— Editor’s note: between a recent vacation and a double root canal, I’m a little behind on municipal items. This meeting will be 4 hours and 45 minutes after I post this.
March 16, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bethlehem Township’s Board of Commissioners will discuss safety improvements at the intersection of Highfield Drive and Nazareth Pike, according to tonight’s agenda.
Here’s the item:
DISCUSSION ITEM
P. Nazareth Pike at Highfield Drive Safety Improvements
That intersection is just north of the Bethlehem Square shopping center and just south of the intersection with Route 22. It’s a difficult left turn, whether going east onto Highfield, or left out of Highfield. Across the street is a car wash, and then McDonald’s.
Now for the disclaimer. Some people call it Linden Street, some people call it Nazareth Pike and many know it as Route 191. In the 1980s when I worked at the Bethlehem Globe-Times, an old man used to call and yell whenever we used the wrong terminology. I am now that old man, but slightly more accommodating.
Call it what you want. I don’t care.
The intersections and businesses make for a lot of turning and trying to thread the traffic needle. I’ve seen a few accidents at Highfield over the years and more at Route 22 intersection.
I’d rank that as the worst Route 22 intersection in the Lehigh Valley, though 13th Street in Easton is up there too.
An item that was discussed and then “tabled,” or not voted on, is also on tonight’s agenda: installing a license-plate reader. I’m not sure what if any action may be taken tonight.
If installed, the plate reader would be on a traffic light owned by the township on Freemansburg Avenue and Route 33, an always busy intersection, but this is Bethlehem Township, so most big-road intersections are busy.
Here’s the item:
A motion approving an access and hold harmless indemnification agreement between
Bethlehem Township and Northampton County for the purpose of attaching an Automated
License Plate Reader Camera to a traffic signal pole.
License-plate readers help solve crimes. They also raise civil liberties issues. We will see what stance Bethlehem Township takes.
The Jaindl plan for 227 homes on Steuben Road will be discussed in the context of sewer service. That will be a presentation, no action for tonight is indicated.
The Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. tonight, Monday, March 16, at the municipal building, 4225 Easton Ave. The meeting is also available via zoom. See the township website for a link and the complete agenda.
Here’s a cut-and-paste version of the agenda, without all the details of each item. Those are on the township website.
BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
MARCH 16, 2026
7:00 P.M.
AGENDA
- CALL TO ORDER
- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
- COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
Public comments on non-agenda items should be made during Courtesy of the Floor at the
beginning of the meeting. Public comments on agenda items should wait until that specific item is
reached on the agenda. A 3-5-minute time limit on each speaker may be considered and voted on
by the board at the beginning of meetings with large attendance. - APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Regular Public Meeting – February 16, 2026
B. Regular Public Meeting – March 2, 2026 - PRESENTATION
C. Sanitary Sewer Service Request: Lower Nazareth Township, Jaindl Steuben Road
Development, 227 Residential Units – Steve Hunsberger, Managing Agent, BTMA - SUBDIVISIONS & LAND DEVELOPMENT
D. Resolution R029-26 granting conditional site plan approval for parking lot improvements
of the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School.
E. A motion to authorize the township manager to move the proposed general zoning text
amendment for adoption, and authorize advertisement of a public hearing related hereto. - RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
F. Resolution R028-26 authorizing a Community Project Fund grant application.
G. Resolution R030-26 appointing a member to the Bethlehem Township Recreation
Commission.
H. Resolution R031-26 authorizing the township manager to utilize Municibid on-line
government auction service for the sale of township-owned personal property. - MOTIONS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
I. A motion approving an access and hold harmless indemnification agreement between
Bethlehem Township and Northampton County for the purpose of attaching an Automated
License Plate Reader Camera to a traffic signal pole. (Tabled)
J. A motion to accept a proposal from Whitestone Associates, Inc. to conduct a hazardous
building materials survey for the Archibald Johnston Mansion Site Improvements. (Tabled) - PURCHASE ORDER, BILL AND CHECK REGISTER APPROVAL
K. Bill Agenda of March 11, 2026.
L. Purchase Orders - PO 20260497 – Metz Amusements & Conc. LLC – BTCC – $2,972.00
- PO 20260502 – Amusement Restoration Co., LLC – BTCC – $2,500.00
- PO 20260518 – Signal Service Inc. – BTPD – $3,972.16
- PO 20260519 – TransEdge Truck Centers – PW – $6,391.71
- PO 20260520 – North East Parts Group – PW – $2,184.67
- PO 20260521 – Associated Fasteners – PW – $2,537.30
- PO 20260522 – Trius Inc. – PW – $3,118.22
- PO 20260523 – Dale Koehler & Sons Farm – PW – $10,054.80
- PO 20260524 – M&J Outdoor Service – PW – $16,587.00
- PO 20260590 – First Responder Chaplain Corps – BTPD – $10,000.00
- PO 20260596 – Industrial Communications – BTPD – $38,671.50
- PO 20260597 – Advantage Sport & Fitness – BTCC – $6,999.00
- PO 20260607 – Singer Equipment Co. – PW – $7,618.01
- PO 20260608 – George Ely Associates, Inc. – PW – $2,133.00
- PO 20260609 – Industrial Communications – BTPD – $9,300.75
- APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT
M. Treasurer’s Report of February 28, 2026. - ZONING HEARING BOARD MEETING
N. Meeting of March 25, 2026 - MONTHLY REPORTS
O. Finance Department – Director Andrew Freda
Community Center – Director Jackie Bittel
Community Development Department – Director Samantha Smith
Police Department – Chief Gregory Gottschall
Public Works Department – Director Richard Kanaskie
Physical Plant and Information Services Department – Director Matt Miranda - DISCUSSION ITEM
P. Nazareth Pike at Highfield Drive Safety Improvements - ADJOURNMENT
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 