City reports: new officers, upcoming academy graduations, community events and temporary recycling-center closure

City administration told the Bethlehem City Council on June 3 that four new police officers have been hired: one officer is immediately entering service and three will attend the police academy. The administration said there are currently eight vacancies in the police department.

Officials also reported multiple fire department recruits at the academy with a graduation ceremony planned the following Friday and additional recruits entering a subsequent academy. The administration described efforts to recruit and graduate cadets as the primary constraint on fully-staffing public safety rosters.

In community announcements, the administration said the American Red Cross and the fire department installed 45 smoke detectors in 10 homes during a recent “Sound the Alarm” event, with eight additional homes requesting later appointments. The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission’s sculpture garden concert series and the Southside Film Festival were listed among upcoming events, and the Juneteenth flag raising will occur June 8 (flag to remain through June 22). The administration also reminded residents of a Great Southside sale and other neighborhood events.

The administration announced the recycling center will be closed for maintenance from June 16 through June 30, 2025, with work including electrical upgrades (single-phase to three-phase), a new transformer, fence and concrete repairs, asphalt work, painting and landscaping. Officials said the two-week closure is an estimate and that reopening could occur earlier depending on weather and progress.

All of these items were presented as informational reports; no formal council actions were taken on staffing levels, the recycling-center closure, or the community events during the meeting.