Bethlehem City Council will appoint a replacement for resigning council member Karen Dolan at its Nov. 5 meeting. The timeline for securing Dolan's replacement was discussed Oct. 21. Council agreed to speed up the process, requiring prospective candidates to submit their cover letters, resumes and answers to council questions to the city clerk by Oct. 24.

The timeline will allow the candidates information to be submitted to current council members by Oct. 31.

On Oct. 14, Dolan sent a letter of resignation effective Nov. 1 after a grand jury found that she used her position on council to influence decisionmaking by the city on matters relating to the nonprofit Fox Environmental Center, which she founded.

Council President J. William Reynolds offered two timeline options for replacing Dolan; "Option A," with the Oct. 24 deadline for candidates' submission of application materials and "Option B," with a candidates submission deadline of Oct. 27.

Council member Michael Recchuiti voiced his support of Option A.

"Option A is fast," he said. "It will allow for whoever fills the seat to participate in the budget meeting process."

Dolan's replacement will serve from Nov. 5, 2014, to Jan. 4, 2016. When questioned as to whether Dolan's replacement will have an unfair advantage should they choose to run again for council in the May primary, Reynolds chose to let the voters make that choice on election day.

"I will leave that up to the voters," he said. "If someone wants to run for re-election, they can choose to, but it is something I will consider (when reviewing their application materials.)

In other business, Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio addressed council regarding what happens to seized drug forfeiture money.

"We don't retain the money," DiLuzio said. "It goes to the federal government, the state or the county. A certain percentage goes back into the community, that's up to the district attorney. Last year some money went to the Boys and Girls Club."

Also at the meeting, the refinancing of the city's pension bonds was approved for final passage.

The recent bond sale resulted in increased savings for the city.

"It is very encouraging for us," said city business administrator David Brong. "We are able to achieve more with the improved rates."