January 8, 2008

New Faces Bring New Ideas For City

Meg Holland, J. William Reynolds Sworn In

By Kurt Bresswein of the Express Times

City Controller Meg Holland joined Councilman J. William Reynolds on Monday as the city's newest elected officials during swearing-in ceremonies in Town Hall.

Holland had already begun her duties with a review of city pension finances and interviews with nine of 10 candidates for deputy controller. She said she plans to lay out her first year's ideas during council's next meeting Jan. 22.

The 53-year-old certified public accountant took the oath of office administered by Northampton County Judge Stephen G. Baratta alongside her twin daughters, Maureen and Katie Schaffer.

Reynolds, at 26, became the youngest ever to hold office in Bethlehem. He took the oath with his sister, Elizabeth Reynolds, at his side.

"I'm grateful and humbled by the opportunity that I received," he said afterward. "I hope that I'm able to follow through on the promises that I made during the campaign."

Reynolds joined incumbent Councilmen Gordon Mowrer and Robert Donchez in winning last year's primary and municipal elections. Magdalena Szabo, a councilwoman from January 1998 through her death Dec. 13, had also run for re-election. Council honored her Monday with a citation given to her sister, Louise Valeriano, honoring Szabo's integrity, honesty, loyalty and other qualities.

Following oaths of office by Mowrer and Donchez, the newly constituted council shook up its leadership by voting unanimously to appoint Donchez council president. Councilman J. Michael Schweder was elected president May 21, 2003. Donchez also served as president from 1998 through 2001.

"It's an exciting time to be an elected official in the city of Bethlehem," Donchez said, turning to Mayor John Callahan. "I pledge to you a spirit of cooperation and communication."

Schweder, who began the meeting as president, reported on council activities during 2007 that he said included the fewest number of ordinances, 51, and second-lowest number of resolutions, 255, passed in any year since 1987.

He said he hopes for a more productive year in 2008.

Reporter Kurt Bresswein can be reached at 610-867-5000 or by e-mail at kbresswein@express-times.com.



 

Paid for by Friends of J. William Reynolds, P.O. Box 1632, Bethlehem, PA 18016