Good evening, everyone.

Sorry, Chris.

I'm gonna call this meeting to order.

We'll all rise for the push to the flash.

I pledge allegiance.

One nation.

Under God.

Indivisible liberty and justice for all.

Can I see it?

The clerk will call the roll.

Mr.

Raymond, Mr.

Callahan.

Present.

Mr.

Cologne.

Present.

Ms.

Daniels.

Ms.

Quitec.

Present.

Ms.

Laird.

Present.

And Ms.

Leon.

Present.

Councilman Amon and Councilwoman Daniels will not be present at this evening's meeting.

We'll start the meeting with a citation.

For Thomas Rockle.

Okay.

And at the end of the at the end of the citation, if you want to come up and say something, you can feel no pressure to, but if you would like to say something.

Right now it's fine if you want.

Okay.

Whereas the residents of the city of Bethlehem have been served by a dedicated and diligent member of the Department of Water and Sewer Resources wastewater treatment plant for 36 years.

And whereas Thomas Brockle, who started with the city in 1990 and retired in 2026, has during the course of his employment provided the utmost and reliable service to his department and to the residents of the city of Bethlehem.

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Bethlehem that Thomas Brockle be extended the gratitude of the city of Bethlehem, which has benefited from his more than three decades of faithful service.

Be it further resolved now that Thomas is retired and he can relax and enjoy all that life has to offer.

And be it further resolved that Thomas be extended every good wish for a long and satisfying retirement.

Congratulations I just want to say thank you to the city for allowing me to work for three decades.

Uh from the 1900s that are still working, but um it was a pleasure working for the city and serving the people.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Congrats, man.

Thank you.

Joy.

Joy.

Good job.

Thanks.

All right.

We're gonna move on to the approval of the minutes.

Any comments on those?

All right, the minutes stand approved.

Moving on to public comment.

First public comments will be on subjects not being voted on this evening with a five-minute time limit.

Um, I have three people signed up.

We will go through that list and then we will move on to anyone present in the room.

Uh, first, I have Brandon Horlick.

Good evening, everyone.

Um, I'm Brandon Horlick.

This is my daughter, Isabel Horlick.

Um, so we wanted to just make uh a comment tonight.

Uh we spent our day yesterday.

Beautiful mic.

Sorry about that.

Um spent our day yesterday was a beautiful day.

Uh we live here in the city, uh, right here on Church Street.

Uh so we we chose to spend our day hiking down along the canal, um, down along the trails by Sand Island, and absolutely beautiful out looking for some some good fishing spots as we want to do some fishing here soon.

And we were really disturbed by the amount of litter, trash, and garbage that had collected in all areas of the creek, the canal, and also the Lei.

And we ended up having a lot of really good conversations yesterday, last night, today, uh, just about you know why that happens, how we ensure that that doesn't happen, and when it does, how do we clean it up?

Um, and so I just wanted to take this opportunity and actually Isabel wanted to come tonight when I'd said that we had an opportunity.

She doesn't want to speak.

But just want to make sure that we're taking care of our environment and that there are things in place um to ensure that the garbage trash litter is um something that doesn't become the topic of conversation when it really should be about you know how beautiful it is down there and just how lucky we are, you know, to have this resource right here in our backyard.

Um is there anything that you wanted to say, Izzy?

Okay, that's it.

All right, thank you so much.

Um, you're more than welcome to stay after.

Um, the agenda is relatively light.

I can't promise a short meeting, but the agenda is relatively light.

More than happy to stay and speak with you and your daughter about any of the trash collection efforts that we have going on and hear her ideas.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

It is we'll be getting late.

So I did email a couple pictures to just Mr.

Eamon, um, councilman Eamon.

And so we'll probably head out some point, but thank you for giving us the opportunity.

No worries, thank you.

Um, next next I have uh George, and I cannot pronounce the last name, George.

All right.

Oh, my friends.

I'm here to speak about our air quality where we live.

We live, I guess it's considered northwest Bethlehem.

Um, the name of the place is spray tech.

We've been here four years ago.

It has not gotten any better.

We call the EPA, they do respond, they do tell us they get overwhelming amount of phone calls.

Okay, so where we're at right now is they're controlling the quality of our life.

They determine when we can walk a dog, they release this foul or you can't breathe it for 10 minutes, and the sad thing is it's there for the day, not just the morning.

They can let it out at 4 30 in the morning.

You can't use your patio to have a cup of coffee.

Um, just basic things.

Um can't take the dog for a walk, stay close because after eight, we can't open our windows in the spring because if you don't stay nearby, the smell gets in your house.

And this has been going on for four years.

Uh, the mayor was here last time we spoke.

Um, we do call the EPA every time we get the smell.

Don't tell you, oh, they didn't change the filters.

I don't know if it's a bunch of 12-year-olds working there, they're gonna be told to change the filters, or they're just kind of a bunch of BS.

Um we asked for help.

This is we are supposed to have a lot more people.

I don't know where they went to, but um they're just controlling our life.

I mean, we you can't even set up uh uh uh a barbecue with your friends.

They bring the food, we're stuck with the food.

You don't know when they're gonna release it.

It just happens, and it's a horrible smell.

Now, I do have someone here who would like to speak.

Our daughter got ill from this.

Uh, it's okay.

Uh, you can I'm gonna turn to everybody in the room so she'll get her chance to talk to you.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, so it's it's okay.

Okay, you're hoping to continue with your remarks.

I'm in that said they were coming.

Of course, the ones that complain the most don't show up.

Yeah, no worries.

So uh that's where we stand right now.

Um, they control when we can do stuff.

You know, my we like to cut the lawn, not today.

Yeah, take care of your property, not today.

No, no idea when they're gonna release it.

If they were consistent doing it on a Monday, or but I already had complaints.

People that work early, they get up and it's there.

And the trouble is it lingers, it doesn't just go away.

It gets so bad that you think you smell it, and nothing's out there.

It's in your system.

I got nothing else to say.

I'm I'm hoping.

What's the left is it?

What's that?

What's your luck?

It's in Cyprus.

He's he lives on Cypress.

We live straight across from it.

It's on Avenue B.

Mr.

Shire, you know better.

Um, no, no, no.

I was I was telling Mr.

Shire.

Okay, no, no, no.

Um, so I'm gonna tell you like I told Mr.

Horlick.

Uh, if you want to hang out until we're we're gonna address this as a council as well.

But if you want to hang out until after the meeting for for a more informal conversation where we can have a dialogue, that'd be great.

So, yep.

All right.

Well, thank you so much.

And uh George, was your last name Andrews?

Is that Andrews?

George Andrews.

All right, thank you so much.

Uh, the next person I have signed up is is a Isabel.

Hi.

I we've been here before.

Um, she was actually six months old.

She's four.

Um, I'm a stay-at-home mom.

I have a lot of time on my hands, so I smell it a lot.

We are actually constantly on the phone with the department.

Uh and they have been very elusive.

Not the department, Sprite Tech.

So they have actually gone to measures to combat this by doing it like throughout the night.

They do it on weekends, they do it on where they know they can't have somebody drop in because they have dropped in.

They have been doing their due diligence and they have been trying to address this issue.

They have issued fines.

Sprite tech had already been kicked out of another place because of these smells.

And their solution was that they were going to put smells that were more desirable.

Um, we are a growing city.

I have been like born and raised here my whole life.

I have no intention on leaving.

I remember when this is farmlands, and you know what?

I'm really happy that it's a growing city, but it's also like up to us to grow it in an effective way.

So I know that you guys rely on the department and the other jurisdictions to kind of go about this.

I have looked into other solutions on other cities, so I don't know if you guys could implement like an air quality board that could better handle the issues because it has been four years.

And you're going to this is not the last time this is going to happen.

This is the second time, actually, if you want to attack the B.

Braun issue that we had already.

So we want to grow it, but we don't want to grow a smelly city, you know.

So having a board maybe address and be more direct with these issues and be able to comply and make sure that companies are doing what they need to to keep our air clean.

They they were found not to be using the scrubbers and the things that they should be using.

And there should be laws and there should be things in place that if they're found not doing that, they need to get out.

Or we're we're going to have a lot of issues.

We he was here for the pollution issue.

We want our city to stay nice, and as cities grow, the cleanliness really depletes.

So you can either get ahead of it and be like Philly, and I think Abigail Abigaine County, I'm not saying that right.

Um, they are two that do have a board like that in place.

The other departments can only do so much, but you do need to directly attack the issue.

And uh, I mean, I can sit here and complain about the smells all day, but I'm just a mom and there's like slime on my notes.

So um, and I mean, I can come here, maybe she'll be eight next time, and then we'll have more factories that are just putting nice smells into the air.

It used to be popcorn and it make you get it makes you gag.

She she goes outside and she gags.

Like it's and I smell it, and my parents smell it too, and they're all the way by Wegmans on 512.

So, like it depends where the wind's blowing, I guess.

But um, I think implementing some more stricter rules are in order.

Um, there were other things that I was looking at, and again, just by a Google search, you know, uh, the section 116 Clean Air Act that you you guys can adopt air quality standards that are stricter, like that is up to you guys.

So I just want to see something happen.

I can't just keep calling, and that's all we do.

We're doing it, they're trying their hardest.

But what really got done?

It's been four years, and again, it's not on them.

Like they are doing it.

But I guess that's really all I have to say about that.

Um that would be in your control and maybe ways to go forward, but I would really like to see something happen because it's pretty, it's pretty gross.

And I like living here, and I love this city, and I do want to see it grow, and I think it has a lot of potential, but you don't want to end up with a smelly city.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Isabel.

And uh, that exhausts our list of people signed up to speak.

Um, I will go around the room and ask if anybody else has public uh comment.

We will, I'm sure, address these concerns under new business as we as we move along.

Um so turning to my left, does anyone want to make public comment on something not being voted on this evening in the center, Mr.

Faber?

Hello, Harry Faber.

On my 26th birthday, March 31st, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Ruby Rubio stated when speaking about Iran, quote, imagine if instead of spending billions of dollars supporting terrorists or weapons, Iran had spent that money helping the people of Iran.

They would have a much different country, end quote.

But our politicians can't apply that critical lens to our own spending habits here.

There is no other nation spending as much on weapons, and there's no other nation who can match our investment on terrorism.

The following day, April 1st, Trump stated, quote, we are fighting wars.

It's not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things.

They can do it on a state basis.

You can't do it on a federal.

We have to take care of one thing: military protection, end quote.

It doesn't take a genius to recognize the double standard.

In just the last month, the war on Iran cost us more than 35 billion dollars, all spent on more than 90,000 civilian buildings that have been bombed in Iran.

Over 700 educational facilities have been bombed.

Yesterday, we destroyed most of Sharif University in Tehran, which is regularly compared to MIT.

We are a college town ourselves.

We host two prestigious universities, as well as one of the best community colleges in the country.

I cannot possibly conceive of a world where you cannot empathize.

Imagine if our universities were bombed and destroyed by a foreign aggressor.

If we allow our government to attack universities abroad, that therefore makes our universities legitimate military targets.

As of four days ago, 307 medical facilities have been bombed.

Bethlehem also harbors two hospitals of our own.

There is no world where these actions do not affect the people and city of Bethlehem.

The same scenes that it made us say, quote, never forget, end quote, are being replicated over and over again in Iran, Lebanon, and Palestine.

This prioritization of violence over the needs of U.S.

citizens trickles from a national level all the way down to our local politics.

Our state pence or our state of Pennsylvania pays more than 420 million dollars for Israeli weapons, and our treasurer, Stacey Garrity, hasn't quote unquote invested an additional 45 million dollars in taxpayer money into Israeli bonds since October 2023, totaling over 64.5 million dollars.

Meanwhile, all our state can do for us is assault our freedom by penalizing, boycotting, and divestment of Israel.

Today, the president of the United States stated, quote, a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, end quote.

He's of course referring to nuclear warfare.

To quote Greta Thunberg, quote, the president of the United States just said that a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, and no one is reacting.

This speaks for itself.

And now I'm gonna abstain from using profanity.

But what the F is anyone doing at this point?

We have normalized genocide, total annihilation of an entire people, the systematic destruction of the biosphere, which we are all depending on to survive, and that corrupt racist war criminals can act with complete impunity.

But even though we have allowed far too much so far, it is not too late to say stop.

If we don't, we shouldn't effing be able to call ourselves human.

End quote.

Now it must be understood that just as the genocide in Gaza is not just Netanyahu's doing, our nation's terrorism and war crimes and potentially even nuclear escalation is not just Trump and his insane cabinet.

This is the very nature of capitalist imperialism.

The empire is in crisis, and in order to procure profits, the ruling class is so des ruling class so desperately needs to maintain their lavish living.

They will deny any sovereignty, any human right.

No evil is off limits.

Capital will accumulate.

We cannot fight a system without an alternative system.

We must be revolutionary, as every greyhound knows.

To quote Gabriel Rockhill, quote, anti-imperialist state-building projects that develop socialism in the real world are the only principal means of fighting imperialism.

Whatever problems that may have occurred within social country in within socialist countries, it should never be forgotten that they emerged out of and within a capitalist world intent on crushing them by any means necessary because of what they represent.

An alternative to imperialism, end quote.

Luckily for us, the only government we have to worry about is our own.

The US bourgeoisie may be the most violent and rabid imperialist force in the world, but that means that there is no big bad outside.

It's just inside.

If we can build a socialist United States, world peace is right around the corner.

Join the DSA.

Get organized.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Faber.

Uh turning back to the center, Mr.

Caratola.

I'm Marty Caratola.

813 Law for the Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

I uh born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

I wrote a book and had it published professionally with people from Bethlehem and the surrounding area in the Lehigh Valley.

People that were literature majors in college, professors, people who wrote for right for major newspapers, who read the book who think it's great, fantastic.

Every time I did a portion of the book, one paragraph after another, I got people to read it.

When I got done with the chapters, I got people to read it that were people that were professors that were really right on target.

This book was published and on Amazon.

I was refused by the Bethlehem Public Library.

Now a lady who considered me anti-Semitic at one time, who's Jewish, said, even though you may be considered anti-Semitic, the book should be on that shelf.

It's the Bethlehem Public Library, or maybe they should change her name and take the public out of it.

That was quote from a Jewish lady who did not who considered me anti-Semitic, but yet she stuck up for me for that.

And if I was anti-Semitic, why would 1975 I sit at the same table with Bob Dylan?

Who never ever said anything?

If you say anything about my race, you're anti-Semitic.

He had skinheads approach him, but yet Bob Dylan never stated the word anti-Semitic.

And he's Jewish.

And I sat right next to Joan Baez.

May God strike me dead right now if I'm lying on this in 1975.

Joan Baez is American Indian.

I think Mexican.

Josh Burke of the Bethlehem Public Library is Jewish.

Since I'm considered anti-Semitic, my book's not being published.

But yet we have Adolf Hitler's book, Meinkopf, in there.

Does that make sense?

How could be more anti-Semitic than anti-adolf Hitler?

But my book's not on the shelf.

And I'm barred from every major uh dive bar in Bethlehem and Allentown.

But yet I was the chosen performing artist for the Pennsylvania Music Preservation Society, been on their float in the both Irish parades in the Bethlehem and the Allentown one, because I sang Irish traditional Irish music than any of the Irish tenors that audition for the part.

All I had to do was there's a tear in your right.

He said not one thing.

Why you never should be there at all?

That's all I needed to do.

I got the part.

No problem.

And I'm Italian, but I don't profess to be Italian.

Although us Italians, we should be considered the chosen people because we crucified God's son.

And we got away with it.

We're still alive and we're respected.

The Jewish people started to push the modern-day mafia murder co op, uh, incorporated with Arnold Rothstein, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Gus Greenbaum, got all the Italians involved, became the Italian mafia.

We're killers, but yet we're respected.

But we are the chosen people because God didn't destroy us.

But the Jewish people want to stay in the background.

They will destroy you if they can.

Please sorry if that's considered anti-Semitic.

I know, but just keep it on point, please.

Mr.

Mr.

Callahan will address that on the excuse.

No, no, no, we're not doing this.

We're not doing this.

We're not doing this.

I'll give you your 10.

I'll give you a 10 seconds back.

We have Boy Scouts in the audience.

Can we be civilized?

Bob Dylan does not profess to be Jewish.

I think it's too.

People should not be throwing out word like it's an anti-Semitic like it's a bullet.

We need we all live in this world together.

We are all people in the United States.

And my book should be on the shelf and not thrown away and pushed back in my face.

And those were your additional 10 seconds.

And that's your time, Mr.

Caratola.

God bless you all.

I hope you to decide really think about it.

That was your time, Mr.

Caratola.

Turning back to the broad center.

Does anyone else want to Mr.

Ant Alex?

Mr.

Antalix.

That was come on.

Yeah, I think.

Excuse me.

Oh my God.

Stephen Antalix, Senator Seven Ridge.

When comparing items, it is important that they be of equal nature, as an apples and apples and oranges and oranges.

They should also apply when comparing different government agencies.

When comparing government authorities, it's important that they be of the same nature.

Parking, housing, and water are all authorities in Bethlehem, but not of the same nature.

So if you wish to compare the Bethlehem Authority, which is a water agency, you should compare it to other water agencies, such as the Eastern Suburban Water Authority and Lee County Authority, since all operate from a common denominator, water.

In Bethlehem, the water bills are sent by the city, water department, and payments are made directly to the city of Bethlehem government.

This procedure in Bethlehem can allow for abuse.

And some years ago, an authority board member revealed revealed that the city government was absconding large amounts of water funds and putting them in the general fund.

In Eastern and Allen Town, authorities send out water bills and the payments are made directly to the authority, thereby by passing the city treasuries.

And some years ago, an authority member revealed that the city government was abscond abscotting large amounts of money from the water fund and putting it in a general fund in order to enhance the city's financial picture.

In Allentown and Easton, if water rates are desired, water rate hikes are desired.

Both can ignore the PUC and dependent independently raise rates while in Bethlehem.

Water race increases must be submitted to the PUC at a great financial cost.

Thereby making it important upon city government.

This drawback results in authority becoming one leg of a three-legged stool since either city administration or city council could disrupt the authority and its plans.

Thereby creating much greater efficiency and at less operating costs.

Bethlehem lost millions of dollars resulting from confusion between the city and the authority as to clearly define lines for water management, which resulted in illegal timbering by unknown individuals.

It is now time for city council, not the authority, not the administration, to revisit the original 1938 Pennsylvania state law of incorporation creating creating the Bethlehem Water Authority and redefining it as an independent authority similar to that, which now exists in Eastern and Allen town.

So there's a message there.

Also it was mentioned that a couple council meetings.

That the microphone that you have in front of you is best if within at a three-inch difference distance from your mouth.

So with the microphone, beyond that, we don't hear you.

So be considerate and speak so we can hear you into the microphones.

Thank you, Mr.

Antalix.

Anyone else in the broad center want to make public comment on things not being voted on?

Anyone to my right want to make public comment on things?

Mr.

Shire.

I wasn't planning to say anything tonight, but some of these speakers have got me cranked up.

And so I'm gonna dust off something I say every five years or so uh since I've been coming here for 23 years.

Uh it means I've probably talked about it four times in the past, but nothing still has been done about it.

It makes the city look kind of foolish.

And I'm talking again about the signs and lack of signs underneath us, or on the same level around City Hall.

Uh to start with the parking garage.

There's a sign when you go in that says uh no public parking Monday through Friday until 5 p.m.

That's clear.

It's wonderful.

That's where I'm parked right now.

But when you start going into the library, uh the the garage, it says do not park in the numbered spaces.

Well, on two occasions over the years, I've gone through the entire garage, and every space is numbered.

So I was faced to the decision long time ago.

Uh do I obey the sign as I come into the garage and ignore the sign when on the outside?

Or do I take a chance and I park here?

Well, I've been parking ever since after 5 p.m.

Haven't gotten a ticket and haven't been towed.

But why does it have to be like that?

It's such a simple thing to deal with.

Two other things.

I have lost track of the number of times because sometimes I come before 5 p.m.

and I park on church street.

And when I leave, it's the city hall is closed.

And I've lost track of the number of times somebody has approached me at the door of the city hall on church street and says, how do I get to the police station?

Where is the police station?

A city of close to 80,000 people now, and we can't tell people how to get to the police station.

Come on.

That makes this look.

I don't know how it makes this look, but it's not uh positive.

So I tell them, you know, go around City Hall, go into the garage, you'll see a sign that will tell you where the police station is.

One more thing, and this has to do with the parking authority, which I have said and will repeat, has too much authority and not enough parking.

The spaces here along City along the library.

Well, let's just talk about the other side first, alongside City Hall.

No parking, one hour parking until 9 p.m.

Well, what's going on?

The city closes down at 4 30.

What's happening between 4 30 and 9 p.m.

That parking has to be limited to one hour.

Only the occasional meeting like this.

Now there's our people like myself who know that this is another disconnect.

That it's all right to park there, you won't get a ticket, although I don't chance it.

But many people do, especially if it's zoning hearing board.

Even worse, the same thing is true alongside the library.

Now the library is open until 8 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, but only to six on Thursday and Friday, and only to five on Saturday.

Why do those signs say one hour parking until 9 p.m.

on Saturday?

The library has been closed for four hours, but you're still only allowed to park for one hour.

I keep bringing this up every five years because truly an embarrassment that the city that I grew up in and have been returned 23 years ago can't handle a few signs.

What's the problem?

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Shire.

Anyone else on the right want to make comments?

Yes, sir.

Hi, Brian Nickus, 826 Tioga Avenue.

Uh, I did not anticipate speaking, and I'll make this relatively short, but um, you know, uh, most folks weren't in here at the beginning of the City Hall Council meeting where um the scouts, the Boy Scout PAC uh 352 was learning about democracy and how government works, and so they were able to come in here and thank you much to the several council members who were here, uh solicitor and folks who gave their time to speak about democracy and how government works.

And the kids had a chance to ask a whole bunch of questions and get those uh questions answered.

So again, you know, I think one thing we all can learn from scouts is um part of the scout law is right, being trustworthy, being kind, being loyal, helping others, right?

And we see tonight in action how democracy works.

We don't necessarily agree with agree with all these viewpoints that people have, but that's what makes democracy work.

So again, thank you to council members for taking the time to speak to the boys.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

November, November.

Anyone else to the right want to make public comments on things not being voted on?

Okay.

Moving on to public comment on things that are being voted on this evening.

I have no one signed up to speak in advance.

Uh, so I will turn to the left.

Does anyone want to make public comment on things being voted on tonight?

Anyone, Mr.

Ant Alex?

This is on what you're voting on what we're voting on.

Very good.

Stephen and Talks.

City Council would not be voting on bills 13 through 15 tonight if the Bethlehem Authority were a truly independent authority, much like Allenton and Easton, the only interaction that City Council should have with the Bethlehem Authority is to prove those individuals the city administration appoints to serve as board members of the authority.

Some on council have complained about the workload since many hold other full-time positions.

A member of council can make a motion to initiate a study to determine the feasibility of the Bethlehem Authority becoming one similar to those announced on Easton, an independent authority.

This would be an excellent way to reduce consul's workload.

Since they would lose control of the water system and the high revenues it deposits in the city coffers.

But in 1955, the city had a study to determine a site for the new city hall and its structure.

And this was done by Mayor Schaeffer.

He didn't take any action until Gordon Payroll came in.

But the city of Bethlehem residents didn't go along with it.

Why?

The people on the south side wanted City Hall to be where the Sierra State is because it sits on the hill overlooking the entire city.

And some people in no on the north side wanted at another site.

So what did he do?

How did he do it?

He had council create city center authority.

And through this authority, he bypass the votes of the city people.

And hash city hall built where it is.

So it's you get a sense that authorities can be very powerful.

And it's best that the Bushing Authority be independent.

Not because of power, but it will enhance their ability to do a better job.

So our interview council people have the courage to make a motion to do a study about the feasibility of already becoming independent.

We'll see who's courageous here.

Thank you, Mr.

Antalyx.

Anyone else in the broad center want to make a public comment on something being voted on this evening?

Anyone to my right?

That concludes public comment.

Moving on to old business.

Moving on to new business.

Thank you, councilwoman.

I have a question for Mr.

Evans.

Oh, thank you.

Mr.

Callahan.

The um it relates to the budget.

So we've been seeing a lot in the news about the we've been seeing a lot in the news about the price of gas in our budget book, which I have in front of me.

Each bureau has gasoline as a line item.

I didn't have time before tonight's had them up, but it amounts somewhere to like a few hundreds of thousands of dollars is what we budget for gasoline.

Can you just give counsel and the audience they want to follow along?

What that means.

So obviously, when we go to Wawa and whatever gas station we go to, we're paying retail prices for gasoline.

Could you just give us some insight, Mr.

Evans, Mr.

Alcall, whomever, about how our acquisition of gas works, what we pay for gas, and how the for the average citizen, how the retail gasoline market, what what impact that has on our budget?

Because we've seen gas go up roughly a dollar a gallon the last couple weeks.

Like I said, we're looking at a few hundred thousand dollars.

What does that translate to for city operations?

Does it are we gonna be looking at you know a potential uh council action to make up for any budget adjustments later in the year or could the budget withstand?

You know, I again I don't know how that translates to what we pay for gas, because I know we're not paying certain taxes on gasoline and things like that.

Director Public Orks will take the procurement uh and pricing of it.

I will tell you the budgeting.

Uh it's too early to tell this right now.

It's a short time period if this goes on and moves on.

And I think they're in your point to is 2022 invasion of Ukraine and prices went over five dollars for about six is more like a six-month period.

So after a couple months, yeah, then we would likely be coming to council for some transfers because um that would impact all the gasoline, and they are spread out throughout the budget.

Every department uses it, police and fire, EMS rolling 24-7, and uh our public works does a lot of that as well, not fully 24-7, but uh that we'd use a lot during the year, so there would be some if if this continues another month or two.

Okay, yeah.

The key if there's going to be a significant impact.

The key as to whether there'll be a significant impact.

Uh obviously we have, I think we spent almost uh I think close to two million dollars on gasoline for the entire fleet for the entire year or something like that.

Um, whether or not we'll have a we'll we'll see substantial impact that we'd have to move money or run out of money, whatever.

Does depend on how sustained the elevated prices are during the course of the year.

We do have some things working for us.

What we buy all our gas being hold, you know, in bulk through the state contract.

There is a lag, you know, we see the price increase a little later than most.

Okay.

Um, because we have we buy so much of it and we have so much storage that uh we might buy it today, the price goes up for 30 days.

We're not buying the next batch, so to speak.

So it all depends on how long it would have to be months that the price would be elevated to start making a um a difference for us and some challenges in terms of bridging some gaps in our budget.

And then roughly what do we pay for a gallon of gas?

I'd have to check right now, but it's it's typically at least like 50 cents or more or less than wholesale you see on gas stations.

Well, I'll just ask, yeah, we'll we'll keep an eye on it and see.

It was something that came to mind.

Um actually this morning driving to work, I drove by a gas station, noticed what the current price was and decided to take a peek.

But you said total is roughly about two million dollars.

That's alcohol that we spend the gas.

I looked at it closely.

1.8 million is what that time I looked at a number.

Okay.

Well, we'll just see what happens.

Yeah, hopefully that's number 22 prices hit five dollars too.

We're not there yet, especially versus what what versus where we budgeted.

So yeah, we'll stay tuned.

Okay, well, and for reasons beyond just gasoline, hopefully things change, but um, we'll see.

And council will be here.

Should we need to make any budget transfers?

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Last year we were under across the board.

Thank you, Mr.

Alcohol.

Thank you, Mr.

Evans.

Jinx Councilman Callahan.

Thank you.

Um, can we have someone from the administration just address the the two speakers tonight on uh the garbage on the um on the canal path and also the uh um I know one of the mayor's big initiatives is um is clean air, and obviously something's not being done for these people over here as you probably aware from time to time over the last at least 10 years, we've done some cleanups down along the canals, and uh the last time it was what two years ago, or that we actually paid a contractor to do some extensive cleaning.

Unfortunately, doesn't take long for garbage to return.

Um there's also various um volunteer groups that from time to time uh do cleanups with support from the city.

We provide them with bags and gloves and what have you, and we also uh coordinate with them a location where they put the garbage and then we pick it up um and dispose of it.

Um workloads allowed our ground maintenance crews do some cleanups, but obviously it's almost it is impossible to keep it clean for any sustained amount of time.

Are there garbage cans down there along it?

Um along the trail, yeah.

Yeah.

And we don't go down and pick up we protect the garbage.

Not everybody most people unfortunately don't put it in the cans.

Right.

But but we send crews down there to empty the uh the garbage cans on a regular basis.

On the 360 locations that we pick up, yeah.

Well, I don't know if uh if you can have a discussion with the mayor about it, just try to get it cleaned up a little bit more.

Constantly discussing it.

We have meetings every two weeks where the subject is constantly on the agenda.

Um, but again, quite honestly, it's something that's extremely difficult to keep up with.

I'm gonna take the spray tech question, but uh just to add to that, you know, also when folks were living on the Norfolk Southern property, we did put out a dumpster specifically for that area to like assist people, unhoused people who are collecting like their own bags of garbage, like to give them a larger place to um get rid of it, as people have now relocated other places as a result of Norfolk Southern moving folks, excuse me, um moving folks.

Um, you know, that there's an evaluation process of trying to understand where people are and what like services and needs people are having in those locations.

So community connections is going down, but I think um like we're like we're just sort of starting to understand the like at additional needs, including trash in different areas.

All right.

Um, with respect to spray tech, we are we are aware of the complaints.

I uh I pulled back up some information that we had shared with people back in 2022, 2023.

As the speaker spoke about, um, you know, air quality is controlled by DEP.

So we shared some information about where those complaints can be made.

And it seems like they've had a lot of conversation and connection with DEP.

Um, my understanding is that there's a 2014 permit for air quality associated with that particular um facility.

I think there were later renewals.

They do have to be um renewed a certain at certain intervals, is my understanding.

Um, you know, their permit we looked into their permit, you know, it's clearly says that you know, they may not permit emissions into the atmosphere of any uh malodorous air contaminants from any source, you know, it kind of goes on like that.

You know, they certainly do produce odor um products that create odors.

So they are uh required to monitor that.

I I don't work for the DEP, I work for the city of Bethlehem.

The DEP is responsible for any non-compliance with their own permits.

We don't have any authority over that.

What we could do, and I'm certainly willing to do it, and we've done it in the past is have you know folks from our team reach out to DEP just in the same way the residents do, but it can come from the city and we can check in on the status of their permits.

You know, are the permits active?

Have they been out?

Have they monitored?

Um, you know, what are any remedies that they are pursuing under their authority and see if we can get some information, you know, beyond what maybe they've shared with the residents.

Um, we can we can see if we can do that.

Um, you know, just and and reiterate the complaints of residents.

It's something we've done in the past, and we're certainly able to do that again.

Um sorry, I'll give you the floor.

Um, this is the formal part of the meeting where we can engage in the back and forth conversation.

So as soon as we wrap up the formal part of the meeting, I will come over there and we will have conversations where we can actually talk back and forth.

All right.

Uh go ahead, Councilman Callan.

No, I would I I I agree with that.

I think I I think some follow-up needs to be done on it and not just like on a one-time basis on a on a continuous basis until something's done about it, whether that call comes from you to the DEP or from the mayor, but someone needs to stay on it because obviously this is something they've been dealing with for over four years now.

And um, it it sounds like it's not being addressed.

So yeah, and and another option would be if people feel as though the DEP is not doing their job in ensuring compliance with the air quality permits, you know, there are other elected officials who operate on the state level who would have more authority and influence to to deal with the DEP in that regard.

Um, but it also is possible, and you know, this does happen that that there may be an experience that residents are feeling that is not actually out of compliance with the air quality regulations.

I don't know that, but that you know, can happen whereby you know they might be under a certain threshold level where maybe the DEP doesn't even have authority.

But I I'm I'm just saying that's a possibility and something that you know DEP would have to answer to.

Yeah, I mean, I just think at this point they they've said they've had these complaints for a while now.

So I think maybe the My understanding is it is cyclical as well.

They they created they have a number of different products, and I think there are certain products that have different flavors than others, you know, some of them are like they smell like cinnamon, you know, or they they smell like waffles, you know, and others have like really pungent odors.

And I don't know the cycle on which they produce these different flavors, but I think there are certain ones that sort of pop up at at certain intervals that are are more offensive than others.

Yeah, could you just follow up with the uh you know the mayor and see if we can do something?

I'm gonna I'll follow up with the the DEP.

It's not really the mayor's issue, but you know, certainly it's something that we can follow up with, you know, through our department.

I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Any uh I I have I have one other thing.

Miss Collins, I might need you for this one too, I think.

Um so the food trucks are on the south side.

Um don't they have to isn't there a permitting process they have to go through to have which food which food trucks are you describing?

So Lee University opened has food trucks, uh multiple food trucks from what I'm being told that they're positioning uh on their properties was it's taking business away from you know the restaurants along fourth street, and they're very concerned about it.

Um so I don't know.

I don't know if are they going through the appropriate process as far as a permitting process or they don't have to do that because they're on the I haven't heard specific complaints about about those food trucks.

You can certainly anybody who has a complaint can can send that to us and we could look into it.

That um approval would allow them, you know, essentially to come in for example as part of music fest or another festival, you know, if they are an approved like licensed food truck, they would then separately come in for approval for specific locations and events or festivals.

We do not have in our existing ordinances like much in the way of permissions to just exist outside of festivals on public property, right?

That's why, like unlike major cities, you don't see a lot of food trucks just like on Main Street, for example.

Like we just don't have an ordinance that would govern that.

But what we do, like what is allowed on private property, just under regular zoning code, you know, is is a private property owner may on in certain districts ask for a food truck to be located on their private property, and that would be you know, depending on where it is located, what zoning district that could be allowed.

That's why, for example, there are food trucks um at certain breweries like Seven Sirens or Country Club Brewing, you know, those are businesses that are private on their own private property, they ask for those food trucks which are licensed by Health and Fire, but they ask for them to be located specifically for a certain amount of time on that private property.

So Lee does Leeh they have the ability, are they are they uh are they permitted to move those trucks wherever they choose to move them?

I'm not familiar with their specific permit.

So I would have to, I would have to look into where they're located and and city property or you know, private property.

I and I'd appreciate it.

I mean, I you know, I I I've been railing against them for a while about the uh the the amount of services that they use from the city uh without paying any taxes.

I I know they try to do some things with the um you know the uh the you know the the cleaning crews on the south side.

Uh but um you know, and now they're taking business away from the established businesses and restaurants on you know uh on uh on four street.

And I, you know, I don't know wh why they decided to move them down there in that area, but uh it's affecting a lot of the restaurants around there, especially especially like their lunch hours.

So I'm not I'm not sure that I'm actually familiar with where they're parking the food trucks, they're kind of by the cup.

I just I know it's it's that plaza right above.

That's that's kind of where the trucks are okay.

I guess there's two of them.

So yeah.

I you know, and Lehigh, yeah, they also have their own food establishments on campus, you know, they have multiple dining halls, they have even in that Farragut Square area.

I mean, they've got a pokey place and they've got they've got other businesses that are within the confines of of their footprint, you know, and I think you know, food truck is not inside a physical building, but it is still in their in their campus footprint.

Yeah, like other get back to us on it.

I appreciate it.

Sure.

Thank you.

And um the last thing is I you know, I was hoping that the mayor would finally be here uh tonight because I did want to um talk to him or or or make some statements and have him comment if possible on uh you know the news about um uh the former right to know officer, but uh I'll wait until he is um present at a meeting.

So thank you.

Right.

Thank you, Mr.

Callan.

Any council members, counsel uh vice president Claire?

Um so uh I I would appreciate um any follow-up that could be done with the DEP about the spray tech.

I I recently moved out of West Bethlehem, but I'm familiar with how uh awful that that smell has been.

Um and I also am curious what other levers there may be that are under our control to pull, um, if there are any.

Uh they're in the city, so are there permits that we issue?

Are there, you know, is there anything that we control over their site?

Um I'd be curious to know about um additionally, just a comment, which I believe is the case about um food trucks uh Lehigh.

Uh I believe that the trucks are actually part of dining services, uh like owned by Sedexo, operated by Sedexo under the contract to provide food services across the campus.

Moravian has one also.

Um I believe that's the case.

So I don't I I don't know what that means in terms of where they're allowed to park or anything, but I think it's under their food service.

Um then my other question that I'm not sure who might look into um would be for this space, could we look into any hearing assistance devices or increasing the mic sensitivity since it seems to have been a pretty increasingly uh mentioned issue that people are having difficulty hearing within the uh rotunda itself?

I I think it's okay online from what I've heard, but um, you know, even if there was a hearing assistance device that people could pick up on their way in or something, that might uh make things a little more accessible to um everyone who's present.

So would that be something that the clerk or the business like who would look into that?

We can check into it.

I know that devices there there's signs around.

No one has asked to use it so far.

So we should find Oh, there are devices.

As far as I know, I think there are signs.

Does that sound right, Eric?

I don't know.

I've seen them, I think, in the hallway.

We can look into it and if we'll ask, we'll assist.

Okay, wonderful.

Thank you.

Any other councilman?

Um, thank you all for coming tonight.

Um, I uh I know that um President Leon and I uh um Mr.

Cologne, we were all on council four years ago when you came.

And I'll admit that the fact that we hadn't seen you in four years and that there was a lot of activity at that time made us hopeful that this was not a problem that has been continuing for four years.

So um I would ask you to please stay in touch.

Um our email addresses are all on the website.

Um, we can also give you our cards and everything, but um, you know, continued information is really really helpful.

Um and Ms.

Collins, um, in your conversations with the DEP, if you could ask what is the mechanism for public comment when the permits come up for um renewal, because I think that that's the opportunity.

And as you said, our state representatives, um Ms.

McNeil, Mr.

Samuelson, our state senator, uh Ms.

Boscola, um, they are the ones who um pass the budget every year and pass DEP's budget.

And as I think Ms.

Collins was indicating without mentioning their names, but I just want to let you know who they are.

Um, those state uh legislators um hold some power over uh the purse strings um for the for the state government where DEP is located.

So I would also um encourage you to to reach out to them as well.

Um and they have constituent service offices and people um here locally whose job it is to advocate for uh folks at the state government level as well.

So uh um after after the meeting, absolutely.

Yeah, after after the meeting, so yeah, after the meeting we'll we'll discuss it further.

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh any other comments from council members?

Okay.

All right.

That concludes our new business.

We're going to move on to communications.

Communication 6A.

March 31st, 2026 memorandum from solicitor John F.

Spurk Jr.

with an attached use permit agreement and resolution.

Permit he is the wicked botanist, and the event is the 2016 Lehab Valley Spring Wicked Plant Festival.

The event will be held from 10 a.m.

until 3 p.m.

on April 26th.

Premises will be first street from Polk Street to the Eastern Terminus and founders' way to first and second streets.

Resolution 10A is on the agenda.

Communication 6B.

March 31st, 2026 memorandum and proposed resolution from health director Kristen Wenrick.

Ms.

Wenrick recommends an agreement with the Leha Valley Center for Independent Living of Allentown to conduct a site survey of city-owned public spaces such as the police department library and city hall to access handicap accessibility.

Cost is $3,900.

Completion is to occur by December 31st, 2026.

There are no renewals.

Resolution 10 B is on the agenda.

Communication 6C.

March 23rd, 2026 memorandum and proposed ordinance from public works director Michael Alcall.

The proposed ordinance would lower the liquid fuels fund budget from 2,374,220 to 2,210,833.

The action is the result of reconciliation of the account following the receipt of Pendot's annual allocation check.

Changes include a lower than anticipated carryover, snower and ice removal line item increase reflecting harsher weather in January and February than anticipated and reduction in the streets overlays line item to cover these changes.

An ordinance 9A is on the agenda.

Moving on to reports, um, the only thing that I have is I will ask uh our city council solicitor last council meeting.

I had questions about free speech versus hate speech versus all other types of things that happen within this rotunda.

Um she had given me some some guidance.

Moving on to reports, um, the only thing that I have is I will ask uh our city council solicitor last council meeting I had questions about free speech versus hate speech versus all other types of things that happen within this rotunda um she had given me some some guidance I would ask that you send that to uh council at large so we can kind of read through that and just want to reiterate just from behind here just because something is allowable under constitutional rights doesn't mean that I as a council president agree with what is being said um or in the manner in which it is being said or the fact that I have to allow it to be said um so I would just ask that you send that to all of council so that we can read through what is allowable um and when we're getting right up against that line uh make sure that we are addressing it when it gets crossed I certainly will I know that we hear a lot of things in this council chamber that can be upsetting that can um hit us as as hateful and um you know speech is broadly constitutionally protected so I'll provide guidance on that subject matter to all of council and also um outline some of the things that we can do to respond to these kinds of incidents yeah thank you um can I can I say something quick really quick yeah I you know I'm forced I'm 100% for free speech but if it's uh you know a once in um uh a while occasion that a certain topic is brought up uh about a certain nationality or religion or something it's all right but when it's a constant um history of it over and over and over again and it's almost um what I feel is trying to antagonize this uh a couple people or someone on council I don't think it's right and that's where I think it's stepping over the line because I think you know based on the past history of things that have been said to a certain council person um I I think it's getting personal that's that's the only that's the only time I felt like you know it's getting out of line personal antagonistic yeah I understand um moving on to mayor's reports does the mayor have anything to report tonight Mr.

Evans nope okay moving on to I thought you were gonna say that the state of city is tomorrow so if you're not gonna say it I'm gonna say it the state of the city is tomorrow early tomorrow yeah the state of the city is tomorrow at seven o'clock in the morning if anybody's gonna show up we're gonna have a great time the mayor will have a report tomorrow morning at seven o'clock um we have no committee reports so moving on to our ordinances for final passage council present leone if I may yes you may I would like to make a motion that we group the ordinances for final passage agenda items eight a through eight e together and if there's a second there's a discussion I'll elaborate my second all right I I just glitched out what am I supposed to discuss on the motion discussion on the motion these were these were reviewed at finance committee they passed unanimously the five items at the first reading so just to move the evening along I'd like to group them together.

Any further discussion on the motion I think he should have done this more when he was president I know it's it's amazing.

Love you guys um all right if there's no further discussion if you can call the roll on the motion is Quiatech I'm layered aye Mr.

Callahan Mr.

Cologne aye and Ms.

Leon I passes one two three five zero okay if you want to read the motions item eight a an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh and Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending the 2026 sewer capital budget 8b an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh and Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending the water capital budget for 2026 8 C an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh in Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending the water fund budget for 2026 8D an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh and Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending the general fund budget for 2026 and 8e an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh in Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending the general fund budget bills number 13 through 17 are sponsored by Ms Leon and Ms.

Laird any further discussion the clerk call the role is Quiate aye is layered aye Mr Callahan Mr Cologne aye Ms.

Leon aye passes five zero moving on to new ordinances 9A an ordinance of the city of Bethlehem counties of Lehigh and Northampton Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending the liquid fuels fund budget for 2026 Bill number 18 2026 is sponsored by Ms Leon and Mr Cologne.

An ordinance of the City of Bethlehem, Counties of Lehigh and Northampton, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amending the liquid fuels fund budget for 2026.

Bill number 18, 2026 is sponsored by Ms.

Leon and Mr.

Cologne.

Discussion.

The clerk will call the roll.

Ms.

Queertec.

Aye.

Ms.

Laird.

Aye.

Mr.

Callahan.

Aye.

Mr.

Cologne.

Aye.

And Ms.

Leon.

Aye.

Passes five zero.

Moving on to resolutions.

Resolution 10A.

Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials esteemed appropriate by the city solicitor are hereby authorized to execute a use permit agreement with the wicked botanist for the 2026 Lehigh Valley Spring Wicked Plant Festival.

The resolution is sponsored by Ms.

Leon and Mr.

Cologne.

Discussion.

Aye.

Passes 5-0.

Resolution 10B.

Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Bethlehem that the mayor and the controller and/or such other city officials is deemed appropriate by the city solicitor.

We're hereby authorized to execute an agreement with the Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living to provide a site assessment of handicap accessibility for city-owned public spaces.

Resolution is sponsored by Ms.

Leon and Mr.

Cologne.

Discussion.

The clerk will call the roll.

Ms.

Queertec.

Aye.

Ms.

Laird.

Aye.

Mr.

Callahan.

Aye.

Mr.

Cologne.

Aye.

And Ms.

Leon.

Aye.

Passes five zero.

And resolution 10 C.

Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Bethlehem in accordance with the municipal records manual.

Hereby authorizes the disposal of public records in the Department of Community and Economic Development as set forth in exhibit A.

Resolution is sponsored by Ms.

Leon and Mr.

Cologne.

Discussion.

The clerk will call the roll.

Ms.

Quietek.

Aye.

Ms.

Laird.

Aye.

Mr.

Callahan.

Aye.

Mr.

Cologne.

Aye.

And Ms.

Leon.

Aye.

Passes five zero.

That concludes this evening's city business.

Be safe, everyone.

Have a good night.

If you guys want to hang out, we can want all of them.