Bethlehem City Councilwoman Seeks Third Term

City Councilwoman Karen Dolan announced she will seek a third term on Bethlehem City Council.

 

“ I love the work, and I believe my role on council is important:.” Dolan said. “A lot of people recognize my name for environmental and historic preservation work, but on council, I advocate for all  ‘quality of life’ issues: safe streets and walkable neighborhoods, maintained parks and job-producing economic development, reasonable tax rates and the highest quality city services we can afford.”

 

Dolan is the Executive Director/CEO of The Gertrude B. Fox Environmental Center at Illick’s Mill in Bethlehem, an organization she founded after restoring the condemned mill with the help of Liberty High School students. Dolan, who retired from teaching in 2011, has been married to John Chay for 23 years; they have two sons, Zachary and Cooper, attending college at University of Pittsburgh and University of Scranton, respectively.

 

If elected, Dolan said she would continue to “research the issues before developing an opinion and stand up for what is right for the majority of Bethlehem residents, as well as advocating for under-represented groups like senior citizens and children.”

 

Her focus in a third term would be keeping city costs under control by supporting “work smart” initiatives such as “ending the practice of  te city maintaining privately-owned property that should be maintained by its owners, and planning ahead for severe weather so our city can handle these events rather than reacting to them, which can be far more costly and dangerous.”  

 

 

Dolan’s role as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director at The Gertrude B. Fox Environmental Center include the following responsibilities: develop and implement strategic, operational, special project, and vision plans; advise Board of Director; act as organizational spokesperson; oversee efficient and effective day-to-day operations;          develop a comprehensive budget and administer funds accordingly secure adequate          funding for operations; maintain communication with stakeholders; identify and manage  risks; and recruit, select, manage, and evaluate staff and volunteers.