Okay, we are recording. Just watch your language. Good evening everyone. I ask that we all rise for the pledge to the flag. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Miller, please call ro. Mr. Callahan, present. Miss Crampy Smith. Miss Quiet, present. Miss Leard, present. Miss Leon, present. Miss Wilhelm, present. And Mr. Cologne,
present. Thank you, Mr. Miller. Councilwoman Crazy Smith did give me a heads up. She's just running a couple minutes late, so she should be here in the next few minutes. Before we get started tonight, we do have a few citations for recent retirees. Fire
Chief Michael Reich, police officer Jason Eber, Police Sergeants Patrick Matskco, Brian Phelps, and Brian Quinn. Chief Reich is here, so I'm going to read his citation. Chief, you are welcome to come to the lecture if you
wish. That's up to you. And I will read it. Whereas the residents of the city of Bethleam have been served by a dedicated, diligent, and talented member of the Bethleam Fire Department for 25 years. And whereas Michael Reich, who
started with the fire department in 2000 and retired in 2025, has during the course of his employment provided the utmost reliable and outstanding service to the fire department and the residents of the city of Ethan. Now therefore, be it resolved by the
council of the city of Ethl, that Chief Michael Reich be extended the gratitude of the city of Ethl, which has benefited from his more than two and a half decades of service and the special contributions he has made to promote public safety and to protect the lives
and property of Betham residents. Be it further resolved now that Michael is retired, he can relax and enjoy all that life has to offer him. And be it further resolved that Mike will be extended every good wish for a long and satisfying retirement. Congratulations,
Chief. Thank you very much. I just want to thank the citizens of Betham first for this is amazing career. I love working here, working with the community. Thank you to the council for all your support
of emergency services for fire, police, EMS, and all the amazing workers that I've worked with over the years at city hall. You are amazing people and you do a great job. Thank you. And especially
to the fire department and EMS. Uh we have amazing firefighters and paramedics and it has just been a blessing working here and working with them. It's been an amazing career. Thank you. You should have just ran down slapping
hands at the end like a sprint. I I don't believe police officers Eert, Maxco, Phelps, or Quinn are in attendance. I just want to confirm. Thank you everybody. So, we're going to move on to approval of the minutes. Approval from the July 15, 2025 city
council meeting. Any comments on minutes? Seeing none, we will move forward. If anyone has to step out during the meeting, I just have to make sure the door closes behind you. We don't want to get in the way of the music festival that's going on outside.
So, public comment. Our first public comment as is custom is for anything not being voted on this evening. I don't believe we had anyone signed up in advance. So, I'll just go around the room. Again, I'll ask everyone to respect five minute time limit and give your name for the record for our city clerk, Mr. Miller. Is there anyone to
the left who wants to make comment on anything not being voted on tonight? I turn to the wide center. Start with Mr. Sher. So sorry 1898 Avenue and my first comment is rather obvious. I'm going to send somebody out there and
tell them to shut the hell up. I'll support you. In fact, I'll go with you. It seems to me that a city council meeting takes precedence over this. I mean, the live performances haven't started yet. This is just music, if you
will. second bone to pick tonight and mean this in a friendly way. But if there's any reporters watching, I know my name seems like it could be spelled S H I R E,
but uh it's really spelled S C H E I R E R. Good Pennsylvania Dutch name. Why we don't pronounce the first R, I'm not sure. No one ever told me. Um, and while I'm on that subject, sometimes I'm asked if I'm in any
relation to William Elver, who wrote The Rise and Fall of the Third, Reich. The answer is no. I did speak with him once at a book signing, and he said that at Ellis Island, their name was changed
from Shy to Shiver. So, enough on that. Um, another bone to pick. I think next year let's not have a city council meeting
the same night as music fest. Um, make it postponed a week. The parking is just absolutely ridiculous. You folks are entitled to park in the garage. I presume you are authorized users according to the new sign that's there.
Um, I was tempted, but I didn't think I'm really authorized. And even though I I speak all the time, and somebody's expecting me to speak tonight. So, I grabbed a 1-hour parking spot out
there, but that was only good for an hour. So, I drove around and I one just opened up behind city hall. So, I grabbed that, walked through the garage to get to the come up through the library.
Well, that door is not opening automatically tonight, but fortunately, somebody came out at a few minutes before 5 and then the there there's actually a physical barricade to get from the library to town hall, but the vendor kindly
moved a part of the barricade so I could get through. Uh, it's kind of ridiculous. And so I would suggest next year either cancel the meeting entirely or um
just um I yeah move it move it to the next Susie in my remaining two minutes. I want to get started on a little project here. The New York Times had a full page recently on various
quotes from various federal judges. There's it's arranged by subject. There's seven on immigration and I'll just read the first couple and do more later. Circuit Court Judge Wilkinson who was
appointed by Ronald Reagan on the refusal to re return Mr. Garcia from El Salvador. Quote, "This is a path of perfect law, lawlessness, one that courts cannot condone."
District Court Judge Brinka appointed by Bill Clinton on ICE officials inconsistent affidavit. This is a terrible, terrible affidavit.
If this were before me in a criminal case and you were asking to get a warrant issued on this, I'd throw you out of my chambers. One more District Judge Boseberg for the District of Columbia appointed
by Barack Obama. um on a judge's order blocking deportation. C's been in the news, Justice Boseberg, in an egregious case of cherrypicking
defendants selectively quote only a fragment of the court's response here to mischaracterize the court's position. Uh, one more from a judge appointed by Donald Trump, but I can't do it in 9
seconds, so you're just going to have to wait for it. Byebye. Thank you, Mr. Shire. I do want to recognize Mayor Reynolds has joined us. Welcome, Mayor. Anyone else to the wide center who wants to make comment? Mr. Alex. Spear antics 737 rich
on October 29th 1967 Betham converted portions of Lynen and center streets as a pair to a oneway status. This was done with pressure
by Betham Steel Company to meet the needs of its workers. The final the final approval of this change rested on vote of city council
for they are the citizens watchdog today. Thanks to city council, we have approved plans to convert Linen Street back to a two-way status. Again,
the final approval coming from city council. Traffic moving south on Center Street is currently confronted by a do not enter oneway sign at the inter intersection of
Elizabeth Avenue. drivers will lose the advantage of the expeditious one-way Linden Street by its return to two-way. Now, if center 3 were returned to
two-way that traffic would be allowed to continue on the new two-way center street directly to the FA Bridge rather than turning left on Elizabeth Avenue to the now busy
Lynen Street or turn right to New Street into busy center city traffic or to Main Street into business traffic. Clearly the conversion to two-way of lending
and center should have been should have been done as a pair much as some way they were made one way in 1967. It is unfortunate that city council missed this when they rubber stamped the plans with
little or no discussion. Were they unaware of this consequence or they just didn't care? A clear failure as a role as watchful for citizens who elected them
by the time left. um was contacted by somebody who knows I speak at council meetings and they suggested I might bring up the point
as to in this case since I brought this up with them that the work was done by consultants who do not know the city.
And this person was very concerned as to the high number of consultants used to solve city problems and the results of these consultants are then approved by city council.
Uh someone has a problem. problem is that the interests of the city of the citizens of the city are lost very clearly in this traffic thing.
Why would not the two-way streets rather one one way converted together as they were for one way before. So ponder that.
Thank you Mr. Was there anyone else in the wide center who would like to make comment? Mr. Kola, this is just whatever you want to talk about, Mr. My name's Curt,
813 Walker Street, Beth, Pennsylvania, Southside. Now that I reached the age of 77, my view on human life is behind every we all know behind every
successful man there's a good woman. But one thing I like to have behind every good woman, there's a man who can't control her and maybe just a few people or entire armies. That's the problem we got going on today. goes back
way back to the New Testament. Don't consider me anti-Semitic. It's not just female leaders that were Jewish. Many many many female leaders, you know, other than Dborah with with her guy was the leader of many armies.
You have Mark Anthony, a Jewish Italian like me, but anyway, you have Mark Anthony with Cleopatra, Egyptian. You have uh many others who got control got their women to control
their warriors. Uh Marinette who I just performed for Sundays. Swear to God while losing but no relation I don't think. But anyway um uh
like I said not all female leaders were Jewish. that were controlled by men for records not considered anti-Semitic. So anyway, the problem with our world today is
almost almost not all but almost every man wants to be in control and bow to his god of gold. Money is the god in most with most humans. But most other creatures love and
protection of their loved ones is the main focus. If we can learn from most other creatures, we can have a perfect world. When I was interviewed for being an international peace
activist, which I am, by Nanuang and Sandi Wong at a great United Nations event in New York City for approximately 2,000 people from all over the world, I suggested that the United Nations should control Palestine, but not only just
make sure that no weapons are permitted because it's sacred land. So all living creatures should be able to live there in peace and harmony with no weapons, no violence. And then it could be an example for the
whole world to see. Like in Bethlehem, we are pretty much reached the level of being an example for other cities in the whole country to see. Well, with a few minor adjustments that need to be made like the Beth Parking
Authority, Arts Quest, Wind Creek, Lehigh University, Waste Problems, uh the homeless situation, but we got a police force that's unbeatable and proud of the police force that we
have. And uh um they're not like other uh other police forces in other cities that will shoot people at a if they reach in their pocket for something or they'll throw them around like ragd
dolls even if they're 77 years old like it's done on my birthday. If I don't know how to throw a good good uh uh MC Jagger had the police come on his
birthday, 80 82 years old here. So anyway, here I was calm as could be. I was arrested. So I got to go to that thing. But anyway, uh I plan to take care of all these different issues that are going on in the city of Bethlehem.
If I get elected as mayor of the city, I will not take one penny from any tax dollars from any of the people because it's my chance to serve my country again.
I served it back in 1968 and I want to see this country be all that it could be. And it's not our United States government because of cities like, not to mention any names,
Hazbury, New Jersey, and many others. They're disgracing our country by the things that they're doing. We got to put a stop to it. you know, any lawyers that want to help me on this situation. I'm filing for a civil suit against this
particular city. But anyway, you all have a blessed day and uh keep on rocking. Thank you, Mr. Carl. Was there anyone else in the wise center who would like to make comment? Anyone to the right?
That concludes our first public comment. Moving on to second public comment. This is for any ordinance or resolution that will be voted on this evening. Again, we didn't have anyone signed up, so I'll just go around the room. Anyone to the left who want to make comment? Anything being voted on? Anyone
in the wide center who wanted to make comment? SH the notice there's a a nomination for the planning commission and I would like would like to just talk about nominations in general
and with without focusing on that particular nomination um there's an interesting uh problem here. Obviously, if a matter came up before council or
commission or a board of any kind and somebody on that body had a personal interest in that particular matter, uh they would have to rec should recuse themselves. And if that's not in the law for every instance, it should be. But here's the
interesting question that occurred to me. Um, on the one hand, or let me put it this way, there's a tension, a tussle between two things, expertise and intimacy.
There's a um, you want to have people on these on the council and on boards and commissions who know what you're talking about. Do they have expertise? Do they have experience? But the downside of that is they have
relationships with the people appearing before them and human relationships. I'm I'm reading a book by Meg Greenfield now about the city of Washington. I recommend it to you. I mean, it's downright hilarious in a way. She sort
of strips the gauze curtains away from things that go on to decent people. You know, if these are people known to members of the board and the commission and especially if there's some sort of personal relationship,
it's inevitable you're going to have a bias. So, how do you handle this? I don't know, but it's something that I think we should be thinking about. Uh, ideally, people in these positions should be citizens
with no professional experience. and I'm describing myself um who have an interest a strong interest in the matters there and are willing to learn. But even if that's the solution, those
people like that are not too common. That's why I'm known as Gadfly number two sometimes. So I don't know the answer to this but I think it's something worth thinking about because um it's a case here where
uh you know you know the um at the well one of my appearances before the planning commission and Rocky doesn't mind I think if I tell you about this about the original design for the Boyd
Apartments. It looked like something out of the lower east side of New York City a 100 years ago. And I commented on it and a member of the planning commission who is an architect
said, "Well, there's nothing like contemporary architecture to highlight the historic architecture nearby." If I had had a chance to respond, I would have said yes. And there's nothing like bad contemporary architecture. Terrible. Really highlight the historic
architecture by it was terrible. Well, Rocky fired the architect. Now, I'm not saying he did it because of my what I said, but that's what happened. And the new design is better, although he was going to have exposed I-beams to
reference the historic industrial history, which would be more relevant to the southside. They're still there, but they're not exposed anymore. They're they're flush with the surface. And I've told him because I he and I run into each other from time to time. We have
long talks. I told him it's too big and too plain, but it's a damn site better than the original design. But I I cite this because there was an architect commenting on the architecture, and there's benefits to that, and there's a
downside to that. something to think about. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Sh. Was there anyone else in the center comment on anything that we're voting on tonight? Ma'am, good evening. My name is Chris Bolson
and I live at 520 East Laurel Street, Bethlehem. Um I have not been to a city council meeting for a while. So I basically a question under uh new ordinance 9A item
9A. I wondered if the uh staff or anybody will be talking about the highlights of the changes in that ordinance. Um I used to work in the planning department. I just have a little bit of interest in in you know
the major changes. Thank you. I I will just say before we continue on that we did have a public hearing prior to the previous city council meeting that's available to watch and then anything that's presented or any questions that are post tonight will be answered and this is the first
reading. There will be a second reading in two weeks also. All right, just for some background to to it. Welcome. Is there anyone else in the wide center who wants to make comment on anything being voted on tonight? Anyone to the right?
Thank you. Hello. We all do it sometimes. M So, everyone's um pretty familiar with me, Joe Daniels, uh 829 Broadway. Lived in Beth for over 50 years, and I'm here tonight to express my concerns over
the proposed appointment to a representative for the real with the realtor's association to our planning and zoning commission. Every other member of the commission brings direct experience in zoning, city planning, land use. Uh this appointee by
contrast represents an industry with close ties to developers and investment interests. At a time when Bethlehem is experiencing a sharp rise and unaffordable luxury developments, we must be v vigilant in preserving public trust. Realtors often work directly with
developers. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that profession, it does raise fair concern about conflicts of interest and bias in favor of projects that may not align with the needs of current residents. So, how can residents be confident that decisions
will prioritize long-term community sustainability over short-term profit? Some of the more direct questions I have um are in relationship to this specific experience. Does this appointee bring in land use planning, zoning
codes, or public sector policy? Two, is the city prioritizing balance on the commission between industry interest and community planning expertise? Three, how does the appointment complement or duplicate the existing
skill set of current commissioners? Given the close relationship realtors often have with developers, how will the city ensure there are no conflicts of interest real or perceived when zoning decisions are made? Will the appointee be required to recuse themselves from votes that could benefit clients,
developers, or organizations that are professionally affiliated? What ethics safeguards are in place to prevent influence from real estate industry and zoning matters? How will this appointment affect public trust? How will this appointment affect public trust, especially when we're seeing an
increase in unaffordable luxury apartments and displacement pressures in neighborhoods across the city? How does this appointment align with the city's commitment to equitable development and protecting vulnerable renters from displacement? And lastly, has the
appointee ever advocated for affordable housing protections or against gentrificationfueled uh resoning? As a resident concerned about gentrification and lack of affordable housing in Bethlehem in its entirety, I
respectfully question this appointment with so many qualified professionals who specialize in zoning, urban planning, community development, etc. Why are we looking at appointing someone whose professional background centers around property sales, a field closely
linked to developer interest? At a time when our city is under pressure for luxury development, we need commissioners who are deeply grounded in planning equity, not industry advocacy. I urge council to consider the optics and the real world implications of such
an appointment on public trust. I'm urging city council to reconsider this appointment or at the very least put it on hold to gain more insight into the questions I've asked here tonight. We need individuals on this commission who are independent, experienced and equitable planning
practices and are committed to protecting the interest of all residents, not just those who benefit from property speculation. I would like to remind all of you that part of your job is representation, oversight, and accountability to those who have placed you in these in those
seats. Those who voted for you in May and we'll hopefully vote for you again. Thank you. Thank you. Was there anyone else who wanted to make comment on anything we're voting on tonight? By show hands. Okay, that concludes our second public
comment. Continuing on to old business. Any old business from members of council? Moving on to new business. Any new business from members of council? Communications. Mr. Miller 6A. The July 18th, 2025 memorandum and
proposed resolution from Matthew Desler, assistant city solicitor. Attorney Destler recommends amending the civil service rules relating to qualification for promotion to the rank of lieutenant in the police department. Proposed rule change was recommended for approval in a
300 vote on July 1st by the city's civil service board. Thank you. Resolution 10A is on tonight's agenda 6B. A July 30th, 2025 memorandum and proposed resolution from Lorie Gillio, grants administrator for community and
economic development. Miss Gillio seeks authorization to apply for a Main Street Matters grant for up to $1 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The grant money would be directed toward the gateway on fourth project
and resolution 10B is on the agenda tonight. 6C the July 11th, 2025 memorandum with a proposed ordinance from public safety business manager Jennifer Hogan recommending an adjustment to the general fund budget. The adjustment
reflects state reimbursement of $84,195 for bomb squad services related to fireworks. Money will be used to obtain an X-ray system and ballistic vests and plates for revenue. Account number 001A 30800.
Expense return will increase from 313,300 to $397,495 for expenses. Account number 0701-43099 fire equipment will increase from 143,000 to $227,195.
The adjustment will increase the general fund budget from $112,983,162 to $113,67,357. Ordinance 9B is on the agenda tonight. Conting on to reports. I have nothing to report this evening. Mr. Mayor,
thank you. I just want to first uh mention a big thanks to all of our uh public safety uh personnel that's been working hard at userfest. Obviously, we are now, as the echoes come through, uh in our fifth day of the of the 10-day festival, but it really is takes months
and months of planning between our police department, our fire department, our paramedics, and the coordination with the county um and federal authorities as far as um making sure that keeps everybody safe here. And I just want to thank them for all of their incredible work. Uh they work very long hours um during the festival, some you
see, some you don't. Um but I just want to I want to thank them. But obviously, the weather's been beautiful. things have um you know as always when you have 100 thousand people or 150,000 people a day um you're always gonna find one or two people that are doing something they shouldn't be but overall um I think it's
been a it's been a very successful first uh first avenue um and then I have one administrative order um I hereby appoint Richard Pongrath of 2027 Fernway Avenue Betham PA 1808 to membership on the city planning commission and this appointment is effective through May 23rd
administrative order appointing Richard Pongra contracts to the city planning commission. Resolution sponsored by Mr. Gracy Smith and Miss Leon. Discussion on the appointment. I'll start with Councilman Quiet and then work my way down.
Um, so I I just wanted to um note that I don't know Mr. Pongra personally. I don't have any personal connection to him. However, he has a bachelor's degree in urban and environmental planning. Um he is a business owner in the community um and has relevant uh skills including
zoning and land use knowledge uh GIS and spatial analysis and yes he does have real estate experience as well. Um so I uh just wanted to make sure that folks know that um he's very involved in the community. Um he's also a member of the
United States Green Building Council. Um and the uh was the helping hands committee on the helping hands committee of committee of um the apartment association of greater Philadelphia. So um and there's other you know honors and
board member and and those kinds of things but um just wanted to make sure that folks who are who are listening understand that Mr. Congress has a a lengthier resume than he doesn't. Thank you, Council Council Cranty Smith.
Thank you. Um while I I really appreciate uh Mr. Pongrass's um willingness to serve, I won't be supporting this um appointment because I do have real strong concerns about a conflict of interest. And as I do with uh many things when I have the vote on
here and I'm not certain, I'll talk to um different constituents regarding their their thoughts and um everyone that I spoke to, I said, you know, do you think this is a conflict of interest of somebody who is presently a realtor on planning? And they all said absolutely positively. Um my concerns um
are many, but one of them is I remember just a few years ago when we um I think did a great job in tightening up the licensing and inspections for the rental properties in this area and during those meetings we had um we had conflict or
opposition from the realtor's association and and I think of that I think of you know again just um the conflict of interest as far as being a realtor and being on the on the planning commission. I feel strongly and and I know many many people also in this community feel strongly that we we
really got to get more serious about our planning and our development because um you know we do have a lot of development going on. I have concerns about it and other people do also um know we do need more affordable housing. That's something that um you know I've been
talking about for years and I know that we as a city have been working on it. Um but we we you know development is an issue. We just continually are putting up more rental apartments that are not affordable especially for the people that live here and and that's why I
think it's critical that we have people on these conditions especially planning and zoning that are not going to have any conflict of interest. So that being the case um you know of course I just don't have support at this point. Thank you. Thank you councilwoman. Any other discussion from members of council?
Councilwoman Leard and then Councilwoman Leon after. Um, yes. So, I I do know uh Mr. Pongrats a bit. Um, he's been very supportive of the William Penn Elementary uh community as well as some of the other schools in
the area uh through his uh food businesses that that he runs. But uh so I'll put that out there. But um also recognizing like it's a a conversation worth having about um you know the industry in general, not
talking about him specific um and the planning commission. So I'm I'm curious uh what the history of people in the real estate profession on the planning commission might be. Uh is this first? Is is there uh long track record of
always having a realtor on it? What's what's the status of that? I would start by saying is I mean I think people obviously have different jobs. We've had different developers, people that have owned property, own rental properties, develop properties on
the planning commission. Um in fact, the person whose term finished that this is replacing is somebody that very legally owns properties and does development, things like that. even has had a business that has had contracts with the
city of Betlan, all completely legal. Um, so this person is somebody that I've actually never spoken to who've reached out as far as his interest in serving, um, reviewed the resume. Miss Collins had an opportunity to talk to him. Um, but I also think it's important to
remember what the planning commission does and does not do. And it's connected to the SAO conversation that I believe happened at the last meeting as far as like the SAO sets what the MPC allows for the planning commission to review which isn't use which isn't like we're going to allow this or not. They're much
more of a review commission by statute rather than a use commission or a allowance commission. they suggest things as we have often said is our planning staff often they review the
projects internally and then deliver reports with different ideas we would like we would we would you know recommend there's a lot of recommending but this isn't the planning commission is not a body that has the power through the NPC to be able to necessarily stop
the projects it's just they have they're only we're able and we had the same conversation I believe with the salo as far as what's in the salos consists what they what the NPC allows. So to answer your question, on all of our boards and authorities, we have people that represent every industry. When something
comes up that's a literal conflict of interest by the law, they are required to recuse themselves, and they do, and we've seen that on every board and commission. Um, but it's not necessarily a conflict just because this person has
experience in a profession that has something to do with land development. By the time something gets to the planning commission, by definition, it's allowed by use. So, some version of that project is going to is going to happen.
Got it. Thank you. Yeah. Um, and I was not trying to say that there was any legal issue. Um we're just wondering what the the history is and um precedent you know thus far. Um but I think it is important for people
to understand the difference between planning and zoning um because it does get like in the weeds for a lot of just almost regular folks. Um, so okay. Um, and had another question, but I may have
lost it, so I'm going to pass over to to the next person. I had a question for a solicitor, and it was mainly the um the ethics ordinance that we all have to comply with as a city council. Does that apply as far authorities, boards, and commissions as well?
when whenever you have a true conflict of interest and you have somebody on authority board commission accus uh I I'm going to recuse myself because he owns a business that leases from uh a business uh business that my brother
works for possible I don't know if there is a conflict but there's a possibility ility or of conflict. Uh I will give staining. I I just have a quick question on something that I came back. Is he a
member as a realer? Is he a member of the realtor's association? I mean, as does he have any type of board or anything? I couldn't answer that question. Mr. Callian, the mayor's indicating he doesn't know. I don't have his resume in front of me. I looked at my desk at home. I don't know if you have in front
of you for reference or if anyone has in front of them just to confirm if he is not listed on his res. Thank you for that answer, M. I I not saying there's a conflict interest on your end, but I'm just I'm just asking the question because you did
take substantial donation from the realtor association, right? Well, I think if once again, this often happens where we say we're not asking a question, then we go ahead and put something out there anyway. Um, but I can tell you that there's no that there's no conflict as far as like I
didn't even know this person was a realtor until tonight. I'm just asking, did you you took a donate a substantial donation? I mean, the realtor association for 5,000. I thought I think it was I raised a lot of money. So, I would say there were a lot of substantial
donations in there. I'm asking you. I'm asking you. Did you Did you not or did you take a substant I think I'm not sure if it's 2,000 3,000. I thought it was 5,000. Just ask question. I'm not I'm not sure. Whatever was received by my campaign, which is
completely separate from this, would be listed on my campaign finance reports. You wouldn't know if someone gave you a $5,000 check. Mr. Ken, I think that the answer is the answer. Is that fair question? That's not Is that not a fair question? I'm not here to adjudicate if the questions or not.
I don't know why I'm being interrupted. This a legitimate question because the mayor answered and so I just want to continue on. Ask whatever other questions you have, Mr. Callian, but I think the mayor answered your question. I didn't hear any answer. I asked, "Did you take a $5,000 donation from the
Realers Association?" And I'm telling you, I'm not sure what numbers were other than what was listed on my campaign finance report. It was it was one You guys could speak the microphone.
And as we and as we just said, we don't know if this gentleman belongs to the realtor's association. That's what I was asked. And I just thought that well, you know, that's a little it's I was just told it was a $15,000 donation. That is huge.
If you can't remember, you took a $15,000 donation from someone. That is that is Mr. Han, we're getting off topic a little bit. No. No, we're not. This is it. Well, we are. He appointed this guy, right? I'm asking a legitimate question. I thought it was 5,000. I'm being told it was
15,000. Does any You don't have a clue what he took a substantial what the dollar amount. I would say that during the primary season there was a lot of money coming in to political action committees, going to other political action committees, people forgetting about it as far as you're concerned, as far as where that
money was coming from. So, I can't tell you exactly what number did or did not come in. Whatever is on the campaign finance report is what was. But once again, this has nothing to do with Mr. Bongrats, who I have never had a conversation with, who we don't even know is a member of this association or not, who I didn't even know was a
realtor. And you said you're recusing yourself from this for whatever reason. So, part of this conversation having to do with recusal is also the fact that you're not really supposed to influence the conversation if there is a conflict that is leading to you recusing. I will I I will just interject. Prayer ordinance. Anyone recusing can take part
in discussion. Counciloman Craman, two things. Um, two things actually bringing that up. That that is another one of my concerns as far as conflict of interest because the person again and I don't know him
and I appreciate his willingness to serve it is also a tenin of one of the biggest developers in our city from development. And so what's going to happen? I know we have conflict of interest um ordinance but who is going to be overseeing and assuring that this
person and will recluse himself if development have done planning commission or or someone involved in ability that he's involved with who's going to oversee and make sure that there isn't a conflict of interest. It is everybody's responsibility that is a a member of a board or commission to
recuse themselves when they fit into what the definition of recusal is. So it is it would be this person's responsibility to be able to to to say whether or not there's a literal recusal or not. So there's not going to be any oversight. It's going to be up to him. And the other thing I have to say I I
guess I find it ironic or I guess why would you not know he's a realer? I mean you're appointing him but you didn't look at his resume till tonight. Would you look at his resume before tonight if you're appointing him? Well as I had said he had reached out. It was a recommendation from many people
in the community that he would that he would be a good person to be able to appoint. Miss Collins reviewed the resume. Miss Collins had a conversation with him. Our planning department had conversations as far as whether or not this person's level of expertise and commitment and professionalism and
community involvement would be a good voice to be able to add to the planning commission. and Miss Col and Miss Collins came to me and said that this is at our recommendation that this would be a good person that expressed an interest in serving that is a new person that has
expressed an interest in serving and that's why he is coming forward as far as this this is concerned and as I said before I really appreciate his willingness to serve but I think it's really important that we have proper oversight in appointing to authorities boards and commissions and mayor it's ultimately as mayor it's
ultimately up to you to review a resume should know about the person you're appointing to something like the planning commission. Thank you. Any other comments from members of council? Mr. I'll go councilman quite counciloman then Mr. Callahan. Go ahead.
I just this man's not here to defend himself and you can say all you want that you know you appreciate his willingness to serve but this feels an awful lot like other times when we've had someone say something like that and then just impugn somebody's reputation.
So, I just want to say regardless of how you're voting tonight, we should all be aware of whether or not we are imputing the reputation of someone that you don't know that has serves on the board of the Andre Reid Foundation that has won the Lehigh Valley Finest who is a community
honore in 2023. You know, I just think that um there are assumptions made um this whole concept, this whole idea that uh well, there's no oversight, so obviously he's going to like not be an honorable person and recuse himself if there's a conflict. We are all under
this uh obligation to recuse ourselves and uh to suggest that someone wouldn't because there's no oversight. uh you know so then we we need to every time there's a vote on every single thing ask
every single person to whether or not um that's just first of all you know untenable would not work um but also just um you know again um kind of
assuming the worst in someone uh because they have a particular point on their resume um you know if there's something that comes before the planning commission that his landlord is involved with, he'll recuse himself because he's an honorable person. These are the these
are the ways that we should be pres you know taking this is what we should consider. Uh you know some people obviously think the worst of everybody and and that's just I guess the way they live their lives but we you know I think
we could be a little more discerning than that. Um, and again, I'm just I I don't know this man. All I know is that uh, you know, if if you know something terrible about him that you can substantiate, fine. But if not, then
don't assume that he's going to uh, you know, uh, act dishonorably in this position that he's stepped up to take. I just Well, thank you, Council M. I'm I'm not talking about him doing
anything desirable. I'm not his reputation. I'm I'm asking the mayor a question. Well, Mr. Callahan, we're appointing this gentleman. He appointed him. Well, we're confirming this gentleman. The topic of conversation is Richard Pongra.
So, I just looked in to your campaign finance report. You took $15,500 in the realers association just five six months ago during your campaign season and now you're appointing a
realer. I just find that questionable. I find that questionable and and you can laugh all you want. It is laughable. It is laughable. Yeah, you're right. Members of council, I'm gonna Mr. Call. I'm gonna ask you to continue
the first time. The council woman attend has laughed at other individuals and I take offense of it. Quite frankly, we could sit here and the devil could be appointed. You would support it just because Okay. Now, now this is not a productive
conversation. We are going to resume Mr. Callahan having the floor. Continue with your comments, Mr. in so we can move forward with this. I just appreciate it. I don't ever make comments or breathe heavy when she's talking and I don't I don't I don't make eyes
she's talking. Can you inform her that I have a Mr. Calhan? Please continue. So I'm just saying that I'm not questioning the gentleman that's being appointed. I'm questioning the fact that um he's now being appointed after an
association he belongs to. Would you not know that he belongs to he he's he's a member of of the realers association. My question is whether he's a a board member. He is a member of the association. Whether he's a board member or an officer is another question. So I
just find it it's almost to me seems like a quick protocol. I don't know. That's that's a very strong statement, Mr. It is. $15,500 is a huge donation. That's not a small donation. In fact, a majority of you up
here, all of you supported uh campaign finance uh ordinance and we just for city council members, we had a $500 limit. Correct. I think I think you were for it. I think you Mr. Callahan, we're not singling out in
both the members of council. This is your time to make comment on the appointment. Please continue without I just find it berating other members. Unbelievable that a he didn't know he was a realer as she pointed out. He said he didn't
know anything about him. That's amazing that he's appointing someone he has nothing no idea what he does for a living. And it's amazing that he even know that. I thought it was $1,000 and then I work the five. It's $15,500. That's a huge I mean if I took $15,500
from someone, you guys would be having a murder. Again, you're signing motive to Mr. Callahan, I'm going to ask you to bring your remarks to a close. You keep attacking other members of council. Please finish your remarks on the remarks. I think this is totally
inappropriate and I think it should be tabled until we find out if he is a board member of this association. I think that's the least Mr. Call I believe made a motion to table. I did. I'm waiting for a second. I I think that's the least we can do.
Can we find out more information? Solicitor Stewart, please correct me if I'm wrong. Is a point of order when there's a motion at the table in a second. There's no discussion. That's right. I'm correct. I asked the peanut gallery to please keep their comments to themselves. So, as I just stated, when
there's a motion to table and a second, there is no discussion. So, there is a motion to table the appointment of Richard Pongrance to the planning commission. Mr. Miller, please call the role on the motion. Miss Wilhelm, Mr. Callahan, I.
Miss Grampy Smith, I miss. Miss Leard, I have a question. It's yay or nay right now. Has to be nay with Yeah. Miss Leon and Mr. Cologne.
Nay. Motion fails. Two in favor, five against. Mr. Calhan, do you have anything else to add? Uh, not at this time. Thank you. Councilwoman Lar, I have a comment that answers the thing
that we just voted on. No, he's not on the board. It was a quick Google. Um, he is not on the board. The board is publicly listed. It is not. It's not not on the board. Um, my question is,
is an appointment specifically a mayoral appointment or is the mayor allowed to appoint someone who is a member of an organization that they took a donation from? regardless of the amount. Is there a
limit? Is there any actual rule about that? There is no specific. So the campaign finance um the thing that was passed before my time, so I I was not part of that, but um
that does not apply in this situation. Is that legally correct? Regardless of personal opinion on I don't have it in front of me right now, your ordinance, but that was specific to city council. Okay. Thank you. I'm again I'm asking
specifically from a legal perspective, not anyone's personal feelings on on the issues. Thank you. Does anyone have anything else? Council, I just want to add that, you know, with the understanding there's no there are no legal concerns here. We are in fact
placing judgment on person. We are trusted to make the right decision. We are trusted to recuse oursel. There's there's no individual sitting up here that does not possess multiple conflicts with things on which we vote. We are trusted
to recuse ourselves when that is required. We put the same trust in those that we appoint to our authorities, boards and commissions. We also have lots of time between meetings to do this research. So I feel very
strongly that if if I'm going to bring forward an accusation of that significance, it's my responsibility to do the research and have facts, we are talking about a human being, a person who has stepped forward to be involved.
And again, my take on this is that what it comes down to is our trusting or not trusting this individual to behave appropriately um if appointed. and to to state that it is anything else um is just not accurate
in my in my opinion. So if there were concerns about this person, this person's behavior, this person's you know whether they are going to behave ethically or not, a phone call should have been made, sit together, have a coffee and make a decision. But don't come here and make those insinuations um with
whatever ulterior motives um you may have. Thank you. Any other comments from members council? I'm going to start with uh Councilman CR Smith. Thank you. I just want to clarify that um quite frankly I I take offense with
the u comments that I am personally attacking anyone. What I'm doing here is trying to do my job in representing my constituents and making sure that we are pointing people to the ABCs that can be objective and will not have a high likelihood of conflict of interest. I
don't know this person as as councilwoman Keith Prietek says she doesn't either. I looked at the resume. I have concerns that as a realtor there's going to be a high probability of frequent conflict of interest. That's why it has nothing to do with it
personally and quite frankly I take offense that anyone once again is trying to put that on me because that's not what it means. My brother Vesta Soul was a realer for 40 years and I know what's involved as far as being in real estate in the Lehi Valley from him and even if
you know I won't even appoint him as my brother or approve or vote for him because I know the conflict of interest that exists with developers and landlords and and other realtors and that is where it's at for me. I feel there's a high probability of a conflict
of interest and you know I trust that he will recluse himself but why appoint someone where they're a realtor and they may have a high high probability of conflict of interest and have to recluse themselves more often than someone else that we could appoint. That's the bottom line.
Thank you Councilwoman Mr. Callahan. I I think it's even more so uh of a conflict uh or or something to be questioned about when even though he's not an officer, he's a member of that organization and that organization was obviously very interested in the mayor
becoming uh reelected. And uh I'm I'm I'm kind of flabbergasted that uh a couple of the uh council members up here who were uh adamant and and and pushing forward the uh uh campaign finance um
ordinance have absolutely no problem with appointing someone and voting for someone whose organization gave $15,500 to uh the mayor. and don't and don't think it's it's not even something to uh look into pause on a vote. I'm not
saying vote them down tonight. I'm just saying table it and um let's find out some more information and in the time to come in the next two weeks and to suggest that we should um do this behind
closed doors and in the back hallways with phone calls, that's not what this is for. We're supposed to be here and debate things here. And I know several of you don't want to do that and dislike the fact that I do like doing that. I like having the discussion in front of
the people who show up here. I like having the discussion in front of the press. I like having a discussion in front of everybody watching. And you don't want that. And all you talk about is transparency. Transparent. You're the least transparent people of of anybody
I've ever had to deal with on this board. Mr. Calhan, that's accusatory. No, that's my opinion. I know. It's still accusatory. It's my opinion. I'm allowed to have an opinion on it. If you really want transparency, talk about it here so everybody can hear what's going on. Not in a back room, not
on a phone call or a coffee at a private meeting. Can I restate? Can I please restate? I'm gonna ask anybody else want to make comment. Councilwoman, I take you again to to be very clear with regard to the campaign finance, we are required to recuse ourselves for donations of over a certain amount, not be appoint not to
not be appointed. But furthermore, um I didn't use anyone's name or even make eye contact when I shared my comments. Neither did I please. I didn't use any to you. Um and what I said to restate is that it's our job to do the research and come
here with facts, not not to have the conversation. If I didn't want to have debates, I wouldn't be speaking into the microphone right now. Well, that was fabulous. Mr. Callahan, Miss Calian, you're out of work. So, we are going to continue on
with it. I'm going to make a couple comments. So, a couple things as it relates to, you know, this discussion about having conversations on the floor of council versus not. It just comes down to information, right? There's certain
information we can get on the fly here at council and there's certain information we can take the time to find out before we get to a council meeting. Any one of us could call Mr. Pon Grants and if I'm mispronouncing his name, I apologize in advance of the meeting.
That is not any kind of violation of anything. Then you can come to the meeting and speak on what conversation you have with them. or if you have certain questions that may not be able to be answered via Google, as I appreciate a member of council looking something up, we could come already with
that information prior to having these discussions. As it relates to this individual gentleman, a member of council had said they do not see him listed on the board to the realtors association. As the mayor had pointed out over the years on the planning commission, we've had developers I mean
you could I don't want to get into the hypotheticals. You could say because of competition, you should appoint a developer who's going to favor or not favor potential competition and other motives. I think in Bethlehem, and this is this is one of the things that comes up often when we talk, we all just have
so many um contact points with different people depending on their profession, different contact points as it relates to the work that's being done in city hall. This gentleman, Mr. Pong Grants, who I won't speak to how many hours he invests every week or monthly into what
he is licensed to do, but he's the owner of three businesses here in Bethl. I don't know if he's showing the house for sale in my neighborhood or the uh or the, you know, commercial property that's up for sale down the block as much as he's trying to manage the day-to-day operations of those
businesses, one of which recently opened. and I wish him all the best in running his businesses and uh potentially growing them, whatever it is. So, those kind of things being said, uh I will be supporting this tonight because I don't see reason not to. I I
understand where people are coming from with different opinions. Sure. At the end of the day, like I said, I'm not going to I'm not going to vote it down. I wish this gentleman all the best. I appreciate him wanting to volunteer with the planning commission. not going to repeat what was said earlier, but again
going back to the planning commission, someone who is um states they are for or against certain policy issues as it relates to the planning commission do not have, and attorney Stewart could correct me if I'm wrong, authorities within the planning
commission to necessarily shoot down projects that don't align with their personal views of what city policy should be. I mean, that's a very broad comment, but would you agree with that, Attorney Stewart? I would. It's a recommending board. It's a recommending board. And just for examples of what the planning commission
does, when we have an application for zoning text amendment, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and the city's planning commission make recommendations, the clerk reads them to us, but ultimately council holds that authority to change laws in the city of
Bethlehem. So I just think it's important to kind of you know draw a line in what power and ability a member of the planning commission has versus doesn't have. What power still remains with council? And again, with this person, while I understand they have a
real estate license, as seemingly many, many more people do than I had thought here in the city of Bethlehem, I again, I would be surprised if his primary focus is not operating and running those three businesses that he opened. So,
that that's all I have to say. Mr. Miller, I'm going to ask you to call the role. Miss Wilhelm. I Mr. Callahan. I refuse myself. Miss Crampy Smith. Nay, Miss Clec. I Miss Leairard. Hi.
Miss Leon. Hi. And Mr. Cologne. Hi. Passes 51 with one refusal. You have anything else, Mr. Mayor? No, just to end that conversation. Um, Miss Collins had reminded me that unlike
our historic boards, like realtor is a position that you need to fill and I don't ever remember this conversation coming up before. Um, those realtors sometimes are they vote to approve things to deny things and it's just a much very it's a very different type of
context. But those are boards that deal with development all the time and by statute they have realtors on them and very different conversation when they've been employed. That is the end of my
Thank you, Mayor Reynolds. Moving on to ordinances for final passage. Counciloman Lair, I see your hand up. Um my apologies. I was about to cough in but I lost my mouth. You don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong.
Uh so I was I would like to move that we group these since these are fairly routine second readings that we passed with no real discussion at our uh previous meeting. So um anticipating that there won't be uh significant
discussion on these. I would like to move Sorry I had uh moved from my tab because I was looking on the website. um for the real source thing. Uh okay. Um 8 A through F. I'd like to move that we
group those and vote as a group. So there's a motion on the floor to group the ordinances for final passage 8A through 8F as a together as one group. Is there a second? Second by Councilman Wilhelm. Any discussion on
the motion to group all the ordinances for final passage together? Mr. Miller, please call the RO on the motion. Miss Wilhelm, hi. Mr. Callahan, I. Miss Graham Smith, I. Miss Quitac,
I. Miss Leard, hi. Miss Leon, hi. And Mr. Cologne, I pass 70. Mr. Miller, please read 8A through 8F. Item A, an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem, counties of Lehi and Northampton, Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, amending the 2025 capital budget for non-utilities. Item 8 B, an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem, counties of Lehigh and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the 2025 capital budget for non-utilities. Item 8 C, an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem,
Counties of Lehigh and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the general fund for 2025. Item 8 D, an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehi and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the general fund for 2025.
Item 8 E, an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehi and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the community development block grant budget for 2025. And item 8F, ordinance of the city of Bethlehem, counties of Lehigh and Northampton,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the community development block grant budget for 2025. All are sponsored by Mr. Crampy Smith and Miss Quitech. Any discussion on the group? Mr. Miller, please call the RO on all
the ordinances. Miss Wilhelm, I. Mr. Callahan, I. Miss Grampy Smith, I. Miss Quitec I Miss Leard. Hi, Miss Leon. Hi. And Mr. Cologne. Hi. Rasses 70. Moving on to new ordinances 9A.
Ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehi and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, repealing and replacing part 13 of the codified ordinances related to subdivision and land development. Bill number 39, 2025 is sponsored by Miss Crampy Smith and
Miss Le. discussion on on that council I'm sorry I was I was missed the last meeting but I just have a couple quick questions about it about salo um the one is um you know I like a lot of it is is
really great and I love it about the traffic studies and transit routes um the one area talks about trees that um if there's trees are going to be affected by a development it has to be approved by the forester and I guess I'm wondering what If the forester would
like how much weight would that hold if a forester felt a tree could not be taken down or damaged by development? Do you know the answer to that? Um I might have to defer to um Mr. Piper but
you know so as it relates to trees there are certain actual requirements related to trees that we can require of developments. Those I believe are typically related to like street trees. So they are along the street. Um if you are for example referring to a project
where um you know a development on one particular piece of property could potentially impact like an interior tree on a neighboring property. The forester can call that out and can and can discuss it and you know recommend against it but we don't have the legal
ability to prevent a development um in in a scenario like that. So it sounds like um the forester can make recommendations but legally there's not a lot of weight as far as what the recommendations are. I would say that the specific legal hook that we have is related to street trees
that I understand. Okay. And then the other part is where um it says I think it was it was asked at the last meeting about um if budget development is in the process it's not completed yet can they they can then take advantage of the elements in this
new ordinance that might be more favorable to the project and I'm wondering what about if there are um individuals or people who object to a plan and they're appealing a plan of development can they also then take advantage of elements of the new
ordinance if the plan is not completed yet that work on both sides. No, my understanding is that the the right with respect to pending ordinances would be applying to like somebody who's actually doing whoever is doing it. would not apply to those who are peeing in.
That's my understand. Okay. Thanks. Um and then just the other thing I had about um I read somewhere about the fee in Lou. It says about um this has to do with transportation improvements and permits and um bicycle or pedestrian improvements and then
permits um and it permits the payment of a fee in lie of street widening. So I guess I'm wondering what what does that mean? like instead of this is on well this is a memo actually from Mr. Piper from it was back in April. And on
the second page, it talks about um article 1349, design standards and required improvements. And to halfway down, it talks about the um design standards on page 55. And it sounds like if they they can pay
a fee in lie of um certain things like street street widening, transit improvements or installation of curving in sidewalks. You know that's okay. We you can get back to me on that. I I can send it to your house app because it was
from a couple months ago. Okay. I was just wondering about the fee and like where it would go. So be happy to get back. Okay. Thanks so much. I'll email you the exact question. Okay. I know. Thank you. Thank you, council. Anything else for members council? Councilwoman Lair.
Um yeah, in the landscaping plan um which is 1349 uh to L. I think I got all the different sections there. Um it says um plan must be submitted. Uh
such a plan shall show the locations, general species and initial sizes of landscaping to be planted within the common open space and throughout the tract. And there may be another section that talked about uh curb landscaping or something as well. So the question would apply anywhere. Um I am wondering if
there's a specific reason that only the things that are going to be planted in the landscaping area are included in what must be shown in the plan. Um, and if it's possible to add language or if it's been discussed adding language that
would include the um whatever materials like our rocks, mulch, etc. Um, so that that could be considered as part of the plan. Certainly. And we don't call that out directly. We we call out vegetative ground cover in lie of and we do allow
for some river rock use when it's appropriate such as along tables and around storm water management features. Um, okay. Yeah. And I the question came to mind because I I saw some discussion in a public forum about a a recent major
development, you might know what I'm talking about, that uh has a lot of rock that the plants might not survive. Um, and so I is it um is it an intentional absence of those elements in the plan or would it
be reasonable to consider adding language that asks what are you going to put around these plans? Yes, that would be more appropriate. Oh, okay. Got it. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or comments for council? Council me very surface level
ones. I was reading through all this and um I had all these really great questions. I'm glad to have to ask the really simple ones. Other than the last time this was totally updated was 1975. Why did we feel the need to undertake such a a massive overhauling right now? Is it just because of the length of time
or like what prompted this? So, as you can imagine, a 50-y old ordinance is a bit antiquated in its language and this is an opportunity for us to bring it to 2025. Is that also why you included the definitions like the original style that the definitions all said just check look at zoning look at
zoning look at zoning and here there's quite a few pages of definitions um so was that part of it what was the rationale behind putting definitions in this ordinance when it wasn't in the original yes so you're correct the the sound that we're currently using has very few definitions and it makes it awkward for
not only planning staff but for the development community to understand what what we're referring to when we use technical terms I want you to know I checked all those definitions. I read them all citizens ordinance just in case there was a a minor change. There literally wasn't. I thought I should be up on like what's
considered family, but no, they're all um straight out. But I I really do appreciate that addition of the definitions within within the ordinance because especially if you're looking into them, it's really crappy zoning ordinance and then we're trying to trying to figure out and I was talking to the solicitor. It just makes a cleaner ordinance to have the definitions in there as people are doing
research. So, um those were the only ones that I had. I have a couple smaller ones, but I need to formulate them. So, I'll probably either bring them up in the next one or talk. Thank you. Anything else from council, council? Uh,
apologies if I I didn't capture this in my notes from the hearing. Um, I know that there were years of work within the staff and inclusion of committees like the EAC uh for their feedback on this plan. Um what were the opportunities for
besides the last public hearing and tonight and the next meeting uh for public input on the the salo? Could you highlight those? Certainly. We had several meetings with the planning commission. Those are public meetings and as we're advertised as well and that was the opportunity for the public to weigh in on some of the
changes. They were broken into pieces because it was a lack for the planning commission to undertaking just one meeting. And so they also made a recommendation to us as the governing body favorable recommendation for the adoption. I'll just add that those meetings there
were there was October 2021, February 2022, November 2023, and April 2025. Thank you. Anything else from council? Mr. Miller, call the role. Miss Wilhelm. Hi. Mr. Callahan. Hi.
Miss Gracy Smith. Hi Miss Quiet. Hi, Miss Leairard. I Miss Leon. Hi. And Mr. Cologne. I passes 70. 9B. The ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehi and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending
the general fund budget for 2025. Bill number 40, 2025 is sponsored by Miss Crampy Smith and Miss Lem. Discussion. Call the role. Miss Wilhelm. Hi. Mr. Callahan. Hi. Miss Grahamy Smith. Hi. Missac I
Miss Leairard. Hi. Miss Leon. Hi. And Mr. Cologne. I pass 70. Resolutions 10A. It resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that the said council hereby approves the amendments to the rules and regulations recommended by the
civil service board of the city of Bethlehem on July 1st, 2025 which are attached to the resolution as exhibit A and which shall take effect immediate effect. Resolution is sponsored by Miss Grampy Smith and Miss Leyon. Discussion. Call the RO.
Miss Wilhelm. Hi. Mr. Callahan. Hi. Miss Grampy Smith. Hi. Miss Quiet. Hi. Miss Leairard. I Miss Leon. Hi. And Mr. Cologne. I pass 70B. be a fur be resolved that the council of the city of Bethlehem mayor is
authorized and directed to execute all application forms necessary to apply for a main street matters grant through the Pennsylvania department of community and economic development. Be it further resolved that the mayor is authorized to execute such other agreements and documents as are deemed to be necessary
and or related there too. Resolution is sponsored by Miss Creamcy Smith and Miss Leon. Discussion on the resolution. Call the role. Miss Wilhelm. Hi, Mr. Callahan. Hi, Miss Grampy Smith. Hi, Miss Guatek. Hi, Miss Leard. Hi, Miss Leon.
Hi. And Mr. Cologne. I pass 70. I'll accept a motion, a second to consider the group of certificate of certificates of appropriateness. That would be agenda items 10 C through 10G as one group.
Second. Motion by Councilwoman Leo, seconded by Councilwoman Wilhelm to group 10 C through 10G together. Any discussion on the motion Miller call the role on the motion? Miss Wilhelm, I. Mr. Callahan, I. Miss Grampy Smith,
I. Miss Kuek, I. Miss Leairard, I. Miss Leon, I. And Mr. Cologne, I. Motion passes 70. Please read the COAs. Mr. M. Items 10 C through 10G. Certificates of appropriateness under the provisions of
the act of Pennsylvania legislature Bethlehem resolution are hereby granted four 453 Main Street to replace a partially collapsed brick masonry wall at the rear facade with red clay brick veneer and gray mortar on a newly
constructed wall. 10 D 418 North New Street to replace the existing asphalt roof shingles with GAF slate line shingles in the antique slate color. 10E for 23 East Church Street to replace the roof with GAF slate line shingles in the
antique slate color and replace the metal roof on the on the hood above the entrance door. 10 F for 400 Main Street to replace wood ballasters on the bell tower of the central Moravian church as needed in kind and in kind and 10G
for 14 412 Hec Welder Place to rebuild the entrance steps in kind. Uh the resolutions are sponsored by Miss Grampy Smith and Miss Leon. Any discussion on approval? I miss Callahan. Hi. Miss Grahamy Smith. Hi. Miss Guate.
Hi, Miss Leard. Hi, Miss Leon. Hi. And Mr. Cologne. Hi. COA's pass 70. That concludes tonight's agenda. Get home safe. Have a safe music. Good luck.