act and live as a community with respect for each
other. Ms. Pongracz, pointing out she has been voting since
1951 and as seen a lot, stated that Mr. Mowrer is the epitome
of what a politician should be. He is well educated, well
informed and well intentioned.
John Morganelli, 835 Barnsdale Road, thanked Council Member
Mowrer for all of his years of service to the community. He
added that Mr. Mowrer’s first campaign for Mayor of
Bethlehem in 1969 was when Mr. Morganelli was 13 years old,
and was the first political campaign he got involved with
as a young Democrat. Mr. Morganelli recalled working for Mr.
Mowrer in the race against Gordon Payrow, the incumbent Mayor.
Mr. Morganelli remarked that he was heartbroken the night
that Mr. Mowrer lost that close race. Four years later in
1973, Mr. Mowrer came back and won a Council seat in 1971.
Mr. Morganelli recounted that in 1977 his best friend’s
father, Paul Marcincin, decided to run so he then worked against
Mr. Mowrer’s election because Mr. Marcincin was like
a father to him. Mr. Morganelli, expressing that he learned
from Mr. Mowrer, related that the night of the election when
Mr. Mowrer lost he came personally to Paul Marcincin’s
campaign headquarters to congratulate him. Mr. Morganelli
remembered watching Mr. Mowrer be gracious in defeat and it
was a lesson to him. After Mayor Marcincin was taken out of
office after a legal decision on term limits of the Mayor,
Mr. Morganelli noted he was the Council Solicitor and was
part of the plan to bring back Mr. Mowrer as interim Mayor.
Mr. Morganelli added that when he ran his campaign for District
Attorney, Mr. Mowrer was there to help him. He added that
he respects Mr. Mowrer, and learned that in politics there
are winners and losers. Mr. Morganelli communicated that he
has won and lost elections and has tried to follow the model
of Mr. Mowrer which is to be gracious in defeat as in victory.
Mr. Morganelli wished Mr. Mowrer well and many years of pleasure
watching from the sidelines, and coming back occasionally
to give wisdom and advice.
14. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned sine die at 7:45 p.m.
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