City Council opened its Oct. 15 with a citation issued to former police sergeant and detective Dean Badman. Badman, who joined the Bethlehem Police Department in 1992, recently retired after receiving a job working with students at Wilson School District.

Additional citations were issued to Andrew Kehm and Cheryl A. Marko.

Shortly after Badman's closing remarks, residents of Bethlehem were given the first opportunity to voice their opinion on a proposed budget at a public hearing for the Community Development Block Grant Program.

Background

The CDBG, a program supervised by the Department of Community and Economic Development, was initially created under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. As a grant awarded to Bethlehem by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), nonprofits can receive up to 7.5 percent of the CDBG's fiscal budget, according to the program's 2014 application. On average, the program has been awarded an estimated 1.7 million dollars annually by HUD.

However, this year's budget cited that $1,137,744 would be awarded to CDBG projects. As Bethlehem's Director for Community and Economic Development Joe Kelly noted, funding for the CDBG program is at a historic low. Upon being called to the podium to address the budget before council, Kelly said the CDBG proposed 2014 budget has been in a steady decline and that funding levels for the program are lower than those seen since 1990.

Budgeted projects

Despite the challenge of limited funding, Kelly went on to describe those projects which appeared on the budget sheet, including returning efforts such as the Southside Recreation Coordinator and new efforts such as the renovation of Bethlehem's Lynn Avenue Bridge.

Originally constructed in 1925, the bridge is set to be repaired and widened by 10 feet for further bus and truck transportation some time in 2014. Additionally, projects awarded CDBG funds included renovation of Southside parks and playgrounds and a Bethlehem Trail feasibility study, which would seek to connect several of Bethlehem's nature trails.

After Kelly's address, Council Member Karen Dolan said she was, "very comfortable with the CDBG budget." Dolan then requested council re-examine resolution 2008.205, which outlines restrictions on funding for the program. Specifically, resolution no. 2008-205 designates the structure for funds awarded to projects on an individual basis.

CDBG uses

According to the draft of 2008.205 attached to the 2014 CDBG application, the resolution states that, "CDBG funds can be used to finance up to 50 percent of the total cost of an individual project" and that "up to 7.5 percent of the total Community Development Block Grant may be designated for projects proposed by private non-profit organizations.

No more than 50 percent of the 7.5 percent of the total CDBG money may be allocated to an individual project in a given year." Council President Eric Evans issued the final approval for Dolan's request and ordered that Resolution 205 of 2008 be put on council's Nov. 6 or 19 agenda for consideration.

Public reaction

As council then went on to consider public reaction to remaining CDBG projects, one area resident commented on Habitat for Humanity's plan to build housing near Bethlehem's South Mountain, calling the site a precious resource that ought to be preserved. In response, Habitat for Humanity's Resource Development Manager Melissa Lauer noted attributes of the program, including 250 required "sweat hours" in which potential tenants must contribute towards physically building their own home. Additionally, Lauer spoke of the program as a "unique experience" in which she thanked council for their consideration. Similarly, YWCA's Empowerment Director Amber Merza addressed council regarding CDBG funding of YWCA's Tech Gyrls program. The program, partially funded by $12,000 awarded to YWCA under the CDBG budget, helps generate academic interest in the sciences for teen girls by transporting them on field trips to several local businesses (including the Lehigh Valley's own Air Products and Chemicals Inc.).

Other business

In other business, Mayor John Callahan reported a list of proposed public appointments to be approved as administrative orders by council. Dolan said she is concerned with the process by which council votes for approval on such administrative orders.

Dolan said she, "Hopes that we will in the future, with a new mayor ... take a look at how we do that." Dolan said the process could become a "perfunctory act" in some cases, and that there has been a lack of information sought by council for public appointments. Callahan a request for more information has never been made by council and Dolan acknowledged this by stating that, "it is not something that we have been in the habit of doing." Shortly after this exchange, council continued to approve all proposed administrative orders with only one order not voted on unanimously.

Appointment of Alfonso A. Bernotas Jr. to Bethlehem's Sister City Commission was approved with a vote of 6-1 in favor of the appointment.

Black out

Furthermore, council voted unanimously on all proposed resolutions on the meeting agenda, including a Certificate of Appropriateness for 443 High St. The certificate, which had been postponed for approval as of the Sept. 3 meeting, allows for the rear section of the house at 443 High St. to be repainted black. Council was prompted to postpone the initial vote at the direction of John Guaranich, a neighboring resident, who opposed the certificate on the grounds that repainting the rear of 443 High St. black would be against HARB guidelines.

Council's meeting closed with consideration for a resolution that would draw support for the creation of a Rail Transit Authority in the Lehigh Valley. Called a watershed moment by Dolan, the resolution would help the development of Lehigh Valley's proposed Suburban Metro Area Transit Rail (dubbed LV SMART Rail). The Lehigh Valley has lacked rail service since 1962 which, according to Dolan, was, "killed through nefarious means...as a result of competing corporate interests." Council voted 7-0 in favor of the resolution.

The next meeting has been rescheduled and will now be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 6, at City Hall.