435 Hamilton Street  
Allentown, Pa. 18101  
Allentown  
Minutes - Final  
Public Works Committee  
Wednesday, January 29, 2025  
5:30 PM  
Council Chambers  
Roll Call:Chair Zucal, Gerlach, Affa  
15-7437  
Bill 1  
Amending the 2024 Liquid Fuels Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of  
Five Hundred Sixty-Seven Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty-One Dollars and  
Thirty-One Cents ($567,951.31) from the unappropriated balance of the  
General Fund. The reason for this transfer is due to an audit that was  
conducted on the Liquid Fuels funding from 2016-2020. During that audit, a  
finding was presented that paving of more than one inch had to get prior  
approval from the Department of Transportation, and that was not done.  
This was not found in previous audits and corrected once we were made  
aware.  
Attachments: Bill 1 Liquid Fuels Transfer  
Ordinance #16095.pdf  
Mr. Mark Shahda stated good evening and thank you. He stated that this  
transfer is necessary due to an audit of the city's Liquid Fuels Fund  
covering the years of 2016 through 2020. He stated during that audit of the  
funding stating that anytime we pave a street with an inch or more of black  
top, they must obtain prior approval from the department of transportation.  
At no point, the previous audit was this issue was ever raised or brought to  
our attention. It wasn't until February 2024 that the state informed them that  
they were not in compliance. As a result, the city is required to reimburse  
the Liquid Fuels Account of $1.7 million from the General Fund. He stated  
that once they became aware of this, they worked with the state to set up a  
repayment plan. The state agreed to allowed the city to make three  
payments of $567,000 over the next three years. These funds are not  
going back to the stated,but they are being put back into our Liquor Fuels  
Fund where they can use that funding for future projects.  
Mr. Ed Zucal asked if there were any questions from the dais.  
Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated that he has one. He asked what was the depth  
they were using to pave.  
Mr. Mark Shahda stated that they were paving on average an inch and a  
half to two inches. He stated that the state unfortunately failed to notify the  
city is the past that anytime they layover an inch of material, they have to  
obtain approval from PennDot. He stated that once they were made aware  
of that then that is when they came up with the new process.  
Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if they will be able to use this going forward then  
for other projects.  
Mr. Mark Shahda stated that is correct  
Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated not losing it totally.  
Mr. Mark Shahda stated that they are not losing it or not giving it back to the  
state. He stated that this will go back to the Liquid Fuels Account and we  
will be able to use that funding for future projects.  
Mr. Daryl Hendricks thanked Mr. Shahda.  
Mr. Ed Zucal asked if there were any comments from the public.  
A motion was made by Candida Affa, seconded by Ce-Ce Gerlach, that this Bill is  
forwarded to the full Council.  
3 - Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach and Candida Affa  
Yes:  
15-7445  
Bill 8  
Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an increase of  
Three Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($325,000) to the newly  
created capital account for the design of the traffic signal upgrades at 17th  
and Linden Street, 17th and Turner Street, 17th and Chew Street, and 17th  
and Walnut Street intersections. This project is part of the Pennsylvania  
Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal  
Transportation Fund Grant (MTF-DCED) that the City was awarded. This  
will fund the design for upgrades to the four intersections on 17th Street.  
The City was awarded $250,000 as part of the MTF-DCED grant that is  
reimbursable, and the $75,000 is considered the City’s match that is  
required per the grant agreement.  
Attachments: Bill 8 - MTF-DCED 17th Street  
Ordinance #16101.pdf  
Mr. Mark Shahda stated that this is a $250,000 MTF-DCED grant that they  
received. This grant here will cover the cost of the design to upgrade the  
intersections at 17th and Chew, 17th and Turner, 17th and Linden, and  
17th and Walnut. These upgrades will provide pedestrian safety  
improvements, along with transportation improvements at these  
intersections.  
Mr. Ed Zucal stated that he understands to get the $250,000, the city has to  
give $75,000 back, right.  
Mr. Mark Shahda stated that is correct. He stated that is our match  
portion. He stated alright, any questions from the committee.  
Ms. Candida Affa asked is this just traffic tickets.  
Mr. Mark Shahda stated traffic signals, handicapped ramps, and also  
pedestrian countdown equipment.  
Mr. Ed Zucal asked anybody else. He asked anybody else on Council. He  
asked if there was anybody from the public.  
A motion was made by Candida Affa, seconded by Ce-Ce Gerlach, that this Bill is  
forwarded to the full Council.  
3 - Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach and Candida Affa  
Yes:  
Adjournment: 5:34 PM