City Council

Corrected: February 6, 2024 BETHLEHEM CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING NEW COUNCIL Tuesday, January 2, 2024 – 7:00 PM 10 East Church Street - Town Hall Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 1. ROLL CALL OF HOLD-OVER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL The Clerk called the Roll of the hold-over Members of Council. Present as hold-over members were: Ms. Crampsie Smith, Ms. Kwiatek, Ms. Leon, and Ms. Wilhelm, 4. 2. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF ELECTION The Clerk affirmed that the Certificates of Election for the Treasurer and Members of Council had been presented. 3. SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES A. Members of Council – Bryan G. Callahan, Michael G. Colόn, and Colleen Laird John M. Morganelli, Northampton County Common Pleas Court Judge, administered the individual Oaths of Office to Bryan G. Callahan, Michael G. Colόn, and Colleen Laird, duly elected Members of Council, for their four-year terms ending January 2026 2028. Judge Morganelli said it was an honor to administer the Oaths and reminded that he served as the first Solicitor to City Council from 1986-1992, and he remains a City resident today. B. Treasurer – Kathy A. Fox John M. Morganelli, Northampton County Common Pleas Court Judge, administered the Oath of Office to Kathy A. Fox, duly elected Treasurer, for the four-year term ending January 2026 2028. 4. ROLL CALL OF NEWLY CONSTITUTED COUNCIL The Clerk called the Roll of the Newly Constituted Council. Present were: Bryan G. Callahan, Michael G. Colón, Grace Crampsie Smith, Hillary Kwiatek, Colleen Laird, Rachel Leon, and Kiera L. Wilhelm, 7. 5. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION - PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL The Clerk stated the Members of Council shall nominate the President of Council and the Vice President of Council in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order. Nominations are from the floor. An election of the President of Council and Vice President of Council are in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order and by roll call. John F. Spirk Esq., City Solicitor, conducted the Nominations and Election for the President of Council, to serve for the years January 2024 – January 2026. Attorney Spirk noted in accordance Bethlehem City Council Reorganizational Meeting 2 New Council January 2, 2024 with the Rules of City Council and Robert’s Rules of Order the election procedure will be as follows: He will ask for nominations for the Office of President of Council. Each Council Member may nominate not more than one person; no second is required. Attorney Spirk stated that after each nomination for the Office of President he will ask if there are any additional nominations. When there are no additional nominations, he will declare the nominations closed. Attorney Spirk informed they will then proceed to the election, and he will ask the Clerk to call the roll. Each Council Member will respond by declaring his or her vote by stating the name of the person they are voting for as President. A Council Member is allowed to vote for him or herself. Attorney Spirk reported that four votes are required for election and after the President is elected, we will repeat the same process for Council Vice President. NOMINATIONS – PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL – January 2024 - January 2026 Mr. Callahan thanked those from the audience who spoke tonight on behalf of prospective candidates for the President and Vice President positions. He said speaking up is important. He added that Council “is not a rubber stamp of the Administration. We are here to work with them and make our City better.” Mr. Callahan also noted the 5-2 female Council majority and believes that it would be appropriate to have a female President of Council. He believed this would be a first in the history of Bethlehem. Mr. Callahan nominated Ms. Crampsie Smith for President. Solicitor Spirk said he believed that Dolores Caskey was the first female Council President many years ago. He noted that Ms. Crampsie Smith was nominated for President and asked if other nominations were to be offered. Ms. Wilhelm nominated Mr. Colón. There were no additional nominations. Solicitor Spirk asked the Clerk to Call the Roll. ELECTION - PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL – January 2024 - January 2026 Voting for Mr. Colón: Mr. Colón, Ms. Kwiatek, Ms. Laird, Ms. Leon, and Ms. Wilhelm, 5; voting for Ms. Crampsie Smith: Mr. Callahan, and Ms. Crampsie Smith, 2. The election of Mr. Colón as President of Council for the years January 2024 - January 2026 was adopted by a vote of 5 in favor and 2 opposed. 6. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION - VICE PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL – January 2024 - January 2026 Solicitor Spirk conducted the Nominations and Election for the Vice President of Council, to serve for the term January 2024 - January 2026. NOMINATIONS - VICE PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL – January 2024 - January 2026. Mr. Colón nominated Ms. Leon for Vice President. He supported his nomination by saying it was not a criticism of anyone else but was in response to Ms. Leon’s willingness to be involved and engaged. She has shown leadership inside and outside of Council Chambers. Bethlehem City Council Reorganizational Meeting 3 New Council January 2, 2024 Mr. Callahan next nominated Ms. Crampsie Smith, adding that she has done a fine job as the sitting Vice President. He believed that Mr. Colón and Ms. Crampsie Smith would continue to provide a strong leadership team. Noting no additional nominations, Solicitor Spirk asked the Clerk to Call the Roll. ELECTION – VICE PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL – January 2024 – January 2026 Voting for Ms. Leon: Mr. Colón, Ms. Kwiatek, Ms. Laird, Ms. Leon, and Ms. Wilhelm, 5; voting for Ms. Crampsie Smith: Mr. Callahan, and Ms. Crampsie Smith, 2. The election of Ms. Leon as Vice President of Council for the years January 2024 - January 2026 was adopted by a vote of 5 in favor and 2 opposed. Mr. Colón took the President’s seat and proceeded to run the meeting. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT Damage to Streets Resident Jeffrey Zettlemoyer thanked the Mayor and City Council for what is being done with Bethlehem’s streetscapes. He also said he travels Hayes Street and is considerably jostled with rough roadways resulting from increased truck traffic due to the region’s warehouse proliferation. He predicted that the conditions of these and other streets, including those in residential neighborhoods, will only worsen if restricted routes are not designated. He added that some roads will have to be redone to handle the larger and heavier trucks that are using them. 8. REPORTS A. President of Council President Colón thanked those Council Members who supported his candidacy this evening. To those who did not, he said he hoped to maintain a good working relationship in the times ahead. B. Mayor Mayor Reynolds congratulated the three Council Members who were sworn in tonight. He said he looks forward to working with them. 9. NEW BUSINESS Ms. Wilhelm thanked all who came tonight and those who stated their support for candidates. She believes that Council had a choice of multiple members who could have served well. Bethlehem City Council Reorganizational Meeting 4 New Council January 2, 2024 10. BENEDICTION Father Andrew Gehringer, Holy Infancy Church, offered the Benediction. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m. ATTEST: Tad J. Miller City Clerk