Bethlehem Council MInutes

BETHLEHEM CITY COUNCIL MEETING
10 East Church Street – Town Hall
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, July 2, 2013 – 7:00 PM

INVOCATION

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

Rabbi Seth W. Goren, Associate Chaplain at Lehigh University, offered the invocation which was followed by the pledge to the flag.

1. ROLL CALL

Acting President J. William Reynolds called the meeting to order. Present were Jean Belinski, Karen Dolan, Robert J. Donchez, Michael D. Recchiuti, and J. William Reynolds, 5. Absent were David T. DiGiacinto and Eric R. Evans, 2.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Minutes of June 18, 2013 were approved.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

4. OLD BUSINESS.

A. Old Business – Members of Council

None.

B. Tabled Items

None.

C. Unfinished Business

None.

5. COMMUNICATIONS

A. President of Council – Repealing Article 112 – Campaign Finance Reports

The Clerk read a memorandum dated June 20, 2013 from Eric R. Evans, President of Council, to which was attached a proposed Ordinance to repeal Article 112 – Campaign Finance Reports.

Acting President Reynolds noted that the proposed Ordinance could be considered on First Reading at the July 16, 2013 City Council Meeting.

Ms. Dolan commented this is something that should be looked at more closely before being repealed. Mentioning some of the concerns were that the Ordinance was not strong enough, or possibly there could be a redistribution in terms of labor, Ms. Dolan thought it would merit a meeting of an ad hoc committee for which she would volunteer and suggested possible members could be Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti, but affirmed it is up to the Chair.

Acting President Reynolds, expressing it is a good idea, stated he can have a conversation with President Evans about the matter.

B. Chairman of Community Development Committee – Zoning Ordinance – Amending Article 1321 –
Landmarks and Historic Resources

The Clerk read a memorandum dated June 26, 2013 from David T. DiGiacinto, Chairman of the Community Development Committee, to which were attached proposed amendments to Zoning Ordinance Article 1321, Landmarks and Historic Resources, Section 1321.07(c)(1), (2), (3). The Committee unanimously recommended the amendments after review at their meeting on June 24, 2013. The proposed amendments will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and a Public Hearing date will be scheduled.

Acting President Reynolds referred the matter to the Planning Commission and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti moved to schedule a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 20 at 7:00 PM in Town Hall. Voting AYE: Mrs. Belinski, Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, and Mr. Reynolds, 5. The motion passed.

C. Police Department – 2013 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant – Resolution

The Clerk read a memorandum dated June 24, 2013 from the Police Department to which was attached a proposed Resolution for the Police Department’s application for the 2013 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of up to $32,445 of which up to $21,127 will be allocated to the City of Bethlehem Police Department. The remaining amount will be allocated to the City of Easton. The City of Bethlehem will serve as fiscal agent for the grant, and will receive an administrative fee from the City of Easton in the amount of up to $1,131. The grant will be used by the Police Department to continue improvements in computer hardware and software. A Public Hearing is required.

Mr. Recchiuti and Ms. Dolan moved to schedule a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 PM in Town Hall. Voting AYE: Mrs. Belinski, Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, and Mr. Reynolds, 5. The motion passed.

Acting President Reynolds stated that the Resolution will also be listed on the July 16 Agenda.

D. City Solicitor – License Agreement – Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority – Bus
Shelters

The Clerk read a memorandum dated June 27, 2013 from John F. Spirk, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to which was attached a proposed Resolution and associated License Agreement between the City and Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority for bus shelters.

Acting President Reynolds stated that, unless the Public Works Committee wishes to review this matter, the Resolution can be placed on the July 16 Agenda.

E. City Solicitor – Use Permit Agreement Amendment – ArtsQuest – Festival Sites –Musikfest

The Clerk read a memorandum dated June 27, 2013 from John F. Spirk, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to which was attached a proposed Resolution and associated Amendment to the Use Permit Agreement for Festival Sites to remove the premises on Lehigh Street that was recently sold to the Bethlehem Parking Authority.

Acting President Reynolds stated the Resolution will be listed on the July 16 Agenda.

6. REPORTS

A. President of Council

None.

B. Mayor

1. Administrative Order – Gordon R. Barry – Electricians’ Examining Board

Michael Alkhal, Director of Public Works, read the Mayor’s reappointment of Gordon R. Barry to membership on the Electricians’ Examining Board effective through July 2016. Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution No. 2013-123 to confirm the appointment.

Voting AYE: Mrs. Belinski, Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, and Mr. Reynolds, 5. The Resolution passed.

2. Administrative Order – Luke R. Cunningham – Electricians’ Examining Board

Michael Alkhal, Director of Public Works, read the Mayor’s reappointment of Luke R. Cunningham to membership on the Electricians’ Examining Board effective through July 2016. Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution No. 2013-124 to confirm the appointment.

Voting AYE: Mrs. Belinski, Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, and Mr. Reynolds, 5. The Resolution passed.

C. Community Development Committee

In Chairman DiGiacinto’s absence, Committee Member Dolan gave an oral report of the Community Development Committee meeting held on Monday, June 24, 2013 on the following subjects: Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Section 1321 – Landmarks and Historic Resources/Demolition – Deleting Section 1321.07 (c) (2); and Proposed New Ordinance – Abandoned Real Property – Establishing Article 1732.

7. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL READING

None.

8. NEW ORDINANCES

None.

9. RESOLUTIONS.

A. Declaring Special Condition – Increasing Parking Fines – Musikfest 2013

Mrs. Belinski and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution No. 2013-125 that declared a Special Condition under Article 531 of the Codified Ordinances for increased parking fines during Musikfest 2013 for the period from 12:00 Noon, Friday, August 2, 2013 through 11:59 PM on Sunday, August 11, 2013, with the areas to be affected on the North Side and South Side shown on attached Exhibit A.

Voting AYE: Mrs. Belinski, Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, and Mr. Reynolds, 5. The Resolution passed.

Motion – Considering Resolutions 9 B through 9 D as a Group – Certificates of Appropriateness

Mr. Recchiuti and Mr. Donchez moved to consider Resolutions 9 B through 9 D as a group. Voting AYE: Mrs. Belinski, Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, and Mr. Reynolds, 5. The motion passed.

B. Certificate of Appropriateness – 520 East Fourth Street

Mr. Donchez and Mrs. Belinski sponsored Resolution No. 2013-126 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to build street furniture components including benches, flags, self-watering planters, and a gateway on the sidewalk facing Fourth Street at 520 East Fourth Street.

C. Certificate of Appropriateness – 417 Wyandotte Street

Mr. Donchez and Mrs. Belinski sponsored Resolution No. 2013-127 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install signs at 417 Wyandotte Street.

D. Certificate of Appropriateness – 817 East Fourth Street

Mr. Donchez and Mrs. Belinski sponsored Resolution No. 2013-128 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install signs at 817 East Fourth Street.

Voting AYE on Resolutions 9 B through 9 D: Mrs. Belinski, Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, and Mr. Reynolds, 5. The Resolutions passed.

10. NEW BUSINESS.

City Council Meeting – August 6, 2013 – 5:30 PM

Acting President Reynolds stated that, as was confirmed at the last City Council Meeting, the time of the first City Council Meeting in August on Tuesday, August 6 will be 5:30 PM, instead of 7:00 PM.

11. PUBLIC COMMENT

Invocation

Stephen Antalics, 737 Ridge Street, stated that he is very encouraged by the Invocation on this evening’s Agenda. He recalled that at the last City Council Meeting he said that the Invocation should be made general so as to not offend anyone. Mr. Antalics thought it would be nice to show that Bethlehem is an open City, and wondered if the Invocation was restricted to clergy from within the City limits. Noting that within the definition of Invocation in the Webster Dictionary the word religion never comes up, Mr. Antalics commented that other people who are not clergy could give the Invocation.

Bruce Haines, 63 West Church Street, commented that this community was founded by Christians in 1741 and we live in a nation where it is one nation under God.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.