--------- I will call to order this meeting of the Bethleam City Council Finance Committee. I am Grace Crampy Smith, chair of finance committee. The other committee members are Hillary Quiet and Rachel Leon. The clerk will please call the role. >> Miss Grampy Smith >> present. >> Miss Quitec
>> present. And Miss Leon >> present. >> There are two agenda items for tonight's meeting. The first agenda item is a presentation on the 2024 city audit. The second agenda item is to review a proposed budget transfer.
YouTube reminder, if you started streaming this meeting after 6 p.m., please make sure to scroll ahead so that the YouTube stream is current rather than a recording of an earlier portion of the meeting. We'll start with public comment. Is there anyone from the public who would
like to speak on any of the agenda items tonight with a fiveminut time limit? to the left, to the middle, anyone from the public, to the right. Okay, we'll go with the first agenda item is the 2024 city audit presentation. I'll call on a
representative from the administration to discuss this item. >> Eric was going to make an introduction. >> Okay. >> Are you there, Eric? >> I should mention um that our business administrator, Eric Evans, is not feeling well, so he's available remotely.
Hello. Um, Chairman Cranley Smith, thank you for hosting this this evening for this meeting. Sorry I can't attend in in person. I do have the fluid and uh don't want to be there to infect anyone. So, needless to say, um I do have a couple comments and we'll get started with the
presentation. But the audit is a large undertaking for us, especially for the uh administrative and financial services division. and it's an ongoing event uh that takes the work of a lot of people through all the departments and it goes on throughout the entire year. Tonight,
we're here to review the 2024 audit. Uh and having said that, we can also say that the 2025 audit is also in the beginning stages as as we continue to move into next year. So, I want to take the time to thank everyone that's been involved with responsibility of keeping
and providing the data that's required to be submitted to our auditors. Uh, is this citywide if Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Yes, we can hear you. >> Okay. I'm just getting notes on my on my thing that's currently offline. So, I
make sure I'm still there. But, uh, it is a city-wide effort that's going to involve dozens of people in the end. But at the table tonight are really the two point people we have. um sitting there who you're familiar with Winnie Lazar our director of budget finance and uh as
a CPA she has been and as a role previous role of director of financial services the point person for I I guess I can say more than years I would say into the decades with our audits. Uh next to her is Joe Velocic our our current director of financial services
and the current point person to the audit. many people are involved throughout the process throughout the year. Joe really takes the lead um through and becomes the the point man. So we appreciate uh both their efforts especially they both have prior experience in auditing which serves the
city well uh during this time and it's the two of them that will be available to answer most any of the questions you have with regard to specifics about the city once the presentation is complete. Um, with us tonight is Jennifer Kruever Kibby, uh, who I believe you are familiar with and she's she's come at
least the last couple years. She's a partner at Mayor Dussel and she leads the team that conducts our audit. So, I want to extend our thanks from the city of Bethlehem uh, for the professional relationship that we have with them as well as the services provided by their
firm. So, she did previously share slides with uh the council and I will now turn to Jennifer for her to report on the 2024 audit. Thank you. >> Thank you, Eric. We hope you feel better. And I just Okay. All right.
Good. I'm just trying my technology make sure I'm able to pull everything up. So, the first couple slides are our required communications. So this is in a separate letter that we call the to communication to those charge of governance. So we're required to in accordance with auditing
standards have these written and I always like to highlight them in the beginning of every audit presentation. So our responsibility is under auditing the auditing standards generally accepted in um United States of America in addition to the government auditing standards uniform guidance. So, similar
to previous years, the city of Bethlehem expends more than $750,000 of federal awards, which requires you to have that separate single audit. So, that is requires you to have in accordance with government auditing standards as well as uniform guidance. So, our responsibility is to appine on the financial statements
themselves, but the financial statements themselves rely on the responsibility of management and and um and and the city. And we also in accordance with government auditing standards, we do review internal control of our financial reporting to assist with our testing and
our audit approach. We do not appine on the internal control of the city. However, if we come across any issues, we do report those um as part of our findings, but there were no findings to report which we'll get to that slide later. And we also audit in accordance with the uniform guidance. What that
means is out of all the federal awards, we choose certain programs that are meet a threshold and we perform additional internal control and compliance work. So every year the federal government issues a compliance supplement which we use as an audit guide. So we utilize that to
design our audit approach and and exactly what we have to test for those major programs. The significant account accounting policies for 2024 all municipalities all cities had to evaluate whether there was there were two new standards to evaluate
Gazsby 100 and Gazsby 101. The one regarding accounting changes and error corrections had no impact on the city's financial statements. So nothing to report on that one. Another one was on compensated absences which all government entities were required to
evaluate all acred liabilities regarding salaries or or leave in particular sick leave with a lot of municipalities and evaluate whether you have to um record additional liabilities this year. So there was some slight change over that
the estimate and we reviewed that with management and had no issues with their calculations. Indiana does not have a material impact on the city's financial statements. Just want to bring it to your attention. Those are technically two new standards that were adopted, but other than that, there were no other significant accounting changes and the
the policies were followed in previous years. Accounting estimates were always utilized for recording transactions as well as footnote disclosures. The most significant are the same as the previous years. fair value of investments as well as the actual assumptions that drive the
net pension liabilities and the net p the net postemployment benefit plan liabilities and all of that is disclosed in the footnotes themselves. There are no sensitive disclosures that we have to bring to your attention that we did not have any difficulties um
performing our procedures or receiving information to complete our audit procedures. So we had no issues working with any departments. We want to thank everyone for their efforts. We did not if we come across any immaterial adjustments or material adjustments we always work with management to see if
they should be recorded but in combined there were no significant proposed adjustments that were material to the financial statement. So there's no findings over financial reporting that we have to provide. We did not um we also issued we received a management representation letter in order to issue
the financial statements. Those are all similar representations as the previous year. We're not aware of any consultations with other independent auditors where the city would be trying to obtain a second level of opinion and other matters. There's supplementary information including the financial
statements. There are certain disclosures. There are certain reports that are incl required to be included in accordance with the government auditing standards historical information on pension. They're the post-employment benefit information man's discussion analysis. We review that information but
we do not appine on it. And then the supplementary information the biggest portion of that is the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. So we do review that perform audit procedures and we performed um we gave in relation to opinion on that information
but the results of the audit itself for the financial statements we gave what's called an unmodified opinion. So that is the best opinion that the city can receive. And in our opinion we stated that the financial statements are materially accurate in accordance to generally accepted accounting principles.
Similar as previous years as I mentioned there's budgetary comparison information and there's historical pension and other post-employment benefit information included. So we have a paragraph talking about that as well as the supplement information. Now similar to previous
years there are three legally separate entities that roll up into the city's financial statements. One of them we audit the library we audit two we do not. So we do not audit the parking authority or redevelopment authority but we receive those independent audit financial statements and we rely on
those for our audit support. So we reference that in our opinion and those two entities are not performed in accordance with the government auditing standards nor is a library has no impact on the city's financial statements. We just have to explain that in our opinion.
So this slide summarizes some financial highlights for 2024 as well as 20 thou the past two years. Now governmental activities focuses on all of your governmental funds. So not only your general fund but it also includes your nui fund as well as any special revenue
funds. Now this is on full acral basis which is different how the city budgets. So this would include capital assets any long-term assets as well as long-term liabilities. So a little different than the fund statements themselves, but just to give you some highlights, the change
in net position that is essentially the net income for all of these governmental ent governmental funds on the full acural basis. So the net the change in net position your net income is $20 million for 2024. And you can see there's some fluctuation
for the revenues and the expenses. The total revenues increased by about 5 million. A lot of that had to do with various grants. So there was do couple new I think community development grants that took place in 2024 to increase that revenue. There's also an increase in
real estate taxes and increase in interest income. So various items there. And on the expenses side, a $4 million increase. So similar to on the revenue side, a lot of those new grants that took place, they were actually passed
through to to subreient organizations. So they showed up as revenue and as expenses. And there's also that management discussion analysis that's included in the report will give you a lot more details as to these variances. And this is a historical chart that
shows those governmental activities revenue versus expenses. As I mentioned, this is full acrruel and this is a historical analysis and a chart analysis of pages three and four of the statement of activities of the financial statements. And it's helpful for a
financial statement user to see by department the revenues that are generated and the expenses that go out and the net position still focus on full acral governmental activities. So net position is accumulated equity for all of these
funds. And in accordance with the government accounting standards, you have to show the accumulated equity, the net position in three buckets. You have to show it as net investment in capital assets, which takes all of your long-term assets and offsets the debt
associated with that. The unrestricted and restricted. So out of the the total net position for all of these entities on the full acral basis was 43.6 million and of course that was an increase from the previous year and out of those
buckets you can see the graphical analysis comparing prior year um past two years and current year. Now the focus on the business type activities. So this would include your sewer, water, golf, and storm water
funds. Change of net position. Once again, that would be your net income. So the net income for 2024 was 15.2 million. Revenues increased by about 1.8 million and expenses had a slight decrease, less than a million dollars.
And um what's explained in the management discussion analysis the charges of services revenue that's generated is is sufficient enough to meet those expenses to have reserves for future years for any needed capital outlay or or expenses that need to take
place on the retirement of debt. And similar to the other graphical analysis, still focus on your business type activities showing the revenue and excess of the expenses as well as those those buckets of the net positions. That's your accumulated
equity, the breakout between unrestricted and net investment and capital assets. Very little is in restricted net position at the end of the year. But as I mentioned, there was a total increase of 15.2 million during the year. So that increased your net
position for these funds to 77.9 million at the end of 2024. Now some financial highlights on the general fund which is your chief operating fund and this is focused on current resources. So a little close to
how the city budgets because I know the city budgets more on a cash basis but this would not include long-term assets. It does not include long-term debt. So the change in fund balance would be uh your net income or net loss. There was a $1 million decrease. So that would show
as a net loss on that fund for 2024. Revenue and other financing sources which that includes transfers in coming into the fund and there was a slight increase during the year as well as the expenses increase. So I mentioned a
couple of items. the in the increase in the real estate tax revenue grant revenue had a fluctuation as well with the various different types of grants and we also there was also an increase in ambulance fee revenue that took place in 2024 but the as I mentioned that management discussion analysis is a
great document it's right after our um our independent auditor's opinion so it's a great resource to see how management explained all these variances and on the expense side the community development increased by about 4.5 million and a lot of that had to do with
those grant related projects. So rack P as well as the Bethlehem food co-op that took place and there's other departments that saw increases police and and fire saw increases due to capital outlay and salaries. Now the fund balance for the general
funds your accumulated reserves for your general fund and this is broken up between assigned. So out of the 58.9 million what is shown as your fund balance at the end of 2024.2 is assigned for future expenses. So
that's essentially designated by management internally to for future capital projects and excess medical claims for future years. There is a small restricted for community development that's only 253,000 but that remaining is unassigned the
44.4 million. So that's unassigned and available for future spending at the end of 2024. So this is just a graphical analysis showing your revenue versus the expenses for 2024 and the past two years.
And then the next two slides, this one is on the expenditures. I just went a little too fast. Sorry about that. So the governmental funds on the revenue mix. This is slide 14. Sorry I advanced too fast. So the governmental funds includes your general fund but it also
includes NUI and your special revenue funds which would be your liquid fuels and your CDBG. So this is all of those funds showing the distribution of the revenue coming in and you can see the highest bucket of revenue coming in would be taxes and then the second
highest grants and contributions. So that it's the blue color. Yes, blue is 2024 and purple is 2023 and green is 2022. So it kind of shows you that historical mix of the different revenues for all of those funds. And the next
slide is the expenditure mix for all of those funds. And of course the largest expense would be on the public safety similar to any other thirdass city um and showing the other departments within your your budgets. And then lastly on the single audit
side. So I mentioned we had to perform that separate single audit. So we chose out of all your federal expendites expenditures we chose three major programs the one is what we call ARPA the corona virus state and local fiscal recovery funds. So there was a lot of
state funding that was still funded other under this this funding stream and there was also two other the highland conservation that one was for the property purchase I believe for the rail trail connection and then the economic development initiative that was for the Bethlehem food co-op. So what we did is
we used that compliance supplement that's issued by the federal government. We also used the grant agreements and we designed our audit programs and we did internal control work as well as compliance work and as a result of that we gave an unmodified opinion which is the best opinion that you can receive.
So we stated that all three of those programs we had no material issues regarding them and in accordance with the uniform guidance and we had no findings as a result for financial reporting. So there are no government auditing standard findings that we have
to bring to your attention. And then lastly, as a result, as I mentioned, there's no findings, no deficiencies that we have to report. But as part of our audit procedures and approach, if we come across anything that we would deem to be a best practice recommendation, we would include that in
a written management letter. And we included two best practice recommendations. The one the first one has been a repeat comment over the sewer administration charges. We just recommend that the city review the procedures over those charges for the sewer fund to ensure they're substantiated and allowable in
accordance with the act. And then the other one was properly approving PECAR statements. We could verify through conversations with various people that there's sufficient documentational oncard policies and purchases and the reviews are taking place. We just
recommended a a signature denoting that that review is taking place. So that is all that I had to cover. Did anybody question have any questions over presentation or the audit itself? >> Thank you very much. Um before we go to
questions, is there anyone else from administration that would like to make any comments? >> Joe would like to make >> sure. Go ahead. >> Yeah. And oh, sorry I'm not used to sitting and speaking into a microphone, but um I just wanted to echo what Mr. Evans stated earlier that the audit is
kind of a year-long process. Um there's time that's designated, I think it was February, March time frame that fieldwork, the auditors come in, they make a bunch of requests, but the actual work is being done year round. Um you know, ending up with a good audit
opinion is a result of all of that work culminating into what you're seeing now. Um, and just from my own personal experience, I used to audit and you know, occasionally you would have to have uncomfortable conversations with
clients or government entities about issues in the audit. Um, and I think last year when I was sitting back there, Mayor Reynolds stated that, you know, when it you have a clean audit, it doesn't really generate like headlines or anything like that. Um, but I just
want to, you know, we I view this as like a Super Bowl. Um, which, you know, is an accounting nerd, I guess, perspective, but I think everybody should be proud that we are in the position that we are in. And, um, hopefully we continue that in the future, and we certainly appreciate our
relationship with Jen and uh, her team, and we'll keep moving along, getting ready for 2025. >> Thank you. Thank you, Joe. Is that it? You don't have anything, Lenny B? >> No. >> Okay, great. All right, we'll take um Do any committee members have any questions
or comments? >> I do. Um when it comes to Leo, >> when it comes to the recommendations, how does the city go about? So, there was the two recommendations, the city review charges of the sewer fund and the PE card review. So, how does the city go
about implementing like what does that look like when you get a recommendation? Is it automatically implemented? How um walk me through that? Well, for the first one, um, in regards to the sor fund charges to the general fund, that was the amount was created, the excess
was created over a long period of time. So now every year going forward, this year in the 2026 budget, we reduced the charges by 300,000. Next year, it's the landfill debt goes away. So we're going to reduce the charges by 400,000. So
every year we're going to reduce it or and also as time goes on the gap gets smaller because of inflation >> and um it might get smaller because somebody in the sore fund may have very
high medical bills or self-insured. So um our goal is to slowly tip away uh this gap between what it should be and what it is. And so, um, that's our plan for that one. >> Okay.
>> The second one, the PC card, um, we already formed the committee. >> Um, and we have representatives from all the user communities and we're looking at the current policy. Um, it hasn't been looked at since what, 2014. The,
um, standard operating procedures. um were um already came up with a way to assign approval. Like the problem was nobody was actually physically approving. They were verbally approving transactions but not like we couldn't show the auditors, oh this piece of
paper. There was no piece of paper or no file. So um we've come up with a process for that. Um we're tightening the restrictions on the usage. um looking at how um we can benefit with more um in
some areas we may want to use the PECARD more but in others we may not. So we're just looking at the whole process and we've um had two meetings two or three meetings already in regards to this and our goal is to have the new process in place by January um 2026.
>> Can you let us know once you put it in place just out of curiosity? >> Yes. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Those were the only questions I had. >> I have Okay. Council on Quue, do you have any questions? >> I think actually all you answered all of my questions. Um, the one thing you
talked about um capital assets and then long-term liabilities um in on page five. >> Um, and so our capital assets, I mean that includes everything from like fire equipment and you know those those big million-doll trucks and things like
that. So we can see fluctuation when we take possession of a of a vehicle or something like that can can swing things >> in in those kinds of ways. >> Yes, correct. So in the individual fund so if the if the nui fund showed an
expenditure tell us what the nui fund is. Sorry it's okay. >> Non-utility capital fund. It's fund six. >> Okay. We never call it that. That's >> No, it's okay. Now I know. It's all right. So if a purchase was made out of the non-utility fund, that would be shown as an expenditure. That's how we would budget for it. But when we get to
that full acrruel, what we call the governmental activities, we actually reverse out that expenditure and show it as an asset. >> So it's just a diff it's what Gazsby makes us do. So it shows the use of the financial statements what the government truly has long-term. And now even
includes infrastructure, road improvements, and all of that information. And >> we currently have a policy. What is it? everything over 10,000 10 mill what is it 10,000 >> I think it's 10,000 but it's also some things it's case by case depending what what it is so there's that's another
part of the audit that's fun is going through all the purchases and seeing what what different funds purchase and what can we capitalize what can't we capitalize um which now includes like software leases and things like that >> I was just going to ask about software and whether or not that was considered a
capital asset >> unfortunately isn't according with Gatsby now. >> That's wild. >> And and >> it's not like you can sell it to make it's a right to use. That's the approach. Liquidate it though. >> And you can't completely it's to match you depreciate it over multiple years as
opposed to taking the expense in one year. You you take a portion of it during its lifetime. >> Okay. >> Is that's what it's for. >> Good. Well, I really appreciate all of the work and um the different perspectives in looking at it from a
cruel and from a cashbased standpoint and understanding how that money moves from, you know, having it having the the the funds but knowing that um we have to put them into operating and then they're kind of one time. >> Um you know, whether we have some, you
know, people sometimes call them rainy day funds, but they're not really. They're just a temporary, you know. >> Yeah, they're not rainy day funds. At the end of the year, the bulk of our revenue comes in in March, the end of March, which is um the tax discount
period. So, your cash balance at 1231 gets you to that March 31st. So, you have how many payrolls? Like at least um six, seven payrolls, a couple debt payments, our weekly medical. So it gets us there until we actually get cash flow
again. >> Right. Right. Yeah. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. Thank you for um for all your work. I know it's a a year-long ongoing process. So appreciate that. Um okay. I just wanted to just clarify a few
things. Um under the G general fund. So you had state I thought it was 58.9 million is was a balance and then 14.2 for future capital expenses. and uh 253 for community development. So does that mean then that we're looking at 44.7
for the general fund balance? Yeah. So out of that 58.9 million, it is segregated between those categories. So the amount unassigned available for future spending was 44.4 million at the end of 2024.
>> Okay, great. Thank you. And some Oh, I wanted to ask you about when you uh the single audit results for the three different um fundings and programs. So, um you said you you so you audited um the money that went to or
came in from the programs or went to, for example, like you mentioned the food co-op. Um so, did you look you looked at the money just from 2024 then that went from the city to the co-op? >> That's correct. >> Okay. And you and you found no problems with everything was fine as far as the
way it transferred to the co-op. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Because there's been a lot of public outcry about that lately. So that helps to clarify that. Okay. >> Thank you very much. Um, and we talked about the other the um enhancing best practices and I just
wanted to so for the um the sewer administrative charges and I I I heard what you said, Lenny, but I guess I'm just wondering how how could I don't I I know you might not be able to say that or how can it be enhanced or what is missing to make it a best practice?
I I think what the administration's currently doing, evaluating and decreasing those charges will will gradually get to um because what we look as the actual expenditures on the sewer fund side versus what was transferred. >> We have a cost study done every year and
the results fluctuate from one year to the next. But in I've been here since 1995 and um we used to um we were told that was okay to use um contributions from
other funds, not the water fund because that's under PUC to help us balance the um um general fund. And so it's took years and years of adjustments go with
>> years and years of adjustments of increased charges. Now it's going to take a couple years. We can't just wipe it away in one year. >> So we're slowly every year we're going to say okay how much do we have now? how much do can we reduce it by and then
compare it to the maximus study and I hope to get to a point that we can just look at the maximus and that will be our general fund charges for the following year >> so it will be balanced yes all right thank you >> that's the ultimate goal >> and um and the pecard statements I understand is there are there currently
like forms or electronically like forms for people that have the pecards like if there's any purchases or anything because I know you mentioned like there was verbal but I'm This one is like the tracking system. I know you're doing the committee, but like what exists now as far as tracking, I guess.
>> Do you want to take this one? >> Yeah. So, individually in each um bureau, they they have PE cards and it's typically the business manager at the end of the month who reconciles and codes how it should be and then it comes
down to financial services or accounts payable enters it into the financial system. Um, but where I guess if you want to call a shortfall in the process was is although there were individuals reviewing it, coding it and bringing it down to be entered, we didn't have that
overarching um approval from the standpoint that somebody looked and signed off or documented that these were approved. So, one of the things that we're discussing now is at the bureau level before it comes down, they all get individualized
statements, so to speak. and it being approved there and then also being approved at another level. So to to strengthen the internal controls that are already there but also to satisfy the documentation side for the audit. Um
there's also a possibility I think that approvals could be done online. Um but that is I guess going to be explored because nobody really knows I guess how that will work. Um, but we're we're just trying to work as a group between everybody that kind of touches the
process how, you know, to to not only make it better, but strengthen the internal controls and, you know, hopefully get rid of the the comment going forward. >> Right. Good. Okay. Good. Sounds good. Because I when I heard the verbbo, you know, that just was a little red flag because I know everywhere I worked, we
had to first do papers and then it became electronic which was easier, but you know, you still need a signature. So, that's great. We have situations that somebody will be out on the field and they're like, "Oh, can I quickly go to the Acroids and buy something?" And they'll just say, "Yeah, go ahead." And well, we you need more than, "Yeah, go
ahead." >> Right. Yeah. >> Yeah. But I get it. They're out there and they need it. Absolutely. So, okay. And um the only other questions I have is um I know other years like we we it seem like we have more information like data and actually like numbers. Is there a reason like it just seems like this
year was different? Like do you know what I'm saying? Like last year we had more of the actual audit information >> like did like do you mean the past did you have like like history of taxes or is that what you're asking or >> Well I just felt like last year I mean this this is really great and helpful
but other years I felt like we had more of the actual like the numbers and tables and >> the actual financial statements I guess. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, if you read >> like um Jen was saying, if you read um
at the beginning, it's I'm not good with Roman numerals. No more no Roman numeral I through. Let me see where it goes to. What number is that? >> I don't think I have that. >> Yeah, it's right in the front of the audit. Oh,
>> the actual financial Yeah, that's what I Like we actually had part of the auditor of the whole audit and this year we >> they're online but I can I'll email you a copy of the whole audit. >> Okay. Cuz I just that's helpful to have even before this meeting for sure in the future. So >> Okay, >> great.
>> And if you ever have questions when you start looking at that, feel free to reach out to me. The last slide has my contact information. I could speak hours talking about government financial statements. I know nobody wants that, but I'm always happy to answer questions. >> That's okay. I'm sorry. You're talking
about the the 169 page thing, right? We we did get it. >> We got it. >> Yes. Yes. Yeah. Very large document >> via email. Okay. Um because other years we did get we got the most important part of it in a print out before the meeting. >> Okay. >> You know, so it's just something for for
next year. >> Okay. >> I'm just uh So, do any other council members have there's no other council members? Do committee members have any more questions? Okay. Thank you. This presentation was forformational purposes only. Thank you
so much, Jen. >> Thank you. >> Safe travels. >> Thank you. >> So, we'll go to agenda item two. The second agenda item is to review proposed transfer funds to purchase additional police vehicles. I will call on a representative from the administration to discuss the request. >> Okay. Uh first of all, thank you,
Jennifer. Appreciate you coming out today with this weather. You got ahead of that storm or behind the storm. Either way, you made it to Bethlehem. So, thank you for your your work. Uh agenda item number two is the police
vehicles memo which you received as part of uh the packet and deputy chief Mikeel is here to explain the mechanics of that memo. >> Uh thank you. the uh the last couple
years, as you know, we've been down staffing, so we've been using excess salary dollars to upgrade things in the police department from equipment to facility improvements where we can. This year, right now, we're requesting a transfer of $645,000 to our vehicle account to upgrade department vehicles
as needed. Just some quick facts for you so you have some background. The department has a total of about 90 vehicles. 24 of those vehicles are assigned a patrol. Back in 2022, we started investing heavily in our vehicle fleet to upgrade it after several years where we only had three vehicles purchased per
year, which really strained the fleet. In 2022, our average mileage odometer readings on the patrol portion of the fleet was 84,000 miles per vehicle. Currently, we have that down to about 39,000 miles per patrol vehicle. That's good, but that's only the patrol fleet, which
is about, like I said, 24 vehicles. With a 90 vehicle fleet, we still have over 30 vehicles with over 100,000 miles on them actively out there today. This money will really help us upgrade our fleet to make it better for the officers, safer vehicles, respond better, more reliable, and really make
their working conditions much better, you know, which they certainly deserve. Uh we've gone through several other budget transfers, you know, through different funds through the year to really take advantage of the savings that we've had in salary. Uh this being the largest transfer this year. Earlier
this year, just some examples, we transferred over $103,000 for a new robot for ERT to replace a 15-year-old one that, you know, among its life had been shot once already. So, it's a very important tool to have to save officers lives. We're transferring over $45,000
this year for new furniture for the records room. We transferred over 12,000 for some additional cameras that aed allowed us to move camera networks to main and Union Boulevard to add cameras there and about 70,000 to finish out overtime for the year which projected
we'll have at the end of 2025 only about 22,000 remaining in our salary accounts. We're really trying to take advantage of the salary that we have, the excess funds to really make the department a better place for the officers and improve what we can for the city.
Okay. Thank you. Do does anyone else from administration have any comments? >> No. >> Okay. Do committee members have any questions or comments? >> Sure. >> Um, hi. Uh, just wondering, so 24 patrol cars. So that means there are 66 other
kinds of vehicles. >> Yeah. So that takes account. Yeah. What kind of >> more marked vehicles as well. So, keep in mind, school resource officers have vehicles, community services has vehicles, housing authority has vehicles, investigations has vehicles, uh, undercover officers have vehicles.
There's other specialty vehicles out there from pickup trucks, you know, the traffic unit, the mounted unit, uh, armored vehicle, big transport trucks. So, it goes through all kinds of things, including motorcycles, and that doesn't include trailers that we have to haul around different items. >> Great. Thanks for clearing that up. I
was just I thought when you said patrol, you know, my mind goes to like all of that, you know, whether they're housing authority or resource officers or whatever. I I don't you know, it doesn't necessarily get delineated in my mind. So, I appreciate you um clarifying that. That's the only question I had. Thank
you, Council Me. >> How many vehicles does $600,000 get you? >> Well, it depends on what type we wind up purchasing. So after the money's transfer, we have to look at what you know is necessary and in worst condition. We replace trucks, vans,
patrol vehicles, you know, other specialy vehicles. An average patrol vehicle cost just in the base cost outfitted to be around $62,000. >> You know, when you buy the vehicle and all the equipment that go in as far as lights and markings and everything else. >> Okay, I can't agree with you more. It's
great to see the fleet being updated. These are basically moving offices for our police officers. They're in them all of the time. So, it's great to see that the the money that has been saved um saved because, you know, being down so
many people is not is still being being reinvested within the police department. So, happy to vote for this. >> Okay. Thank you. I had that question, too. Um one one question. What about ebikes? Are you looking at you have some now? Are you looking at purchasing them
or do you feel like >> we do? I believe we have about eight ebikes right now, six or eight. Uh they're out there and there are some assigned patrol. There's others in the housing on unit and in community services. Those two units ride the bikes most of the time, but we do have ebikes for patrol to use as well. At a certain
point, there's more ebikes than we need that people can actually ride them at once. So, right, >> I said I believe it's eight that we have currently and that's a good number to be at. And do you think those are like, you know, productive being out there in the community that the bikes are helpful? >> It really helps the officers out. So
when they're rushing to get somewhere, you know, they have more energy to deal with whatever incident they were sent to initially. If they're sent to a fight somewhere and have to pedal to get there with no electric assistance, >> they can certainly do it, but then part of their energy is expended getting there when they might need that energy to resolve a conflict. >> So this just gives them a little extra
to get there and a better condition to resolve whatever's going on. >> Good. Makes sense. Great. Um the only the questions I had is more for um administration. So So we'll we'll have 12.8 million left in the staffing fund. It sounds like correct for under police.
>> No, >> if we take 645. >> No, no, no. We we'll only have about 20,000 remaining. >> There's still payrolls yet. >> Okay. Because I Okay, because it has 13.4 million and we're going down to 12.8. So So how much will we have left
then? as a >> That's the total cost per Yeah. >> How much will be left then for >> $20,000? >> 20. Okay. All right. And hopefully we'll get more police that we can use it. >> We hope >> for salaries, right?
>> Correct. >> Okay. Great. That's all I have. Um that's all I have. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> So that's it. I will accept a motion and a second to recommend approval of the administration's request and to place appropriate legislation on tonight's
council agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. The clerk will please call the role on the motion. >> Miss I. >> Miss Leon. >> I. >> Miss Gr Smith. >> I. The appropriate legislation will be placed on tonight's council agenda. This meeting is adjourned. Thank you. Part: 2
We are recording just so everyone's aware. >> Good evening everyone. I'm going to start tonight's meeting. I ask that all rise for the pledge to the flag. [snorts] >> I 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 the role. >> Mr. Callahan, >> present. Miss Ramsey Smith >> present. >> Present. >> Miss Leard >> present. >> Miss Leon descend. >> Miss Wilhelm and Mr. Cologne
>> present. Thank you Mr. Miller. Councilwoman Wilhelm uh will not be joining us this evening as she is away. Mayor Reynolds and will not be joining us this evening and Mr. Evans is remote to participate tonight. Before we get
started, I will just um ask is and I'll talk about it, but obviously the last time we were together was a budget meeting that we were here for eight hours. So, I will ask that uh public comment. We will have as is custom members of public can speak on anything
not on the agenda that you'd like. For us members of council, I ask that any budget discussions or questions or um monologues are saved for Thursday's budget hearing which will be for any
proposed budget amendments. The moving on the approval of minutes for the November 18, 2025 meeting. Any discussion on the minutes? None. The minutes will stand approved. Public comment, excuse me, as is custom. We'll start
with any subject not being voted on this evening. I remind everyone we have a 5m minute time limit. We have four people signed up. So I'll allow them to speak and then open it up to the room. Our first person signed up is Mike O'Hare.
Hello. Michael O'Hare. 4th Avenue in Bethlehem. Just wanted to thank everybody for uh preparing the budget. 14 hours of budget sessions. I counted when I looked at the YouTube videos. So a long process and a very marathon
session on the uh the third session of eight hours. So much appreciated everybody hanging in there on that. Uh I think it's good news that the city is in a healthy financial condition and that we're paying down debt. That's very good for the city, very good for everybody that's lives in the city. Uh on budget
session one, I would say that I think the controller made a good point about um the way I take it, there was $10 million over the course of several years that was unexpected but now predictable income and it seemed
to me that the council didn't know that that was available or that was part of the budget process. So, um, what could be done to formalize that so that there's more better communication between council and administration about unexpected income that, you know, they plan to use for something? I thought
that was something that was a little bit um, concerning to me. Not that there's anything inappropriate, but it's just something that council should, I think, formalize if there's that type of revenue that's uh, unexpected but yet predictable. And, um, I know Mr. Cologne
had mentioned about um how do we as a council look at the budgets the account balances in the budget and it seemed like the c the council is not able to do that. They're able to see the budget but each department has a balance and I don't know if that's something that
council should be interested in looking at to make sure how things are going throughout the year. Uh budget session number three, the eight hour session. Um we it's been mentioned several times that we don't want to uh fund ongoing operations uh sustainable things with uh
one-time funding like grants. But I thought it was it was a little bit contradictory that the community and economic development corporate uh bureau from what Miss Collins said they're 96% funded by grants and yet there seems to
be a reluctance to use grants for other issues. So, I thought that was a little bit contradictory um that grants are not allowed to be used for and I know there's restrictions on grants and you can only use them for certain things, but I just thought that reasoning didn't follow through with some of the things I
was hearing uh in those budget meetings. So, my my question or my comment would be I know the fire department is eight people down. I heard all the comments and it's very concerning especially when you have like things that happened on Sunday with not only one fire but two other incidences across the city and
finally there's nobody available to respond. Could some of that money grant money or some other salaries that are not being used or eight people down that salaries are sitting there? Can some of that money be used towards retention recruitment? You're eight people short. Why not get that department up to the
current staffing level that should be? and it seems like there's problems with recruiting and retention, that sort of thing. And then and then work on uh expanding the department if if the studies show that it's appropriate. I agree with the $60,000 study. Why would
the city want to add four positions unless they are sure objectively that they're they're needed. I know the IAFF study came through and that shows shows what's happening and that's good. But I'm thinking to myself as a taxpayer, this is a negotiating year. So of course
the IFA is going to say that. So I think the city should be careful and you know endor get those positions up to snuff and then make sure that there are objective studies that that prove uh that they do need these additional positions. And then um
uh let's see. Oh, I do agree that also another comment that came back with the community and development economic I don't know what that you know I'm all tongue tied with that was that there should be a more transparent process about how the grants are awarded. Uh I think Miss Crampy Smith said something
about that and I know the comment was made while they're on the website but I think council should at least get copies of who these grants are going to so they can make comment. They should approve them. they should review them so they know uh how that money is being spent. Not I'm sure it's being spent well, but I think it's in the interest of
transparency to make sure that happens. And then just one other thing, I'm running out of time. I want to invite everybody on December 13th and 14th out to the uh live Christmas pageant in uh the Rose Garden. It's the 46th year of the live Christmas pageant. They bring live animals in. Uh they do a
reenactment of the birth of Christ and it's a beautiful uh time. It's 1:45 to 3:00 each day. I'd invite each one of you to come out and be part of that. And thanks for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. O'Hare. >> Our next speaker [clears throat] is Mark Wool Weber.
>> Uh Mark Weber, 66 West Elizabeth Avenue. Again, uh I just want to revisit the ongoing thing with the downloadable apps, uh especially in light of the fact that Mr. Boscola was beginning the drum
beat to for a rate increase. And I would uh implore council to not grant any kind of rate increase until uh at least on the contingency that we get this downloadable apps to protect the consumer citizen. Uh, by that I mean
the Iron Water app or Aqua Hawk or something similar because if you're going to jack up the rates again and not provide any protection on the downside for people, it's it's like raising the uh stakes in a poker game where uh you
know Fast Eddie holds all the chips and the other people have a tiny bit of chips and we're going to kick up the price of poker. So, if you get nailed now for like the situation I got nailed for, it's going to be quite a bit more than I had to pay where if I'd had Aqua
Hawk or Iron Water, I could have prevented that. I wouldn't had a $600 bill or whatever it was. And not to mention a lot of sleepless nights. So, it's imperative, I think, that that you guys don't rubber stamp a rate hike on
water. And he's going to say, "Oh, we haven't had one since 2021." But you had a sewer increase last last uh year, right? So, does it really matter? Like if you're an amateur boxer and they send you out to fight Larry Holmes, do you care whether you got decked by right
hook or left jab? Doesn't really matter. So, if you're going to go every other year, okay, we'll jack them up on sewer this year, get them again on water in a year or two. Uh, you know, you end up seeing five or six rate increases across
a decade. That's a lot of money if somebody retired in 2017 is on fixed income. The least you can do is come through with this downloadable app. And I think if you make it contingent any rate hike on that, it will give Mr.
Busll a little incentive to actually do it. And it's routinely done all across the country in many places. Uh you've seen me up here with my list. I think maybe next uh meeting for Christmas, I'll leave you I'll print out a list for
you guys you can put in your stocking. Okay? But it has to be done. Uh if it's not done, you're really leaving people vulnerable. And uh you know, electric's going through the roof and there's nothing you guys can do about that. I don't think you can do anything about
Palestine, by the way, why I'm here. Uh but you could do something about water. And uh I think it's imperative that you do the right thing here. I'm I'm actually I probably won't even live in this city 2 or 3 years from now, but I
have this morbid curiosity to see if uh if local government's actually worthwhile. And uh this would be a litmus test for me. I think it should be done. It's done everywhere else. I just looked at this place, Buford, South Carolina, and they
have it. uh they have 70,000 meters. So double what we're going to have uh when it's finally completed. We'll up 37,000. And yet there are people have eye on water.
And they have their officials on there showing people how to download it, how to use it, why they should have it. It's going to save you a lot of money. And they use it as an incentive to get people to accept the smart meters. Okay.
Uh it's also I think it's imperative that you guys get exact figures on how much money they already are making on the smart meters. He he didn't have a chart for that but he's I suspect they're making tens of thousands already on that and with a possibility to make
more than that. And I get that figure from other places that are on the record of saying they're going to make 500,000 plus off the smart meters and it's uh 27,000 meters. Okay. And anecdotally I
get it because people are on there going my rates are up. So it if everybody's rates even go up 10 bucks a quarter, do the math on that times 37,000. Okay. Uh, if I'm totally wrong on that, I'd like to hear somebody come up and
tell me where I'm wrong on it. Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you, Mr. Wver. Our next speaker signed up is Michael Leberto. >> How you doing? Mike Leberto, also known as the Bethleam Brawler. Um, Bethlehem
is a city built on strength, tradition, faith, but right now our safety is being gambled away. The fire department is um the fire department, the very people sworn to protect our families is running
nearly half at staff. This is just this isn't just a mistake. This is incompetence. This is incompetent leadership from the mayor to allow the fire department to operate at a dangerously low numbers. Every second
matters when lives are on the line. Yet our firefighters are stretched beyond their limits, forced to risk their everything without the the manpower they deserve. Do we really want to wait until another
tragedy strikes before change is made? Bethleam deserves better. Our families deserve better and our firefighters deserve better. We must demand accountability now before a preventable death forces action. The time to stand up is today. And it's
actually 12 firefighters that they're down in the city. And that's just unexcusable. This mayor talks about non-stop about affordable housing, but three years later, nothing has been built. Not one home, not one shelter, not one project
actually helping people here. [snorts] Pe Bethlehem spent nearly millions of dollars and what did we get in return? A stack of reports, no results, no broken ground, just excuses. Meanwhile, local nonprofit churches and
community groups, the people actually doing the work were ignored while he wrote checks to consultants nobody asked asked for. And where is the mayor during all this? Missing meetings, missing in action, missing then missing when the
community needs a leadership. Bethleam doesn't need another speech. Bethleam doesn't Bethleam needs a mayor who shows up and gets things done. It does not need virtual signaling putting up transgender and gay pride flags. That's not leadership that builds a
future. That is an incompetent mayor. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Lynn Rothman. >> Good evening. Lynn Rothman, 870 Wford Lane. I'm speaking tonight on behalf of the Environmental Advisory Council
members Ben Felzer, Ben Guthrie, Vibar Kumar, Steve Ochvsky, Mandy Tino, and Katie Tremble to present our year-end report. The EAC's 2025 meetings were hybrid via Zoom and in person at Northampton Community College. Our most
important work is supporting the city's climate action plan or CAP, which aims to reduce our carbon footprint, increase sustainability, and utilize alternative energy sources. To that end, we participate on five of the city's internal CAP committees to implement the
strategies in the CAP. This year, the EAC's green committee's heritage tree program certified three trees. We submitted the annual bird town report with input from the city, especially Mike. Thank you. Um, and out of four levels with four the highest, Bethlehem
achieved level four. Bethlehem Backyards for Wildlife is an active standing committee of the EAC. This year they and community volunteers continued to maintain demonstration gardens at the Hoover Mason Trestle Rose Garden Meadow
on the southside greenway and native perennial plantings at Madison Park on the south side. Our waste reduction committee worked with the city's food and waste cap committee and the health department to create and issue a survey for local restaurants with the aim of
reducing plastic waste. We're in the process of analyzing the survey results and determining next steps. Our transportation committee continues to work with the city to further the complete streets initiatives, including ways to make EV chargers available for
those without access to a garage. It's been the practice of the Department of Planning and Zoning to give the EAC the opportunity to comment on proposed developments. The updated SADO now requires that plans be submitted to the EAC for review. We commented on 16
proposed developments this year. All of our correspondence can be found on our website bethlehemac.org. Other EAC activities in 2025 include tableabling at five community events, co-sponsoring Monakasi Creek cleanups in
the spring and fall through the Monakasi Creek Wershed Association, attending the EAC state network conference, mentoring Lehigh University students on research projects, and speaking about the EAC and plastic reduction at the Bethlehem
Rotary Club. Presentations at EAC meetings included updates to the Salo, Lehigh University students presenting on air quality and forest carbon research projects and nurture nature cent's create connections project update and
next steps. Our EAC continued to participate as a key member of the steering committee of the Lehigh Valley EAC network which is composed of all EACs in the Lehigh Valley. In June, we held a successful in-person
networking meeting. And in October, we hosted a plastics reduction webinar. We held monthly breakfast to share information and coordinate on topics of mutual interest. The hiring of Sarah Degrrenle as sustainability manager has been a tremendous gain in terms of
advancing the implementation of the CAP. She has demonstrated leadership in coordinating the individuals and activities associated with CAP implementation. Sarah is extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. Our first collaboration was updating EAC and CAP
brochures to distribute at tableabling events. In 2026, the EAC looks forward to partnering with Sarah and the city staff to increase public education regarding the city's waist stream reuse of materials and plastic reduction.
explore ways to increase opportunities for solar energy systems and implement the strategies in the soon-to-be approved urban forestry master plan to increase our forest can canopy. Our great appreciation to Tad Miller, city clerk, Betina Bubba, assistant city
clerk, and Stephanie Aguelloo, chief of staff, for their assistance. We're grateful to Darlene Heler, former director of planning and zoning. Kathy Fletcher, current director of planning zone and zoning, Craig Pyer, assistant director of planning and zoning, and
their administrative staff, Stephanie Sylvesta, for the generous amount of time they give to the EAC. Thanks to Michael Alhall, director of public works, and Belle Yandam, chief of engineering and deputy director of public works for their department's
ongoing contributions to Bethlehem City. We also recognize and thank our council city Leo council city liaison Colleen Leairard for her support. Finally, we commend city council and the administration for their support of the climate action plan, especially the
hiring of a sustainability manager. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Rothman. And I'll just speak for council when I say we appreciate the time you've put into the AC. To those who are not aware, Miss Rothman is uh cycling off the EAC
at the end of this year. So, thank you. And and please don't be a stranger to council meetings even after you're off the AC. That concludes our list of who had signed up before the meeting. So, I'll go around the room. Anyone to the left who want to make comment?
Sir, with the baseball cap on. Hi everyone, Mimenez uh President Local 735. I want to thank city council and the administration for taking the time to listen to our experiences during the recent discussions on uh staffing of the fire department. Your willingness to
hear us uh the ones who do the work every day meant a great deal to us. I showed many many of you understand that we're not just numbers. We're real world people. We impact um the real world impact of the staffing crisis has on
people who respond, the people we serve and the safety of our entire city. For decades, we have talked about staffing levels that have not kept pace with our city. It's [snorts] a chronic problem that has been documented for over 15 years. Uh you could see this all over the internet. Uh and you can look in all
the files. Um [sighs and gasps] staffing problems do not stabilize on their own on their own. They worsen. And when you consider that years ago we had more firefighters than we do today are running nearly half the call volume. It becomes obviously obvious we have been
doing more with less for too long. Adding four firefighters and amending the budgets not extravagant. They're a critical and long overdue first step. It would finally allow us to properly staff for Northwest Station and improve coverage citywide. Ideally, we should be discussing eight positions instead of
four, but a good faith but this is a good faith start. Many of you who know me personally, and for those who don't, I want to be very clear about who we are as local 735. Over the past two years, we've worked collaboratively with administration. Together, we have helped
improve the firefighter physical process, uh, fixed emergency callout procedures, uh, helped create an online bidding system, and we're part of the modernization of scheduling and overtime management. We also, the local 735 uh,
bid committee helped secure a $100,000 and AFG grants for cancer screenings and early detection testing. Those improvements weren't achieved through conflict. They were achieved through cooperation. Our reputation speaks professionalism, respect, and integrity.
But despite this history of collaboration when it comes to staffing, the issue that matters most to us, we continue to face resistance. Safer grants exist specifically to help cities hire firefighters and offset costs. They were designed for situations like ours.
Yet, we we are repeatedly being told that we can't apply. And I want to be very clear about this. Advocating for staffing is not an option for us. It's a necessity. For years, our pleas for adequate staffing have not been taken seriously. And every time we raise the
concerns, the response is yet another delay, another reason to wait, another promise pushed to next time. Because of that, Local 735 will continue to educate the city residents of the city of Bethlehem via social media, uh via
interview, whatever, what have you on, uh fire safety. Our [snorts] advocacy is not about politics. It's about protecting lives. And we'll continue to speak up until that meaningful change happens. We had a 8
minute 8h hour meeting the other night. You know, we had multiple generations of Betham Fire Department personnel talk about staffing issues over the course of a half a century. Yet, we're not we're not listened to. You know, as president of Local 735, my mission is simple. to
ensure ensure our membership has a quality of life supported by the safest working conditions possible. We cannot talk about transparency or collaboration while critical staffing decisions are always being delayed. We're not the Betham of the Betham Steel era. We're a
growing city with dense housing, multi-story apartments, major manufacturing, expanding warehousing, and a daytime population that far exceeds our census. And yet our staffing has moved backward from backwards for more than 15 years. And let me be
absolutely clear, we're always under the microscope. Every time we raise concerns, every time we advocate for safety, we're scrutinized. And I will not allow that to continue at the expense of our members or the residents of our city. It's dangerous when the people who run into burning buildings
must sit across the table and plead for the staffing required for their own survival and the safety of the public. It signals that the subject matter experts, the the firefighters who are doing this job are not being taken seriously unless this solution cost nothing.
The staffing conditions being considered are necessarily necessary, reasonable, and long overdue. This can be a monumental step forward for Bethlehem. I ask city council to consider an amendment to hire four additional firefighters in the 26 2026 budget. On
behalf of local 735, I respectfully ask that you have uh that you do this and we continue to work together collaboratively. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Jimenez. Is there anyone else to the left who want to make comment? Sir. Oh, okay.
[laughter] We'll be here Thursday. Mr. Virginia, Robert Fragilio, resident of Bethlehem for 38 years. I just have a question. Um, for those of us who don't subscribe to
our wonderful papers, December, I believe, is the month that Norfolk Southern's supposed to extract the homeless. Can anyone speak to that issue if I missed something or is that still going to take place? >> Thank you, Mr. Julie.
>> Is there anyone else to the wide center who hasn't had a chance to speak? I think that covers it. Anyone to the right? Thank you. We're going to move on. Our second public comment is on ordinances or resolutions to be voted on. No one had signed up in advance. So again, this
would be for any ordinance or resolution on the agenda. Anyone in the public want to comment on anything we're taking a vote on? Seeing none, we'll continue on. Old business, any old business for members of council? Seeing no old business, I'll move on to
new business. I just want to announce, as I kind of referenced at the top of the meeting, or I [clears throat] did reference, not kind of, that we had received a few proposed amendments to the 2026 city budget. So, as we had discussed, we will hold the scheduled meeting to review those amendments at 6
p.m. this Thursday, December 4th, here in town hall. As a reminder, the second reading and enactment of the 2026 city of Betham budget will occur during the December 16th council meeting, and that meeting is at 700 p.m. in town
hall. So, on Thursday, we'll we'll listen to the proposed amendments. Should they have the votes, then they will be adopted into the budget that will be uh read and voted on on December 16th. And should the amendments not
pass, then we'll vote on the budget as it currently stands. Any other new one other thing just u as a followup to previous uh previous meeting it had come up uh Councilwoman Camy Smith had spoke about our our conflict of interest
ordinance that council had passed maybe three years ago and then our solicitor attorney Stewart who sits to my left had distributed a legal opinion to all of council. So I just want to follow up during the meeting. Uh I'm not going to read the full opinion other than a
highlight of it. And now this is attorney Seward who had shared it is her legal opinion that there's a disconnect between the stated purposes of our ordinance as is set forth in the whereas clauses in the beginning of the ordinance and the definition section and
the conduct prescribed there. That is after defining official action the ordinance our ordinance limits prescribed conduct only to voting. Further, the definition of a city official in the ordinance does not align with section 3A stating to whom the
ordinance applies. Attorney Stewart had recommended that council could consider amendments to the ordinance to address the inconsistencies in the ordinance that we had passed and then to help ensure that the operative provisions align with the purposes. Now,
uh, if council would choose to amend that and attorney Stewart recommends using the Pennsylvania public officials and employees ethics act as a a guiding statute, that's our state statute that already applies to all of us. We have
our bianual training from the state ethics committee or commission um, here in town hall and we'll have it again in 2026 when the new council gets sworn in. So, just like any other amendments, just like any other ordin um amendments to
ordinances, just like we did with article 112, just like we had with our council rules or anything that I've acted on um in the last year or two, it would require someone to propose amendments and then council could review the the amendments to the to the
existing ordinance. So, I wanted to follow up on what had been brought up during the last meeting and that attorney Stewart did indeed uh respond to the request. So, I will I just want to touch on that, but I will open it up to other members of council. That's all I had for new business. Any other new
business from members of council? Mr. Callahan, >> I just wanted to um um chief's not here. Yeah. Uh I just want to ask there was a shooting um >> Deputy Chief Mike is here. I will
recognize that >> there was a shooting over by the football fields in uh I think like the second week of November. Is there any update on that? Like did we ever find out who >> Yeah. Chief, if if you don't mind just coming to the microphone so that the
recording could pick it up. I don't have any update for you tonight. No, >> but but no one was ever apprehended or anything. >> I'm not intimately familiar with that right now. >> All right. Thank you. Thanks. And then um last thing is I I I do miss I do
agree with Mr. Loberto on his one point that uh you know the mayor needs to be held accountable. I wish he was here tonight. I don't know where he is. Any idea where he is, Mr. Spur or Mr. Alcohol? >> I was not at staff today. I don't know. >> Okay. Thank you.
I I will share the mayor did message me earlier today to to advise the reason he wouldn't be here. I'm not going to share publicly that as I don't put people's business out like that in the meeting, but I will recognize that Mayor Reynolds did message me during the day today to advise he wouldn't be here.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I was just curious because it's like the eighth out of 10th or 11th, I don't know. >> Understood, Mr. Callahan. >> Thank you. >> Any other new business members of council? >> Me. >> Oh, Councilwoman Quitech. Yeah, I just I you know, as the mother of a an amazing
transgender woman, I just can't let it go. And and uh it's not virtue signaling when uh you know, you you show some support for a community that is uh incredibly targeted. and my daughter's entire career is being upended by a
culture war in this current administration in the in the federal government. Uh that is uh basically throwing her out of the Navy which was her greatest dream. She went to officer candidate school. She passed every test. She met every milestone. She was
stationed um on a ship uh about to you know be trained to launch tomahawk missiles and be a surface warfare officer. and it didn't matter what her gender identity was to her fellow uh you know sailors and um so I just I just
want to say that there are real people uh behind those flags as well as the real people in our in our fire department and um you know maybe think about uh what you mean by virtue signaling when you're talking about people like my daughter who was willing
to put her life on the line for this country and is being told by uh someone who clearly is out of his depth um in the Pentagon that uh she doesn't belong there. So that's all. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Any other new
business from members of council? Counciloman Crampsy Smith. >> Um Oh, I just wanted to go back to um so I'm I'm clear. So, as far as the uh conflict of um entrance ordinance, so we won't be looking at a committee of the whole meeting. we'll be
looking at if we need to if we so desire to submit amendments to it. Is that correct? >> So I I don't think a committee the whole I guess my question would be if what would we be doing at committee the whole meeting other than so attorney Stewart gave her legal opinion. Mhm.
>> We the ordinance exists now as it's passed and is available online for anybody to read. >> And then should anyone want to propose amending the ordinance, then we could get together to um engage in that process, what it looks like to amend. >> Yeah. I mean, that's what it would
probably be better just to individuals to do amendments. Um but the committee at whole would be good to discuss it further since I know the people that um councilwoman um Vor and Negron really put a lot of time and really wanted this to be a solid ordinance but it sounds
like it really isn't except for council members at this point. So thank you. Um, and I will just reiterate, I mean, I know things happen and all, but I think it is again, especially it's budget time and we have some really pressing serious um public safety issues in our city,
especially given what happened on Sunday um with the fire department. And I I think that um I'll just I'll just state publicly I think the mayor needs to really um make an effort to be here. I know there are things that come up, but like I said at the last meeting or before that it's more the exception than
the rule that he is here. And I think that's a real disservice to people that come as well as people that listen online and people that um follow up and want to be involved um via media, social media and the newspaper. And the other thing, the final thing is
um as Mr. Villio said, I was just wondering, can somebody give an update because I think it's the deadline is is it the 17th or the 16th for Norfolk Southern? >> The 15th. So, we won't have a meeting before that deadline, I believe, because our next meeting is the 16th. Does
anybody have an update on what's happening with those that are at a house down by the railroad tracks? Oh, thank you. December 15th is the date in question. Uh we've been working with Norfolk Southern and many groups to make the
community aware down there of that that that is the date. We work with them to find whatever services can be provided to make them aware of what's available to them. Uh including the shelters to try and find housing or programs for them before then. [snorts] Uh but that is the date that Portfolk Southern is
coming. >> Thank you. Do you have any idea how many are still living there or that haven't, you know, re relocated yet or that are maybe resistive to relocating? >> Not right now at the moment because now the weather's changed drastically. So that's usually a driving factor of people living outside that when the
weather really does start to get cold, many will seek shelter indoors. Some won't, but it changes the landscape greatly from the summertime. So the last count was when the weather was much warmer than what it is right now being in the frigid temperatures this week. >> I'm sorry. the the last count was do you
know what the last count was when it wasn't as cold? >> It's changed over the over the time. It's went from 50, it's grown up to 60, it's gone down uh to 40 something. So, it depends, you know, greatly on the weather, so it could be much lower right now. I don't have a count for you tonight.
>> Okay. All right. Thank you very much. [snorts] >> Any other new business from members of council? >> Councilwoman Leo, >> um I had actually had a question for our solicitor. When it comes to the rate increases, can we make them contingent on something like Aquahawk? Is that
something that we're allowed to do? Like, can we add that to an ordinance or something? >> You could look at that. >> I I I think I mean I I understand the legal principles around what you're talking about. I'm just not sure I
understand your specific question. Well, because uh what Mark had said we should if we are going to do a rate increase, which he's right, Mr. Bosco had alluded to the fact that we would be doing a rate increase. He said we probably shouldn't do it unless we were willing to do Aqua Hawk. And I understand that
we have to do our internal, you know, upgrades of our systems, but can we make the rate increase contingent on like we're willing to do the rate increase, but we want to see Aquahawk in place prior to doing the rate increase? What I would say is that generally if you are
imposing a a fee, >> a rate that um you should be basing that on the cost of the service. So what is the service? What does it include? If it includes Aquahawk, that should be factored in.
>> If if I can just uh interrupt, I think this question was asked previously on the floor if I'm not mistaken. you know, um, bad rain. >> Understood. And I think we kind of landed on it. It would just be a matter of how we, and this could obviously be followed up on. We're talking about
future um, actions that that aren't currently before council, but I I think we had landed on it would just take a a potentially creative ordinance, >> but also it speaks to the uh, historically a rate increase is tied to an operational need. as we hear the cost
of doing business goes up, cost of labor, cost of materials, things like that. Historically, that's the justification for the rate increase. So then you're potentially creating a an imbalance of sorts to say, well, we're going to hold we're going to hold
a rate increase to solve a economic problem, right? You're trying to raise revenue while costs and operating costs keep going up >> to this other action. But I I think it would just be a creative ordinance potentially that could address that. But that would be
>> there could be more time to look into that. Council >> woman. >> Yeah. To depending upon the specific ideas that you have. >> We'd have to look at whether and how we could incorporate the >> the second set of questions I had was
also for you. So if we were looking at proposing the ethics ordinance where you said that we would not obviously would not call a committee of a whole meeting without having a purpose. So if there were ethics or or if there were amendments to the ethics ordinance like the ones that you suggested, we would just get them to you and then you know
council would decide what to do from there. Maybe a committee of a whole meeting or whatever to discuss whatever amendments might be made um with the input that you had given. As President Cologne stated, I think that it makes sense to come to the table
>> with with the proposed amended ordinance >> so that we have something to discuss, something to start from. Um, based on my review, I have some recommendations and I'd be happy to work with anybody who would be interested in proposing an amended ordinance.
>> I'm only I remind everyone I'm only present for a few more weeks. So the that that ordinance had gone to committee the whole we had multiple committee the whole meetings when uh councilwoman Van Wart and whoever else had proposed it. Um I would recommend or
and it's the will [snorts] of the next council president and council as the council president is the the chair of the committee the whole to do the same. get get together, get council together if there's something to review rather than come to a committee the whole meeting to just read what again is
available now for anybody who wants to read online. >> Um I guess the the last thing I'll say is we we have had quite a tense budget meeting. I think one of the things that I would just hope that we don't in advocating for one community, we do not
have to denigrate any other community. That's just we can advocate for our communities based on the merit, not based on anything else. We raise multiple flags here all of the time. We the the Patas flag just got raised, Puerto Rican flag just got raised. The
Italian flag, we raised all the flags and having known Lucy, um it would have been an honor to have served with her. She's an amazing person. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. Any other new business for Coun Councilwoman Larry?
Uh yes. So can um Deputy Chief, do do you have any uh details or any idea of what the um any enforcement operations on December 15th may look like?
>> Sure. >> Along the canal andor who is leading the operation. Like I I believe it was put out that Norfolk Southern police are doing it and they may ask for assistance. >> Yeah. So we will be there at Betham police officers with Norfolk Southern
officers uh just to ensure how everything goes, you know, so we can help deescalate any situations that may arise. There are various parcels down there. It's not all Norfolk Southern. There is some city property. So as we work through the entirety, you know, of the of the area, you know, work to move people out of there. Hopefully everybody
leaves willingly. we can find help for everybody, find a location for them to go and uh work towards that. That's why we've expended numerous numerous trips down there and a lot of time really building relationships with them to know so they understand the gravity of what is coming that it is a eviction so to
speak from that area uh to help them find some location to go and how to kind of move forward. >> Okay. Um and if people, you know, hopefully people will be able to um move their belongings out as the date approaches. If there um are people with
belongings still there at the time of eviction, will there be any assistance for them to get it into something to transport it out, that type of thing? >> I'm sure we'll be able to come up solutions to, you know, different problems that we arise that we encounter and uh deal with as it comes.
>> Okay. And uh will the uh health bureau also be with you down there or is it just the police that day? >> Certain members from community connections will be with us. >> Okay, great. I'm glad to hear that. Thank you. >> Y >> um
Oh, and then my uh other comment, I I think this will be uh Miss Rothman's last time here in person in her current role. Uh, so I just wanted to say thank you um for you know all of the work that you and the rest of the committee uh do,
but you um you know it's it's a volunteer role. It's a volunteer group of people who spend countless hours of time and talent uh trying to help the city in a number of ways. So um and really creative ways. I've I've enjoyed
working with you and seeing how uh you know, okay, well, this isn't going to work, but let's look at this and uh really try to make progress where progress can can be made. So, thank you uh again for all of your time and efforts on that. >> That's all I have. >> Any other new business from members of
council? Mr. Callian, >> Chief, um last u last meeting we we asked to have numbers for the um the number of calls we had to go up to Lehi and um Raven and St. folks. >> Uh yes, good evening. That information
was sent to uh the clerk by Deputy Chief Bear who compiled that information. Uh that was sent uh I want to say last Wednesday if I'm not mistaken. >> Wednesday is I didn't >> Yes, sir. I don't have those figures with me this evening, but uh we compiled as much of that data as we possibly
could uh in the short amount of time and uh that data was submitted and again I apologize I don't have >> I'm going to miss it. I I I get hundreds of emails a day between business >> and um it was very difficult to extract all that information because of a lot of physical addresses for those facilities. Uh but we we did the best we could to
provide accurate data for you. >> Okay. And then uh my my last topic is uh can can both solicitors get back to us? Um Steph, I don't know if you were here for that budget meeting, but we we were talking about um
trying to find a way to um because there's literally hundreds of calls up to Lehi uh every year between EMS and fire, not so much the police department because they have their own police department on site on, you know, on campus. Um, is there a way or is there
any legal way for us to assess like a $50 fee per student uh for students that go to school within the city of Bethlehem? So, that'd be for Moravian students and uh and um Lehigh students.
Uh there there's over 8,300 uh students between two universities. And I think um uh assessing them uh a $50 fee uh for um emergency services is
is very small uh considering the uh the amount of times that we have to go up there and service those two schools. And and also noted that the two universities pay because they're nonprofits pay absolutely nothing in city taxes to the
city coffers. So uh if we could have between yourself and Mr. spur um legal advice by next or by [snorts] this Thursday. Um >> I will do my level best. I will start the research now.
>> Yeah. I I had asked Mr. Spur to look into I don't know if you had a chance to [clears throat] >> So it would only be against those two nonprofits, >> right? Or or well and and St. Luke's. I I you know Well, the other thing that we talked about too was the the number of
times they were going the uh St. St. Luke's and Fountain Hill, >> but you would pick specific nonprofits to charge. >> Uh I if possible I I right now the the the main thing that I want to do is the is the is the student fee. Are are
cities allowed to levy a small fee for students that are attending schools within the city limits? That >> I understand. So, because I think if we could assess a $50 fee starting in January, a year a yearly
fee, which is a very small amount of money, uh you know, compared the the the the large amount of money that they pay in tuition, uh and that covers their um EMS and fire services for the entire year.
um you know, you know, if we take that 8,300 number of students in the city of Bethlehem and multiply by 50, it's a substantial amount of money that I think that would uh cover the um you know, uh the minimum of the four firefighters that, you know, that you know, we're
we're desperately trying to add. Um >> Mr. Callahan, we're restating what we talked about the budget meeting and potentially going to talk about again on Thursday. I I think the I think the solicitors understand, >> right? I just want to make sure that we're, >> you know, we have the information available for Thursday.
>> Understood. >> Thank you, >> Councilwoman. The numbers that you're uh that were just requested are were emailed
by the clerk to all of council on the 25th. There are many spreadsheets. I'm not sure if you're the the numbers about the calls to colleges and other nonprofits as well because I had asked not specifically
uh Mr. Spur about universities but um about large residential nonprofits um so that would include hospitals, healthcare centers, um assisted living, that kind of thing that
are nonprofit run. Um, and the fire department did provide that information on November 25th before the deadline for submitting amendments, uh, which was what my request had been. >> Thank you. Any other new business for members of council?
I'll just ask the administration as a whole for our next meeting on December 16th if we could get a report about as it relates to the proceedings with Norfolk Southern and just some some numbers about how many people were were
found lodging, how many people were willing uh to get help from the city and just an overall more comprehensive update uh as it relates to the police community connections um any other health bureau involvement. Just if somebody could be prepared to
give an update on that to council for the 16th. Thank you. >> Moving on to communications 6A >> November 20th, 2025 memorandum and proposed resolution from health director Kristen Wenrich. Miss Wenrich seeks
authorization to execute an agreement with Capacity for Change LLC of Westchester, PA to assist the health bureau with creation of a new strategic plan. Cost is $14,700 and completion is expected by June 30th of 2026. There are no renewals. Capacity
for changes facilitated the last two strategic plans and resolution 10B is on the agenda tonight. >> Yeah, that's our only communication. Uh reports. I don't have anything to report tonight.
Turn to the administration. I know Mr. Mr. Evans is remote and then nothing from the mayor's no report. >> Mr. Evans, do you have something? >> Yeah. Yeah. Just from the administration, we didn't want to acknowledge receiving the six budget
amendment proposals that we will um address and work with council on Thursday night. Um are we want to confirm are there any others or I I think I heard you say early meeting. That was the final count. Then the six amendments. Can you just re restate your question,
Mr. Evans? >> Is that the uh total amendments for Thursday night are six? >> There were six amendments submitted to the clerk's office. Now, there was communication from our solicitor about proposed that as has been so it came up.
Can council propose amendments at the meeting on Thursday? I had Mr. Miller looking to pass um notes and minutes from previous meetings is I don't think I've ever presided over a council meeting for um
budget amendments or if I did maybe it was my first year as chair but there council there will be an opportunity before I adjourn will um I'll pull council to consider if there's anything else that's being proposed that evening. Now, I did share with council it's best
practice to share anything in advance because I think a reasonable person would want any information sooner rather than later before being put on the spot as it relates to moving money around. But to answer your question, there are
six amendments that have been presented that have been communicated. We will meet on Thursday to review those six amendments. But there there uh as has been past practice, there will be a confirmation that there are no other amendments proposed on the floor before
I adjourn the meeting. >> Okay. Okay. And and then amendments that would be brought up on on the floor. Is that something that needs to be advertised or is eventually I'm just looking for with regard to transparency and that information is available to to
everybody. So as you said, not to be forced to decide on the fly. Is it something that's required to be put in writing and considered on the 16th or that can just be brought up and >> instituted immediately? >> So, I will talk I'll I'll give the floor to our solicitor, but my understanding
is we would be advertising any changes to the budget that we would be voting on on the 16th should an amendment be adopted on Thursday. That is correct. and that council council has the ability
to propose amendments during the public meeting on Thursday. It's advertised as a budget amendment meeting and that council members can propose amendments on the on the fly. Uh and you I don't I don't mean to be um dismissive of it, but again, I think best practice is to
do what Councilwoman Camy Smith has done and put her amendments forward and communicate them out to everyone. But there will be an opportunity as has been um previous practice for council to do that. Now, should anyone choose to do that, of course, that requires the
support of council, there needs to be the same uh balance. Um and but in terms of what that would look like in terms of advertising or or writing, there would have to be a clear understanding of what we're amending. And then again, I'll
turn to our solicitor. We would then advertise those amendments before the second reading of the budget ordinances at our December 16th meeting. And is that a fair summary, Attorney Stewart? >> That is correct. [clears throat]
>> Did I answer your question, Mr. Evans? >> Yeah. Yeah. Very clear. Understood. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> I will move on to our finance committee chair, Councilwoman Camy Smith. >> Thank you. The finance committee met earlier this evening at 6 PM in town
hall. The 2024 city audit was reviewed. A proposed budget transfer to per to purchase additional police vehicles also was discussed. Regarding the police vehicles, um it was it will be on the um agenda tonight to
transfer $645,000 from the police salary fund to purchase um police vehicles that are needed within the next um upcoming year. The money is available because of vacancies within the police department. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilwoman. [clears throat]
Moving on to ordinances for final passage. 8A, >> ordinance of the city of Bethlehem, counties of Lehi and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the general fund budget for 2025. Bill number 58 2025 is sponsored by Miss Quiet and Miss Crampy Smith.
>> Discussion. >> Call the roll. >> Miss Grampy Smith. >> I. Miss Guy, >> I >> Miss Leairard. >> Hi, >> Miss Leon. >> Hi, >> Mr. Callahan. >> I >> and Mr. Cologne. >> I pass 70. >> 8B. >> An ordinance of the city of Bethlehem,
Counties of Lehi, and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending article 112 of the codified ordinances entitled campaign finance reports. Bill number 59, 2025 is sponsored by Miss Quiet and Miss Crampy Smith. >> Discussion.
>> Call the role. >> Miss Crampy Smith. >> I. Miss Quiet. >> Hi, >> Miss Lair. >> Hi, >> Miss Leon. >> Hi, >> Mr. Callahan. >> Hi. >> And Mr. Cologne, >> I pass 70. We have no new ordinances this evening. Resolutions 10A. Be it
resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that $645,000 be transferred from account number 0601-4001 police salaries to account number 0801-42083 non-utility to purchase additional police vehicles. Resolution is sponsored
by Miss Crampy Smith and Miss Leon. >> Discussion. >> Call RO. >> Miss Grampy Smith. >> I. >> Miss Quiet. >> I. Miss Lair, >> I >> Miss Leon, >> I >> Mr. Callahan, >> hi. >> And Mr. Cologne, >> I pass 70. >> 10B. >> Be it resolved by the council of the
city of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials as deemed appropriate by the city solicitor are hereby authorized to execute an agreement with capacity for change LLC to lead the assist to assist the health bureau in preparing a new
strategic plan. Resolution is sponsored by Miss Grampy Smith and Miss Leon. Discussion. Call the role. >> Miss Grampy Smith. >> I. >> Miss Guy. >> Hi. >> Miss Leairard. >> Hi. >> Miss Leon. >> Hi. >> Mr. Callahan. >> Hi. >> Mr. Cologne.
>> I pass 70. >> I'll accept a motion and a second to group 10 C through 10F as one. >> Motion by Councilwoman Larair. >> Second. >> Second by Councilwoman Leon. Any discussion on the motion to group them together? >> Mr. Miller, please call the role on the
motion. >> Miss Grampy Smith. >> I. Miss Quiet. >> Hi, >> Miss Lair. >> Hi, >> Miss Leon. >> Hi, >> Mr. Callahan. >> Hi. >> And Mr. Colom, >> I motion passes >> 6. I >> think I kept saying 70. >> Um, please read the certificates of
appropriateness. Mr. Miller, >> certificates of appropriateness under the provisions of the act of the Pennsylvania legislature. Bethlehem resolutions are hereby granted for 10 C 25 East 3rd Street to install one new wall sign with LED illuminated backlit
channel letters within the sign band and five new printed vinyl signs within the storefront transoms for a new commercial tenant 10D 13 through 10 correction 13 through 15 East 3rd Street to modify the existing sign band and storefronts
including replacement of existing display case to create a new entrance vestibule. Also to paint the existing continuous bands of cast stone window sills. 10E 312 East 4th Street to install a new ADA compliant ramp with pipe railings.
And 10 F21 East 3rd Street to install one new wall sign with LED illuminated backlit channel letters and one non-illuminated projecting blade sign for a new commercial tenant. The resolutions are sponsored by Miss Crampy Smith and Miss Leyon.
>> Discussion on the group. Call the RO. Mr. Miller. >> Miss Grampy Smith. >> I. >> Miss Quiet. >> Hi. >> Miss Leairard. >> Hi. >> Miss Leon. >> I. >> Mr. Kellyan. >> Hi. >> And Mr. Cologne. >> Crew passes 6. That concludes tonight's
agenda. Get home safe everyone. This meeting is meeting. Okay.