Council approves traffic-signal, concert contracts and budget supplements; several measures sent to committee

Allentown City Council on an evening agenda approved several contracts and budget measures, including a contract to add 11 intersections to the city—s traffic-signal system and a contract for concert programming at the Union Terrace Amphitheater.

The council authorized a contract labeled R-28 with Telco, Inc., to expand the traffic-signal system and provide pedestrian improvements. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote and recorded seven yes votes and no nays; the motion carried. The contract amount listed in the meeting packet was provided verbally during the meeting in unclear form and is recorded in the transcript as "1,000,672 hundred thousand $344.05" (transcript language unclear). The administration identified the work as the American Parkway traffic-signal improvement project and said the procurement followed a public bid process with one vendor recommended after one bid was rejected.

Council also approved R-29, a contract with ArtsQuest to lead a series of concert programs and market the Union Terrace Amphitheater. The procurement was awarded after one responsive proposal; council recorded seven yes votes and no nays.

On ordinances for final passage, the council approved Bill 12, which amends the 2024 general fund budget to add a supplemental appropriation of $963,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice JAG grant for the police department to reimburse new equipment. The council recorded six yes votes and no nays on final passage. The council also approved Bill 15, a $5,000 supplemental appropriation from the Pool and Hot Tub Foundation for the Step Into Swim program; that measure passed on recorded votes (six yes, no nays).

Councilors received multiple budget and committee reports and referred several introduced ordinances to committees. Council tabled resolution R-117 (a recommendation to stagger terms on the Police and Fire Civil Service Board) and returned it to the sponsoring committee for further review; the tabling motion passed by unanimous consent.

Votes at a glance - R-28 (contract with Telco, Inc., traffic-signal and pedestrian improvements): approved; roll call recorded seven yes, no nays (vote recorded by city clerk). Contract amount as read in the meeting transcript appears unclear; procurement described as bid #202505 American Parkway traffic-signal improvement project. - R-29 (contract with ArtsQuest for concert series coordination and management): approved; seven yes, no nays. - Bill 12 (final passage; supplemental appropriation of $963,000 from DOJ JAG grant to police): approved; recorded six yes, no nays. - Bill 15 (final passage; $5,000 from Pool and Hot Tub Foundation for Step Into Swim): approved; recorded six yes, no nays. - R-117 (resolution requesting staggering of Civil Service Board terms): tabled and sent back to the sponsor—s committee for ordinance-level review.

The council also introduced multiple capital and budget ordinances (Bills 17—21) for committee referral; those measures were not voted on at the meeting.

Council members and staff who spoke during the agenda items included Council President Hamlin; Council members Zukol (recorded as Zuko/Zukul in the transcript), Napoli, Moda, Santos, Gerlach and Hendricks; and procurement/administrative staff identified during presentations. The votes and tallies reported above reflect the roll-call language recorded by the city clerk during the meeting.