Resident Harry Antonelli complained to City Council President Adam Waldron May 19, asking if there is a law on the books to require dog walkers to have their pets on shorter leashes. He said dog walkers are using 20-foot leashes and allowing their dogs to defecate in his yard.

He was also unhappy with the way kids are riding their bicycles on his driveway and sidewalk. He said that when he complained to the offenders about the bike riding, he was called a racist.

Antonelli complained in to Waldron because council is not actually meeting in person, but online, with council members listening in or responding with comments and votes.

Waldron, city Business Manager Eric Evans and the council’s clerk were the only officials physically present at the meeting. Mayor Robert Donchez was not at the meeting, nor did members of his cabinet participate.

Normally when a citizen brings a question like Antonelli’s to the council meetings, someone in the mayor’s cabinet, such as the police chief, can answer their questions.

Waldron didn’t know the answer to Antonelli’s question and suggested he contact the Bethlehem Police non-emergency number, as Police Chief Mark DiLuzio usually takes these sorts of questions at live meetings.

“Here at city council there is very little that we can usually do as a legislative body,” said Waldron.

Mayoral aspirant Arthur Curatola used the public comment portion of the agenda to call and voice his theory that shortages of personal protective equipment and pharmaceuticals are part of “a plan to kill off the people who are not productive and to spread fear and to control the middle class.”

Curatola also voiced his opinion that people who throw their face masks and gloves on the ground “should be heavily fined or locked up as [it] is a terroristic attempt to overthrow our government and cause harm to the people.”

According to Curatola, “pets should not be permitted to roam the streets [because] the virus can easily attach to the paws bringing the virus into the house. People who are guilty of letting this happen should be heavily fined.

“We need to quarantine the sick, not the young and healthy,” said Curatola.

He promoted food supplements to boost the immune systems of the sick while, “weeding [weaning] people off of drugs, junk food, alcohol and non-motivated lifestyles.”

President of the Bethlehem Rose Garden Farmers’ Market Mary Toulouse called in to support the idea of opening up the city parks to community gardening. She also said it is important to support local farmers through the farmers’ market.

Eric Evans announced mayoral nominations to appoint Deni Thurman-Eyer and Clinton B. Walker to the Fine Arts Commission, and A. Craig Evans to the Historic Conservation Commission South Bethlehem and Mount Airy.

There were no new ordinances or ordinances for final passage on the agenda.

In a first reading for legislation slated to be on the next regular meeting, council heard an application to transfer a liquor license to the Wilber Restaurant at 202 Wyandotte St. This is part of the renovation of the Wilbur mansion project which is in the City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ).

Due to yesterday’s primary election, the next regular meeting will be held tonight.