BETHLEHEM TWP. (Pa.) As of Monday Bethlehem Township was no longer one the few local municipalities that does not have an environmental advisory council.
The Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the creation of such a council to provide advice to local government agencies on matters relating to the management, conservation, and use of natural resource.
Commissioner John Gallagher said that the commissioners had discussed the idea of a township environmental advisory council three years ago.
The commissioners mentioned convenience and necessity as well as public interests to create the council. This council will coordinate its activities, including with the Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners staff, the planning commission and other local government agencies.
Gallagher stated, “Having all the parts of the township government working together is invaluable.”
Gallagher pointed out that Bethlehem Township was among the few municipalities without an environmental advisory council prior to Monday night’s motion for approval.
The ordinance provides that the council has the power to:
- For the promotion and conservation and protection of the environment in Bethlehem Township, you can make recommendations for plans and programs.
- Recommend open land use within the township.
- Encourage a community-based environmental program.
- A list of all open areas, private or public, including flood-prone areas and other unique natural areas, should be kept for information purposes.
- In matters relating to agricultural preservation and open space, recreation, and conservation, advise the township planning board, recreation board, commissioners, as well as all other appointed bodies in township.
The council will be made up of nine residents from the township. This includes seven councilmembers who have the power to vote, one junior councilmember who is enrolled in high school and one associate councilmember who is enrolled in college or university. One adult representative who lives in a neighboring Northampton County municipality that is non-voting.
Gallagher stated that each member will bring their unique level of expertise to the table in terms of what areas should be studied.
The Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners is responsible for naming the chairperson among the voting councilmembers of this environmental advisory council.
The board will appoint the two councilmembers as well as the neighboring representative. Voting councilmembers will serve three-year terms. However, the ordinance notes that “The initial appointments shall not be made in a linear fashion so that the terms of approximately one third of the membership shall expire each of the years.”
Voting councilmembers’ terms will end on the first Monday in January after the expiration of their last year in office. Each of the three junior council members, the associate member and the neighboring representative will be elected for a term of one years.
The Councilmembers, along with the neighboring representative, will not receive any compensation for their services. However they may be reimbursed if they incur expenses while performing their duties.
The board may appropriate funds for council expenses from time to time. Appropriations can be spent for administrative, professional printing, clerical and engineering services as needed. Any portion of funds that are appropriated during a year may be placed in a conservation account, which can accumulate year to year or be expended at any time, according to the ordinance.
To start attracting interest, the commissioners will notify the public as soon as possible about the plans of the environmental advisory board.
Other business
The commissioners also discussed a need for a new emergency sign at the intersection of Ninth Street in the township.
The idea was first presented to the board in 2018, but it was put on hold until firefighters stepped in to support the new signal. As life returned to normalcy, COVID-19 regulations began easing.
The Piddock Company put the cost at approximately $225,000 in 2018. Monday’s meeting saw members of the board request an updated price quote and to begin applying for grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Fund.
Kevin Kalman, Fire Police Lieutenant explained that the new signal was designed to increase visibility when turning onto Freemansburg Avenue. He pointed out that the intersection is the best location in the township to access eastern and southern access for volunteers because it offers the best sight distance options.
Kalman said, “It is a tremendous resource,”
The signal would flash yellow and then change to a red light as emergency vehicles approached the area. This allowed them to safely enter the intersection.