The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Hanover Township, Northampton County was called to order by Vice-Chairman Glenn Walbert at the Hanover Township Municipal Building, 3630 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18017 at 7:30 P.M.

 

            Present were Supervisors Colon, Salvesen and Nagle, Mr. Mike Schmalzer for Engineer Birdsall, Attorney Wendy Nicolosi for Solicitor Broughal, Manager Finnigan and Public Works Director Healy. Chairman Diacogiannis was away on business.

 

            The pledge of Allegiance was performed.

 

            Upon motion of Mr. Salvesen, seconded by Mr. Colon, the Board unanimously approved the Agenda.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye.

 

            Upon motion of Mr. Salvesen, seconded by Mr. Nagle, the Board approved the minutes, as written, from the meeting of the Board of Supervisors dated February 13, 2007.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye.

 

            Upon motion of Mr. Colon, seconded by Mr. Nagle, the Board approved the List of Bills and Transfers dated February 27, 2007 as prepared by the Secretary/Treasurer, and to enter the signed List of Bills by the Secretary/Treasurer and the Board of Supervisors as an attachment to the minutes.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR

            It was noted that no one wished to offer any comment.

 

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN

            Mr. Diacogiannis was absent.

 

REPORT OF THE VICE-CHAIRMAN

            Mr. Walbert had nothing to report.

 

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS

            Mr. Salvesen wanted to let Mr. Healy know that he received phone calls from residents commenting on how well the Public Works Department handled the snow storms.

            Mr. Healy stated he will pass it on.

 

 

PLANNING & ZONING

            Mr. Walbert closed the regular meeting and opened a Public Hearing for 3864 Courtney Street Conditional Use Hearing. It was noted for the record that the public hearing has been duly advertised and the Secretary has proof of publication. A Court Stenographer was present to record all testimony. After everyone who wished to speak, had spoken, the public hearing was closed and the regular meeting was re-opened.

 

            Mr. Walbert closed the regular meeting and opened the Public Hearing for Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for the AFHBD. It was noted for the record that the public hearing has been duly advertised and the Secretary has proof of publication. A Court Stenographer was present to record all testimony. After everyone who wished to speak, had spoken, the public hearing was closed and the regular meeting was re-opened.

            Mr. Walbert stated that the Board will consider this at their March 13, 2007 meeting.

 

 

PUBLIC WORKS

            There was nothing on the Agenda.

 

ADMINISTRATION

            There was nothing on the Agenda.

 

DEVELOPMENTS

            Mr. Colon moved that the Board approve, as recommended by the Township Engineer, to grant the Developer of the Dewire Estates 14 Lot R1-S Subdivision the requested release for Escrow Release Number 1 in the amount of $23,248.80 conditioned upon the following:

1.      That the Developer acknowledges that the security provided by Bank of America, as required by the Subdivision Improvements Agreement, will remain at a minimum of $433,277.20 for the work remaining, plus contingencies; and

2.      That the Developer adheres to Township Policy #25 (payment of Plans and Appeals Accounts).

 

            Mr. Colon further moved to notify the Developer/Owner of the Board’s action relative to this matter.

            Mr. Salvesen seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR

            It was noted that no one wished to offer any comment.

 

ROAD REPORTS

            Mr. Walbert – Road District #1, Mr. Salvesen – Road District #2, Mr. Colon – Road District #4 and Mr. Nagle – Road District #5 & #6 had nothing to report.

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT

            Mr. Schmalzer advised the Board that the detour went into effect today on Hanoverville Road and will stay that way until Jaindl Boulevard is open.

 

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT

            Attorney Nicolosi had nothing to report.

 

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

            Mr. Healy had nothing to report.

 

MANAGER’S REPORT

            Mr. Finnigan stated he needs a motion to authorize the Vice-Chairman, in the Chairman’s absence, and the Secretary to execute the agreement with the City of Bethlehem regarding sewer capacity. The City agreed to all the additions, deletions and corrections that we went back to them with and the agreement will be signed by the Mayor and the Bethlehem Authority.

            Mr. Finnigan stated that Township residents currently are paying roughly a 21-23% surcharge depending upon what bill you look at and the new negotiated rate through 2027 is 5%, so the taxpayers are getting a decrease in their bills.

            Mr. Nagle moved that the Board authorize the Vice-Chairman, in the Chairman’s absence, and the Secretary to execute the agreement with the City of Bethlehem and the Bethlehem Authority regarding sewer capacity.

            Mr. Colon seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye.

 

            Mr. Finnigan stated that in front of the Board tonight is the Colonial Regional Police report, the 2006 Annual Report from Bethlehem Area Public Library, and the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority report.

 

            Mr. Finnigan reported on the following:

• Last week he and Stacy attended a PSATS seminar for Open Records and Open Meetings; it was very informative.
• Today we attended a Pennsylvania Borough seminar for Budgeting.
• Over the next month or so we will be transitioning from AD Computer to ADP for payroll processing. It includes new software for clocking in at the municipal building through the computer, time-clocks at the Community Center and Pool and Municipal Garage so we can do some cost allocation, and most importantly we were unable to get AD Computer to do the things we needed to do to eliminate a lot of the manual stuff we do for payroll, which is very excessive and is worse in the summer, and this gives us the opportunity to automate the things we need to do and eliminate Stacy or Lori spending hours figuring out the payroll.
• Discussed the brake-retarder ordinance and the locations in the Township where this will be put into effect.
• Discussed two policies; one for capital purchases and one for employee travel expenses. Both will be on the March 13, 2007 Agenda for adoption.
• Met with Mr. Schmalzer and Mr. Broughal today with a potential Developer who is interested in putting a multi-purpose arena in the Lehigh Valley and one of the sites being considered is the Airport Road corridor.

 

 

Upon motion of Mr. Colon, seconded by Mr. Nagle, the Board approved adjournment at

8:37 P.M.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye.

 

 

                       

 

                                                                                                                        Stacy C. Milo

                                                                                                                        Secretary/Treasurer