Redevelopment Authority of Allentown Meeting - June 10, 2026
Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown Meeting - June 10, 2026
The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown held its regular meeting on June 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM. The meeting covered the approval of prior minutes, a public comment period, the presentation and approval of the 2025 audit, the May 2026 financial report, invoice approvals, an inventory update, and selection of preferred developers for two properties. The board also received a legal update on a restrictive covenant matter and entered executive session.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (May 13, 2026): The minutes were approved unanimously with no corrections.
- May 2026 Financial Report: Staff reported minimal activity other than a $21,000 audit fee. The report was approved unanimously.
- Invoices (13 total, $23,539.86): The invoices, primarily for lawn care and the audit fee, were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kevin (former University of Washington running back, regular attendee): Commended the authority for improved meeting procedures over the last three meetings. He recommended shifting the 2:00 PM meeting time to a more public-friendly hour, suggested posting meeting notes more promptly (noting that April notes were being updated), and recommended holding executive sessions either before or after the public meeting rather than 20 minutes in, to avoid inconveniencing the public. The chair acknowledged the comments and said they would be taken under consideration.
Discussion Items
- 2025 Audit Presentation (Jennifer Kruk, Maher Duessel): The auditor presented an unmodified opinion (best possible) on the authority's financial statements. Total assets increased by $226,000, mainly due to a $254,000 increase in CDBG grant receivable. Total liabilities decreased by $65,000, largely from closing out an old developer's escrow liability. Net position increased by $291,000 to $2.5 million, all unrestricted. Operating revenue increased by $88,000, offset by no property sale revenue in 2025. Operating expenses decreased by $124,000 due to no loss on asset disposal. A subsequent event note disclosed a loan to Community Action Lehigh Valley and acquisition of four properties after year-end. The auditor also noted a required management discussion and analysis (MD&A) was omitted, but that did not affect the opinion. A management letter recommended improving segregation of duties due to limited staff.
- Board Discussion on Audit: Board member Alan expressed concern about the omitted MD&A and lack of time to review, but other members explained that the MD&A omission is common and the audit is clean. The auditor's segregation of duties recommendation was discussed; staff noted that with only one accountant, additional segregation would require hiring more staff or using city finance department. The chair noted that the city finance department already reconciles bank statements. Board member Tony shared his experience with similar findings at Bethlehem's RDA.
- Inventory Update: Staff reported that properties were inspected four times since the last meeting with no issues. No action taken.
- RFP for 725 North 10th Street: The board discussed selecting a preferred developer from the RFP submissions. Staff recommended MILN. The board clarified that the motion would authorize staff to negotiate an agreement of sale and development agreement, which would be brought back for final approval. The motion included a specific sale price to be included in the agreement.
- RFP for 540 Hamilton Street: The board similarly moved to select Aegis as preferred developer, following the same process.
- Good of the Order – Maple Street Restrictive Covenant: Solicitor Josh reported that the owners of 1116 West Maple Street agreed to a 10-year extension of the restrictive covenant and paid $1,500 to cover expenses. The signed agreement was presented to the chair for signature.
- Upcoming Re‑bidding of Contracts: Chair Kelly announced that the authority is reviewing contracts over 2–3 years in length (lawn mowing, tree service, legal services, audit) and will issue RFPs through PennBid. The authority will also use a newly activated LinkedIn page to publicize opportunities.
- Executive Session: The board moved into executive session at 2:39 PM to discuss legal matters. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM.
Key Outcomes
- Approval of 2025 Audit: The audit was approved with a vote of 2 in favor, 0 opposed, and 1 abstention (Alan).
- Selection of Preferred Developer for 725 North 10th Street: The board authorized staff to negotiate an agreement of sale and development agreement with MILN.
- Selection of Preferred Developer for 540 Hamilton Street: The board authorized staff to negotiate an agreement of sale and development agreement with Aegis.
- Maple Street Restrictive Covenant: The signed extension and payment of $1,500 were accepted; the chair will execute the agreement.
- Meeting Time Discussion: The board agreed to revisit the 2:00 PM meeting time for future sessions.
Meeting Transcript
I'm staring at the illustrious past husky running back here. All right, enough of Dear of Husky football lure. Let's call this meeting the order for the Wednesday, June 10th, meeting of the redevelopment authority of the City of Allentown. We have our quorum and uh full compliment of all of our staff. First thing that we'll look to is an approval of the minutes for May 13th. Do we have a motion or any improvements that could be made? No corrections, Alan. Alan. I'm sorry. I haven't had a chance to look at it. Wait, because you can't do that. That's what it's right. Yeah, I'll make a motion approve. Normally normally we see a red line version before uh for you coming in with it. I'll make a motion of approval. We have a motion. Do we have a second? I'll second. We have a second. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. We'll jump to agenda item number 3.0 with any public comment. Do we have here we have our illustrious former DRF running back now? Thanks for making it today, Kevin. Kevin, you still lay in 1124 and first I'd like to say thank you all. Last three meetings. The procedures for the last three meetings have gotten uh better. I just wanted to make a couple um recommendations. So I know the city is uh full of public meetings. Um as I've noticed the last three meetings. I'm pretty much the only person from the public that comes. And I don't know if that has to do with the fact that the meeting is at a two two o'clock p.m. And so as a public citizen, I'd like to recommend that if you guys can somehow find a way to to or maybe even have every other meeting or something at a at a more suitable time for the public. Um two, just for the notes, and Kelly did let me know that the uh April note meeting notes are being updated because they weren't uh on the website. Um and three, um, I've been involved in public service for many years and been to many public meetings, and one of the things that I that I find a little um still use um just not practical is that you guys actually have executive sessions 20 minutes into the meeting. And so usually what happens when you have an executive meeting, public has to leave and I leave, and if you wait for an hour or two, by that time you you gotta go. So most public authorities I attend uh uh meetings I attend, they do have executive meetings, but they're either after the meeting or prior to the to the first meeting. So I just wanted to make that a recommendation because it's it's just a little inconvenient for the public. All right. But other than that, you guys are doing doing pretty good. Thank you. We're we're getting things on track here, so I think we're think we're moving along. Uh we have discussed the time in the past. We will we'll bring that up again though, uh, just with everyone's schedules here, but we you know, I think that that's good comments there, so we will take that into consideration as well. Very good. Um, we will jump to agenda item number 4.0, or did we do you want to jump to the budget mark?
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