Council orders downtown sidewalk inspection and advances lamppost funding discussions

Council members and city staff agreed to inspect downtown sidewalks after council members and at least one councilor raised concerns about deteriorating brick and slate walkways in Bethlehem’s historic business district.

"I've already asked engineering to inspect the sidewalks downtown, identify areas of safety concerns so we can sit down and look and see what we may do," said Michael Alkal, public works director. He said property owners would be notified if repairs were needed and that quick fixes would be evaluated separately from larger projects.

Council members debated whether the city should require or encourage property owners to replace historic slate or brick with modern stamped concrete or other uniform materials. Staff noted the city has historically sought to preserve the historic aesthetics downtown and that permit requests for standard concrete have not been approved in the past. Council members also warned cost-sharing programs can stall when property owners do not pay assessments, creating enforcement or lien situations.

Mayor Reynolds said the city had located funding to purchase new, heavier lampposts that would allow the downtown to safely hang decorations and that an announcement about the funding source should be possible "in the next couple weeks." He and council members said the Downtown Bethlehem Association (DBA) has not agreed on keeping decorative lights on year round; the DBA did not reach consensus at recent meetings about the proposal.

The council asked engineering to prioritize identifying immediate safety hazards downtown and to report back; enforcement and property-owner notifications were presented as the preferred path for longer-term repairs rather than the city replacing privately maintained sidewalks by default. No new citywide sidewalk policy or ordinance was approved at the meeting.