Allentown City Council Meeting - March 18, 2026

The Allentown City Council met on the evening of March 18, 2026, with all seven members present. The meeting covered contract approvals, ordinances, resolutions, committee reports, and public comments. All votes were unanimous except for one abstention.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the March 4, 2026 public hearing (intermunicipal liquor license transfer) and the March 4, 2026 City Council meeting.
• Approved consent agenda items R38 through R43: R38 (sewage planning module for 231 N 7th St and 232 N Church St), R39 (appointment of Tom Burke to the Nuisance Abatement Board of Appeals, term ending March 19, 2028), R40 (appointment of Ramon Nunez Jr. to the Board of Parks and Recreation, term ending March 19, 2031), R41 (appointment of Susan Gilbert Zenka to the Environmental Advisory Council, term ending January 1, 2029), R42 (sewage planning module at One Center Square), and R43 (certificate of appropriateness for work at 1515 Linden Street). All passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Betty Collar (Tillman Street) expressed concerns about the appointment of Mrs. Binder to a housing board, citing an appearance of impropriety due to her husband's position on council and a $1 million CDBG grant awarded to her company, Ripple Community, in November 2023. She referenced the Pennsylvania State Ethics Code, stating that the transaction could be deemed void or illegal if not properly disclosed, and noted that no public disclosure appeared in the March 4th agenda. She also criticized Mayor Turk for alleged retaliation, citing over $550,000 in lawsuit costs, and urged the council to earn public trust. Council President Napoli responded that the relationship was disclosed and that he recused himself from the nomination.
• Mary Tomlinson (373 West Liberty Street) announced a park cleanup at Union Terrace Park on Saturday, March 23, from 9 AM to 12 PM, organized by the Little Lehigh Watershed Stewards.
• Kyle (528 North Burke Street, member of the Shade Tree Commission) commented on Bill 19, supporting an increase in the cash-in-lieu fee for tree planting. He noted the commission's ongoing research and desire for a more equitable valuation that reflects the true value of trees to the community.

Discussion Items

• Contract Approvals: R37 authorized a $25,000/year contract with Bell 4 USA for boarding up services (three years with two one-year renewals). R37.5 extended the Granicus LLC contract through June 30, 2026, to align with an upcoming RFP for the council chambers system. Both passed unanimously.
• Controller’s Report: Mr. Glazer presented the P Card review for December 2025, covering 484 documents totaling $141,000. Issues included a city vehicle passing a school bus with stop sign out (violation paid by city), lack of vehicle usage logs, one overpayment, an unsupported balance of $58.72, ten incorrect expense accounts, two instances of sales tax paid ($6.84 and $1.74), surcharge fees exceeding the $10 limit ($10.72 and $10.50), six invoices paid beyond 60 days, and seven instances of missing documentation. Departments responded and corrected most issues.
• Committee Reports: Council President announced special meetings: March 25 at 6:30 PM for managing director appointment, April 8 at 6 PM for parking authority, and April 22 at 6 PM for a NISTA discussion. Committee chairs reported on their meetings and future schedules.
• Ordinances for Final Passage: Bills 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 22 were passed unanimously. Key details: Bill 10 increased the capital fund by $346,158 for Lehigh/Union Street reconstruction (reimbursable via LSA grant). Bills 13-17 were pass-through grants: $250,000 for Resurrected CDC, $400,000 for Jewish Community Center of the Lehigh Valley, $296,878 for Museum of Indian Culture, $1 million for Baum School of Art, and $775,000 for Allentown Art Museum. Bill 18 transferred $55,000 for traffic signal redesign at 17th & London, Turner, Chu, and Walnut streets. Bill 19 appropriated $55,295.39 from tree planting fees in lieu for new street trees; discussion noted potential future amendments to increase fees. Bill 22 added $15,000 from a state fire commissioner grant for fire equipment.
• Resolutions for Final Passage: R44 appointed Council President Napoli to the AEDC board (he recused; passed 6-0-1). R45 approved a $87,000 grant application for a police command vehicle (replacing a 2005 unit). R46 approved a $295,350 grant for police firearms and ballistic shields. R47 approved transfers of $168,000 for public works traffic bureau and $10,979.50 for parks and recreation. All passed unanimously.
• Ordinances for Introduction: Bill 23 (Trexler Fund Springwood, $13,468.81) and Bill 24 (capital fund, $1,087,390 for 19th Street & Roth Avenue intersection upgrade) were introduced and referred to committees. Bill 25 (capital fund, $95,222.50 for emergency traffic signal repairs at 6th & Walnut and Union Boulevard due to windstorm damage) was introduced, and upon motion with a second, the rules were suspended for immediate passage. Director Shada explained the emergency nature and the need to expedite repairs. Bill 25 passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All contract approvals, minutes, ordinances, and resolutions were approved unanimously, with the exception of R44 (one abstention).
• Bill 25 was passed on first reading with suspension of the 14-day waiting period, allowing immediate funding for emergency traffic signal repairs.
• The council will hold a special meeting on March 25, 2026, at 6:30 PM to consider the appointment of Frank Kane as managing director.
• The controller’s report identified several areas for improvement in P card usage and vehicle operation policies, with departments responding to address findings.