Council approves Broad Street consultant contract, reappoints code board member and grants three historic-property COAs

The Bethlehem City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize a consultant contract for the Broad Street Corridor Improvements project, to reappoint a member of the Codes Board of Appeals and to grant three certificates of appropriateness for proposed exterior work at downtown properties.

The council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor, controller and other city officials as needed to execute agreements with Traffic Planning and Design Incorporated to provide engineering design, permitting and limited construction oversight for the Broad Street Corridor Improvements project. The contract cost is $977,318 and the completion deadline in the resolution is Dec. 31, 2029.

The council also reappointed Lee D. Cunningham to the Codes Board of Appeals for a term through January 2026 and approved the disposal of certain public records in the health bureau under the city's municipal records manual.

Why it matters: The Broad Street consultant contract moves forward a multi-year engineering and permitting phase for a corridor improvement project and formalizes the city's engagement with the selected consultant. Reappointments and certificates of appropriateness affect permitting and local historic-review processes that guide future downtown changes.

The vote tally was recorded aloud for each measure. For the Broad Street consultant contract (resolution 10a), council members recorded their votes in roll call: Miss Laird, Miss Leon, Mister Callahan, Miss Kwiatak and Mister Colon all voted "aye," and the resolution passed 5-0. The reappointment of Lee D. Cunningham (administrative order 25-2502) passed by the same 5-0 roll call. The resolution authorizing disposal of health-bureau records, also sponsored by Miss Wilhelm and Miss Leon, passed 5-0 on roll call. A group of three certificates of appropriateness (COAs) was considered together and granted on a 5-0 roll call.

Details of the COAs, as read into the record, are: - 476 North New Street: replace wood siding around the entire house, repaint the house and restore the porch facing North Street. - 79 West Market Street: install a 24-inch diameter double-sided sign attached to a scroll bracket. - 233 East Church Street: remove a decaying patio roof and replace it with a freestanding second-floor deck in the same footprint as the existing patio roof.

No council discussion was recorded that changed the motions or conditions placed on these approvals. A separate memorandum and proposed resolution from the deputy controller requesting destruction of controller's office records was announced and will be placed on the Feb. 4 council agenda for formal consideration.

Ending: With the votes concluded, President Colon closed the meeting by saying the agenda was complete and advising attendees to get home safely.