Bethlehem Press

Not everyone can have a legacy such as the one left by Dr. James F. Goodwin, Jr.; one that continues to influence the lives of young men and women long after his passing. The African-American physician, who practiced medicine in Bethlehem in 1935, had struggled to get his education. According to a biography, the experience led him to start a scholarship program to “help deserving Negro students who needed financial assistance.”

It’s not often U. S. Supreme Court decisions are cited in the chambers of the Lehigh County Commissioners, but county employee Francisco Molina did exactly that June 27 when he addressed the board during the public comment portion of the agenda.

Medina, who has worked for the county since 2004 and for the Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth since 2006, said he does not want the county to provide his banking information to Service Employees International Union for automatic withdrawals of union dues from his bank account.

A $5,000 grant to the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center failed last week when one of the sponsors of it, Amy Zanelli, abstained from voting for the bill; however, she then watched the votes split between the remaining eight commissioners, 4–4. With Zanelli’s vote, the bill would have passed. She said she abstained because, “I volunteer for, contribute to, and benefit from” the Bradbury-Sullivan Community Center, “I will abstain.”

A $5,000 grant to the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center failed last week when one of the sponsors of it, Amy Zanelli, abstained from voting for the bill; however, she then watched the votes split between the remaining eight commissioners, 4–4. With Zanelli’s vote, the bill would have passed. She said she abstained because, “I volunteer for, contribute to, and benefit from” the Bradbury-Sullivan Community Center, “I will abstain.”

A $5,000 grant to the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center failed last week when the one of the sponsors of the bill, Amy Zanelli, abstained from voting for the bill; however, she then watched the votes split between the remaining eight commissioners, 4–4. With Zanelli’s vote, the bill would have passed. She said that she abstained because, “I volunteer for, contribute to, and benefit from” the Bradbury-Sullivan Community Center, “I will abstain.”

The computer consultant company Computer Aid, Inc., based in Allentown, finally saw a contract amendment approved by commissioners 6–1 with one abstention May 23. Commissioner Amanda Holt voted “no” on the amendment.

Decriminalizing marijuana is firmly on the agenda for the next meeting of Bethlehem City Council ,as members unanimously approved the measure in their first reading. This procedure ensures that the ordinance will get a final vote and approval at the next scheduled regular meeting June 19.

All members of council expressed support of the ordinance to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. A small amount is defined as “thirty grams or less of marijuana or eight grams or less of hashish.”

The computer consultant company Computer Aid, Inc., based in Allentown, finally saw a contract amendment approved in a 6–1 vote with one abstention May 23. Commissioner Amanda Holt voted “no” on the amendment.

Owners of a historic mansion at 114 W. Fourth St. were denied a certificate of appropriateness Wednesday when Bethlehem City Council voted to uphold a recommendation of denial by the Historic Architecture Review Board. Plans for the circa 1885 Grace Mansion called proposed renovations which would have added six townhouses on the historic properties.

Council voted 6–0 to uphold the HARB’s recommendation. Council President Adam Waldron was absent, so the vote was unanimous among present members.

Lehigh County Administration requested that Commissioner Amanda Holt withdraw a proposed amendment to the professional services agreement with Computer Aid, Inc. for information technology management services May 9. No reason was given. The same amendment had been delayed at the last meeting at the request of Lehigh County Commissioner Brad Osborne, who said he wanted time to study the effect of the amendment on other issues.