Attendance: ---------- 5

Courtesy of the Floor: None

Approval of Minutes: November 12, 2007 - Budget Meeting

Motion: I move we waive the reading of the minutes of the November 12, 2007 Budget meeting and accept same as presented.

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

Old Business:

1.) Public Hearing – Continuation of Proposed 2008 Operating, Capital Reserve, Liquid Fuels, Water and Sewer Budgets (Review and Discussion).

Chairman Paulus opened the Public Hearing relative to the proposed 2008 Budgets. The Township Manager opened the discussions by advising the Board that she would like to review with them certain changes to the General Fund Budget which other than the salary figures which have yet to be determined will constitute a total revision of the Budget for adoption purposes. The Township Manager noted that in reviewing the Township’s financial situation and as a result of conversations with the Township’s Tax Collector, she would recommend that the surplus fund figure be revised from $285,000 to $385,000. Moving to the Expenditures portion of the Operating Budget, in particular, Miscellaneous Expenses, the Township Manager advised the Board that as they had requested she has determined from the City of Bethlehem, the Township has 63 hydrants within the Township and is paying the city $22.00 per hydrant. Taking that into account as well as the fact that Bethlehem has indicated a 12% increase for the year 2008, the Township Manager advised the Board that the line item for rental of hydrants has been revised from $18,150 to $18,650. With respect to the line item for Garbage /Recycling, the Township Manager noted that the fixed monthly fee for Garbage/Recycling through the Township’s garbage collector is $13,275 per month. However, also included in this line item are the payments to Marth’s for the removal of large appliances, air conditioners, etc., which the Township pays on behalf of the residents. Also, included in this figure are the supplies purchased from Lehigh County to dispose of paint and other such items. Accordingly, after discussion, Council determined to revise the line item for Garbage/Recycling from $160,000 to $165,000.

At this point in the meeting, the Township Manager opened the discussion relative to the scenario, which may occur when Revenues and Expenditures are balanced and additional funds are available for the Capital projects of the Township. Mrs. Pudliner questioned the Board as to which Capital project they would like to see any excess monies appropriated. After discussions, the Board determined that any excess monies should be appropriated into the Capital project for Municipal Building.

There was discussion regarding the meeting for adoption of the Budget. Council determined that the meeting for adoption of the Budget would be held on Monday, December 10, 2007, at 4:00 P.M. at the Township Municipal Building.

At this point in the meeting, Council returned to the Department for Fire for further discussion regarding the line item contained therein, titled Firemen’s Fund in the amount of $11,000. In that regard, Mr. Joseph Samanka, President of Han-Le-Co Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and Mr. Robin Yoder, Fire Chief of Han-Le-Co, appeared before the Board. Mr. Samanka provided the Board with an itemized estimated per call payout for the year 2007. A copy of this breakdown is attached hereto and made a part hereof. Council reviewed the paperwork provided to them. Councilman Kovacs questioned a payment to the Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, and Lieutenants. Mr. Samanka noted that is provided for in the Fire Company’s Bylaws. Councilman Kovacs questioned payments for attendance and Mr. Samanka noted that the payment is also provided in the Fire Company’s Bylaws. Mr. Samanka did note that in order to be paid anything, a firefighter must be a member of Han-Le-Co for at least six months and must attend over 20% of all calls, activities, etc. Councilman Atkinson questioned how many active firefighters are currently enrolled with the Fire Company and Mr. Samanka noted that with the Fire Police there are 30 personnel at this time. Councilman Atkinson questioned when a firefighter shows up for cleanup does that constitute attendance and Mr. Samanka indicated that typically it does not. Councilman Dreisbach questioned whether or not there was training every week and Mr. Samanka noted that every Monday night training sessions are held. He noted that meetings are separate from training and that they meet one time per month. Mr. Samanka also qualified what is encompassed in a special assignment to include putting on presentations at schools or daycare centers, parade attendance, etc.

Chairman Paulus advised all in attendance that he would just like to throw something out for consideration. Chairman Paulus presented a scenario where the Township would match up to $8,000 of all donations collected. There was also some discussion with respect to legislation currently out there, which would reinstate coin tosses. The coin tosses, will be allowed, to be held on a two-lane road posted 35 miles per hour with either a stop sign or stoplight at the area where the coin toss is being held. There was also a discussion with respect to the local services tax and the fact that the Township could increase that tax anywhere to a maximum of $52 per individual and utilize the funds for fire services. Council was of the opinion that this tax really affects the workers and not the businesses. Mr. Samanka noted that the Fire Company has gone door to door to the businesses in an attempt to secure donations. Councilman Kovacs questioned what revenues the Fire Company has received from coin tosses and Mr. Samanka indicated that it was somewhere between $3,000 to $7,000. The high end would be if they are out there for the three days that they would schedule them for a year. Councilman Kovacs questioned revenues received from the Fire Company’s newsletter. Mr. Yoder said that they are at $1,500 right now but that the newsletter itself costs $800 to produce. Mr. Yoder also noted that if they don’t get their newsletter out before Fire Prevention Week in October revenues are lost the closer you get to the holiday season. Councilman Atkinson suggested that possibly the Fire Company’s newsletter could be incorporated with the Township’s newsletter which is prepared in the Spring. Mr. Yoder suggested that possibly the Township could send a letter to the businesses and indicate to them that other municipalities are charging $52 per employee and that Hanover Township has resisted doing so but does not want to be in a situation where the Township needs to do so because there is no local support for the Township’s Fire Company. Councilman Atkinson indicated that possibly the letter to the employer should indicate that the Township has resisted increasing the tax and does not want to be in a situation where we have to tax their employees. Possibly, the Township could ask that they consider donating $1.00 per employee on their behalf. The Township Manager noted that she would draft up a letter incorporating some of these ideas for review by the Board and the Fire Company. The Fire Chief noted that the Fire Company Bylaws indicate that they cannot payout any revenues if their bank account falls below $6,000. Mr. Yoder also noted that Mr. Samanka has formed a committee to go door to door to see if anyone wants to join the Fire Company. In resolution of this matter, it was determined that the line item for Firemen’s Fund would be revised in the Budget from the figure of $11,000 to $8,000 pursuant to the discussions held at this meeting. There was also some discussion regarding the Race Street/Willowbrook Rd. signal light and the Township Manager advised that she and the Township Engineer had met with PennDOT personally and had been told that if the Traffic Engineer makes the revisions requested PennDOT would approve the Township’s plans. The Township Engineer personally hand carried the PennDOT plans to the Traffic Engineer and indicated that the Township would like them resubmitted within two weeks. However, Council should be aware that any construction would not occur until maybe Spring 2008.

There was also the discussion with respect to providing lighting at Airport and Schoenersville Rd. as was done with the light at Airport Rd. and Race Street. The Township Manager noted that matter has to be taken up through FAA for approval and that process has been commenced.

New Business: None

Courtesy of the Floor: None

Adjournment:

Motion: I move we adjourn this meeting of the Hanover Township Council at 7:55 P.M..

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra A. Pudliner
Township Manager