Bethlehem City Council Meeting Summary - September 1, 2026

Agenda and minutes were not available; this summary is drawn from the transcript. The council approved minutes, heard public testimony, discussed the fire/EMS study, approved several resolutions, and completed all votes unanimously.

Meeting Open & Minutes

• The meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call showed Councilmembers Raymond, Callahan, Cologne, Daniels, Queetek, and Laird present; Councilmember Leon joined later.
• No comments or concerns were raised on the minutes, and the minutes were approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Artie Curatola, 813 Law For Street, said he does not hate Jewish people and rejected accusations of antisemitism. He stated he had been blacklisted from ArtsQuest venues for nearly seven years and criticized Jewish leaders, the Allentown Morning Call, and library administrators; he also said the mayor and council had destroyed his reputation.
• Bill Shire, an economist, said Wall Street is the main culprit in affordable housing and criticized a federal housing bill that allows one institution to own up to 350 single-family homes, saying the cap should be closer to 10. He also warned about high federal debt, interest payments exceeding defense spending, and the risk of financial crisis.
• Mary Joe McCool, 449 Grandview Boulevard, thanked the city for repaving but complained about hammers installing no-parking signs at 4 a.m. on a Saturday, a flippant response from a Public Works employee, a dip in the street, water flowing into her garage, and concerns about noise and wasted tax dollars. She asked the city to investigate and to cut waste rather than raise taxes, noting Lehigh County residents face a possible 17 percent county tax increase.
• Alex Antalix strongly urged council to confirm the reappointment of Dennis Domchek, praising his work and dedication. He also said he no longer feels as welcome at council meetings as he once did and called for self-reflection.

Discussion: Fire and EMS Study

• Councilman Evans asked why the fire and EMS study was delayed. The administration said the original target was about six months after the contract started, with an initial hoped-for completion around late June or July, but all consulting groups warned six months was difficult for a comprehensive fire/EMS report.
• The contract, approved by council on February 3, 2026, allowed 120 calendar days from notice to proceed. Council was told the notice to proceed did not occur until the contract was fully executed, with information gathering beginning around April 2026.
• Business Administrator Evans said the contract can be extended at no cost, and the administration is satisfied with progress. Councilman Evans noted the consultant CPSM has completed about 450 studies across 47 states and questioned why the study is two to three months behind.
• Mayor Reynolds said the report is still in draft form, with all subject areas at different levels of completion. He agreed to send council a written update on what is outstanding and an estimated completion timeframe.
• The administration committed to having the completed report before budget season. Budget hearings were cited as beginning November 10, 2026, and the city budget is released roughly a week before hearings.
• Councilman Callahan asked that the consultant be told the report must be done well before November 10. Vice President Laird asked to schedule a public safety committee meeting in October as a practical deadline; council discussed possible dates in the second or third week of October.
• Overtime data: after new firefighters hired earlier in the year began working in early July, overtime fell by about 60 to 70 percent in the July pay periods, and the fire department is down to three vacancies. The administration said it would provide updated overtime figures.
• No formal vote was taken on the study; it was a discussion item.

Other New Business

• A council member asked for information on food truck licensing and inspections; the administration agreed to provide it.
• Vice President Laird asked for an update on electronic bill pay and consumption monitoring. The administration said the city is under contract with its current vendor until June 2027, must decide on renewal by March, and has selected a new vendor that will need to integrate with the consumption monitoring vendor. The system will cover water and sewer utility billing, not taxes.
• A council member raised concerns about trash enforcement, describing repeat problem properties, long wait times for magistrate hearings, and quality-of-life issues. Mayor Reynolds said most complaints are resolved, often after a notification; repeat problem properties can be flagged for closer attention; and the city rarely goes onto private property to clean it up. No legislative change was made.

Communications, Reports, and Appointments

• Communication 6A: Councilwoman Quietek proposed monthly council reporting on the city's consent order and agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for the wastewater treatment plant; this became Resolution 10A.
• Communication 6B: Use permit for the 2026 Lehigh Valley Fall Wicked Plant Festival, with Wicked Botanist as permittee and ArtsQuest as subpermittee, on September 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. along First Street and Founders Way.
• Communication 6C: Use permit for the Bethlehem Patias annual celebration, with Humanitarian Social Innovations as permittee and ArtsQuest as subpermittee, on September 26. The parade runs 1:30 to 2 p.m. and events continue 2 to 6 p.m.
• Communication 6D: Agreement with Langan for design and engineering of Phase 8 of the South Bethlehem Greenway, an urban trail and recreation space between South New Street and East Third Street. Cost is $98,920, completion date July 15, 2027, with no renewals.
• Communication 6E: Informational pension minimum municipal obligation figures for the 2027 budget: police $7,231,227; fire $3,164,187; PMRS $2,285,887.
• Mayor Reynolds reported that Big Belly trash cans helped ambassadors collect almost 900 pounds of trash in one weekend on the South Side.
• Mayor Reynolds reappointed Dennis Domchek, 269 Langhorn Avenue, to the Bethlehem Authority through January 2031. The reappointment was approved 7-0.
• Mayor Reynolds said the city's combined pension funds are funded at roughly the low 90 percent range, which he described as historically strong without selling city assets. He also promoted the upcoming Bike Broad and Roll event, with Broad Street closed from 9 to 10 a.m., starting at the Rose Garden, and the release of the bike master plan.

Committee Report

• Community Development Committee will meet Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6 p.m. in Town Hall, rescheduled from August 11, to discuss proposed zoning ordinance amendments involving yard setbacks.

Ordinances and Resolutions

• Ordinance 8A, final passage: amended the 2026 Community Development Block Grant budget. Approved 7-0.
• Ordinance 9A, final passage: listed courtway and right-of-way widths for certain city streets. Approved 7-0.
• Resolution 10A, as amended: requires the director of water and sewer resources to submit a monthly written COA compliance report to council no later than 45 days after the end of the month being reported upon. An additional section requires forwarding, within five business days, any written correspondence received from a government agency concerning the COA. The resolution states it is for oversight only and does not direct plant operations or limit department authority. Both amendments and the final resolution passed 7-0.
• Resolution 10B: authorized the mayor and controller to execute the Wicked Botanist/ArtsQuest use permit agreement. Approved 7-0.
• Resolution 10C: authorized the mayor and controller to execute the Humanitarian Social Innovations/ArtsQuest use permit agreement. Approved 7-0.
• Resolution 10D: authorized the agreement with Langan for South Bethlehem Greenway Phase 8 design and engineering. Approved 7-0.
• Resolutions 10E-10H: certificates of appropriateness granted for: two custom freestanding world heritage visitor signs at Main Street and Ohio Road; a period-style entry door with sidelights and transom at 108-110 Wesley Street; a slate roof replacement with GAF slate line asphalt shingles at 427 North New Street; and replacement aluminum-clad double hung windows at 518 Main Street. Approved 7-0.
• Resolutions 10I-10K: certificates of appropriateness granted for 10I and 10J, with 10K denied. 10I addressed proposed gooseneck light fixtures and a cabinet sign; 10J addressed work at 312 East 4th Street, including modifying a stone retaining wall and restoring the rectory side entrance. 10K was a request at 308 East Third Street to replace asphalt shingles in Peter color; council upheld the denial. Councilwoman Quietek questioned the denial, and Director Collins noted the property is a multi-unit mixed-use building rather than a single-family home. Approved 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved; all votes were 7-0.
• Administration will provide council with an update on remaining fire/EMS study work and an estimated completion date.
• Fire/EMS study is expected to be completed before budget season, with a public safety committee meeting scheduled in October and budget hearings beginning November 10, 2026.
• Monthly COA compliance reporting to council was established under Resolution 10A as amended.
• Use permits and the Langan design contract were approved; certificates of appropriateness were granted except for 10K, which was denied.
• Future items: food truck licensing information, updated fire overtime numbers, and scheduling of the public safety committee meeting.