005052026 Council

The City of Bethlehem Council held a meeting on May 6, 2026, primarily addressing community concerns and city governance issues. A significant portion of the meeting focused on a prolonged trash enforcement issue at a residential property on Eaton Avenue, where council members and city officials discussed the challenges of code enforcement, legal processes involving citations and magistrate hearings, and potential ordinance improvements to better manage trash violations. The council also reviewed and approved several use permit agreements for community events and passed resolutions related to property redevelopment, including a contentious Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition and new construction at 327 South New Street. Discussions included the difficulties in scheduling magistrate hearings, enforcement limitations, and the possibility of city-contracted trash removal for non-compliant properties. Traffic safety concerns and police department use of a gun range were also raised by residents. The meeting concluded with votes on grouped resolutions and appointments to city authorities.