Who’s running in the crowded race for Bethlehem City Council?

May 13-- May 13--At least one new face is guaranteed to join Bethlehem City Council next year because one of the incumbents isn't seeking a second term.

The race will likely be decided in the crowded Democratic primary race because no Republicans filed to run on the ballot for the four $7,100-a-year seats up for election.

Voters will have to choose three people from among these Democrats for four-year seats: Councilwoman Paige Van Wirt, a physician; Councilman J. William Reynolds, a teacher; Councilman Michael Colon, an admissions counselor at Northampton County's Gracedale Nursing home; Carol Ritter, a small business consultant; and David Saltzer, a retired city fire fighter.

For a two-year seat, voters have to choose one of these three Democrats: Ashley Daubert, a registered nurse; Grace Crampsie Smith, a school counselor; and Will Carpenter, a businessman.

The next council will be faced with approving the budget, which is now at $78 million, and an annual real estate tax rate, which now costs the average property owner $911. Bethlehem continues to face ongoing redevelopment issues, from pockets of property idle since Bethlehem Steel shut down to sleepy downtown stretches like where the Boyd Theatre use to draw crowds on Broad Street. Meanwhile, the city is expected to welcome a corporate citizen when Wind Creek Hospitality closes a $1.3 billion to buy the Sands Casino and a larger presence of Lehigh University, which is expanding as it steps up student enrollment. Meanwhile, the city is in the midst of major projects to renovate its golf course and build a new Memorial Pool.

The Morning Call asked each of the candidates three questions. Here's a run-down of their answers by ballot order:

Four-year seat [pick three]

Michael G. Colon, incumbent

Q: The bonds in Tax Increment Financing District come due next year, meaning the city will have about $1,456,000 in additional tax revenue for its General Fund in 2021. What will your priorities be for that money?

A: City Hall is operating with the lowest number of employees anyone can remember yet personnel costs are the biggest cost driver in the city's annual budget. In 2014, about $48 million were dedicated to personnel costs for our municipal operations. In 2019, personnel costs account for about $58.5 million dollars in the budget. In recent years positions have been cut (full-time at the golf course), departments consolidated (parks and public works), and our 911 center being merged with Northampton County (due to an end in funding from Harrisburg). We've also seen incremental tax increases to help cover these rising costs. I would like to see the new money coming in from the TIF go towards helping to cover the rising personnel costs to cover our staffing needs throughout City Hall. The City prides itself in delivering quality services and this money can be used to maintain the number of the individuals delivering those services.

Q: Has the city struck the right balance between preservation and future development needs? Should City Council amend any the local historic laws

A: I think the City does a good job in balancing history with development. Within a few blocks in south Bethlehem, someone can walk past The Factory, a business incubator in a completely renovated large industrial building; The National Museum of Industrial History which repurposed a former Bethlehem Steel building; and both the SteelStacks and Hoover-Mason Trestle on the ArtsQuest campus which are major tourist attractions. While we may see some some changes to familiar buildings I feel we can, are, and must continue to pay respect to our history as we keep building a Post-Steel Bethlehem. I have no proposals to amend existing laws.

Q: Please identify what your top priority will be in office. Please be specific as possible as to what ordinance you would propose or funding you would request in order to accomplish that goal.

A: If elected for a second term I will continue to weigh how council and the city's impact our budget. Decisions regarding hiring, development projects, new programs/initiatives, etc. all have a budgetary implication on City Hall's operations. The greatest concern I hear from the community is to keep taxes stable. During my first term I have supported small tax increases to allow us to effectively maintain and deliver services to the public. If elected for a second term I will continue to consider how our decisions will impact future budgets to allow for quality services to be delivered while keeping our taxes stable.

J. William Reynolds, incumbent

Q: The bonds in Tax Increment Financing District come due next year, meaning the city will have about $1,456,000 in additional tax revenue for its General Fund in 2021. What will your priorities be for that money?

A: The most responsible and realistic way to answer this question is to stay it can't be answered until the 2021 financial picture is clear. If the 1.4 million turns out to be money that is not allocated to current financial obligations, it should be invested in public safety, our neighborhood initiatives, our recreational opportunities, and making our city more sustainable. The first priority, however, is always making sure that we are paying for the employees who keep our streets safe and deliver the basic city services that we value.

Q: Has the city struck the right balance between preservation and future development needs? Should City Council amend any the local historic laws.

A: Bethlehem is a special community partly because of our history. The city of Bethlehem has been effective in preserving that history while also allowing for economic and job growth driven by the private sector. The city should consider becoming more aggressive in buying underutilized properties and thereby having more control of the redevelopment process. While the city would not become the land developer itself, selling properties with conditions would increase the probability that the final redevelopment project would balance the needs and priorities of our community.

Q: Please identify what your top priority will be in office. Please be specific as possible as to what ordinance you would propose or funding you would request in order to accomplish that goal.

A: My biggest priority will be continuing to work on the initiatives that were included in my Bethlehem 2017 framework including our Climate Action Plan and our NorthSide 2027 neighborhood revitalization plans. Our Climate Action Plan will not require substantial new revenue to implement. Our Climate Action Plan will, however, rely on policy changes to improve our sustainability, community wide educational approaches and strategies, and careful long-term city planning. NorthSide 2027 priorities will be funded through a variety of sources including state and federal grant funding as well as current budget allocations including recreation and infrastructure budgetary line items.

Carol Ritter

Q: The bonds in Tax Increment Financing District come due next year, meaning the city will have about $1,456,000 in additional tax revenue for its General Fund in 2021. What will your priorities be for that money?

A: With the expiration of the Tax Increment Financing District, the first thing we need to do is bolster the General Fund. Low taxes help homeowners and businesses alike. Recurrent revenue like this should be used first and foremost to prevent real estate tax increases.

Q: Has the city struck the right balance between preservation and future development needs? Should City Council amend any the local historic laws.

A:--Historic preservation may have challenges, however, in Bethlehem, we have found a way to make it work for everyone. Not all old buildings need be saved. We need to allow new construction, particularly residential and office construction around our two downtowns. Preservation should occur when it makes sense. Newer construction can be far more energy efficient and bring more climate friendly buildings into our city which is important, too. Changes in the economy bring changes to the city, and I encourage smart adaptive reuse of buildings. History should be preserved, not nostalgia and there is a difference. I would focus on keeping taxes in check and ensuring our city services remain strong.

Q: Please identify what your top priority will be in office. Please be specific as possible as to what ordinance you would propose or funding you would request in order to accomplish that goal.

A: I would focus on keeping taxes in check while ensuring our city services remain strong. I believe the quality of life enjoyed in Bethlehem is a priority to the citizens including not only city services, but public safety, job opportunities, quality housing, recreational space, clean water and a clean environment.

Paige Van Wirt, incumbent

Q: The bonds in Tax Increment Financing District come due next year, meaning the city will have about $1,456,000 in additional tax revenue for its General Fund in 2021. What will your priorities be for that money?

A: A) Strengthen our central business district by taking CRIZ acreage not being used at Martin Tower (48 acres) and place them, in total, over our two downtowns. I would use $500,000 of the surplus to fund a 5-year small business assistance office to help our local small businesses access the benefits of the CRIZ; this would allow for both rehab of existing buildings and new construction of infill buildings to encourage the retail health of our downtowns. B) $500,000 to establish a grant program for homeowners to repair or replace sidewalks. C) $500,000 to anchor an affordable housing grant program, which would include changes to our zoning code to incentivize affordable housing development

Q: Has the city struck the right balance between preservation and future development needs? Should City Council amend any the local historic laws.

A: The tension that exists now between our historic character and development is not whether we develop or not, but how we ensure our character is maintained while we welcome new development. In previous years, we have allowed development that builds first, and then comes back later and asks for forgiveness for breaking the rules. Rules, such as zoning, historic commission guidelines and our comprehensive plan are standards that create the shape and character of our city. It is up to council to ensure that our standards are applied consistently and evenly to all projects, so that Bethlehem retains its historic character while at the same time welcoming development that is appropriate in scale and context.

Q: Please identify what your top priority will be in office. Please be specific as possible as to what ordinance you would propose or funding you would request in order to accomplish that goal.

A: Affordability is one of the biggest priorities for Bethlehem citizens, and thus for me: how does the local government budget tax dollars for impactful city services? How do we ensure that taxes don't increase as our infrastructure ages, our pensions are due and health care costs continue to increase? How do our citizens afford to live in our city? One way: build the tax base -- encourage development in our downtowns. Attract new citizens and businesses via quality of life and walkability. See Answer #1. Second way: sensible spending; this provides for resiliency in stressed times. Adequately fund pension obligations to avoid tax increases. Thoroughly vet authority-requested General Obligation bonds. Third way: don't build new city-owned infrastructure that isn't absolutely necessary due to legacy costs- infrastructure we will be obligated to maintain with tax dollars many years into the future. Anticipate and budget for ongoing maintenance and repair of our current infrastructure. Fourth way: encourage development of affordable housing by emphasizing inclusionary zoning, and change our zoning code in targeted areas to make it easier for developers to build affordable units. See Answer #1.

David A. Saltzer

Q: The bonds in Tax Increment Financing District come due next year, meaning the city will have about $1,456,000 in additional tax revenue for its General Fund in 2021. What will your priorities be for that money?

A: The impending sale of the casino and the host fee questions are still being discussed. How will we make up the that deficit if taken away or something fails? There are contract arbitrations with the unions still in litigation with no end of the contract term, so you may have three contracts to negotiate with the FOP, the IAFF and the SEIU in 2021. Health care costs continue to rise and fall each year, and being that the city is self-insured there could be a shortfall. In an ideal situation, some of the money should go toward debt, some reinvested back into the city streets and parks, and possibly to the citizens in a form of property tax deductions. I feel we should place priority on a strategic plan for allocating these monies after the 2020 budget comes out, which is the end of the mayor's five-year plan.

Q: Has the city struck the right balance between preservation and future development needs? Should City Council amend any the local historic laws.

A: In regard to Martin Tower and the Boyd, the buildings were left dormant and not maintained, and they are at the point where we must say goodbye. However, we have the opportunity to construct a once in a lifetime project that will be remembered in the city for a very long time. After the recent presentation of the Martin Tower proposal, we saw that most people want something better--something breathtaking--and the plan that was presented was neither of those. We have historic laws for a reason, to maintain the great history, look, and feel of this historic city. We have seen through public discussion that we want a fair balance between economic construction and land preservation, and we need to work together, and also with the committees of the city and the developers, to come to the common goal that satisfies all parties.

Q: Please identify what your top priority will be in office. Please be specific as possible as to what ordinance you would propose or funding you would request in order to accomplish that goal.

A: My first and foremost goal as a Bethlehem City Council member would be to make Bethlehem a safe city for our residents, visitors and employees. I feel that we need to do everything in our power to make sure that everyone is safe and goes home at the end of the day. This is the true motto of public safety workers- everyone goes home. In order to do these things, we can look at the COPS grants and the SAFER grants to help offset the salary costs of putting more police and firefighters on the streets. We can continue to utilize state and federal grants to purchase updated and new equipment for both public safety and streets/parks departments, so they have the equipment to complete the jobs that need to be done in safe and timely manner. We can continue to group projects together to get better pricing from vendors and shop them around as well.

Two-year Bethlehem City Council seat [Pick one]

Grace Crampsie Smith

Q: The bonds in Tax Increment Financing District come due next year, meaning the city will have about $1,456,000 in additional tax revenue for its General Fund in 2021. What will your priorities be for that money?

A: My first priority is to assure rising costs related to personnel, such as health care, are met as these costs make up the majority of the city's budget. I would also earmark these additional funds for infrastructure, specifically roads, to adequately support needs in accordance with ongoing rapid development. I would advocate for continued and enhanced initiatives for housing that is affordable and suitable like the partnership between the Community Action Development Corp. of Bethlehem and the city that restored homes on the South Side. Assuring our community members have housing that is affordable and suitable promotes stronger, safer neighborhoods, which benefits the community at large.

Q: Has the city struck the right balance between preservation and future development needs? Should City Council amend any the local historic laws.

A: Bethlehem has a unique heritage that makes it a world-class destination for tourists and an amazing place to live. Consideration of Bethlehem's Historic District as a World Heritage Site in contention with UNESCO sites such as Yellowstone National Park, Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty is an honor that should be embraced because it will have tremendous economic advantages, as well as aesthetic ones. As we continue along our path of rapid development, we must assure that history is aligned properly with our future, as we put forth efforts to preserve when economically and environmentally feasible. Relative to current historic laws, it is important that those appointed to boards responsible for the enforcement of such laws are objective, pragmatic, and considerate of the balance of preservation and progress.

Q: Please identify what your top priority will be in office. Please be specific as possible as to what ordinance you would propose or funding you would request in order to accomplish that goal.

A: Assuring the health, safety, and well-being of ALL citizens must be top priority. As a school counselor, I have seen a significant increase in the number of families facing homelessness and transient housing. This is a direct result of the lack of housing that is affordable throughout our country and within our communities such as Bethlehem. To address this issue, I would propose developing a task force of public and private entities and would pursue grants as well as public and private resources. I also would address the need to update and maintain our infrastructure, specifically our roads, and would earmark additional tax revenues for this initiative.

Will Carpenter

Q: The bonds in Tax Increment Financing District come due next year, meaning the city will have about $1,456,000 in additional tax revenue for its General Fund in 2021. What will your priorities be for that money?

A: I believe the primary function of city government is to provide public safety and build and maintain the infrastructure needed to serve its citizens within each year's standard operating budget with minimum taxation. I am disappointed to learn that the "windfall" Bethlehem is receiving from the anticipated casino transfer fee will not provide us the opportunity to further enhance our city in some new way but instead is needed for basic street repair and public safety that should be covered by our annual budget. Therefore I would support allocating the TIF revenue to public works and safety to prevent further deferment of our primary obligations and enable us to leverage future "windfall" events to advance our great city and its citizens.

Q: Has the city struck the right balance between preservation and future development needs? Should City Council amend any the local historic laws.

A: First, I am grateful for the vision and strength of past leaders who paved the path to make our unique history an integral part of our prospering city and our bright future. However, there is no single answer or criterion to keep our city special and attract investment. Not everything can or should be saved, so we need our current city leadership to articulate an overall vision so we can evaluate how each project fits within that vision. We must look to our professional planners and our historic review boards to provide guidance and context for these important decisions.

Q: Please identify what your top priority will be in office. Please be specific as possible as to what ordinance you would propose or funding you would request in order to accomplish that goal.

A: As a new member to Council my first priority will be to listen and learn. I would like to know what each of the incumbent council members has learned, what they are working on, and what I can support. My criteria for support will be: Is this consistent with the Climate Action Plan? Is this the best option for our current taxpayers? Will it protect and hopefully improve our water and poor air quality? What has been the community input and what concerns have been raised? What opportunities does this create for our skilled labor force? What impact will this have on our budget and taxes now and in the future?

Ashley Daubert

Did not respond to questionaire

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