435 Hamilton Street

Allentown, Pa. 18101

Allentown

Minutes - Final

City Council

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Invocation:

6:30 PM

Council Chambers

Pledge to the Flag

Roll Call

7 -

Present:

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

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Courtesy of the Floor

Courtesy and Privilege of the Floor Rules

Ms. Dawn Godshall, Community Action Development Corporation, 523 N.

Seventh Street, talked about making decisions on ARPA funding and

investing $3 million for the youth in the city.

Mr. Don Ringer, 1801 Liberty Street, talked about the safety in the city. He

stated that the city of Allentown has one of the best parks systems in the

country. He congratulated Mr. Napoli.

Ms. Betty Cauler talked about the Allentown Parking Authority and looked

over the Administrative Code - Title 11, Member of the Board and made a

complaint stating it is a conflict of interest. She asked about the financial

records stating Allentown Parking Authority is a tax-exempt organization.

There are three members on the board of the Allentown Parking Authority

and makes it a conflict of interest. Who can change a street from parking

to no parking. How much do they give to the city?

Ms. Candida Affa stated that it is being addressed.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated that they are well aware of it. He suggested Ms.

Cauler come to Allentown Parking Authority meeting next Wednesday at

noon.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated to Ms. Cauler to go to the Allentown Parking

Authority meeting. Council needs to do something about this.

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach stated Dr. Mota, Julio was president when they initially

agreed to have that meeting. She asked for a goal to have the meeting.

Mr. Santo Napoli stated that at the Parking Authority they did speak on

having Parking Night in City Council Chambers quarterly. The pandemic

stopped everything. The Parking Authority created a dispatch line and had

15,000 calls last year.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated to Ms. Cauler that Council has her phone number

and all her information.

Mr. Jeffrey Glazier stated pretty close to zero.

Ms. Jessica Ortiz, 113 N. Ninth Street - Executive Director of Ortiz Ark,

stated that she is very supportive to a community center. She stated that

there has been a lot of money being disbursed for violence, for crime, and

the numbers continue to rise. She asked Council to look into when money

is disbursed and seeing if the work is being done.

Ms. Jean Raymond Hoffman, 219 N. Sixth Street, stated that she is here to

represent the Community Youth Center and Workforce Development for all

of us and our youth.

Mr. Craig Taylor, Coordinator for Urban Career Development Pathways,

spoke on what they can do for the youth and gave information on what is

already in existence.

Reorganization:

A. Election of the President and Vice President of Council

Council will elect a President and Vice President at its organizational meeting. The

President or Acting President will first take nominations from the floor for Council

President. Each Councilperson can only make one nomination. After the nominations

have been made by councilpersons, the President may offer a nomination. The

potential candidates shall be voted on as nominated. The first candidate to receive a

majority vote will become the President. The procedures will be the same for the

election of the Vice President. (30154 3/3/2021)

If a Councilperson is not able to attend such meeting, they may participate in the

election of the president by phone. (26643 10/21/92; 28613 8/5/09)

Council President

15-5592

Ms. Candida Affa nominated Daryl Hendricks for Council President.

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach nominated Cynthia Mota for Council President.

Vote on Daryl Hendricks as Council President

5 - Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, and Santo Napoli

2 - Ce-Ce Gerlach, and Natalie Santos

Yes:

No:

Mr. Daryl Hendricks nominated Cynthia Mota for Council Vice President.

15-5593

Vote on Cynthia Mota as Council Vice President

7 -

Yes:

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

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Mr. Daryl Hendricks commended his predecessors Ms. Mota and Mr. Zucal

for prepping the new administration on the importance of City Council. He

thanked his colleagues that voted for him tonight.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated that it was an honor to be the president and stated

that she learned a lot.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that she is so proud of Ms. Mota and a woman

and a Latina woman that worked hard. She stated that when Mr. Hendricks

was president before it was a tough time. He served during Covid. She

thanked Mr. Hendricks and the employees.

Contract Approvals: There are no contracts for approval.

Minutes of Previous Meeting: There are no minutes for approval.

Communications: NONE

Old Business: NONE

REPORTS

Confirmation Hearing: Council will conduct a confirmation hearing on January 25 to

act on the Mayor's nominee for the Parks and Recreation Director, the exact time to

be determined.

Special Meeting: Council will conduct a special meeting on February 8 on funding

related to the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Act. The specific time and

agenda is forthcoming.

Special Committee on Penalty Review (Gerlach, Santos, Zucal): The committee met

this evening; a future meeting has not yet been scheduled.

Budget and Finance: Acting Chair Hendricks, Santos

The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is not

yet scheduled. There are items that need to be addressed - a resolution related to an

audit, a bill modifying the language in the code relating to the payment of property

taxes to comply with PA Act 57, and a review of the monthly financials.

Community and Economic Development: Chair Gerlach, Mota

The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; there are no meetings

scheduled at this time.

Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Santos, Hendricks

The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; there are no future

meetings scheduled at this time.

Parks and Recreation: Chair Affa, Gerlach, Santos

The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; there are no future

meetings scheduled at this time

Public Safety: Chair Hendricks, Zucal, Affa

The Committee met this evening; a future meeting has not yet been scheduled.

Public Works: Chair Zucal, Affa, Hendricks

The Committee met this evening; a future meeting has not yet been scheduled.

The Committee

Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations, and Strategy: Chair Mota, Zucal,

Gerlach

The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; we will schedule a

meeting soon to deal with a number of items that have been referred to the

committee.

Controller's Report (3 minutes)

Mr. Jeffrey Glazier went over the Accounts Payable Weekly Check Review.

Mayor's Report (3 minutes)

None

15-5587

Controller's Reports

Attachments: Bank Rec Jan 11

Golf Course Inventory Jan 5

PCard Jan 3

AP Jan 5

ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):

CONSENT AGENDA: NONE

RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):

15-5566

R23

Authorizes a land swap of City-owned land along Pump Place Road to

401 N. Front St, LLC in exchange for the dedicated and opened land along

the eastern side of the Neuweiler Brewery lot, along the former railroad

tracks, for the continued use as a right-of-way for Riverside Drive at the

Waterfront.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R23 - Pump Place Land Swap

REPORT OF THE PROPERTY REVIEW COMMITTEE - Pump Place

ROW Land Swap (2)

Pump Place Park Land 12-1-22 (1)

Pump Place - 401 N. Front St. EXHIBIT B - Legal Description

Pump Place - 401. N Front St EXHIBIT A - Survey Map

Resolution #30577

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that it was sent favorably to Council.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if there were any comments from the dais or the

public.

7 -

Yes:

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

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Enactment No: 30577

15-5565

R24

Authorizes the Administration to Enter a Land Swap with the Allentown

Community Development Company to provide them with a second means

of ingress/egress to the Penn Square Flats development and will serve to

realign and improve existing access currently used by the City to access

utilities and drainage facilities, provide stormwater drainage access

needed by the City of Allentown’s Department of Public Works, and help

preserve the steep slopes along Constitution Drive.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R24 Allentown Community Development Company Land Swap

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that it was sent favorably.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if there were any comments from the dais or the

public.

7 -

Yes:

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

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Enactment No: 30578

15-5468

R26

Approves a Sister City relationship between the City of Allentown and

Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic

Mota, Affa, Hendricks, Napoli and Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R26 Sister City Santo Domingo Este Dominican Republic

Quick Guide to Establishing a Sister City Program Toolkit FINAL

Allentown PA - Tiberias Israel

Resolution #30579

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if there were any comments from the dais.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated that she would like her fellow members to support

this Resolution. The city already has three Sister Cities: Poland, France

and in 1977 Mayor Daddona named a City Sister of Tiberias. There are

over 20,000 Dominican people in the city of Allentown.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated recently Ms. Mota made a trip to the Dominican

Republic along with the mayor.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated that the Mayor from the Dominican Republic came

around two year's ago.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks wished them goodwill. He asked if there were any

comments from the public.

7 -

Yes:

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

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Enactment No: 30579

15-5575

R27

Approves two transfers placing money into the proper accounts per the

Controller: $9,600 transfer in Fire to place the funds for Samsara

Dashboard Access into a proper account; and $725,000 in Public Works

related to the garage - $500,000 from Account 46 to Account 42; and

$225,000 from Account 72 and 54. (The Samsara Dashboard GPS

Camera system is in the Fire Vehicles – the cost covers the licensing,

hardware, and support services. The City Controller wants the cost to be

taken out of the 46 account for all departments. The had it budgeted in the

42 account.)

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R27 Transfer Funds

Improper Budget Account for Dashboard Access

Money Being Transferred from Account 46 to Account 42 To Cover

Repairs to Vehicles by Outside Agencies

Resolution #30580

Money That Was Budgeted Was Allocated to the Incorrect Accounts

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if there were any comments from his colleagues

or the public.

7 -

Yes:

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

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Enactment No: 30580

15-5585

R28

Authorizes the Submission of the Formal Application to the Pennsylvania

Office of the Budget for a Grant of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) to

support the Resurrected Community Development Corporation Inc. with the

rehabilitation of early education facility.

Attachments: R28 Resurrected Community Development Corporation

Resolution #30581

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if there were any comments from his colleagues

or the public.

7 -

Yes:

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

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Enactment No: 30581

ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public

comment prior to referral): NONE

RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION (Can be voted on or Referred to Committee):

NONE

15-5580

R29

Denial of a Certificate of Appropriateness – 322 N. 8th Street

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R29 HARB DENIAL - 322 N 8th St

322 N 8th St Final Review

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if there were any comments from his

colleagues. He asked Ms. Kistler to address where this is.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that it will be referred to committee.

Ms. Vicky Kistler stated that it will be referred to for discussion.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks asked if there were any comments from the public.

REFERRED TO COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMITTEE

NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Cynthia Mota commended the police, EMS and other people that did

such a great job for the Trench Collapse Rescue. She stated that Mr. Zucal

was there.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated that this was the collapse just off of 15th Street

where the gentleman was trapped.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that before he was involved in police work, he spent

five years volunteered with EMS doing it as a living. He took many classes

from FEMA and they were told about cave collapses and trench rescues.

He watched what they were doing to shore the ground and taking your time.

He congratulated the rescue team.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated that the taxpayers should be well pleased by the

conduct and performance.

GOOD AND WELFARE: NONE

ADJOURNED: 7:20 PM