Bethlehem Council to Hold Last Meeting of 2025; Tax Rate, Liquor License Are on the Agenda, and an Elevator for Trinity Episcopal Church

Dec. 15, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Bethlehem City Council will hold its last meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, with a final vote due on next year’s budget.

Council will vote on several budget items, including the 2026 tax rate (unchanged). At the last Council meeting, there was discussion of moving money around or a $50 fee per student at Lehigh and Moravian universities, but Mayor J. William Reynolds’ proposal for no increase moved forward.

A final vote is set for Tuesday. The most-discussed budget issue was the number of firefighters. The Reynolds administration is awaiting results on a study of personnel needs, while the firefighters’ union has presented its own numbers.

One thing is not in dispute, the Bethlehem Fire Department is not fully staffed now. The administration says it is bringing in recruits, and it wants more information before making a decision on how many firefighters are needed.

The firefighters’ union says the city is growing, housing is becoming more vertical and that the current staffing is inadequate.

That issue might come up again tomorrow, but a majority of Council rejected budget amendments at the Dec. 4 meeting.

I reported on a similar dispute decades ago in Allentown, and there was a study. I don’t think anybody took it very seriously.

Risk will never be eliminated but the city has grown and more tall buildings are going up.

On the other hand, almost nobody wants taxes to go up. As the old saying goes, “Don’t tax you, don’t tax me, tax the fellow, behind the tree.” Over the years, I’ve seen people demanding spending on things they care about, and later objecting to tax increases.

Council will also vote on the transfer of a liquor license from 250 Line St., Easton, to 217 Broadway. Forza Corp. intends to operate a restaurant on Broadway. License transfers are usually routine.

Tuesday’s meeting will be the last for Council members Grace Crampsie Smith and Kiera Wilhelm. Their terms end at the start of 2026.

Council will also consider a plan by Trinity Episcopal Church, 38-44 E. Market St.,
to construct a new elevator and tower addition at the rear of the building.

The city’s Historical Architectural Review Board, aka HARB, has voted in favor of the plan, with some comments. HARB is an advisory board.

Otherwise the agenda looks pretty light. Still, in the Little Town of Bethlehem, one never knows when a group or individual might make an impassioned plea for peace somewhere in the world, or want to talk about religion, or seek money for a pet project.

Sometimes, the public comment portion of the meeting takes up more time than the actual city business. That’s democracy, like it or not.

Bethlehem City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Town Hall. Here is a link to the agenda, and below it a cut-and-paste version.

Agendas can change, so check the city website tomorrow before heading downtown.

BETHLEHEM CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2025 – 7:00 PM
TOWN HALL – 10 EAST CHURCH STREET – BETHLEHEM, PA

Pledge to the Flag

1. Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes – December 2, 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

5 A. Rescheduling Tuesday, January 6, 2026, City Council Meeting to Monday, January 5, 2026 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall

6. Communications 6 A. City Solicitor – Use Permit Agreement – ArtsQuest – 2025 Peepsfest
   6 B. City Solicitor – Use Permit Agreement – Touchstone – 2026 Use of Parham Park
   6 C. Director of Water and Sewer Resources – 2026 02 Operation of the East Allen Township Well Systems – K. L. Fulford Associates, Inc.
   6 D. Lahoud Law Group, PC – Request for Intermunicipal Liquor License Transfer – Forza Corporation for 217 Broadway, Bethlehem, Northampton County
7. Reports 7 A. President of Council
   7 B. Mayor
8. Ordinances for Final Passage
   8 A. Bill No. 47-2025 Adopt 2026 General Fund Budget
   8 B. Bill No. 48-2025 Adopt 2026 Water Fund Budget
   8 C. Bill No. 49-2025 Adopt 2026 Sewer Fund Budget

8 D. Bill No. 50-2025 Adopt 2026 Golf Course Enterprise Fund Budget
8 E. Bill No. 51-2025 Adopt 2026 Liquid Fuels Fund Budget
8 F. Bill No. 52-2025 Adopt 2026 Capital Budget for Non-Utilities
8 G. Bill No. 53-2025 Adopt 2026 Capital Budget for Water Utilities
8 H. Bill No. 54-2025 Adopt 2026 Capital Budget for Sewer Utilities
8 I. Bill No. 55-2025 Adopt 2026 Community Development Block Grant Budget
8 J. Bill No. 56-2025 Adopt 2026 Stormwater Fund Budget
8 K. Bill No. 57-2025 Adopt 2026 Fix 2026 Tax Rate for All City Purposes

9. New Ordinances — None
10. Resolutions A. Approve Use Permit Agreement – ArtsQuest – 2025 Peepsfest
    10 B. Approve Use Permit Agreement – Touchstone – 2026 Use of Parham Park
    10 C. Approve Resolution – 2026 02 Operation of the East Allen Township Well Systems – K. L. Fulford Associates, Inc.
    10 D. Approve Resolution – Certificate of Appropriateness – HARB – 38-44 East Market Street
    Adjournment