BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bethlehem City Council on Tuesday heard pushback from residents on 10th Avenue who say they are being billed for alleged damage to street curbs caused by utility upgrades.
Residents said they are not looking for special treatment but are unsure why they are being asked to pay for curb work.
“We are struggling to understand why 10th Avenue is being held to a higher standard than our neighbors,” resident Stephanie Szabo said.
The utility company in question, UGI Utilities, funds some street overlay work as a consequence of its projects, City Council member Hillary Kwiatek said.
According to Michael Alkhal, director of Public Works and city engineer, curb work would not be included in that cost-sharing arrangement, but curb ramps would be.
Curbs, he said, were not anticipated to be impacted by the work. If damage occurred, Alkhal said the utility company is “supposed to make it whole and repair curbs.”
Previous reports have shown some damage to the curbs that predates project work, he explained.
He said his office has reached out to the company in writing to determine the extent of the impact and whether compensation was offered for any damage.
“If they made promises to residents, we would help the residents pursue UGI to make good on their promises,” Alkhal said.
He also encouraged homeowners to provide the city with any communications from the company “so that we can pursue it, allow us to validate claims and insist UGI follow through.”
For his part, Council member Bryan Callahan asked that reported collection efforts by the city for repair costs cease while the matter is investigated.
“(I) don’t want (residents) pressured into feeling they’re going to be punished for not doing something they may not be responsible for,” Callahan said.
Alkhal said his department has “indicated a willingness to try to accommodate as much as possible and try to work through this.”
“I’m not saying that UGI didn’t create any damage at all, but previous damage was noted among the curbing on that street,” he said.
Representatives from the utility company were not present at Tuesday’s meeting for comment.
In other business, the City Council approved a certificate of appropriateness for a three-and-a-half-story mixed-use building at 330 E. Fourth St.
The building will include four residential units and one commercial space. The owner-applicant is listed as Nabila Youssef/Factory39.
According to Historic Officer Jeffrey Long, the structure would measure 35 feet wide, 56.5 feet deep and 40 feet high at its tallest point.
Officials have said the building is larger than the two-and-a-half-story historic structures along East Fourth Street.
The Historic Conservation Commission also approved a certificate of appropriateness, or COA, for the project. The commission reviews proposed exterior changes, demolitions and new construction within Bethlehem’s South Bethlehem and Mount Airy historic districts. It makes recommendations on COAs, which are then forwarded to City Council for final approval. Projects requiring a COA generally cannot move forward until the council acts on the commission’s recommendation.
In other business, Council President Rachel Leon announced she will not attend the next two to four meetings because of health issues. Vice President Colleen Laird will serve as chair during her absence.
“I appreciate all of your patience as I recover and I hope to be back soon,” Leon said.
Council also approved a resolution hiring Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc. to design improvements to Bernie Fritz, Madison and Clearview parks.
Council member Jo Daniels raised questions about equity and improvements in city parks, referring to a “gap” among them.
In response, Collins said the parks plan is designed to examine the city’s park networks and create equity both within and among them.
She said the city focused on geographic diversity and selecting projects that could have an early impact for the current contract.
Alkhal said plans for the parks will still undergo a period of community input.
Collins said no dollar amounts have been locked in for specific parks at this planning stage.
Laird said she would like to see the plans reviewed by the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee, of which she is a member.
“This project has been near and dear to my heart … It’s great to see it coming to life,” she said.