In another pandemic-driven remote meeting, most members of Bethlehem City Council listened to comments and voiced their votes via teleconferencing May 5. Members of the public who wanted to speak had been asked to provide phone numbers to Council President Adam Waldron who explained the process he has devised to accommodate public comments. Waldron was the only council member present; the rest being linked via the internet.

“I will them call on them much as I would call on them if they were in the room,” said Waldron.

As has become tradition, the “Bethlehem Moment” was presented when retired Lehigh University Professor Ed Gallagher was called in to read an historical factoid. His script was prepared by Sharon Brown honoring African-American Main Street business owner Steve Holloman Sr., who founded and operated a business in Bethlehem in 1986 and gained the unofficial sobriquet, “The Mayor of Main Street.”

Musician and frequent mayoral hopeful Artie Curatola called in his public comment contribution to suggest that fines be tripled for scofflaws who discard facemasks and leave rubber gloves on the ground. He also suggested that all cats, who he claimed to be susceptible to COVID-19, be kept inside during the coronavirus crisis.

Bethlehem may award a contract to Historic Bethlehem Museum and Sites headed by Charlene Donchez Mowers for a study that may result in the city being designated a World Heritage Designation. A proposal for the study was added to the agenda for the next regular meeting May 19.

Also adopted for the next agenda was a proposal to extend, without penalty, real estate tax payments.

Council approved a proposal expressing support for state and federal laws restricting food delivery services “that threaten the economic viability of local restaurants and food during the COVID-19 crisis.”

The measure asks the mayor to investigate local food delivery practices and to consider regulatory measures to “protect vulnerable food establishments, their workers and consumers”

Mayor Donchez reported that as of 5 May, the city had 577 positive cases of COVID-19 and 19 deaths. He said one city employee has tested positive, but was “back at work and doing fine.”

“I want to thank all the city employees for doing a great job during these challenging times.”

He said the yard waste facility is open Monday through Saturday with drop-off only and that masks are required. He said the recycling center remains closed until further notice. He said the golf course is open and following state and CDC guidelines.

Donchez said he will make decisions on public swimming pools before memorial weekend. He said he expected guidance from the state on swimming pools.

He thanked Wind Creek casino for making its $2 million payment.

Donchez reported the New Bethany Ministries had entered into a contract with Comfort Suites to provide transitional housing for the homeless population. He said Lehigh County has an agreement with a motel to provide housing for homeless people testing positive for COVID-19.

He reported that $300,000 had been allocated to the business relief fund for the first round. Donchez said he hoped the fund could provide 150 companies $2,000 each. He said that 188 potentially eligible businesses have applied for the program. “No one has received any funding as of now. We hope to get that finished by the end of the week.”

The mayor reported that he had recommended to U. S. Senator Robert Casey and that the next Community Development Block Grant (CDGC) Program payments come directly to the city instead of being passed through the state.

Business Manager Eric Evans briefed the council on predicted effects of the pandemic on the current budget and on next year’s projections. “There will be a substantial reduction in revenue,” said Evans. “We do plan to cut expenses whenever the opportunities present themselves”.

He said the cuts could be applied to purchasing, projects or personnel. Up to $7 million in projects could be put off according to Evans. He said the hiring freeze imposed April 1 has now resulted in 18 open positions. He said Donchez would need to approve any future hires to the city workforce until further notice.

Evans reported that six full-time employees in the Housing Bureau have been furloughed and will remain so until Governor Tom Wolf determines that real estate work can begin again. He said these furloughed employees will be recalled once authorized.

Evans said seasonal or temporary hiring will be reduced, as well as for divisions such as public works, traffic, Sand Island tennis courts, swimming pools and camps.

The opening of Memorial Pool will likely be pushed to the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2121 according to Evans. He said the city has not yet decided, but held out the possibility that some of the other city pools may open this summer.

Mayor Donchez said that, pending clarity from Harrisburg, he hopes to make a decision of opening swimming pools and playground by Memorial Day.

On a bright note, Evans predicted the cost of gasoline for city vehicles will drop because the global cost of oil has dropped.

“We may just freeze the budgets for 2021 and ask department heads to come in with a five to 10 percent cut for their 2021 budget,” said Donchez in response to a request for more information by Council President Adam Waldron. “Or we may do [what] hasn’t been done in many, many years [and] give each department a certain dollar amount and say, ‘This is what you have to work with and prepare your budget with this dollar amount.’”

He said the fund balance is much better than it’s been in the past. “So, that’s kind of a silver lining to a point.”

Council voted to amend the 2020 General Fund budget by increasing the amount of money dedicated to the Health Department from $83,864 to $753,284.