Data, DROP, and Duds

Council tonight was never ending.

The first part we were blessed with Frank Kane giving an explanation of the police DROP pension program.  And chewing atleast one pack of gum.

"This guy makes a $135,000 a year and comes to council disheveled, on his phone, and chewing gum"

Bina Patel delivered another Academy Award nominated performance and, as always, could not answer any questions and deferred to 'getting that data' and 'we will have that conversation'. 

Council VP Mota asked some great questions, but I do think she is probably more confused after the explanation by Kane and Patel. Frank still chewing

Basically, what's the impact on the tax payers?. No answer. How much will it cost? No answer.

Basically, the police can double dip and leave with a done of cash after they retire. Costing tax payers millions. There getting a new 45million dollar station and want more.

Onward

Patel did state there is like 70 capital projects going on. So there is a cost for that. Yet as Finance Director she has no clue what financial impact these projects, including the DROP, will have on the taxpayers. Do your job!!!!

In between Frank being on his phone alot of the meeting, Frank stated the city will need to come up with $6.75 million for the lost revenue from stornwatee fees from the ruling in the state assembly. 6.75 million!!! That's without the DROP and whatever other expenses. But assured the administration will figure it out.  Where are you getting all this money???  Quit borrowing. Administration is like a 20 year old charging everything with $15/hr job. Ridiculous. 

There will be a Special Meeting to discuss the DROP probably on a Wednesday night at 3:30am. Bina is gonna avoid answering any and all questions VP. Mota asked, if she shows up at all. Im sick of her not knowing shit.

Mayor Tuerk missed another community impacting meeting. Don't worry Matt, we saw Vicky Kistler in the back watching people, taking notes, and names. She will send you a summary tonight. I do hope Disneyland California has wifi and good cell reception so you don't miss the her notes.

The main focus of the 2nd meeting was the proposed data center in south Allentown. Basically, everyone opposes it.  

The basis of Bill 20 was to amend the code language so data centers can't be built in the city limits.  But this is a complicated process.

How about how the City Solicitor who is hired for these types of issues sat in the back silent and the council solicitor had to answer for both the best she could?

There was a lot of discussion regarding a Curative Amendment. Now I am not a code aficionado, but I am able to “Google it” like Verizon Frank mentioned.  

1. A municipal curative amendment is a legal process under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) that allows a municipality to self‑declare its zoning ordinance or parts of it as substantively invalid and then enact a new or revised ordinance to fix the problem.

53 P.S. §10609.2

Declaration and Proposal

The municipality formally declares its zoning ordinance or portions thereof as substantively invalid.

Within 30 days, the governing body must:

Pass a resolution identifying the invalidity (e.g., missing or insufficiently permitted uses, entire ordinance needing revision).

Begin preparing and considering a curative amendment 

 Enactment Deadline

The municipality must enact the curative amendment within 180 days from the declaration to validate or reaffirm the ordinance 

Landowner and Hearing Board Exclusion

Once the process starts, the municipality is not required to consider landowner curative amendments under §609.1 or to issue reports on similar grounds 

Limitation

After enactment, the municipality cannot use the same process again for 36 months, unless a new statutory duty or court decision requires it.

A municipal curative amendment is a statutory tool for Pennsylvania municipalities to fix zoning defects internally, with a set timeline and procedural safeguards, while shielding themselves from competing landowner challenges during the process.

Councilperson Gerlach came in for the win once again! She was saying what was stated with a simple Google search. A Curative Amendment for a Municipality signals that our zoning ordinance is flawed and requires amendment or expansion for clarification to address the issue. This action protects the municipality from entertaining landowners with curative amendments.

This all seems complicated with loopholes within.  

Bill 20 passed 7-0 to be tabled. Hope it was the right decision. Im glad there was a huge turnout of citizens expressing their thoughts.  I wish every meeting was like that.

Lastly and for the Irony

All I can say was that there was a ton of speackers tonight. Who are against these data centers, but I am curious how many used Chat GPT to write their speeches?