Michael D’Amore, Ph.D., President Allentown City Council Peter Schweyer, Vice President 435 Hamilton Street W. Michael Donovan Jeanette Eichenwald Allentown, Pa. 18101 Julio A. Guridy Phone: 610.437.7539 Ray O’Connell Mike Schlossberg AllentownPa.Gov COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES July 20, 2011 COUNCIL CHAMBERS COUNCIL MEETING - 7:30 PM 1. Invocation: Ray O’Connell 2. Pledge to the Flag 3. Roll Call: D’Amore, Donovan, Eichenwald, Guridy, O’Connell, Schlossberg and Schweyer were present. Dale Wiles represented for Solicitor’s office. 4. Courtesy of the Floor Mr. Hershman asked about the unanswered questions about the wage taxes. He stated that the city does not come up with documentation for the people on the wage tax. He stated that voters of Allentown need to put a petition together and throw this out. He stated that they need to come out with the Arena. Where is the 130 acres, how will it be financed and how is the progress. He stated that Council are homeowners like he is and they should have received a letter from Berkheimer for school real estate taxes. How did Berkheimer become the collector of real estate taxes? The City of Allentown was the tax collector and it paid for the crossing guards. Who made the decision that Berkheimer collect the taxes. Mr. D’Amore stated that Mr. Donovan will respond to you. Mr. Donovan stated that his comments will be during the Budget and Finance committee and asked him to wait on those answers. He stated that like Mr. Hershman, he has been asking about the arena and he was told that a variety of information is coming together and he and the public will be briefed real soon. On the collection, he turned to Mr. Bennington and stated that it was news to him. Mr. Hershman stated that when he was Controller, he signed the contracts. Mr. Bennington stated that it is not totally correct. The City of Allentown was collecting real estate taxes for the Allentown school district and was being paid a minimal amount to do that and it was not cost effective and they turned it back to the Allentown School District to collect those taxes which Berkheimer is their tax collector. He stated that the City of Allentown was not paying the school crossing guards out of the money they are getting out of the Allentown School District. Mr. Donovan stated that the City of Allentown is still collecting for our taxes. He stated that for the school district we were sending it out ourselves and they were delivered to ourselves and now the school district has contracted someone. He stated to Mr. Hershman that he has to take that up with the school department. Mr. Hershman stated that what happened was we collected the school district taxes with interest. He stated that it went into the general fund and helped pay the salaries to the crossing guards. The money is not going into the general fund because it is not there. 1 Mr. Donovan stated that Mr. Hershman’s comments about the allocation specifically to crossing guards are the first time he heard it. Mr. Bennington stated that the costs to the crossing guards were about $350,000, and we were not getting anything close to that from the Allentown School District to collect their taxes and getting all the grief from people that thought we were collecting the school district taxes. Mr. Donovan stated that there is an entity Berkheimer that is arranging the collection, but it is for the school district and it is not our responsibility and he guesses Mr. Hershman wants to know who arranged and authorized that. He stated that Mr. Hershman is raising an issue about interest that existed when Mr. Hershman was on Council, but he was not sure that it was cast in stone. He suggested that they look into that because it is the first he has heard it. He stated on the EIT question, and stated to Mr. D’Amore that it will take a moment because it is important. He stated that he was concerned like Mr. Hershman on how the EIT would be calculated based on the state’s law, Act 205. Over the last six months, he repeatedly asked the administration for numbers in order to understand the calculations and he received those numbers and the same numbers Mr. Hershman has. He stated that the city was raising more money than the Act 205 specifically said that they were allowed to raise based on his interpretation. He stated that however, it was explained and he went back to the minutes of the evening when it was discussed and a legal opinion given to council which in addition to the justification of Act 205 and subject to certain limits there was case law cited that allowed the City of Allentown to raise the EIT without being subject to the Charter’s limitation. He stated that he was surprised and based on the information he thought it was based on Act 205 and was part of the justification for the increase. There is legal justification for the 1.35 percent of EIT Tax. He stated that the only problem it was not clear to him. There were two justifications for it. He stated that one was a justification for Act 205 which allows a certain amount and the rest was a justification from Pennsylvania Case Law that allowed that. Mr. Hershman asked Mr. Donovan will they make all this public with the justifications. Mr. Donovan stated that they passed it on to the legal department. He stated that as far as the two legal documents on whether they should be releasing that. Mr. Hanlon stated that it was the legal opinion and Council did not release it. Mr. Hershman asked if they could make the letter available to the public. Mr. Donovan stated that he will leave it to the law department, if they want to release that. We do not have that. Mr. Hershman stated that the Council is a client and a client can release an opinion if they want to. Mr. D’Amore stated that yes they can, but speaking on behalf of the body, they choose not to because it is legal counsel. Mr. Donovan stated that he was shocked when the Solicitor called him and said that my premise is wrong because he called Harrisburg and went through a long conversation with a representative. He stated that he went away on a Friday and stated that maybe they had miscalculated and the Solicitor called him on Monday morning and stated that there were two justifications. He stated that he thought Act 205 was the justification of the .35 percent increase with one caveat that the law did not make sense to him to justify the .35 and he did not know why it did not add up, but he found out there were two justifications. 2 Mr. O’Connell thanked Mr. Hershman for his comments and stated that Mr. Donovan spoke about the EIT and was very verse on the numbers. On the arena project, he sent a letter to the Mayor and copied all of Council about two weeks ago. He stated that the communications plan about the arena, not only to council but the entire Allentown community has been a very poor one at best. The Mayor and Ms. Hailstone promised them bi-weekly updates on the arena. He stated that when they are walking through the city and driving through the city, they are asked simple questions on where the arena is going to go, have you done traffic and geological studies and you look dumb-founded because you really do not know. The communication plan has to move rather quickly from the Mayors office and the administration. He stated that they had two meetings and the financial advisors gave the numbers and they understand that but this point forward it is incumbent from the administration to let council know what is going on, but the citizens know what is going on with this arena. He stated that he supports the project and it will be good for Allentown, but there are a lot of questions and naysayers out there that are asking good solid questions and it has to come to the mayor’s office. He stated that the school district is now collecting the school taxes. He stated that they city use to do that and is there a cost-savings to the city in manpower or money. Mr. Bennington stated that they did not make as much money as they should have collecting taxes for them and getting the abuse from people thinking we were raising the school district’s taxes. Mr. Guridy stated that he wanted to follow-up on the Berkheimer issue and it was a decision made by the administration which should have gone through City Council. He asked if that should have been done by a resolution or a bill. Mr. Bennington stated that they should have been collecting their taxes all along. He stated that is a question from the solicitor. Mr. Wiles stated that he will find that out. Ms. Eichenwald stated that she remembers the days when she was on the school board and it certainly seems that it was a tax-saving to have the city do it. They were always looking at ways in which the school district and the city can work together was a concertive effort to have one entity do the tax collection. She stated that she is concerned about that and the process. She stated that she is concerned that they are not consulted on it or told about it or a memo about it that it is unilaterally done. She stated that she has the same concern about the arena. There are only two issues that the city council can vote on in the arena project one was eminent domain and they did that and know the results and the other is a street vacation which is null and void. If the project goes through, we are not going to stop it in that fashion. Everyone will be afraid to do business in the city and it is a matter of trust and good government for the citizens of Allentown to be informed as much as possible about the arena. She stated that it behooves the administration and the city to tell council as much information as possible without jeopardizing the project. She hopes in the future there will be many more public discussions on this issue. Mr. Donovan stated that as chair of the budget and finance committee, the finance department should have let them know so that he does not have to hear about it. He stated that he has been very vocal at AEDC and told the mayor where he stands. Mr. Ed Amway, 520 N. Tenth Street, stated that he has a problem on North Street and it is no way to enforce this law. He stated that a young couple moved across the street and they rented a garage and started an auto repair business. This is a very high residential area. The street that they opened their shop is no parking on that street. They have a fleet of vehicles (7 of them). The parking authority will come out and give them a pink slip and say they have three days to remove the vehicles and instead of three days they have six days and the seventh day the parking authority do not ticket the vehicle. On Monday, they move the vehicles ong enough 3 for the street cleaning vehicles to go by. He stated that he has been living in Allentown since 1944 and he owns his house. Mr. D’Amore stated that he and Mr. Bennington are taking steps to remediate the problem. Mr. Bennington stated that he has a letter from Ms. Weller and has talked to Zoning as well as Mr. Arcelay. He stated that the Ms. Weller stated that the 500 Block of North Tenth Street came to the Parking Authority’s attention on June 30th and stated that Mr. Amway and stated that J West auto shop was responsible for numerous cars parked in violation to the 72-hour ordinance and she explained that the officers has to witness the vehicle violating the ordinance in order to enforce it. They marked a notice on the vehicle reminding them of the 72-hour ordinance since that time. In the letter she discussed the residential permit process in a residential RPP zone and 70 percent of legal space is occupied. Approximately 68.5 were occupied when the Parking Authority canvassed the street. A third of the residence must approve the requirements of the zone. He stated that Ms. Weller will be sending out letters to the residents and will keep them posted. Mr. Amway stated that the permit section is probably did not approve is because they give the spots to the customers at the end and they are only allowed four customers a day. Mr. D’Amore stated that council is aware of the issue and they are taking steps towards improving it. Mr. Schweyer stated that he sympathizes and have seen auto garages pop up that are legal and sometimes illegal according to our zoning standards. He asked do they rent or own the property. Mr. Amway stated that they rent it. Mr. D’Amore stated that it is a non-conforming use and has existed since the zoning change. Mr. Schweyer stated that they should look at any DCRs they may have or disruptive conduct. He stated that he is not sure if it applies to commercial. He stated that they will talk about that. Mr. Bennington stated no. He stated that they are planning on leaving the beginning of next year based on Mr. Arcelay told him. He stated that the gentlemen that rent the auto body will be moving out the beginning of next year. Mr. D’Amore advised Mr. Amway to give any information to Mr. Hanlon. Mr. Donovan stated that he thought he heard threats and asked Mr. Bennington to bring the police into the conversation. Ms. Carol Rumsfeld, 940 Pratt Street, stated that she is here for the same problem. They harass and her husband is a handicapped person and they will stand there and argue with her husband. She stated if she calls the cops, they take the name down and do nothing. She stated that these cars are not inspected, not licensed and no one will check to see if these cars are stolen. A truck is leaking oil and antifreeze she went through the Mayor’s office, Zoning office and Mr. Atiyeh and tried to do everything possible. They say we harass them. They block the alley and she can not get out. It is a no parking street. She stated that she should not have to put up with this everyday. She thought that cops supposed to patrol the area. The only time she sees cops are if there is a crime there. She stated when she gets home around 3:00 AM and she is afraid to get out her car because there are a number of cars there. Mr. D’Amore asked Mr. Bennington if he can send an inspector and if there are vehicles that are leaking fluid onto the city streets, he is sure that is a violation of a city or state environmental law. 4 Mr. Bennington stated that zoning has been going out. Mr. Rumsfeld stated that Zoning said they could not do anything about it because it is a private lot. Mr. D’Amore asked Assistant Chief Warg to take it back to command staff. Ms. Kim Oliver stated that she is here regarding the matter she is having with the adjoining properties on Hanover Avenue. She stated that her property is 350 and she has 348 Hanover Avenue and 350 and she has been to Mr. Paulus, Mr. Rizzotto, Mr. Arcelay and Mr. Bennington’s office and she does not get anywhere. She stated that the problem initially started last year. She wanted to repair her front porch overhang which she discovered that the person at 352 had built on her property. She stated that she sent him a certified letter telling him he had thirty days to remove it or she was going to remove it. He is a city employee and that does not give him any special privileges. He did not take it down. She stated that she asked a friend of hers to come and take it down and first they stated that it was not a city matter or a police matter, but the day she took it down, she had Mr. Rizzotto come out with the police to intimidate her for something legally that she was doing, taking the structure down on her property. She stated that had the inspector been involved when it was going up, it would not have been on her property or an eyesore of a mess because it was not done properly. He closed his porch illegally. They pat him on the back and say Mr. Gonzales just buy the permits and I will approve it. She stated that she was under the impression that the first time you do an illegally structure like that you will get a warning. This guy continuously is building structures. He built a deck in the back. Mr. Bennington stated that Mr. Paulus has not ignored Ms. Oliver, and he has not ignored Ms. Oliver. He stated that they all know that he responds to people that call. He stated that this is a neighborhood issue that has gone through serious ligation and he stated that if anyone wants a complete analysis of this he would give it to them. Mr. D’Amore asked is it correct that it is a city employee that they are talking about. Mr. Bennington stated that he believes so. Mr. D’Amore stated that he is concerned that it is a city employee and somewhere along the way there was certain special consideration given to this individual and if it is, ask the city to take an action against that. Mr. Bennington stated that he will be sure that council gets a synopsis. Mr. Oliver stated that she never approved of that enclosure and never got anything to come to a meeting. She stated that she went to Zoning with pictures about the illegal structure that went up on July 4th and has been calling since last year. She stated that his permit read that he was replacing floorboards to the deck. There was no deck there. She stated that she has pictures of the new deck. She stated that Mr. Bob Sandt is there every other day and does not know who is the inspector is for 351,the garage over there, but that is a fire hazard. Mr. D’Amore stated that they will look at it and wait to hear what Mr. Bennington said and she can take a look at it and stated that she can come back to the next City Council meeting. Mr. Schweyer asked Ms. Oliver to give her contact information to Mr. Hanlon. Mr. Guridy asked Ms. Oliver does she own the property in question. He asked did he put a porch on your property without your permission. 5 Ms. Oliver said yes. Mr. Jim Bass, 527 N. Howard Street, stated that he is starting to be concerned about the seventy-two hour limit. He stated that his belief is that they are vehicles parked on a public street in a predominant residential neighborhood and has no business on that street even for one night. Service One does not let their tow trucks sit on a public neighborhood streets and neither does Outten Chevrolet. He stated that he has seen a pick-up truck with a plow on it up to a few weeks ago. The head of the Parking Authority spoke to the neighborhood group and after the meeting she walked over and his sticker on the rollback said it was a weight limit on a public street. That should not have been on a public street overnight because it was related to the business and this is what the neighbors and he is complaining about. Parking is at a premium. Should businesses store their vehicles on a public street overnight? Mr. D’Amore stated that they spent a lot of time on heavy truck parking. He stated to Mr. Hahn that he went over there. He asked Mr. Wiles if he could for them and believes the ordinance that they passed in 2007 - 2008 would preclude a rollback. He stated that maybe not the pickup truck with the plow that may be ok. The rollback may exceed the weight considerations and asked Mr. Wiles to find that out and stated that if Mr. Wiles finds that out, they will send the information to Ms. Weller. Mr. Schweyer asked Mr. Wiles for a copy of that. Mr. Richard Stein, Midway Manor, Club Avenue, stated that he purchased a property at 1012 Club Avenue in October 1980. His neighbors were Don and Sarah Bline, and Ms. Roy Morale was living at 1004 Club Avenue. There was a common second floor used by both families. They shared expenses while living in the house. Lehigh County records show that the house was built in the 1800s. The Bline purchased the property in 1962 they removed and had wood walls. In the early 90s the powder room was added to first floor. After passing of Mr. Bline and Mr. Morale, the house was sold and purchased by a doctor. Louis Vasquez rented the house to own. Calls were made to the police department about excessive noise. Their pit-bull was left on a leash and they never cleaned after their dog. The grass was rarely cut; and due to no payments of Allenton city’s water bills, the water was turned off and deemed the house inhabitable. Due to them not paying their water bills. A condemnation order was issued and is on file at Lehigh County Courthouse. They leave windows open no matter of the weather with no concern of the occupant. Just imagine the moisture damage to the interior of the building. In the inside of the building and the walls that leaves to dry rot. He stated that his observation is when the siding was applied in 1962 that was the start of the deterioration with the log cabin. Mr. D’Amore stated that they have updates for him and asked Mr. Bennington to give them. Mr. Bennington stated that Mr. Paulus could not make it and he has a note from Mr. Paulus regarding this property and also has a note Ms. Smethers who is the Acting Director of ARA and she can respond. He stated that according to Mr. Paulus the property was not the problem they received a raised repair order from the building inspector and was put on the blighted property list. The Redevelopment Authority filed the declaration of taking. The relatives of the previous owner approached the Redevelopment Authority on taking the building back into shape and paid $13,000 of back water bills and were allowed to submit plans and rehabilitate the building in a specific timeframe. The water bill was paid, plans were submitted and permits were pulled. Work is being on going and being inspected. To date, the water is and is considered a two unit by Redevelopment Authority. It is a two unit building by Zoning. Mr. D’Amore stated that he wanted to clarify and the Lehigh County Assessment Record shows the Redevelopment Authority is the owner of the property. What were the considerations? This is a two unit residence and will the Redevelopment Authority return the property that is out of character of the neighborhood to owners that proven themselves as not able to take care of the property. At what point in time was seemingly a one unit house owned by family members. 6 Ms. Smethers stated that she spoke to Mr. Stein and the Redevelopment Authority did enter into an agreement with the previous property owners. The redevelopment authority allowed them to buy it and is monitoring it very closely. They are doing everything they can to make sure the issues are being addressed. Mr. D’Amore stated that he wanted to clarify something. He stated that he has on his screen the Lehigh County Assessment records and the current owner of the property is the Redevelopment Authority. This was a discretionary decision to allow these individuals to pay fines and potentially repair. What were the considerations? He stated that he is concerned about that decision. This is a two unit residences and is out of character for the neighborhood. Why would the redevelopment authority allow the return of a property that is out of character with the neighborhood to owners that have proven not to take care of the property? Ms. Smethers stated that they put together plans to prove what they are doing with the property. The Blighted Property list is not to take properties, but to get properties repaired and if owners are willing to take steps to do that, they allow them time to do that. The agreement that was put into place is very much in favor of the Redevelopment Authority. They are under a strict timeframe and if they do not fix the property, it goes back to the Redevelopment Authority. There will be no extensions allowed. Mr. D’Amore asked in one point in time which is seemingly one unit house that happened to be shared by to relatives became classified as two units. Mr. Bennington stated that the building was and still is classified, but there are no dates on it. Mr. D’Amore stated that they can get that from zoning because the main issue is that it is so out of character for the neighborhood particularly the two units and that is the concern of the neighbors. That is where the major concern lies. Mr. Stein stated that the structural issue is more a concern now. He stated that he has pictures showing structural issue that have not been address. You don’t put finished walls on before you repair the structure and that is what the major issue is. The structural issue is the main concern and the second is the two family units. If you look at the pictures, it is self explanatory. Mr. D’Amore asked do we have a specific code governing log cabins. That is another unique component that it is a log cabin built 200 years ago that predated zoning. Ms. Eichenwald stated that it is her understanding that it is the policy of the Redevelopment Authority to have a single family dwelling and that is our goal and she must admit that she is surprised and not pleasantly surprised that they will entertain the idea that this will be a two family residence. It is out of character of the neighborhood and midway manor. Why would we proceed as a two family? Reading the history it does not seems to have functioned in the fashion. It happened to have a brother and sister in it, and does not equate it as a two family unit. She stated that they owe a responsibility to protect the neighborhood and the neighbors. She stated that she would not be happy if it happened next to her home. She stated that she lives in a single family area and would not be pleased. Dr. Beck-Pooley would come time and time again to report to council about the attempts of the redevelopment authority to have a single family unit. Ms. Smethers stated that she agrees. She stated that she was not involved in it and she was told that it was zoned a two unit and they allowed it to be zoned as a two unit. Mr. Schweyer stated that he wants to make sure they are addressing the right questions and stated to Ms. Smethers that she was not involved in the initial zoning and the redevelopment authority is not involved in the initial zoning. He stated that he recognize it, but share his colleagues sentiment. Any multiunit home in 7 midway manor is inappropriate and all of us agree there are too many multiunit properties. He asked when it was zoning multiunit or two units was it done by the letter of the law. He asked Mr. Wiles to look at the research on it and make sure they did not miss anything at the time. He stated that if it was not always maintained as a multiunit property maybe they will have something there. He stated that perhaps it was an error along the way that will allow us to convert it back to a one family unit. Mr. Hahn, 2016 E Highland Street, stated that he handed out the packet of information as a reminder and would like to state for the record and has been a resident of midway manor for 48 years and would like to thank council for allowing them to bring this situation to the forefront. He stated that his community has issues and the property in question at 1004 Club Avenue at this point the questions that had to be clarified about this address and he is here for the community in the quest to maintain neighborhood as a single family home with a unique quality of life that midway manor possesses. In researching the records of Rittersville, East Allentown along with a primary source, the oldest living in midway manor is Mr. Phillips has come to our attention that we were Annexed and became the fifteen ward district as a result of being part of Northampton County originally. We have been halted in our search of documentation. In 1910, the construction of a golf course was put on the property between Club Avenue in Allentown and Pennsylvania Avenue in Bethlehem and it was called Lehigh Golf Club. There is no deed or information about this because it was a walking purchase as a single family household. How do you find walking purchase documents. The reports that Mr. Phillips gives us has proven what they are telling them today. They have photographs and documentation that says that the property is moving. The life of the logs is over. Once you look at a barn that was put together without nails and used pegs, there is no rot and everything extracts the same. Mr. D’Amore stated that he will make him a proposal and stated to Mr. Bennington that Mr. Hahn has taken time to put together this information and the least we can do is to present this to our building inspectors in addition to the duties they present for this property. We will give it to Mr. Paulus. Mr. Hahn stated that they are open to any discussion so that people can understand what the building is so they can make the property judgment. They closed the open to put in a single waterline. When I had to do the same thing, I had to put stones down on the bottom and the top to protect it. Mr. D’Amore stated that they will schedule a meeting with Mr. Paulus who will understand this better than council would. Mr. Paulus is the supervisor of all the inspectors. Mr. Hahn stated that he is trying to help here. How does the Redevelopment department work? They give a property to somebody and then it is buyer beware. Mr. D’Amore stated that he will get a meeting with Mr. Paulus on the questions of the status of the house. Mr. Kenneth Laudenslager, 721 W. Cumberland Street, stated that he is addressing an issue that was brought up earlier. A rollback could be a legal vehicle on the street. There was a lot of discussion on the oversize vehicles on the streets. We went with a weight class size 5. If it is a 4B, it is allowed on the street. Mr. D’Amore stated that he did not remember what weight class they used. Mr. Laudenslager stated that they went with a GDW and went with a weight class because they are based on the GDW. Mr. D’Amore stated that they went that way because it was easier for the police to enforce it. Ms. Julienne Jackson, 230 S. Fulton Street, thanked city council for what they do and their time. She greatly appreciates of their efforts. She sated that she almost in center city Allentown and want to tell you what 8 happens when single family homes turn into multiple family homes. The pre-existing neighborhood was originally single family homes and a disaster has occurred in her neighborhood because it has been turned into a multiple family home and there is a density issue with the population and they have difficulty with parking and an overcrowded school. Research indicates that when you reduce a person’s personal space you enhance the opportunity for conflict and conflict that has no resolution. Midway Manor is a premier community in our city. It is a real gold nugget. That neighborhood must not have a multiple dwelling. It is not characteristic of that neighborhood. It will create the same type of issues that she is dealing with on Fulton Street. I know you will find a way to correct this dilemma. Mr. Rich Wilburn, president of Midway Manor Community Association, 1039 N Van Buren Street, stated that Club Avenue is the issue. He stated that Midway Manor is not only concerned about the property on Club Avenue. They also have several other properties that have been vacated and abandoned. He stated that they want to work with the city to make sure that the problems that they have with Club Avenue does not extend to these other abandoned properties. He stated that he spoke to Mr. Paulus and invited him to the community association and got nowhere and he would appreciate contact with Mr. Paulus to arrange a meeting with members of the community. It is important that the Redevelopment Authority send a representative because many questions they have may not be answered by Mr. Paulus. He stated to Mr. Paulus there were specific questions that the people in the neighborhood had about what was happening at 1004 – 1005 Club Avenue and he received an email from Mr. Paulus which is in his opinion lip service. We are not going to settle for that, we want more than that. He stated that they were going to look when the two family units was established. If there are any changes in the property, please notify the neighbors of the property being switched to a multi family unit and would like to meet at the church on the corner of Pennsylvania and Ulster Street and will invite people in the neighborhood that are interested. Mr. Schweyer stated that along the lines of potentially blighted property in Midway Manor, there was a property that he and Ms. Hailstone discussed and a property on N. Van Buren. He stated that inspectors went over and they are working on the property. How is the grass there? Mr. Wilburn stated that it was mowed a few weeks ago, but it is at the point where it should be mowed again. Mr. Schweyer stated that if they could send Solid Waste to mow the lawn and check the weeds again he would appreciate it. Mr. Wilburn stated that there are two properties that are in foreclosure and the weeds are growing. Mr. Bennington stated that if he could get Mr. Hahn’s phone number, he will have Mr. Paulus call tomorrow and get pictures and documentation and set up a meeting with Mr. Wilburn. Mr. James Serfass, 1904 Fairmount Street at the corner of Sherman, stated that he was under the impression that Fabric was to use the back entrance. How come they are not using it? Mr. Schweyer stated that they brought that up as well. He stated that is on the agenda for Friday. He stated that he does not know, but they may talk to them directly and if they have to look at traffic patterns on Turner Street. He just heard about it last week. He stated that they and Allentown Economic Development Corp worked very hard so they can use Quebec Street. The obvious impact on the neighborhood is clear. It is on the agenda on Friday with the administration. Mr. D’Amore stated that they took care in making this neighborhood a right-a-way happens and it was not easy. It is highly disappointing that they were not using. 9 5. Approval of Minutes: June 15, 2011 Minutes approved by common consent. 6. Old Business None 7. Communications Mr. D’Amore stated that there will be Public Hearings on August 3rd at 7:00 PM on two Zoning Amendments. 8. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES: Budget and Finance: Chairperson Donovan The Committee has not met since the last Council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for August 24th at 6:30 PM. The EIT revenues continue to fall under forecast. He will call Mr. Strathearn to find out what has happened. We were supposed to have an audit and the audit has been delayed for the following reasons the city’s audit itself has been completed, the component units and undergoing its own audit and the debt. The auditors can not release the audit until all components are completed. Public Safety: Chairperson Guridy The Committee has not met since the last Council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for August 3rd, around 6:00 PM. Community and Economic Development: Chairperson Schweyer The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, August 2nd, at 6:00 PM. Parks and Recreation: Chairperson Ray O’Connell The Committee met this evening; the next regularly scheduled meeting is on August 18th prior to Council meeting. Public Works: Chairperson Schlossberg The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled on August 2nd, at 6:45 PM. AWOP –Top Performing Water Filtration Plants Award Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chairperson Eichenwald The Committee met this evening; the next meeting has not been scheduled. Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations and Strategy: Chairperson D’Amore The Committee has not met since the last Council meeting; a future meeting is going to be scheduled in the near future. OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS Ad Hoc IT Committee – Councilperson Schlossberg – the committee met on June 30th and reviewed the IT needs and planning in Public Safety – Police and. CONTROLLER’S REPORT 9. APPOINTMENTS: Reappointments and Appointments David M. Howells, Sr. – Police Civil Service – Expire 01/24/2015 Deborah Rabinsky – Arts Commission – 01/03/2016 Joan Gaydos – Arts Commission – 01/03/2016 10