March 8 was Fasnacht Day and March 9 was Ash Wednesday. But did you know that March 10 was Larry Krauter Day, at least in Bethlehem? Mayor John Callahan pulled rank to interrupt a meeting of the City's Planning Commission, and proclaim March 10 as Lawrence J. Krauter Day.After more than twenty years with Lehigh Valley International Airport, Krauter is resigning next week to become Executive Director of Spokane International Airport in Spokane, Washington. March 10 was Krauter's last day on the Christmas City's Planning Commission, which incidentally met for over three hours.
First appointed to the Planning Commission in 2003, Krauter has been Chair since 2009. Callahan talked about the long nights Krauter spent reviewing plans for the Sands Casino, LVIP, Majestic and the first complete review of the zoning ordinance since 1973.
"You can think of no other way to spend your day than here in the Planning Commission?" wisecracked Callahan. "I will grant you permission to extend it to some point into Friday." Getting a little more serious, Callahan said "The City of Bethlehem would do a lot better if we had a few more Larry Krauters."
Krauter, known for a gentle, thorough and inclusive style, thanked everyone, saying, "It really has been a privilege to serve such a fine group of citizens." For a few brief moments, he achieved rock star status as fellow planning commissioners and staff members scrambled to take photographs, heaping accolade after accolade. Even though he resigned as Chair last night, his colleagues insisted unanimously on naming him "Temporary Honorary Chair," a term they used repeatedly as the afternoon, and then evening, wore on.
Krauter was also given a painting of Bethlehem, neatly wrapped.
When they got back to business, Temporary Honorary Chairman Krauter lost his rock star status very quickly as his fellow Commissioners voted against him, 3-1, on an agenda item.
But he can keep the painting.
