News

Penn. City Bids Goodbye to 420 Years of Experience

Nicole Radzievich

12/05/2014

Dec. 05--The city clerk chronicled everything from Bethlehem selling its landfill to allowing gambling to drive the redevelopment of the Bethlehem Steel plant. The EMS director began his career before the creation of the statewide 911 system. And the parks administrator joined the ranks when Sand Island was referred to as the "newest park."

These are some of the faces that make up the 420 years worth of experience Bethlehem City Hall will lose by Dec. 14 with 16 retirements sparked by an incentive offered as a way to reduce personnel costs.

Mayor Robert Donchez, who has worked with all of them in his 18 years as of a councilman, said he values their service.

"These are people who spent a good part of their lives making this city a better place," Donchez said.

The retirements came after Donchez this year offered an incentive package as part of a mutlipronged approach to balance a $71.3 million budget proposal that includes a 6.2 percent tax increase. The city also has 10 vacancies.

City officials will be filling most of the vacancies and retirements, then evaluate whether some of the empty ones should be eliminated. There may be more efficiencies as existing employees fill some of the vacancies through the union process known as "bumping."

The city had already budgeted to eliminate eight positions before the retirement incentive was offered: two in the tax office, deputy director of recycling, chief housing inspector, two firefighters, a building maintenance worker and the assistant EMS director. That would bring the total amount of savings to about $500,000.

"Providing continuity and providing seamless continuity are two different things," Business Administrator David Brong said. "Any time you have this level of attrition, you are going to have a management challenge, but that's what we're paid to do here."

Donchez has already decided Tom Decker, now assistant EMSdirector, will become the acting EMS director when Gordon Smith, who worked for 35 years in the city, retires. And Louise Kelchner, an aide to former Mayor John Callahan, was picked Tuesday to replace city clerk Cynthia Biedenkopf, who has worked at City Hall for 31 years.

Assistant city clerk Nanette Snyder, who has served 22 years, is also retiring. Biedenkopf will temporarily come back as a contract worker to help Kelchner with the transition.

Biedenkopf was thanked this week during her last council meeting as a city employee. Donchez and council members described her as a professional dealing with a large amount of work efficiently and accurately.

"City Council has been very blessed by having Cindy and Nan Snyder, who is retiring too," Donchez, who was elected to City Council in 1995, said at the meeting. "We have two wonderful people who have served the city with integrity and professionalism."

Council President J. William Reynolds said they would be difficult to replace Biedenkopf, but believed Kelchner was up to the challenge.

"What Ms. Biedenkopf meant to the board over they the years has been truly unbelievable," he said. "Filling Ms. Biedenkopf's shoes, while they are small, will be very, very difficult."

Biedenkopf, who is usually speaks only to answer council questions or take roll call at meetings, deflected the attention.

"Thank you for the opportunity to serve City Council," she said. "Tonight is Louise's night, and I welcome Louise as city clerk and congratulate you."

With 16 other workers whose average city career is 26.25 years about to retire as well, similar heartfelt goodbyes are expected over the next two weeks at City Hall.

Among other retirees are paramedic supervisor William Guth (30 years); maintenance supervisor Randall Kresh (28 years); mechanic James Mihalko (37 years); filtration relief operator David Delgrosso (33 years); filtration maintenance supervisor William Haydt (24 years); meter supervisor Charles Achenzie (12 years); water mechanic Jeffrey Wentz (31 years); mechanic Michael Soos (17 years); mechanic Andrew Lechman (24 years); health secretary Patricia Alfonso (23 years); parks maintenance worker Jay Mosser (26 years); parks maintenance worker Michael Brown (25 years); and parks business manager Jody Reppert (22 years).