Bethlehem's Director of the City Water Department, Ed Boscola, spoke at the July 15 city council meeting, addressing the Bethlehem Water Treatment Plant's sixth consecutive year of winning the Area Wide Optimization Award for stringent water quality.

"As you know the city is blessed with a very pristine water flow up in the Poconos," Boscola said. "It helps us meet the EPA standards. It's another feather in our cap."

Also at the council meeting, council member Bryan Callahan made a statement to the Mayor Robert Donchez and the entire community of Bethlehem, thanking the people of the city for making Bethlehem one of the most livable cities in Pa.

"Thank you to our Mayor," Callahan said, "and to all of our departments, to our water department…to Movies in the Park…we were recently named one of the top 10 cities in Pennsylvania to live. We are being recognized for something we already know. We live in a wonderful place."

Bethlehem's popular upcoming Musikfest music festival was also addressed at the meeting. Council unanimously approved the raising of parking fines during Musikfest, to $30.00, twice their normal rate of $15.00.

Due to the large crowds and limited parking during Musikfest, council also unanimously approved moving the Aug. 5 council meeting from 7 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.