The Bethlehem City Council convened on Oct. 1 to discuss a recent homicide in East Hills, the city’s water supply and ongoing and future construction projects in the city.
Violent Crime in East Hills Neighborhood
Janet Barry, a resident of Bethlehem, spoke about the violent crime incident in the East Hills neighborhood — the area where she grew up.
On Sept. 26 a man was fatally shot during a drug deal that escalated into a robbery and a homicide.
During public comment, Barry commended the police force for their quick response time and expressed how the addition of neighborhood patrols would make the city safer.
Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said officers and detectives did “amazing work” taking the 17-year-old suspect into custody within 24 hours.
Barry said improved community policing can act as a deterrent against crimes like homicide.
Lead Pipe Testing and School District Funding
During public comment, community member Mary Jo McCool raised concerns regarding the Bethlehem School District’s inadequate testing protocols for its water supply, in which lead was found last month.
McCool said the district hasn’t been proactive in conducting the necessary tests to ensure the safety and health of its students
McCool proposed a “pressing” deadline for the city to compile a comprehensive list of the pipes that have undergone testing for lead to help determine the potential lead exposure risks within the district’s facilities.
“Pennsylvania water lines are among the oldest in the country, so I believe you can understand my concern,” McCool said.
Bethlehem residents are encouraged to submit a Service Line Material Identification Form to identify and report the service line material to the Bethlehem Water and Sewer Resources Department to ensure there’s no lead piping.
Janet Burger, director of the federal and community connections programs, said the Lead and Healthy Homes program has a new mobile van that will be used to start doing voluntary capillary lead testing for children.
According to the city’s website, the Lead and Healthy Homes program is intended to protect residents from the harms of lead poisoning and health-related hazards.
Income-qualifying residents who have lead-based paint or home health concerns can apply for free assistance to remediate homes.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania was given $152 million under the Biden-Harris Administration to help municipalities replace lead pipes and advance safe drinking water.
Burger said because of this investment, she was adamant about knowing how much funding the city has received to cover the lead pipe tests and repairs.
Walnut Street Garage Renovations
During public comment, resident Bruce Haines expressed concerns about the construction of the Walnut Street garage.
Haines said the lack of facade compatibility with the historic district was an unintended consequence of focusing solely on the height during the meeting about the garage.
“They never vetted the exterior, the facade, the paint colors, or any of that in terms of when they were looking at the project, because the issue was the height,” Haines said.
He said he wants the council to revisit the issue and look more closely into the architectural details before construction begins.
City Council President Michael G. Colon said the council has no authority to issue permits or alter current plans, and changing major parts of the garage would require the submission of another application.
He said he hopes to promote informal conversation with the Walnut Street Garage coordinators to attempt to find a solution for the concerns surrounding the physical aspects of the garage.
“There’s a big difference between something like a formal committee meeting versus a conversation to be had with the applicant, or whoever it could be,” Colon said.
Demolition Project on East Fourth Street
The Demolition Project on East Fourth Street — which plans to replace an abandoned single-family home with a new multi-family unit — has gained support from city council member Hillary Kwiatek, who said she views it as an improvement.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to create more housing,” Kwiatek said.
She said this initiative will revitalize the neighborhood and provide much-needed housing options in South Bethlehem.
Kwiatek confirmed the demolition of the abandoned house has received approval from the historic conservation committee.
She said the issue of “demolition by neglect” arises when property owners allow buildings to deteriorate to facilitate demolition.
During public comment, many community members discussed the need for proactive measures to be taken to prevent demolition by neglect.
One solicitor representative proposed improved inspection processes and stricter homeowner regulations. The solicitor said by enhancing the frequency of inspections, the city could identify and address maintenance issues before they escalate to the point of requiring demolition.
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