The Bethlehem City Council convened on November 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Town Hall. The meeting opened with a pledge of allegiance, roll call (all six council members present), and a public hearing on a liquor license transfer. The council also heard public comments on various topics, adopted a 2026 budget meeting schedule, discussed fire department staffing, and passed several ordinances and resolutions.
Good evening, everyone. I ask that we all rise for the pledge to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God in the physical liberty and justice for all. First and foremost, I want to welcome Cadet Troop 830 from East Tales Moravian Church for being with us here tonight. We're very happy to have you all. Glad to have you here to engage with this civic discussion. Can the clerk please call the roll? Mr. Callahan. Present. Ms. Gramsci Smith. Present. Present. Ms. Laird. Present. Ms. Wilhelm. Present. Mr. Cologne and Ms. Leon. All right. Prior to the consideration of the regular agenda items, city council will conduct a public hearing. This public hearing is to receive public comment on the request for the intermunicipal transfer of restaurant liquor license number R 61034. From Spring Mineral Restaurant and Bar LLC of 702 to 706 Main Street, Northampton Borough, Northampton County to Cigar Page Bethlehem LLC at 1010 Harvard Avenue, Bethlehem, Northampton County. This public meeting is called to order concerning a request for the intermunicipal transfer of restaurant liquor license R 61034 from Spring Mineral Restaurant and Bar LLC of 702 to 706 Main Street Northampton, Northampton County to Cigar Page Bethlehem LLC at 1010 Harvard Avenue, Bethlehem, Northampton County. I will now recognize the representative of the applicant. Good evening. I'm an attorney at Norris McLaughlin and we represent Cigar Page Bethelm LLC. But I'm going to be giving a general overview of what the request is and how we intend to use the license. They consist of A1 is the letter and application requesting the intermunicipal transfer. A two is certifications from council and the applicant regarding service and posting. A three are just some basic aerial maps to orient council on where the proposed location is for the license. And then A4 is just some tentative renderings as to what the facility will look like once constructed. So as indicated, we're requesting the intermunicipal transfer of a restaurant liquor license to 1010 Harvard Avenue for Cigar Page LLC. The sole purpose of the hearing is to determine whether allowing the liquor license at this location would adversely affect the health, safety, and general welfare of the community. The transfer from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and of course, would be obligated to comply all ordinary city ordinances and codes. Once construction is completed, the location will have more than adequate parking and will be well suited for adding the liquor license. If you're not familiar with the location, it's it's essentially right on Route 412, um close to the border of the borough of Hellertown and the city of Bethlehem. Um and the access to the site in the building will be both through a back entrance on Harvard Avenue and also through a primary front entrance on Route 412, um, which is Hellertown Road. Um, as part of our application, we've submitted renderings which show the proposed layout of the premises, which will generally consist primarily of a main ground level floor and a small second floor mezzanine. Um there will also be an outdoor patio facing Route 412. Um, however, there'll be no outdoor speakers or music permitted on the patio on the outside portion. Um the bar and restaurant is expected to see have seating for approximately 200 to 225 patrons, um, with approximately 45 of those seats being bar seats and the rest of the seating being reserved for table and loud seating as indicated. You can see on exhibit A4 in the renderings, um, essentially what the site is going to look like and what the license premises would look like once constructed. The anticipated menu will consist of upscale American fair with simple and middle to higher end offerings, burgers, flatbreads, and similar type of American food. The tentative opening date is not for approximately a year.