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August 17, 2006

Meeting set on immigrant law
Hershman announces hearing, blasts controller for memo.
By Romy Varghese

Of The Morning Call Allentown Councilman Louis J. Hershman, who has proposed an ordinance barring city employment and rental residences to illegal immigrants, will hold his next hearing on the issue at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 in City Council chambers.

He also said Wednesday he is considering having existing ordinances amended, instead of pushing his proposed legislation, to fulfill the same goals. For instance, rules on city contractors could be amended so they must list all their subcontractors, Hershman said.

At council's meeting, Hershman criticized Controller Frank Concannon's memo to councilmen Julio Guridy, Tony Phillips and Michael D'Amore on Hershman's proposed ordinance.

Titled ''L.H.'s most recent boo-boo,'' the memo suggested that a councilman second Hershman's ''most recent hateful, unnecessary and bigoted effort'' so that the legislation could be discussed by council and residents at a council meeting.

Hershman's ordinance has not been formally introduced because no other councilman has seconded it.

Hershman at the meeting Wednesday said the memo hurt him, and he wanted to know Concannon's intent.

''This is uncalled for by any public official,'' Hershman said. ''… This is not the way we should be treated when we're looking at legislation.''

Concannon said after the meeting he disagreed with Hershman's proposal. ''I think it should be subject to a full discussion,'' he said.

Council President David M. Howells had asked Hershman to conduct fact-finding hearings on the extent of illegal immigration in the city. Guridy, the only Hispanic on the committee, quit after the first meeting last week. He said its focus seemed to be on eliciting support for Hershman's legislation, rather than producing statistics.

Hershman said he is still looking for Guridy's replacement.

In other business, council in a 4-1 vote approved moving the solid waste bureau from the public works department to the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Managing Director Francis X. Dougherty and Betsy Levin, who has been tapped as the next community development director, told council that the bureau fits better in the community development department because it deals with quality-of-life issues.

''Trash is the No. 1 citizen issue downtown,'' said Levin, who was the solid waste bureau manager before her recent nomination.

But Phillips questioned why the bureau had to follow Levin.

''I just think there are higher things on the priority list,'' said Phillips on her duties as community development director. He later cast the no vote.

Council also approved a slew of mayoral appointments to 13 boards and commissions, from the Allentown Arts Commission to the Zoning Hearing Board.

Guridy and Councilman David K. Bausch were absent.

romy.varghese@mcall.com

610-820-6509

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