Bethlehem City Council Meeting – November 19, 2025

The Bethlehem City Council met on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Town Hall. The meeting was dominated by nearly two dozen public comments and extensive council discussion concerning a severe fire department staffing crisis. Council also held first readings of the 2026 budgets and approved several ordinances and resolutions. The meeting lasted approximately two and a half hours.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The minutes of the November 5, 2025, City Council meeting were approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

Nearly all public comments focused on fire department staffing. Speakers included retired and active firefighters, union representatives, and residents. The following key points were made:

• David Roof (35-year fire veteran): Described the emotional toll of understaffing, recalling near-miss firefighter fatalities. Noted the fire department had 116 firefighters when he started in 1976; now it is budgeted for 104 but often operates with fewer due to vacancies.
• Jonathan Roof (active firefighter): Stated staffing has dropped below 116 in the last 15 years, and another fire station was lost. Emphasized that more firefighters mean faster response and greater safety.
• Lou Jimenez (President, Local 735): Called the staffing shortage a "public safety crisis." Said the department is budgeted for 104 firefighters—a level from the Bethlehem Steel era—while the city has grown to nearly 80,000 residents. Noted that Bethlehem spends only 10% of its budget on fire protection, the lowest among comparable Pennsylvania cities.
• Rosemary Jimenez (spouse of Lou Jimenez): Cited an IAFF study showing that for medium-hazard structures, the department meets recommended staffing levels 0% of the time; for typical house fires, national benchmarks are met only 6% of the time. District 9 operates without a full-time company officer.
• Jack Mese (new firefighter): Argued that understaffed crews cannot safely perform rescues, and that a fully staffed department is an investment in saving lives.
• Robert Ingham (Vice President, Local 735): Highlighted that firefighter numbers are lower than when he was hired in 2011; overtime has spiked with increased mandatory overtime leading to burnout and low morale. Noted that the overtime budget of $500,000 for 2025 was exhausted by April/May.
• Retired Assistant Chief Mike Smith: Recalled a previous study (Gray Study) that led to the closure of a fire station and loss of an aerial ladder. Warned against relying on studies rather than immediate action.
• Other speakers: Several residents expressed support for the firefighters, including a man whose house fire was extinguished by the department in 1984, a retired firefighter from another jurisdiction, and a resident whose son is a firefighter. A few speakers raised unrelated issues: water meter apps (Mark Weber), federal grants, parking enforcement (Artie Curatola), and a historical reading (Bill Shire).

Discussion Items

• Budget and Staffing: Following public comments, council members questioned Business Administrator Eric Evans and Fire Chief (unnamed in transcript) about staffing levels, hiring, overtime, and the city's study.
  • Evans: Stated the 2026 budget includes significant increases in police, fire, and EMS spending. The city has hired 35 firefighters in the last three years but lost at least 35 to retirement/attrition. A second academy was added in 2024 to accelerate hiring. The budget assumes all positions are filled; overtime is inversely related to salary vacancies.
  • Chief: Confirmed that firefighters are mandated for overtime on a routine basis; a 39-hour maximum work shift rule is in place. Engine companies run with 3 personnel, ladder trucks with 2, and Engine 9 (District 9) operates with only 2 personnel and no officer.
  • Councilwoman Grace Cramsey Smith announced she will propose an amendment to the 2026 budget to add 4 additional firefighters and promote 4 to lieutenant to staff Engine 9 with an officer on all shifts. She estimated the cost at approximately $500,000 and said she will work with colleagues to find funding.
• Study: The city plans to conduct a comprehensive fire/EMS study (outside consultant, estimated $60,000) to evaluate staffing, station locations, response times, and equipment. The RFP responses are due; interviews will be held in early December. The union (IAFF) had previously released a GIS study showing critical staffing gaps.
• Conflict of Interest Ordinance: Councilwoman Cramsey Smith requested a legal opinion on the oversight and enforcement of the 2022 conflict of interest ordinance, specifically regarding the mayor's acceptance of campaign contributions. Council President Colville agreed to have the solicitor issue an opinion and schedule a committee-of-the-whole meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Budget Votes: All 2026 budgets (General, Waterfront, Sewer, Golf, Liquid Fuels, Capital, CDBG, Stormwater, Tax Rate) passed first reading on a 7-0 vote, except the General Fund Budget (9A) which passed 5-2 with Councilmembers Callahan and Cramsey Smith voting nay, stating they would not support until funding for additional firefighters is secured.
• Amendment to Campaign Finance Ordinance (9M): Council approved an amendment to set an effective date of February 2, 2026, and to streamline posting of financial interest reports via a link to the county website. Passed 7-0.
• Ordinances (8A, 8B): Amendments to the Uniform Construction Code and Food Code regulations were adopted 7-0.
• Resolutions (10A, 10B): Authorized applications for Local Share Assessment grants ($1 million for West Broad Street construction; $750,000 for Bethlehem Emergency Shelter capital improvements) – both approved 7-0.
• Budget Amendment Deadline: Council members must submit any proposed budget amendments by noon on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
• Next Budget Hearing: The third budget hearing (Police, Fire, EMS budgets) is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Town Hall.