Police Chief Mark DiLuzio briefed Bethlehem City Council members at their May 5 meeting on the six-hour standoff at 1860 Snapper Drive last week. The chief said a 37-year-old male wanted to commit "suicide by cop." There were no injuries, DiLuzio said, and the man was arrested and is in the Lehigh County Prison hospital ward.

It was a rather noisy time with bullhorn communication, he added. "Some residents didn't sleep all night. Most were thankful in the morning." Council President J. William Reynolds thanked the police for dealing with "a stressful situation,".

Contract negotiations

Council members also heard from Business Manager David Brong regarding contract negotiations with police and firefighters.

The city's police union ratified a three-year contract proposal with the city last week, Brong said. Council members did discuss details of that contract at the council meeting.

Brong said the fire union voted down the city's first contract proposal in the beginning of April. After clarifying some matters, Brong said, the union was scheduled to vote again on the modified proposal May 5. If no agreement could be reached, the next step would be arbitration, he added.

Reynolds gave credit to the administration and police union for working out an agreement. "I hope that the same kind of agreement can be reached" with the fire union, he said, adding that several members of council are union members. "We know not everybody walks away from these discussions happy," Reynolds said.

911 update

Mayor Robert Donchez told council members the state House of Representatives passed new funding legislation "by a wide margin." The legislation does not include state funding for 911 centers in Bethlehem and Allentown, the only two cities in the state that have them.

Donchez said he hopes that when legislation is discussed in the senate senators Lisa Boscola and Pat Browne will be able to promote a compromise to preserve state 911 funding for Bethlehem and Allentown.

Reynolds asked when the new funding formula for 911 would take effect. Donchez said the issue is not determined yet but should be resolved by the end of June. It is not clear whether the transition time would be one year, two years or three years, the mayor added.

Bethlehem, Allentown and Northampton and Lehigh counties were planning to jointly fund a $50,000 study on consolidating the municipalities' 911 systems. Donchez said the study would be useless if the state mandates Bethlehem to go with a county system. Chief DiLuzio added, "We are doing our own internal study" by mid June to determine the cost of a city system versus participating in a county 911 system. Council Member Michael Recchiuti, who chairs the Finance Committee, noted the city's 911 center costs are about $3.4 million this year. He said $2.1 million is provided by the city and the additional $1.3 million is budget from the state, although the current legislation would take that funding away.

"We're going to have a hole in our budget," Recchiuti said. "We have to plan."

The city 911 center also provides services a county system does not, such as monitoring cameras.

Reynolds, on behalf of the council, commended the current 911 center services. "One thing everyone in this room agrees is the level of service our 911 provides," Reynolds said.

Park parking fines

In other business, Council members unanimously approved new parking fines in Saucon Park. Violators will have parking fines of $30. Fines increase to $45 after 14 days and to $65 after a citation is issued.

Chief DiLuzio said the new fines will help pay for extra police coverage in the park during busy summer months. There will be two or three weekends where warnings will be issued and people notified of the new parking regulations. "After that will come enforcement," DiLuzio said.

Council members also noted that the purchasing department is developing new processes to increase efficiency. Council member Louis Stellato said he has been working with the purchasing department.

"I want to thank them for the way they do business," Stellato said. The changes are very beneficial, he added. "Good things are going to happen. It's a cultural change."

In addition, council members rescheduled their May 19 meeting to May 20 at 7 pm due to primary elections.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Clint Walker of 123 East Church St. encouraged candidates for city council post on their websites their views on the proposed zoning change to permit businesses on Market Street.

"This city is a beauty. It's unique, we want to keep it that way," Walker said.