Courtesy of the Floor: None

Approval of Minutes: --- December 14, 2009 - Special Council Meeting
----------------------------------------- December 16, 2009 - Regular Council Meeting

Motion: --- I move we waive the reading of the December 14, 2009 Special Council Meeting and accept same as presented.

Paulus, Kovacs: Moved and Seconded
Atkinson, Dreisbach, Hayden, Kovacs, Paulus: ------- Aye ------- Unan.

Motion: --- I move we waive the reading of the December 16, 2009 Special Council Meeting and accept same as presented.

Paulus, Atkinson: Moved and Seconded
Atkinson, Dreisbach, Hayden, Kovacs, Paulus: ------- Aye ------- Unan.

Old Business:

Councilman Kovacs initiated discussion with respect to the Winter Convention of the Lehigh County Association of Township Officials. Councilman Kovacs indicated that he is the president of said association and that the association’s mini-convention will be held on Friday, January 8, 2010 at the Schnecksville Fire Company. He noted that the dinner charge was $20 per person and that entertainment will be provided. Councilman Kovacs felt that the Township employees should be notified of the upcoming convention and also that he felt the Township should be willing to pay for the $20 per person fee for the employees. Councilwoman Hayden indicated that she had an issue with paying for same and that it was a bad precedent to set. The Board reviewed the matter and determined that the Township would not pay for the attendance of the employees at the mini-convention. Council also directed the Township Manager to provide each employee with the invitation to the mini-convention and indicate to them that should they wish to attend, the fee for same is $20 per person.

Councilman Kovacs questioned the Township Manager as to whether or not she had checked on the fee for the liquor license transfer hearings. Mrs. Pudliner advised that by resolution the Township had set the fee at $1,000. Councilman Kovacs again reiterated that his recollection was that the fee had been changed to $1,500.

Councilman Kovacs also advised the Board that pursuant to the latest PSATs News Bulletin there is a current house bill with respect to municipal advertising which sets forth that the newspapers would give municipalities a 20% discount over their rates and that the municipality could also publish information on their website. Councilman Kovacs noted that PSATs opposes the proposed bill because newspapers can simply increase their rates to compensate for the discount. After discussion, Council determined that the Township also opposes the proposed bill and that the Township Manager should contact the state senator and state representative and indicate the Township’s position.

Payment of the Bills:

Motion: --- Nos. 3548-3551 from Capital Reserve in the amount of $170,293.01; Voucher Nos. 3550-3552 from Escrow Account in the amount of $5,506.63; Voucher No. 3576 from the Water Account in the amount of $11.22; Voucher Nos. 4535-4538 from the Sewer Account in the amount of $4,347.11 for a Grand Total Expenditure of $253,991.15.

Paulus, Dreisbach: Moved and Seconded
Atkinson, Dreisbach, Hayden, Kovacs, Paulus: ------- Aye ---------- Unan.

Courtesy of the Floor:

Councilwoman Hayden questioned the Township Manager as to the actual surplus for the year 2009. The Township Manager noted that she had projected a surplus of $175,000. The actual surplus appears to be somewhere between $165,000 and $170,000. There was also some discussion initiated by Councilman Dreisbach relating to advertising on the Township’s web site. Councilman Dreisbach noted that older people might not have access to computers and would not see the advertisement. The Township Manager did note that the Township’s web site has appeared in the Township’s newsletter advising the residents that if they seek information, they can go on the web site to gather information. Councilman Atkinson commented that another approach could be a telephone system such as the school districts have where when the schools close; it automatically leaves messages regarding same. However, Councilman Atkinson was not aware of what costs are associated with such a system. Councilman Dreisbach also advised the Board that he had noted in the newspaper that there is a gas company in York, Pennsylvania, offering the same benefits as PPL, i.e. offering people a lower rate for gas service than UGI. Councilman Dreisbach also noted that the offer was only for the first 5,000 customers.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra A. Pudliner
Township Manager