Late last month, I told you that Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan was trying to squeeze Hector Nemes out as Executive Director at the Bethlehem Parking Authority. According to today's Express Times, it's happened.Callahan and Nemes have been butting heads over numerous issues that essentially boil down to control. Callahan thinks he should be calling the shots. For example, Callahan wants to double meter rates, but Nemes has resisted.
What's leaking out with Nemes' departure are questions concerning the Bethlehem Parking Authority's 2009 decision to purchase the parking deck behind the Main Street Commons, a decision opposed by Nemes..
The property was purchased from cash-strapped Lou Pektor. According to Northampton County assessment records, the property was sold to Bethlehem Parking Authority in 2009 for $1.6 million. But what has some City insiders concerned is a pre-purchase appraisal, valuing the property for much less than what was ultimately paid. Some say it only appraised at $600,000.
Callahan was able to persuade board members to go along with what might be a sweetheart deal. Chairman Joe Hoffmeier is a Callahan acolyte who contributed $1,000 to the Mayor's congressional quest. Vice Chair Dino P. Cantelmi just happens to be the Mayor's brother-in-law, and is the very person who crashed into a Bethlehem police cruiser nearly four years ago. He sent an officer to the hospital with negligible legal consequences and no publicity. Board member Michael D. Recchiuti is running for City Council and is reputedly a member of the "better than you" crowd after Council meetings.
At the time of the sale, Pektor was given a 20-year lease for an undisclosed number of parking spots, with an option to extend for another 20.
Pennoni Associates was hired to do the renovations, might be over budget.
I have filed a Right to Know Request to look at the records, and will be there Monday.
Interestingly, Pennoni just happens to be the outfit doing Northampton County's parking deck. It bid $1.7 million, and currently is somewhere around $500,000 over budget. "Whenever there's a government project, we get waxed up," complained NorCo Council Prez Ron Angle. Looks like Bethlehem is getting waxed up, too.
Pennoni employees contributed $7,500 to Callahan in his failed Congressional bid.
