Latest in a series of posts on City Government
Welcome to the pandemic version of City Council meetings! The meeting is televised as usual, which means Council members will be socially distanced apart. When that Saturday morning meeting was held back at the beginning of the pandemic (seems like years ago now, doesn’t it?), some of the Council members were out of the camera-shot, as Gadfly remembers it. Without a list of signed-up speakers, public comment, frankly, looks like it could be bumpy. Some commenters might want to submit written statements to the city clerk (cityclerk@bethlehem-pa.gov) for submission to Council beforehand. Gadfly appreciates the work put in to arranging this and hopes for smooth sailing.
PUBLIC COMMENT PHONE INSTRUCTIONS – BETHLEHEM CITY COUNCIL MEETING,
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020, at 7:00 PM.
Public Comment Phone Number: 610-997-7963
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, Bethlehem City Council will temporarily allow public comment by phone during Bethlehem City Council meetings. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, in lieu of attending in person, if you have public comments that you would like to share at a Bethlehem City Council meeting, it is recommended that you watch the YouTube live-stream of the meeting and use the following public comment call-in phone number during the public comment periods: 610-997-7963 (“Public Comment Phone Number”).
The April 21, 2020 Bethlehem City Council meeting, starting at 7:00 PM, will be live-streamed on YouTube at the “City of Bethlehem Council” YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRLFG5Y9Ui0jADKaRE1W3xw.
All agenda items for the above-referenced Bethlehem City Council meeting are/will be available at the following website: https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Calendar/Meetings/2020/City-Council-Meeting/58 (see link to agenda top right of page, links to documents are at bottom of the page).
The City Council President will announce public comment periods during the meeting which you can watch on YouTube on the “City of Bethlehem Council” YouTube channel. If you call the Public Comment Phone Number (610-997-7963) and the line is busy, please call back when the current public speaker is finished. Calls to the Public Comment Phone Number will only be accepted during the two designated public comment periods at the above-referenced City Council meeting.
The first public comment period is reserved for subjects not being voted on at this City Council meeting. The second public comment period is reserved for subjects being voted on at this City Council meeting. The normal five (5) minute time limits applicable to all public comments at Bethlehem City Council meetings will apply to any public comments provided by phone.
Before you call the Public Comment Phone Number (610-997-7963), please turn off all speakers, computer speakers, televisions, or radios. At the start of your call, please state your name and address.
Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, public access to Bethlehem City Hall is currently limited. If you have any questions about how to comment remotely in the above-referenced City Council meeting, please call the City Clerk’s office at (610) 865-7130 or email cityclerk@bethlehem-pa.gov.
