Council approves housing‑authority appointment after member recuses amid ethics complaint

Allentown City Council voted to approve Resolution R32 to appoint an individual to the Allentown Housing Authority while Council Member Bender recused himself from the vote.

The measure was introduced for final passage and Bender said he would not participate because he is related to the appointee. During the public-comment period Betty Estelle Caller, who gave her address as 2212 West Tillman Street, urged council members to reject the appointment. Caller said the action “likely presents a conflict of interest or an appearance of impropriety under Pennsylvania's ethics act,” and added that the Allentown code of ethics bars officials from participating in decisions that affect an associate or family member.

Caller also highlighted recent campaign activity, saying councilmanic support for the mayor last year ‘appears to be quid pro quo,’ and asked the council to vote no to maintain public trust. The council proceeded with the vote while Bender stood aside; the clerk recorded the matter as approved with the recusal noted.

The meeting transcript does not record the appointee’s full name on the floor during R32, and the clerk’s verbal roll-call script recorded the recusal and affirmative votes; the public record for R32 should be consulted for the appointee’s identity and the official vote tally. The council took no further action on the ethics question during the meeting.