BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem City Council confirmed Councilwoman Rachel Leon’s appointment to the city Housing Authority on Tuesday, capping off a contentious debate over whether her membership of both bodies amounts to a conflict of interest.
A four-member majority voted to appoint Leon to the authority after praising her as highly qualified for the post. Two members voted against; Leon abstained.
“Even if it’s legal, I think it sets a bad precedent and it isn’t good policy."Bethlehem Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith
Her nomination first came before the council during its July 16 meeting. After a contentious debate, council members voted to table the measure until their solicitor, Stephanie Steward, could research the subject more thoroughly.
Steward told members Tuesday that, after "thorough" research and consultations with a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, she confirmed there's no legal barrier to Leon serving on both bodies.
Council members in cities such as Bethlehem “may sit on housing authorities,” she said. “Simply sitting on an authority, board or commission and simultaneously sitting on City Council does not constitute a conflict.”
Even if Leon’s appointment does not meet the legal definition of a conflict of interest, council members Bryan Callahan and Grace Crampsie Smith argued that it's bad governance.
“Even if it’s legal, I think it sets a bad precedent and it isn’t good policy,” Crampsie Smith said.
She emphasized that her decision had nothing to do with Leon’s character or qualifications.
Appointing a member of council to municipal boards or authorities reduces the number of people involved in running local government, she argued, limiting civic participation to Bethlehem’s detriment.
'Nothing incorrect about this'
Other members offered full-throated support of Leon, responding in part to criticism during the July 16 meeting.
“It has been duly trebly confirmed that this is not, in fact, a conflict of interest,” Councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm said. “While it is our charge to value differences of opinion here, at this point, that piece of it is opinion.”
Members also defended Leon in more personal terms.
“I’m horrified by the kinds of insinuations and accusations that have been made about somebody on this very body, but also just a member of our community.”Bethlehem City Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek
“I’m horrified by the kinds of insinuations and accusations that have been made about somebody on this very body, but also just a member of our community,” Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek said.
“There is nothing incorrect about this. I’m proud to vote for Ms. Leon.”
Toward the beginning of Monday’s meeting, Kwiatek criticized Callahan for attacking Leon, saying many of his criticisms were “microaggressions” showing bias.
Without naming him specifically, she appeared to accuse Callahan of violating the council’s conflict of interest policy on two occasions, including by taking votes in February related to replacing the Walnut Street parking garage.
The approved design for the new structure is taller than the previous parking garage, but only about half as wide, which allows for construction of an apartment building next door.
Callahan’s brother, former Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, works for a developer that submitted a proposal to the city Parking Authority to build the apartments, Bryan Callahan said.
During the February debate, Steward said that the conflict of interest policy does not apply to family members who may see a financial benefit. At Tuesday’s meeting, she said that closer research determined that potential benefit for a family member does amount to a conflict.
Bryan Callahan also defended voting on the subject by explaining he did not vote in line with his brother's interests.
“That was voting against my brother,” he said.
