Bethlehem Township Commissioners have awarded $1.8 million in contracts to renovate the township’s 11-year old community center. They did so with little discussion at their April 3 meeting.

Last July, Entech Engineering’s Ryan Kennedy reported that gutters were improperly sloped on the metal roof over the facility’s natatorium, leading to pockets of standing water that seep into the building. He identified about $2.5 million in repairs for a 50,000 square-foot building that cost $10.3 million to build and is shackled by a mortgage requiring a $725,000 annual payment.

The contracts were awarded to the lowest responsible bidders. Brady Construction won the construction contract for $1.1 million. HT Lyons will be paid $137,680 for the plumbing. The $533,550 HVAC bid went to Elliot-Lewis Corp. Finally, Wind Gap Electric will receive $41,700 for the electrical work.

Board President Michael Hudak recused himself from voting for the H.T. Lyons contract because of his employment there as a metal fabricator. Aside from that recusal, all the votes were unanimous. That includes Pat Breslin, who complained about the repairs during a radio show in January, saying the “government shouldn’t be in the gym business.”

He voted four times to keep the government in the gym business.

Construction is expected to start on July 24 and be finished by the end of October.

In addition to repairs at the community center, commissioners voted unanimously to seek an $86,779.50 grant from Northampton County’s Municipal Park program to match the money the township plans to spend for a face lift at Comer Park. Located along Dewalt Street in one of the township’s oldest neighborhoods, Comer Park has play equipment, a gazebo, picnic tables, park benches and play courts. The makeover’s centerpiece will be a “fitness fun” structure for children aged five to 12 years, complete with multiple slides, swings, climbing structures and platforms.

The park is named in honor of Joseph Francis Comer, who played there frequently. He passed away before his 15th birthday as a result of an illness.

In addition to providing for recreational resources, commissioners dabbled a bit in the electoral process. At the beginning of the meeting, resident Barry Roth complained about new polling places established by Northampton County for the four wards. He said he worried that people standing in line at the wrong polling place will just go home instead of voting. Manager Melissa Shafer and solicitor Jim Broughal told Roth the county, and not the township, selects polling places.

At the end of the meeting, Davis returned to the subject of elections. In addition the voter suppression that occurs when polling places change, Davis is concerned about the gerrymander. She said an independent commission, and not politicians, should draw the boundary lines of congressional districts. But that requires an amendment to the state constitution. A bipartisan effort is slowly gaining steam, thanks in large part to the grass roots efforts of FairDistrictsPa. She asked commissioners whether FairDistrictsPa could make a presentation when Commissioners meet again in two weeks. “I think that’s a good idea,” responded President Mike Hudak.

Hudak polled fellow commissioners, who agreed that Manager Shafer should prepare a resolution supporting gerrymander reform when they meet again. If commissioners adopt such a resolution, they will be joining Lehigh Valley municipalities Northampton County, Easton, Lehigh County and Whitehall Township. Statewide, 18 municipalities have urged state legislatures to end the gerrymander.