Bethlehem City Council to Hold Hearing on Allocation of Federal Dollars to City Needs, Private Organizations

June 30, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Bethlehem City Council will meet Tuesday to review plans for $1.84 million of federal funding.

The city’s 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation is $1.42 million and the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) grant is $418,000.

Here’s a link to Mayor J. William Reynolds’ recommendations for use of the money. Much will go directly to city needs, and some is recommended for private groups.

Among those groups up for CDBG money: Community Action Development Corp.; Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering; Hogar CREA; Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living; ShareCare Faith in Action; Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley; New Bethany, and North Penn Legal Services.

Holy Family Manor is listed but allotted zero dollars in 2025, but $75,000 under the “re-allocated prior year funding” column.

Most of the HOME money will go to city “affordable housing” opportunities, and Community Action Lehigh Valley will receive $62,578, if City Council approves the administration’s list.

The public hearing on use of CDBG and HOME money will be held at the start of the meeting Tuesday. It will be held before public comment, meaning somebody can attend the hearing without hearing an hour of pet peeves, concerns about the world and maybe some actual city concerns.

At the last Council meeting, there was a lot of discussion about immigration enforcement, which is actually a city issue, though it’s a federal issue too.

The meeting appears to be pretty light otherwise, with a lease of the golf course clubhouse grill up for renewal, but one never knows what people will decide to talk at length about.

Bethlehem City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 in Town Hall, the building on Church Street between City Hall and the Bethlehem Area Public Library.

See this link for the agenda. Please note, agendas are subject to change.

Here’s a cut-and-paste version of the agenda as presented Monday on the city website:

BETHLEHEM CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025 – 7:00 PM
TOWN HALL – 10 EAST CHURCH STREET – BETHLEHEM, PA

Pledge to the Flag

1. Roll Call

PUBLIC HEARING

Prior to the consideration of the regular Agenda items, City Council will conduct a Public Hearing as follows:
Public Hearing (01 PH) – Memo – 2025 CDBG/HOME Proposed Allocations; HUD Submissions
Public Hearing to allow DCED staff to present the City’s federal 2025 Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding recommendations to Council. Following the hearing, DCED will submit a proposed resolution for Council’s consideration that would approve the funding recommendations and submission of the City’s 2025 Annual Action Plan to HUD.

2. Approval of Minutes – June 17, 2025
3. Public Comment 3 A. On subjects not being voted on this evening – 5 Minute Time Limit
   3 B. On Ordinances and Resolutions being voted on this evening – 5 Minute Time Limit
4. Old Business 4 A. Old Business – Members of Council
   4 B. Tabled Items
   4 C. Unfinished Business
5. New Business
6. Communications 6 A. Business Administrator – Golf Course Clubhouse Grille LLC – Lease Agreement 2025
   6 B. Director of Financial Services – 2025 Memo Records Destruction – Financial Services
7. Reports 7 A. President of Council Police Pension Board Appeal Hearing

7 B.
7 C.

8. 
   Mayor
   Council – Chairpersons Reports
   Ordnances for Final Passage
   8 A.
   Bill No. 31-2025 – Trailer Mounted Leaf Collector – PA DEP Grant – Budget Adjustment –
   Non-Utility Capital Fund
   8 B. Bill No. 32-2025 – Electrical St. Lights Repair-Replace – Budget Adjustment – General Fund
9. 
   New Ordinances
   None.
   Resolutions
   10 A. Approve Resolution – Golf Course Clubhouse Grille LLC – Lease Agreement 2025
10. 
    Adjournment