Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Allentown public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
15 issues in public safety
Civil Service Rules Review
Bill 45 would drop the automatic disqualification of police officer and firefighter applicants who haven't registered with the Selective Service System. That could widen the pool of people eligible to take the civil service test and be hired. City officials say current rules conflict with newer state and federal law.
Homelessness funding
A homeless commission advocate urged council to restore $100,000 for emergency hotel stays, winter gear, propane, and prevention programs, warning people could freeze to death this winter. Council members noted the money must come via a budget amendment.
Rental Inspection Fees (Bill 84)
Landlords whose properties trigger repeat complaint-driven inspections — or who no-show inspections — would pay a $125 fee on top of the standard $75 annual license. The city says it barely covers inspection costs and targets bad actors, not compliant landlords.
Police and Fire Department Civil Service Lists
The certification of police eligibility lists determines who Allentown can hire as patrol officers and promote to Assistant Chief. It directly affects police staffing levels and department leadership.
Police Promotional Testing and Scoring Rubrics
The board will discuss a contract template for outside testing services that run police promotional exams — the process behind future promotions.
FOP Lawsuit Against City Council
The police union (Queen City FOP Lodge No. 10) has sued city council, and council hired outside attorney David L. Hackett of Cozen O'Connor to defend it.
School zone flasher upgrades at 26 locations
A $1.9 million grant will upgrade school zone flashers at 26 locations across the city. The bill was introduced and will get a public hearing at a special committee on November 18.
Council legal defense in FOP lawsuit
The police union has sued City Council, and Council will vote on hiring Cozen O'Connor to represent it. Legal costs and the underlying dispute could affect city finances and labor relations.
Police station and fire/health building right-sizing
The city scrapped the $40 million police station expansion for a renovation approach under energy-savings legislation and cut the fire/health building from $65 million to about $45 million, cutting next year's borrowing to $30 million.
EMS staffing crisis and mandated overtime
EMS runs with 44 full-timers, mandated overtime has doubled, and ambulances are browned out twice as often as last year. The budget adds two paramedics, but the chief says seven more are really needed.
Public Safety and Departmental Personnel Review
Council members are examining proposed personnel summaries and budget allocations for police, fire, and emergency medical services. This review ensures public safety departments have the necessary staffing and resources for the upcoming year.
Police Department Staffing and DROP Pension Reform
The police chief urged council to adopt a DROP retirement program to keep veteran officers, with 15 retirements expected in December. The auditors pegged its cost at $1.1–$3.9 million a year starting 2028.
Police Pension Fund Board Designees
City officials are updating municipal code to allow the mayor, finance director, and city controller to appoint staff members to represent them on the police pension board. The change prevents quorum issues following recent staff vacancies.
Snow Removal and Parking Enforcement Concerns
Public Works officials and residents debated the city's winter storm response after severe snowstorms and a three-week freeze left many streets uncleared, prompting sharp criticism from residents and union leaders over management and resource allocation.
Public Works Salt Shed Replacement and Expansion
The city is investing $600,000 to replace its aging salt shed and double storage capacity to 6,000 tons. This upgrade aims to prevent winter supply shortages, avoid emergency price surges, and keep roads safe during heavy snowstorms.