Bethlehem Council MInutes

10 East Church Street – Town Hall
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 – 7:00 PM

INVOCATION

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

Reverend M. Cole McClenithan, of Central Assembly of God, offered the invocation which was followed by the pledge to the flag.

1. ROLL CALL

President Eric R. Evans called the meeting to order. Present were Jean Belinski, David T. DiGiacinto, Karen Dolan, Robert J. Donchez, Michael D. Recchiuti, J. William Reynolds, and Eric R. Evans, 7.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The Minutes of August 7, 2012 were approved.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

4. OLD BUSINESS.

A. Old Business – Members of Council

None.

B. Tabled Items

None.

C. Unfinished Business

None.

5. COMMUNICATIONS

A. City Clerk – Amending Article 531 – Handicapped Parking Violations – Special Condition

The Clerk read a memorandum dated August 13, 2012 to which was attached a proposed Amendment to Article 531, Parking Generally, Section 531.99 Penalty, (c) Special Condition. The Amendment reflects the increased parking fines for handicapped parking violations when a Special Condition is declared.

President Evans stated the Ordinance will be listed on the September 4 Agenda.

B. City Solicitor – Use Permit Agreement for Public Property – Fall Festival – Incarnation of Our Lord Parish

The Clerk read a memorandum dated August 13, 2012 from John F. Spirk, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to which was attached a proposed Resolution and Use Permit Agreement for Public Property between the Incarnation of Our Lord Parish Church and the City of Bethlehem for use of Laufer Street between Pierce Street and Buchanan Street on September 22, 2012 for a Fall Festival, according to the Agreement.

President Evans stated that the Resolution will be listed on the September 4 Agenda.

C. City Solicitor – Use Permit Agreement for Public Property – Celtic Fest

The Clerk read a memorandum dated August 16, 2012 from John F. Spirk, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to which was attached a proposed Resolution and Amendment No. 1 to Use Permit Agreement for Public Property between Celtic Fest, Inc. d/b/a Celtic Cultural Alliance and the City of Bethlehem for use of Festival Sites for Celtic Classic 2012 and 2013, according to the Agreement.

President Evans stated that the Resolution will be listed on the September 4 Agenda.

D. City Solicitor – Amending Article 1739 – Regulated Rental Unit Occupancy

The Clerk read a memorandum dated August 16, 2012 from John F. Spirk, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to which was attached a proposed Ordinance to amend Article 1739 – Regulated Rental Unit Occupancy, by adding new Paragraph 3.4 to Section 1739.03 Occupant Duties, B. Health and Safety Regulations.

President Evans stated that the Ordinance will be listed on the September 4 Agenda unless the Community Development Committee wishes to review the matter.

E. City Solicitor – Highway Safety Project Grant

The Clerk read a memorandum dated August 16, 2012 from John F. Spirk, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to which was attached a proposed Resolution and a copy of Highway Safety Project Grant Contract No. IDP-2013-Bethlehem City-00021 that will provide funds through September 30, 2013 for DUI program sobriety checkpoints and expanded DUI enforcement operations.

President Evans stated that the Resolution will be listed on the September 4 Agenda.

F. City Solicitor – Records Destruction – Police Department

The Clerk read a memorandum dated August 16, 2012 from John F. Spirk, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, requesting a Resolution for the destruction of records from the Purchasing Bureau. The Law Bureau reviewed the Municipal Records Retention Act and the records fall within categories where destruction is permitted.

President Evans stated that the Resolution will be placed on the March 20 Agenda.

G. President of Council – Proposed Amendments to Article 121 – Finance

The Clerk read a memorandum dated August 14, 2012 from President Evans to which was attached a proposed Ordinance to amend Article 121 – Finance, Section 121.08 (c) by adding Paragraphs (1) and (2).

President Evans referred the matter to the Finance Committee.

6. REPORTS

A. President of Council

None.

B. Mayor

None.

7. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL READING

A. Bill No. 23 – 2012 – Amending CDBG Budget – CDBG and HOME Programs – Final Allocation

The Clerk read Bill No. 23 – 2012 – Amending CDBG Budget – CDBG and HOME Programs – Final Allocation, on Final Reading.

Voting AYE: Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, Mr. Reynolds, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. DiGiacinto, and Mr. Evans, 7. Bill No. 23 – 2012, hereafter to be known as Ordinance 2012-23, was declared adopted.

8. NEW ORDINANCES

None.

9. RESOLUTIONS.

A. Approving Use Permit Agreement for Public Property – Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce/Downtown Bethlehem Association – 2012 Bethlehem VegFest

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution 2012-132 that authorized a Use Permit Agreement between the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, by and through its Downtown Bethlehem Association, and the City, for use of the Bethlehem Greenway between Adams Street and Polk Street for the 2012 Bethlehem VegFest on September 8, 2012, according to the Agreement.

Voting AYE: Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, Mr. Reynolds, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. DiGiacinto, and Mr. Evans, 7. The Resolution passed.

B. Approving Use Permit Agreement for Public Property – Northampton Community College – Civil War Road Show

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution 2012-133 that authorized a Use Permit Agreement between Northampton Community College and the City for use of the South Bethlehem Greenway between Fillmore Street and Pierce Street for a Civil War Road Show for the time period September 4 to September 10, 2012, according to the Agreement.

Voting AYE: Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, Mr. Reynolds, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. DiGiacinto, and Mr. Evans, 7. The Resolution passed.

Motion – Considering Resolutions 9 C through 9 H as a Group – Certificates of Appropriateness

Mrs. Belinski and Mr. Recchiuti moved to consider Resolutions 9 C through 9 H as a Group.

Voting AYE: Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, Mr. Reynolds, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. DiGiacinto, and Mr. Evans, 7. The Motion passed.

C. Certificate of Appropriateness – 91 West Broad Street

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution 2012-134 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a new sign on the façade at 91 West Broad Street.

D. Certificate of Appropriateness – 520 North New Street

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution 2012-135 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a new sign to the façade at 520 North New Street.

E. Certificate of Appropriateness – 132 East Market Street

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution 2012-136 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to re-roof the house and garage at 132 East Market Street.

F. Certificate of Appropriateness – 81 West Broad Street

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution 2012-137 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install eight outdoor dining tables and chairs at 81 West Broad Street.

G. Certificate of Appropriateness – 521 Main Street

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution 2012-138 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a sign on the wall at 521 Main Street.

H. Certificate of Appropriateness – 336 West Street

Mr. Donchez and Mr. Recchiuti sponsored Resolution 2012-139 that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness to re-paint the exterior wood trim on the home at 336 West Street.

Voting AYE on Resolutions 9 C through 9 H: Ms. Dolan, Mr. Donchez, Mr. Recchiuti, Mr. Reynolds, Mrs. Belinski, Mr. DiGiacinto, and Mr. Evans, 7. The Resolutions passed.

10. NEW BUSINESS.

None.

11. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.