During Tuesday night’s Bethlehem City Council meeting, councilmembers discussed an ongoing criminal investigation involving former city employee Zachary Cole-Borghi, prompting debate over transparency and communication between the administration and council.
Cole-Borghi has been charged with more than 100 felony counts related to the alleged distribution of cocaine and marijuana, according to prosecutors. Authorities allege some of the activity occurred while he was employed by the city. He was held at Lehigh County Jail on $500,000 bail but has since posted bail.
He was first arrested last summer and charged with marijuana possession as part of an investigation into a multistate drug ring involving more than 40 other defendants.
Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said the investigation has involved multiple agencies, including those in Lehigh and Northampton counties, and has required extensive review of information.
Zachary Cole-Borghi will have a preliminary hearing as he faces more than 100 felony charges.
Kott also said investigators are examining whether Cole-Borghi, who was the city’s right-to-know officer, may have improperly accessed the city’s police records system without authorization.
Councilmember Bryan Callahan said council should have been notified earlier that an investigation was underway, even without specific details.
Council Solicitor Stephanie Steward noted the legal limits surrounding active investigations.
“At a bare minimum, the council should have been notified as an equal branch of government,” Callahan said. He said he had raised concerns at prior meetings about alleged unauthorized actions.
Zachary Cole Borghi was one of several defendants in a large-scale drug investigation involving Lehigh County’s 12th Investigating Grand Jury.
Mayor J. William Reynolds said his administration is notified of criminal investigations when charges are filed and that such matters are handled independently by law enforcement and the district attorney’s office.
“We don’t tell them anything. We stay out of their way and let them investigate whatever they think they need to investigate,” Reynolds said.
City Solicitor John Spirk said the city has been constrained by potential litigation involving the former employee and advised against discussing personnel matters publicly.
Councilmember Michael Colon said he was comfortable waiting until an investigation concludes before receiving more information.
“I don’t feel I’m entitled to know more than my position allows me to know,” Colon said.
Council President Rachel Leon said the actions of the former employee should not be seen as representative of the city as a whole.
“What he did is a reflection of himself and not the City of Bethlehem,” she said, noting the employee was terminated immediately.
Cole-Borghi has denied the allegations against him.