435 Hamilton Street

Allentown, Pa. 18101

Allentown

Minutes - Final

City Council

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

6:00 PM

Council Chambers

Roll Call

7 -

Present:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Candida

Affa, and Santo Napoli

15-7711

Bill 46

AN ORDINANCE: Repealing and Replacing Chapter 27 DISCRIMINATION

AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION with updated provisions

expanding protected classes and prohibitions and establishing various

other regulations.

Affa, Gerlach, Hendricks, Mota, Napoli, Santos and Mr. Zucal

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 46 HRC.docx

Lehigh County DHR.pdf

City DHR Provisionsn.docx

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated good evening.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated good evening. This is a Special Meeting to

review Discrimination and Human Relations Legislation. He asked Mr.

Hanlon to do a Roll Call.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks thanked Mr. Hanlon and asked is there something who

would like to open or discuss.

Attorney Maria Montero stated that they usually allow the individual from

Council who presented the Ordinance to speak on it, if they would like to

start it off.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated ok, Ms. Gerlach.

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach stated yes, so when they passed the Resolution on

protecting members of the LBGTQ community, members of the community

came forth and suggested that they update the city's Human Relations

Ordinance so that it would be better reflective of 2025. It was suggested

that they look at the county's ordinance which is the most comprehensive

ordinance out there as a model to follow. She stated that is what is in front

of them and that is what they will be discussing tonight. A very

comprehensive ordinance that really looks at multi-facets of society and

different groups that definitely needs protection. She stated that she thinks

that they have Ms. Bradbury here, if anyone has questions because she

wrote the ordinance stating that I did not write the ordinance.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated before they go is it anybody on he dais that

wants to make any comments about it.

Mr. Santo Napoli asked do they know the last time that this was updated.

He stated that he remembers Ms. Bradbury mentioned.

Attorney Adam Rosenthal stated that he believes it was 2020, they were

working representatives with the PHRC. They made those amendments

back in 2020.

Mr. Santo Napoli stated amendments in 2020, but the actual legislation

was before that though.

Attorney Adam Rosenthal stated that the legislation was from 2002. The

city amended the protected class and in a few other sections in 2020.

Attorney Maria Montero stated to her knowledge, Allentown has had a

functioning Human Relations Commission since the 80s which had

investigations and had individuals that were employees so Allentown has

been on the cutting edge for Human Relations and this streamlining this

ordinance along with the county's. In fact, it is almost like a mirror of the

county's with a couple of added protections.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated ok.

Attorney Adam Rosenthal stated one correction. He stated just looking at

the Bill now. It was first introduced in 1963, amended in 2002 and then

amended again 2020. It has been here since 1963.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated ok, thank you and stated that he will open it up

to the public. He stated at this point if anybody wishes to speak to it. He

stated that he sees nobody. He stated to Ms. Bradbury if she wishes to

speak.

Ms. Liz Bradbury stated that she does. She stated that she is the author of

the Lehigh County Ordinance and very familiar with the Allentown

Ordinance because she served on the Human Relations Commission with

you for 15 years. She stated that she has already trained the Allentown

Human Relations Commission to understand investigations, but that was

based on their Ordinance. The current Ordinance. The Ordinance, the

Allentown Ordinance is very outdated. It was written in 1963. Most of the

Ordinance is the 1963 language. There are parts of it that are just not

applicable anymore and the additions happened through the years that

included things that happened federally and state, the Disability Act and

things like that that was put to it that was part of state and federal law, but

the addition of sexual orientation gender identity happened 23 years ago in

2002 and that is where it is now. They did make some changes to some of

the language. She stated it is a little bit of streamlining. They took some

protected classes out in 2020, but the Lehigh County Ordinance is the most

progressive in the state. It was vetted by the lawyers at Lehigh County and

it was also acknowledged by the state as being up to date and it includes

thing that are required by the federal government and it also has additional

protected classes that are happening in other parts in the state of

Pennsylvania. She asked if anybody had any questions about it. She

stated that she would be happy to answer.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if there were any questions.

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach thanked Ms. Bradbury for

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach thanked Ms. Bradbury for when you came here the last

time and bringing this forth. She stated that she doesn't think many of them

knew that our Ordinance was so out of date. She thanked Ms. Bradbury for

letting them know.

Ms. Liz Bradbury stated thank you very much.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated that he would ask from Council's Solicitor what

specific items would not be in ours now that would then be (inaudible).

Attorney Maria Montero stated that one of the items that was added was

and stated that she is going to get the exact language. She stated one

second. She stated that one of the items that was added was protecting

different ethnic hair stylings stating that was one of the things that she do

not believe was in the county ordinance, that is going to be added.

Mr. Liz Bradbury stated that it is actually in and actually it's a hair style and

natural hair as long as it does not affect the safety and performance of the

job. She stated that is called the Crown Act and actually in 25 full state

laws in the United States, not Pennsylvania. The Lehigh County Law does

cover that under the Gender Expression Section, but not as clearly as this

addition. She stated that is the only addition that goes beyond what Lehigh

County law. She stated that Lehigh County law kind of covers that. It pretty

much covers it, but this covers it more explicitly.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks thanked Ms. Bradbury.

Ms. Liz Bradbury stated you're welcome.

Attorney Maria Montero stated that is the only other addition.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated ok and asked if there were any other comments

or questions from his colleagues.

Mr. Santo Napoli stated that he would also like to thank Ms. Bradbury and

stated that he can't imagine doing his day job with 2002 standards. He

stated that this is well overdue and he appreciates all her help and helping

them get to this point.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks thanked Mr. Napoli and asked anyone from the public

wishes to make any comments. He stated seeing none and what they are

asking if this would be expanded to conclude those items that are within the

county ordinance.

Attorney Adam Rosenthal stated that this is a full repeal and replace of the

existing Ordinance. He stated that you are eliminating everything from the

previous Ordinance and voting on the new Ordinance to replace it.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated that the differences aren't that extensive. He

asked you have no concerns regarding this.

Attorney Adam Rosenthal stated that the differences are extensive, but it is

your legislative determination on this. He stated that he had proposed a

couple of tweaks to take some of the remaining county language out of it.

He stated that he doesn't know if Mr. Hanlon wants to deal with those.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that the proposed amendments has been

forwarded to Councilperson Gerlach.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that the proposed amendments has been

forwarded to Councilperson Gerlach.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that the proposed amendments has been

forwarded to Councilperson Gerlach.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that the proposed amendments has been

forwarded to Councilperson Gerlach.

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach stated that at the Council meeting, they can have a

conversation about them, but they are and if you look at your Agenda

maybe in preparation to the Council meeting you can see some of the

amendments. She stated that the amendments from her read of them and

Mr. Hanlon's explanation of them, they do appear to be kind of like house

cleaning amendments making sure that the language applies to Allentown

law and Allentown operations and not the county. She stated that if they

want, they could have that conversation now and then vote on the

amendments in Council. She asked if anyone has questions on the

amendments.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked does that matter, Clerk.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated they can at the Council meeting.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated at the Council meeting, ok. He asked if they

need a Motion to send it to the full Council meeting. He asked if he has a

Motion to do so.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated ok. This will move forward to the full Council

which will begin at 6:30 PM.

A motion was made by Ed Zucal, seconded by Ce-Ce Gerlach, that this Bill be

forwarded to the full Council.

7 -

Yes:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Candida

Affa, and Santo Napoli

Enactment No: 16140

ADJOURNED: 6:13 PM