Allentown City Council Meeting – May 20, 2026
Allentown City Council Meeting – May 20, 2026
The Allentown City Council met on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting began with an invocation including a moment of silence for Tymell Mason (victim of a recent homicide) and Howell Warner. All seven council members were present. The meeting featured extensive public comments on community violence, unanimous passage of multiple budget and policy ordinances, and referrals of new legislation to committees.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jeani Garcia (208 S. 13th Street) spoke emotionally about the shooting death of 18-year-old Tymell Mason at a McDonald's on May 15, which occurred near Lincoln Leadership Charter School's eighth-grade dance. She commended city events employee Priscilla Reyes, Lieutenant Leonard, and Officer Manaya for their responses. Garcia, representing Promised Neighborhood of the Lehigh Valley, expressed full support for the $20 million Allentown Works (ReCompete) grant but asked how implementation reflects community needs, calling for a violence prevention strategy that complements economic investment. She stated that funding decisions, especially for facilities, should also invest in people and prevention. She urged the council to bring community organizations and youth back to the table. Garcia also noted that Allentown recorded four homicides in 2024, the lowest since 1989, but progress does not mean the work is finished.
- Jose Rivera (219 N. 9th Street) spoke about the rise in violence among youth, referencing the McDonald's shooting and park takeovers. He argued that technology and surveillance cannot replace human connection and prevention. Rivera called for investment in community programs, mental health support, youth employment, trauma services, and safe spaces. He stated that public safety is not just policing after tragedy.
- Councilwoman Cynthia Mota added that the incident affected many children, including her own, who now have trauma and don't want to go to school. She urged more counseling for youth and acknowledged speaking with the police chief about a collaborative plan.
Reports & Announcements
- President Napoli: Council has been meeting with local partners (Lehigh County, Parking Authority, AEDC, ANIZDA) to explore collaboration. Next meetings: Allentown Housing Authority on May 27 at 6:30 PM; Allentown School District Workshop on June 25 at 6 PM. A public hearing on Bill 20 (data center regulations) is set for June 3 at 6 PM.
- Committee Reports:
- Budget & Finance (Chair Pungo): Not met; next meeting June 3 at 5:30 PM.
- Community & Economic Development (Chair Gerlach): Met May 14; forwarded several items; vacant property registration bill still under review.
- Human Resources (Chair Binder): Not met; next meeting May 27 at 5:30 PM to review new legislation, mayor’s travel expenses, city travel rules, and personnel manual.
- Parks & Recreation (Chair Santos): Met this evening; forwarded several bills.
- Public Safety (Chair Affa): Met; reviewed Quality of Life Taskforce; next meeting June 3 at 5:45 PM.
- Public Works (Chair Mota): Met; next meeting not scheduled.
- Rules (Chair Napoli): Not met; no meetings scheduled.
- Controller’s Report: An Accounts Payable report was submitted and is available online.
- Councilman Binder: Announced that he and Councilwoman Gerlach will hold a quarterly presentation on the Allentown Works grant at an upcoming CED meeting.
Discussion Items
- Bill 34 – ReCompete Personnel Amendment: This bill adjusts the Fixed Cost Distribution for two DCED employees, moving the Senior Planner’s grant-funded time from 25% to 50% and adjusting the Assistant Planner accordingly. Councilman Binder questioned whether this shift would reduce access to city services by diverting the Senior Planner’s workload. Director Vicky Kistler explained that the change reflects actual work performed in the startup phase of the Allentown Works grant, and that billing to the grant reduces the general fund burden. She stated that workload is being tracked more accurately, not added. The bill passed 7-0.
- Bill 32 – Tobacco-Free Parks: Prohibits smoking/vaping within 25 feet of playgrounds, recreational fields, and courts. Councilwoman Mota sponsored the bill. Kyle Ropski (Chair, Environmental Advisory Council) spoke in support, calling it an excellent compromise. Passed 7-0.
- Bills 35-42 and Resolutions R66, R67: All passed unanimously with brief committee reports and no further public or council discussion.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous Passage (all 7-0):
- R65: Cooperative contracts over $40,000 for HT Lyons, Miller Flooring Company, and Shafnisky Electric Inc.
- Bill 32: Tobacco-free buffer around parks.
- Bill 34: ReCompete personnel FCD amendment.
- Bill 35: Upgrade of part-time Clerk III to full-time Administrative Assistant; two part-time custodial positions upgraded to full-time.
- Bill 36: $1,650,000 for Lehigh and Union Street reconstruction (congressionally directed grant, partially reimbursable).
- Bill 37: $100,000 from Allentown Parknership for Ithaca Park improvements and programming.
- Bill 38: $50,841.45 transfer from completed projects to Bogert’s Bridge Rehabilitation.
- Bill 39: $106,329 DCED grant for Dixon Street sidewalks.
- Bill 40: $800,000 DCED LSA grant for MLK Trail Extension Phase 1.
- Bill 41: $1,905,000 for approved Parks Capital Projects from 2026 borrowing.
- Bill 42: $136,319 from General Fund for a second Fire Academy in 2026.
- R66: Submission of HUD Action Plan.
- R67: Appointment of Bryne Heffner-Bair to the Arts Commission (term ends May 21, 2031).
- Ordinances Referred to Committee:
- Bill 43 ($50,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund) referred to Human Resources Committee.
- Bill 44 (updating Council of Youth purpose and practices) referred to Human Resources Committee.
- Bill 45 (removing Selective Service System failure as disqualifier for police/fire Civil Service tests) referred to Public Safety Committee.
- Adjournment: 7:10 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, we're gonna kick off this uh city council meeting uh May 20th, 2026. And uh we're gonna start with uh our normal invocation. I wanted uh I would like to include first a moment of silence for um for the tragic death of a young man last Friday. And I would also like to mention we lost uh Hal Warner, who uh made an impact at the Allentown Rescue Mission and the Lehab Alley Humane Society. Um so just a moment of silence, and we'll start that now. Thank you. Okay. She's already what was she saying? Okay, we'll start with a roll call. Uh Ms. Gerlock. Here, Miss Santos, here, Mr. Bender, President, Miss Moda, Mr. Napoli. Here, Mr. Pungo. Here, Miss Affa? Here. Mr. President, you're all here. Okay. Um, we're gonna move the courtesy of the floor. Um, this is for um pub members of the public to for comments that are not on the agenda. And um we got any cards? Yeah, Jeannie Garcia. Okay. Hi, everyone. Jeannie Garcia, 208 South 13th Street. Good evening, President and members, City Council, I would say mayor, but he's not here. Community members and neighbors. My name is Jeannie Garcia, and tonight I stand before you not only as a resident of Allentown and someone who works alongside our community every day, but as someone who understands personally what it means to lose a child to gun violence and what that means to turn pain into purpose. Before I speak about policy or funding, I want to speak about a young man, Simel Mason, who was brutally murdered on Friday at the McDonald's on East Side in the 22nd District. This weekend, we lost Timel Mason to gun violence. And while we honor his life tonight, I also have to acknowledge a difficult truth. That night could have resulted in even more loss. Nearby eighth graders, eighth grade students from Lincoln Leadership Charter School had just attended their eighth grade dance. Like so many young people do after celebrating with friends, they gathered at a nearby McDonald's, laughing, spending time together, and simply being kids. But in a matter of moments, what should have been a normal excuse me, what should have been a normal sorry, in a matter of moments, which should have been a normal childhood memory became someone something much heavier. Children who who should have been talking about music friendships the summer and moving on to high school instead found themselves exposed to fear, chaos, and trauma. That should have stopped all of us in our tracks right now. Because when our youth cannot safely enjoy something as ordinary as spending time with friends after a school dance, we have to ask ourselves harder questions. It's not about blame, but about responsibility. What are we doing collectively to create communities where young people feel safe? Because public safety is not only about what happens after violence. And that night, community showed us what prevention and care could look like. I want to recognize Priscilla Reyes. She's from the city's events department. While shopping at Hair World with her own children, and her mother parked outside in the car. As she came outside, she saw a bunch of eighth grade students dressed in formal wear, running outside of McDonald's in fear of their life. She gathered those kids very heroically without even thinking of herself or her own child inside and got those students safely inside Hairworld and got them safely into the back of the store with the door locked for them, stayed with them while they called their family to pick them up.
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