Bethlehem City Council met on Oct. 6 to review the appointment of Michelle Kott as the city’s next police chief and discussed a number of other issues.
Unanimous approval of Police Chief Michelle Kott
Bethlehem City Council unanimously approved an administrative order naming Capt. Michelle Kott as the city’s new police chief.
Accepting the appointment, Kott expressed her commitment to embrace the challenge.
“I am humbled to have this opportunity to serve the community,” Kott said. “I will not let you down. Through challenge comes real change, and I am ready to get started.”
Kott will be the first female police chief in Bethlehem’s history. She has been with the department since 2004.
“She has been a constant professional whose thoughtfulness, transparency and engagement I have always appreciated,” Mayor Robert Donchez said.
Donchez expressed his desire to support the new police chief in any new department programs.
“I look forward to seeing what initiatives you will bring to the table, as someone who has been in the command staff for the last few years,” he said.
Members of the council were invited to share congratulatory remarks and express their approval for Kott’s appointment.
Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith said she was elated to vote for Bethlehem’s first female police chief.
Councilman J. William Reynolds commented on Kott’s ability to frame important discussions about policing within the community.
“She understands the frustration that a lot of people feel, but also the potential of what we can do if we talk about these issues in a different manner,” Reynolds said.
Kott assumes the role following the resignation of former Chief Mark DiLuzio after offensive comments were found on his Facebook page.
Rejection of retirement facility zoning proposal
Council members voted unanimously to reject a proposal that would have amended the city’s zoning ordinance for a property at 2105 Creek Drive.
This proposal would have changed the zone from rural residential to residential retirement complex, allowing the construction of a four-story, 40-unit assisted living facility.
“This project came to us with pretty strong recommendations from the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission against it,” Council President Adam Waldron said.
Residents express concern about Webster Street construction
The meeting began with an open invitation for public comments from the Bethlehem community, specifically to discuss issues not on the agenda of the council meeting.
Three community members called to express their concerns about new construction in the area and their lack of access to these plans.
They said construction on Webster Street on the South Side has caused disturbances in the community, including clouds of construction dust that are aggravating respiratory problems in the midst of COVID-19.
Though none of the callers specifically mentioned the project by name, Lehigh is currently constructing its College of Health on the corner of Webster and Morton streets.
“Our quality of life is so low that we feel like we’ve been sold to these developers,” one caller said.
As some houses in the Bethlehem area were constructed more than 100 years ago, callers worried about potential foundational damage and urged the city to watch out for its community.
Callers also expressed their concern with the inaccessibility of construction plans, which they are unable to view without filing a “Right to Know” request.
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1 Comment
I feel so much safer now! Not