At their June 15 meeting, divided Bethlehem Township commissioners voted three to two to seek a $250,000 grant toward a $350,000 restroom and storage facility at the Northside Complex, also called the North 40. Supporting the measure were President Marty Zawarski, Tom Nolan and Phil Bernard. Voting no were Michael Hudak and Pat Breslin. Township Manager Melissa Shafer also has her eyes on Northampton County's Space fund for the remaining $100,000 needed.

This proposal has existed in one form or another since 2002. In 2003, the estimated cost of the facility, which at that time also included a press box and concession stand, was already at $200,000.

The Bulldogs

This bathroom and storage facility will service fans watching games involving the Bethlehem Township Athletic Association, known as the Bulldogs. A nonprofit organization consisting entirely of volunteers, the Bulldogs have a contractual relationship with the township that goes back to 1969. In that agreement, the township recognized "the need and demand for organized athletic activity in Bethlehem Township."

The township agreed to subsidize Bulldogs efforts to provide for organized sports, in its sole discretion, and even agreed to pay expenses incurred to the extent that its finances would permit. The Bulldogs in turn agreed to make its athletic programs available to all township residents and to maintain insurance.

They offer recreational cheerleading, football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, softball and lacrosse to all township residents. More than 1,500 children participate in one or more of these sports. They receive an annual subsidy of $40,000. It has been as high as $55,000.

This proposal was approved by the Recreation Board at their June 8 meeting by a 3-2 vote, with one abstention. But the plan has come under repeated attacks because of its high cost and the argument that the township is playing favorites.

Breslin on talk radio

Commissioner Pat Breslin actually took to the airwaves on WAEB to complain about the cost, claiming he could raise $100,000 for bathrooms without involving the government. He never raised that possibility during a meeting, although some residents say he discussed it with them.

"Here's the crazy part," commented WAEB radio host Bobby Gunther Walsh, "you guys could do it for $100,000, maybe get companies to donate their labor, some plumbers to donate their labor, electricians to donate their labor, maybe even get less than $100,000 to put up bathroom facilities. No, no, that's put in the budget because we can then comp one of our cronies and charge $350,000."

"The union will get involved," worried Breslin.

"They're going to say you're stealing labor from them," replied Walsh.

Hudak speechless

"I'm speechless, I'm speechless," Commissioner Michael Hudak said after the vote. He argued that this proposal is opposed by 95 percent of the township. "It's gotten so bad we had to get a guy on speaker phone so he can cast a Yes vote," he added, referring to a vote cast by vacationing Phil Barnard via speaker phone.

Hudak said that there are no public restrooms at four other township parks, although there is a public restroom at the township park along Farmersville road. He suggested that this grant money could be used for other things, like developing a brand new park along Cabernet Drive or Hope Road.

"The community does not want this," he concluded.

Residents want priority

Whether that's true is debatable, but Chetwin Terrace residents Wayne Kresge and Roy Roth spoke against spending $350,000 for public restrooms. Kresge and Roth have complained for years about storm water cascading from William Penn Highway to flood their yards during heavy downpours like one that coincided with the meeting that evening. Though the township has taken remedial action, they have said it is inadequate.

Of the two, Roth was more conciliatory. "I agree the kids need facilities, but do we need a Cadillac?" he asked. Much harsher, Kresge complained about spending a "small fortune" on a facility that he said would only serve 11 percent of the population. "Is 11 percent of the population is worth more than my house?" he asked. "Times change," he said.

Kresge also questioned whether the Bulldogs have liability insurance or vendor licenses for the concession stand. Hudak said he made the same request himself, and suspected that the answer is no. Township Manager Melissa Shafer responded that the Bulldogs do and are required to have liability insurance, but is looking into whether a vendor's license for snacks is needed.

Bathroom/storage

Critics of this bathroom did not to mention that this bathroom will also double as a storage facility.

The Bethlehem Bulldogs currently pay almost $700 a month (about $8,000 per year) for storage of equipment and supplies during the off season. This facility will also provide permanent storage for shoulder pads and other equipment, much like the Steelers have in Bethlehem. Because the Bulldogs will no longer have to pay rental, they have agreed to an $8,000 cut in their annual allotment from the township. That annual savings will probably pay for most if not all of the cost of the bathroom over its anticipated lifespan.

Why $350,000?

In a memo prepared for commissioners, manager Shafer explained that the high cost for the combination bathroom and storage building is the result of the 2009 International Building Code and township plumbing code. Based on parking lot capacity, she said the public restroom must include the following: six women's toilets; two men's toilets and one urinal; two lavatories (sinks) in each restroom; handicapped accessible facilities for each gender; two drinking fountains (one each for wheelchair and standing persons); a service closet with water heater, mop sink and cleaning supply storage; and a separate, "family assisted use" restroom.

Supporters of the grant offered no arguments.