"User Friendly" Zoning Ordinance Will Hurt Bethlehem Architect

When introduced in May, Bethlehem Planning Bureau Director Darlene Heller claimed that at long last, the City would have an innovative and "user friendly" zoning ordinance. Friendly or not, the draft ordinance has undergone a barrage of criticism. On July 8, Heller presented the Planning Commission with a detailed, three-page, summary of complaints received at three recent public input meetings. A meeting with only two items on the agenda lasted two hours as residents continued to voice concerns.

Dennis Connell, a Bethlehem architect (for real), told planners he stands to lose several hundred thousand dollars at several properties he owns on North New Street, between North and Garrison Streets. Currently located in a Central Business District (CB), the new Zoning Ordinance will change this to a more restrictive Limited Commercial District (CL).

According to Connell, that will have a "heavy impact on the investment I've made in the downtown area." He explained that the value of his property will drop from $40 to $25 per square foot. "It's time to stand up and put my voice in the mix," he concluded.

Bethlehem resident Robert Pfenning questioned the real motivation for rezoning the southeast corner of Linden Street and Butztown Road from RS to the less restrictive RG, where some commercial uses are permitted as a special exception. "What's driving this?" he asked, pointing out the only property in that new district that is not fully developed is 2854 Linden St, which has been owned by Dino P. Cantelmi for the past nine years.

"It smacks of spot zoning to me," Pfenning suggested. Cantelmi is Mayor Callahan's brother-in-law.

Twice, in 2000 and 2009, Cantelmi tried, and failed, to obtain a use variance for a funeral home in this residential area. His latest proposal is Cantelmi Condominiums, which would entail demolishing Jiralanio's home and replacing it with 21 townhouses, complete with individual driveways and 51 parking spaces.

If rezoned, Cantelmi will be able to apply for a funeral home as a special exception.

Unswayed by the suggestion of favoritism, Heller had told planners earlier that "we're proposing that [a funeral home] continue to be a special exception in the RG district."

Feisty Sue Fang, currently embroiled in litigation with the ZHB over their decision to allow an expansion at Elias Farmers Market, told planners there are "too many loopholes" for nonconforming uses in zoning. But Planning Chair Lawrence Krauter gently suggested that the whole idea of the new zoning ordinance is to reduce those loopholes.

Heller told Krauter that "where appropriate, we will make changes." She also stated she'd like to cut off public comment at the end of July. Krauter suggested that when the ordinance is revised for those changes, he'd like to see another period of public comment.

Having attended the public input meetings himself, Krauter reported that "the flavor is that we don't want more commercial intrusion into residential areas." But he also agreed with Heller's assertion that "property should be zoned in keeping with the uses that are there."

Before it goes to City Council for review, the Zoning Ordinance must first be endorsed by the Planning Commission. But the timing is open. "We really have no schedule," explained Heller.

Did Callahan Just Throw Cunningham Under the Bus?

They've been called, both disparagingly and with admiration, the young Turks. Bethlehem's former and current Mayor, Don Cunningham and John Callahan, are political allies and friends.

Morning Call columnist Bill White ranks Cunningham #1 among the last three mayors for each of the LV's cities. "He has demonstrated himself to be a prudent manager of public money, a very good ceremonial mayor and a tough adversary when confronted with opposition. He's a forward thinker who knows how to sell what he wants. Most significantly, he began the process of bringing Bethlehem back from the hole it faced with Bethlehem Steel's collapse."

But in a June 17 fundraising letter, Callahan is now telling everyone that Bethlehem was a mess when he took over. “When I became mayor our city was faced with a lot of challenges. Bethlehem Steel had shut down, leaving a huge hole in our economy and our tax base. Jobs were lost, crime and debt were up and our spirit was bent (but not broken).”

Interesting. Bethlehem Steel ended hot-end steel production in Bethlehem in 1995, three years before John Callahan became a City Council member.

Cunningham’s biography, on the Lehigh County Website, tells us this about his stewardship as Bethlehem City Mayor between 1998 and 2003:

“Don is best known as the former mayor of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he led the economic renaissance of Bethlehem from a city that lost nearly 25 percent of its tax base with the closing of Bethlehem Steel Corp. to the city today with two flourishing downtown retail districts and $2 billion in new investment.”

He's claiming now that debt was up when he took over as Bethlehem's Mayor, but in 2005, Callahan himself told the Morning Call that Cunningham had reduced Bethlehem's debt by $67 million, from $339 million to $272 million. (1)

“John Callahan will say anything to get elected, and now he’s even contradicting himself at the expense of his political ally to beef up his resume,” said Shawn Millan, campaign manager, Charlie Dent for Congress.



1. “Callahan refutes claims on predecessor's record ** He says Cunningham, running for Lehigh executive, cut debt,” Dan Hartzell Of The Morning Call. Oct 27, 2005

Bethlehem Paves Paradise to Put Up a Parking Lot

Bethlehem's next Mayor, Karen Dolan, was a lone voice in the wilderness Tuesday night, the only City Council member who had the sense to vote against a $380,000 project for eight angle parking spaces on Main Street. This project is on the Lehigh Valley's prettiest street, near Hotel Bethlehem and the Moravian Book shop.

In an excellent editorial, The Express Times condemns this misadventure, mainly because the Christmas City will be destroying what sets it apart - its rich history. Looks like there are archaeological artifacts right where they plan to dig.

Oopsie.

Al Bernotas, a fixture at Bethlehem meetings who may have come with the furniture, has forwarded me emails of several people who attended City Council on Tuesday night. They belong to some mass email list. Although I feel comfortable publishing their remarks, I will keep their identity confidential because I had no time to contact them.

Email #1:

The bizarre thing about this meeting is that it was so completely obvious that they needed to take some time to re-evaluate the situation following all the 'new' information presented by Lanie Graf of the Moravian Archives. [Of course, Gordon Mowrer could have been expected to know much of this, but he seemed more interested in peddling copies of his book.]

I suppose it's no shock that the City made no effort to consult the Archives when they first considered the project, but for them to get it this far without any thoughtful process is at least a little surprising. They pushed this like they do so many other things -- with hyped up estimates of benefits, 'hearsay' testimony about all the people who support it, and a careful process of concealing the facts. They got around CDBG requirements by adding a handicap parking space, despite the fact that the first two spaces in the adjacent Hotel Bethlehem lot are also handicap spaces and that the two existing handicap spaces on Main Street are often not used.

We've gotten used to thoughtless and irresponsible action by this administration and council, but I was surprised that everyone was so blind that they went ahead even after several people pointed out that this would be a repeat of the root cellars destroyed to build Moravian College's new HILL building.

Karen Dolan made a motion to put the CDBG money in a holding account until the site could be evaluated, but the motion failed to get a second. [We didn't expect any thoughtful action from people like Willy Reynolds, but even Jean Belinski, normally a supporter of preservation, remained silent.]

The big surprise of the evening came after the meeting when Bruce Haines, Managing Partner of the Hotel Bethlehem, withdrew his & the hotel's support and said that the historical features were much more important than a few parking spaces.

The only way to stop this now is to get them to slow down long enough to get someone on council to bring it up for reconsideration. In reality, someone should get a restraining order to prevent irreversible damage and loss, but I don't think anyone has the courage to do that and earn the wrath of the administration.

Email #2:

Hip-hip-hooray for the Express-Times!

It's about time that our city government listen to the people, the ones who make Bethlehem the special place that it's become. Tuesday night, assistant Moravian archivist Lanie Graf mentioned the chipping away that was going on in Bethlehem. It's exasperating when a city government that is growing more out of touch with its constituency can't see what is happening, yet many of us can.

The most telling moment came when Historic Hotel Bethlehem managing partner Bruce Haines reversed his initial support for the project, giving way to the newly revealed knowledge of potential archaeological resources at the site.

And, there is the fact that this knowledge only came to light recently, which raises these two additional questions: first, who is doing the city's homework when it comes to advancing a public project in such an historically sensitive area; and second, if city officials had any inkling of this information, why have they been ignoring it? If the later is the case, it raises substantial concerns about the qualifications and intentions of those in our local government who are minding the store, so to speak. They are certainly not operating in the city's best interests!

NorCo Dem Election - The Sequel

"Excuse me, are you the gentleman who writes those stories on the Internet?" politely asked a sweet old lady.

"Why yes I am," I replied, thinking she might be another one of those blogger groupies who constantly hound me for my autograph.

"I just want you to know that you're a disgusting piece of shit. You, and that Charlie Dent!" she told me, as her eyes morphed red and her head started spinning around her shoulders.

I dodged the pea soup.

That's actually how several mindless lever pullers reacted to me last night. I was sitting inside Majestic Courtroom 1, along with well over a hundred other people, waiting for Northampton County Democratic Committee Reorganization - The Sequel. Let me tell you the story.

Walt Garvin, aka Wally G, has already been elected once as Dem chair. On June 17, he edged out reformer Michael Laws in a narrow, 42-40 victory. But Democrats being Democrats, and worse yet, Democrats led by Joe "Bossman" Long, they managed to screw it up. They really tried, but conducted a secret ballot election in violation of state by-laws that require each ballot to be signed to prevent committeeman fraud.

Who knew?

Well, that set the stage for last night's sequel. Being a duly elected committeeman from Nazareth, where I won an overwhelming mandate with one write-in vote, I arrived early to watch people trickle in on one of the hottest days of the year. It's perhaps one of the few times when I get to see other people dressed worse than me.

Garvin, dressed for success, gladhanded people as they walked in the door. And there was quite the crowd. After ignoring his County Council job for the past six weeks, Lamont McClure found the time for last night's election. He had a happy reunion with his former Council colleague, Charles "don't call me Charlie" Dertinger. Unsuccessful County Council candidate Lorraine Pasquale was there, too, sporting her Capri pants. They revealed what was either a serious leg wound or one of the worst tattoos I've ever seen. Then some Bethlehem dude was prancing around in flip flops and what was either a very wrinkled kilt or some kind of skirt.

But the strangest outfit I saw was the yellow T-shirt being modeled by a John Callahan supporter. Emblazoned in black lettering are the words, "Callahan the Run." I was told the Callahan model was none other than his campaign manager, Justin Schall.

What's up with that? Who the hell wears a frickin' yellow T-shirt? And what message is he trying to send? That Callahan is yellow? Brilliant campaign strategy.

He and some other Callahan staffers sat alone in the jury box, too important to actually talk to the little people.

When the show finally started, ex-Chairman Joe demonstrated his transparency right off the bat. He tried, and failed, to prevent me from filming the event. Then, before doing anything else, he tried to have me thrown off the committee because I do support nearly as many Republicans as Democrats. That brought a round of applause from the LongDems and other mindless lever pullers like Mike Fleck, who was sporting his new summer buzzcut. Then some Pakistani dude from Bethlehem, in a thick accent, called me a spy. I think he wanted to have me stoned or beheaded or something, maybe with a nice video to accompany it.

Fortunately, the meeting was being chaired by State Rep. Joe Brennan, imported from Lehigh County because we can't seem to do anything right. Better yet, Joe was lucky to have the able assistance of State Rep. Bob Freeman, who was acting as Parliamentarian.

Everybody was offering "Points of Order" to give Dertinger and McClure time to find a nice length of rope. But Brennan and Freeman did something very odd in a meeting of LongDems. They let me speak. I'm not entirely sure what the hell I said, but that brought a round of applause, too. I think I said I'd like to bring Ron Angle and Charlie Dent in to speak as character witnesses. I'd say it was still about 70-30 against me, but I might make it out alive.

Freeman put it best when he said, "I think we go down a dangerous path when we cherry pick who we go after for not supporting the party."

In the end, everyone agreed with a Joe Welsh compromise under which my vote would be sequestered and placed in several sealed envelopes for examination by forensic experts at the state party level.

Because everyone had to sign for their ballot, and then sign the ballot itself, voting got downright tedious and the meeting lasted until 10 PM.

After all the ballots were cast, they were publicly counted, one by one. Several people died. When the vote had Garvin and Laws at a 39-39 tie, Brennan wisecracked, "This meeting is now adjourned." But it continued, and the final tally was Walt Garvin over Michael Laws, 46-41.

Peace.

My vote, had it been counted, would never have affected the outcome. Now I did vote for Laws, but was really tempted to do a write-in for Ron Angle.

The Express Times Sarah Cassi was there, and has a more objective account than this. She kept moving away from me for some reason. But Northampton County Exec John Stoffa came over. I thought he'd have some noble words of encouragement, something to lift me up.

"You know, you'd screw up a church picnic," is all he said.

Israeli Soldiers Just Want to Have Fun

Gotta' hand it to the Israelis. You don't mess with the Zohan.

Hazleton's 15.6% Unemployment is Highest in Pa.

The Bridge Doctor Speaks

In June, I told you that Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham plans to replace the aging Reading Road bridge, a beautiful, stone-arched and county-owned bridge located in Allentown. As darkness follows the light, Allentown curmudgeon Michael Molovinsky followed my post with one of his own, complaining that Cunningham's bridge replacement program is just more "political patter."

Thirteen people might disagree with Molovinsky, but we won't be hearing from them. They died when the Mississippi River Bridge collapsed in 2008.

I digress. Let's stick to this bridge.

Molovinsky tells us that the Reading Road bridge is in "excellent condition" and he even confirmed that with someone who used to work in Allentown's engineering department. Because it's a stone arch bridge, he also claims it's historically significant. "When you replace a historic bridge which doesn't need replacing, you're stealing our culture," he says.

Michael talks like that.

I figured I should warn someone that Cunningham is stealing our culture, and was eventually put in touch with the "bridge doctor," Glenn Solt. His official title is Capital Projects Manager.

Solt was surprised to learn the bridge is in "excellent condition." "It was built for horses and wagons, not automobiles," he told me. The bridge only has a three-ton carrying capacity, far from today's standards. Twenty-six hundred cars and trucks ride over it every day. No buggies, except when those damn Mennonites are cruisin'.

But it's a stone arch bridge. Doesn't that mean something, Glenn? Solt told me that the County does try to preserve small stone arch bridges with minimal traffic. "They are nice-looking bridges," he admitted. But like a pretty woman, they are also high maintenance. "It becomes impractical to spend the kind of money you need to spend to take care of these bridges." It is also a false beauty. "The stone you see is 1 foot thick. Then they fill it in with crap."

An exterior of stone, filled in with crap? I dated her.

But what about the Allentown engineering department? Molovinsky relies on some mysterious soul who used to work there. Well, Allentown does not own the Reading Road bridge. But they do own a downstream bridge on nearby Union Street, and Solt tells me they intend to replace it soon.

What about that pedestrian walkway? Molovinsky claims it needs a coat of paint. Solt tells me the new bridge will accommodate pedestrians. The pedestrian walkway will be torn down.

Solt is backed up by National Bridges, which rates the bridge as "functionally obsolete." Its sufficiency rating is just 20.6%.

Instead of "political patter," Solt is actually doing his job. "It's what we're supposed to do with the public's money - take care of their roads. You can't get from place to place without that kind of infrastructure."

Northampton County's Real Estate Market Remains Unhealthy

Northampton County's real estate market is depressed, having declined forty-six per cent over the past five years (2005-2009). In the first two months of this year, things actually got worse. February was the worst month on record for actual deed transfers since 1983. But there were modest increases in March (10%) and April (6%) over the same periods last year. In May, there was a 21% explosion, probably the result of an $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.

In order to take advantage of that tax credit, a buyer must have entered into a binding contract by April 30, 2010, and has until the end of September to settle. According to Northampton County's real estate records, there were 626 deeds transferred in June. Although that's still 7.2% better than the same period in 2009, it's also an indication that the positive effects of that tax credit are coming to an end.

Last month is still 25% below the average June over the past ten years. Also, 33 of the 626 deeds recorded, or 5.3%, are the result of mortgage foreclosures, revealing that President Obama's foreclosure relief plan, however well-intentioned, has been a disaster. I've previously told you that 129 properties are scheduled for Sheriff Sale this coming Friday, a new County record.

Here's the raw data: June 2010 - 626 deeds; June 2009 - 584 Deeds; June 2008 - 607 Deeds; June 2007 - 808 Deeds; June 2006 - 1,083 Deeds; June 2005 - 1,013 Deeds; June 2004 - 1,041 Deeds; May 2002 - 776 Deeds; May 2001 - 835 Deeds.

Congressman Dent to Host Saturday Job Fair

What: U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) will host a Job Fair geared towards connecting local employers with prospective employees of all levels of experience, training, and education. There will also be informative, skill-building services available for attendees, including resume writing assistance and interview advice. The Job Fair is free and open to anyone in search of new or better employment. Additional information about the event will be posted on the Congressman’s website:

When: Saturday, July 10, 2010

10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Where: Northampton Community College (NCC)
Spartan Center Gym
3835 Green Pond Road
Bethlehem, PA 18020

Press Availability: Respecting the privacy of attendees, cameras will not be permitted inside the Spartan Center Gym while the event is in progress. Instead, members of the media will have an opportunity to film the site and participating employers’ displays from 9:15 to 9:45 AM. Congressman Dent will be on hand at this time for interviews.

Reading Eagle Closes Door on Web Comments

From the Editor's Notebook: "We continued to see personal attacks, including many that were racial, sexual and hateful. Some people even posed as others and tried to make it look as if they were writing things they weren't. It may be a game for them, but it's not for those who are the targets of those nasty comments."

Dent: Afghanistan is America's War, Not Obama's War

What national leaders are unwilling to say publicly is that, if we leave, we make it that much easier for the Taliban and Al Qaeda to destabilize Pakistan and grab the nukes there. Then we'll have problems that will make 9/11 seem like a church picnic.

RNC Chair Michael Steele, unable to open his mouth without inserting a foot in it, has chosen to politicize this admittedly unpopular conflict, calling it "a war of Obama's choosing". He adds, "[T]he one thing you don't do is engage in a land war in Afghanistan."

LV Congrssman Charlie Dent has just issued a statement siding with President Obama over his own party chair.

“First, the United States was attacked by Al Qaeda on September 11, 2001, with aid and sanctuary provided by the Afghan Taliban, the governing coalition of Afghanistan at the time. These facts are irrefutable and led to America's military involvement in Afghanistan. Any suggestion that America's role in the region was motivated by some other purpose must be corrected immediately.

"Second, this war is America's war, not President Obama's war. To suggest otherwise is simply unfair and incorrect.

"American and allied troops are engaged in an ongoing struggle to ensure that radical, Islamist extremists may never launch future attacks on our homeland or find aid, comfort and sanctuary in Afghanistan.

"During this critical transition of military command, it is essential and imperative that Congress demonstrate resolve and show solidarity with the troops, their new Commander, General David Petraeus, and their mission.”

Did Woodchuckers Steal American Flag From Irving Park?

As newspaper reporters become more scarce, we can be thankful that citizen activists like Dennis Pearson pick up the slack, "sounding forth the trumpet that never sounded retreat." President of the East Allentown - Rittersville Neighborhood Association, he can be counted on for regular newsletters about developments in the Queen City's 14th & 15th wards. Here's the latest.

American Flag Missing from Irving Park

"Who took the flag off the flagpole at Irving Pole ... I trust no city employee took it down on orders of their superiors ... This is America. The flag ought to be flied on a municipal flag pole, especially on the weekend we celebrabrate our independence... I trust the flag wasn't removed by a neighbor offended that the American flag was flying."

"The neighborhood association provided the flag, and not the city .... It is actually a flag donated to us by a neighbor .. A flag that was on the casket of her deceased U.S. Military veteran husband."

(Since he was in a casket, I sure hope her husband was deceased.)

Personally, I suspect those Lehigh Valley Woodchuckers, a local gang that gets all hopped up on scrapple and then tosses boomerangs all over Irving Park.

Irving Street Swimming Pool Closed on July 4 Weekend

"And why was the Irving street Swimming Pool closed for The July 4 weekend? ... Is there a problem with the pool? ... Or is it another sign of a bankrupt city trying to save money? .... We won't accept any close down like occurred many years at Roosevelt Park ...That time ... employees at Mack Pool got out of line ... And were let go ... But that pool did not close ... Roosevelt did --- The employees from there were transferred to Mack.

"Remember there are no other swimming pools in East Allentown, and Jordan is on 6th Street, not even in Dieruff High School attendance area."

Dennis tells me the pool opened late yesterday. He also reports being hassled last week at the U.S. border because he was a lone individual traveling with an east coast license plate. Wait 'till he tries to fly somewhere.

Dent on Loss of 125,000 Jobs in June

From LV Congressman Charlie Dent:

"Naturally, I am disappointed to learn 125,000 Americans lost their jobs in the month of June and only 83,000 new positions were created in the private sector. Sadly, these figures continue to illustrate that the so-called Stimulus bill failed to achieve its primary objective of creating private sector jobs and advancing economic growth.

"Furthermore, this new data reinforces my concern that the agenda advanced by Washington is limiting the capacity of businesses to grow. While employers of all sizes beseech Congress and the Administration to help reinvigorate the economy, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi continues to push anti-growth legislation that imposes higher taxes, increases energy costs, implements excessive regulations and costly mandates, limits access to much-needed credit and dramatically inflates government spending. This is certainly not a formula for fostering job creation.

"While I am disappointed by these figures, it is important that we redouble our efforts to help people find jobs in our region. Later this month, I will be hosting a Job Fair that will feature over 50 local employers eager to connect with job seekers in the 15th District. The event, which is free to the public, will also include helpful workshops on writing resumes, improving interview skills and starting a small business. Anyone interested in learning more about the Job Fair should visit my website: http://dent.house.gov/.”

Congressman Dent was among 270 members of the House who voted on Friday to extend unemployment compensation benefits until November.

The Senate went home to celebrate American independence.

Palmyra July 4 Fireworks Gone Awry

Are We Really in a Depression?

Amazingly, a British paper does a nice job putting everything together.

Dennis Lieb: The Case Against Marcellus Shale

Armstrong: Recovery Summer or Season of Deception?

Lehigh Valley conservative and Allentown Commentator publisher, Scott Armstrong, is at it again. In an Independence Day mini-essay, he shares his iconoclastic views.

Is Allentown a microcosm of the nation? Consider this; Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s fiscal shenanigans of reckless spending, increased debt and bureaucratic expansion have driven Allentown to the point of fiscal insolvency; now, President Barack Obama in a short eighteen months threatens to do the same to the nation through similar actions. Both leaders have exhibited a similar penchant for dismissing criticism and discrediting critics, and both also share the calamitous combination of hubris and incompetence. Now, in the heat of the summer we see Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and President Barack Obama attempting to deceive their electorates by spinning the canard that the dire circumstances confronting the city and the nation would be worse if it were not for them. The audacity of these claims serves to demonstrate Ed and Barack’s contempt for the public’s intellect. While plebeians are left to stare nervously into the abyss of another economic downturn many are coming to the realization that their emperors wear no clothes.

Both leaders, however, continue to maintain a supreme belief in themselves in spite of economic forecasts that show little reason for confidence. They and their dwindling number of true believers are the only ones who would believe the deception of “HOPE.” Ed Pawlowski has in all likelihood damaged Allentown past the point of any real salvation; now, the other politician who hails from the windy city is doing the same to the nation. Proud of their achievement and accumulated power both men expect the public to buy the bilge of a “Recovery Summer.”

Topton Mom Explains How Bicycle Helmet Saved Her Life

Norco Council on Dual Office Holders, Webcasting & Bottled Water

"This is an opportunity to clear things up that have already been heavily covered in the media."

That's the justification Council member Tom Dietrich offered for a proposed amendment to Northampton County's Home Rule Charter at Council's July 1 meeting. It would bar all County elected officials from holding any other elective office, paid or unpaid.

Dietrich was referring to a June 4 decision by Senior Judge Franciosa, barring Council President Ron Angle from serving simultaneously on Bangor's school board. Angle resigned his unpaid school board position, but has since appealed Franciosa's decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on June 14.

A Home Rule Charter amendment must be approved by referendum, and Dietrich explained this would allow the people to speak.

"The people have spoken, but the people's voice was usurped. The very thing you talk about is the very thing that has been diminished," responded Council member Bruce Gilbert, noting that Angle was elected to both his Council and school board seats.

Council member Michael Dowd, stating he "would rather wait until the Court decides this," persuaded Council to table the matter, 6-2. Only Dietrich and Council VP John Cusick opposed Dowd's table motion.

After the vote, Angle told his colleagues, "Had this passed tonight, it would not be on the ballot. [County Executive] Stoffa told me he would veto it. He served on a school board, and told me he sees no conflict."

In other business, Council member Ann McHale proposed that they start webcasting all committee meetings, as well as the Gaming Authority and other boards. Council's regular meetings have been webcast since January, and they can be viewed on the County web page. McHale said these additional meetings could be broadcast at a very minimal cost, which was music to the ears of legislators worried about a tax hike next year.

"I think it's a terrific idea," replied Council member Michael Dowd. He and McHale were the prime moving forces behind Council webcasts.

"It's proof people have no life," joked Council President Ron Angle. Council took no formal vote, but their consensus was "Cameras, Lights, Action."

Council also briefly touched on some cost-saving measures. At a June 30 Finance Committee hearing, they were given the sobering news that the County is heading toward a twenty per cent tax hike next year unless drastic measures are taken to make up a $16 million shortfall.

One of those drastic measures is a hiring freeze, announced by County Executive John Stoffa last week. His goal is to eliminate 100 County jobs by the end of the year. He opposes lay-offs, which would be costly to a County that is self-insured for unemployment compensation. He is instead trying to reach that goal by attrition. He's well on his way, too. Director of Administration John Conklin told Council there are already 89 vacant slots.

But in addition to these drastic cuts, Council is also looking at small ways to find $16 million for next year. That even extends to bottled water, supplied at taxpayer expense to some offices at the Courthouse. Angle estimates the County could save $5,000 annually by stopping this practice, noting that's why there's water fountains.

"You ever taste Easton water?" asked Council member Ann McHale, who lives in Bethlehem.

"Easton has the best-tasting water in the Lehigh Valley," replied Council member Mike Dowd, who lives in Easton.

"Second only to New York," added Council member Tom Dietrich, who lives with Big Apple commuters in Hellertown.

Where's Lamont?

If Northampton County Councilman Lamont McClure were playing baseball, he'd be called out by now. He's missed three consecutive County Council meetings (June 3, June 17, July 1) over the past six weeks. He's also missed all committee meetings over that time.

According to Council Clerk Frank Flisser, McClure called before the July 1 meeting to report he is on vacation, but gave no explanation for his absences on June 3 and June 17. Council President Ron Angle told The Bethlehem Press he has heard nothing from McClure, whose district includes Bethlehem and Lower Saucon Townships.

Under the County's Home Rule Charter, Council can remove absent members, but only after a member has continuously missed six months of meetings.

9:00 AM Update: Mr. McClure's law office confirms he is on vacation this week. He missed Council's June 3 meeting because of business travel.