Present: --------------- Councilmen Atkinson, Kovacs, Paulus, Williams;
------------------------------- Sandra A. Pudliner; Vicky Roth

Absent: ------------------ Councilwoman Hayden

Attendance: ----------0

Courtesy of the Floor: None

Approval of Minutes: ---------- Dec 15, 2003 Special Council Meeting
-------------------------------- Dec 17, 2003 Regular Council Meeting

Old Business: None

New Business:

1. Resolution No. 2003-44, Budget Transfers (Vote).

A discussion ensued relative to the proposed Resolution. Council questioned the necessity for same and was advised that expenses of the Fire Department have exceeded the budgeted department amount. In accordance with the Home Rule Charter, it is necessary to transfer funds from another department so that the department for Fire does not have a deficit. There was considerable discussion with respect to the fact that the Board felt a deficit in the Fire Department should not have occurred and that the Fire Chief should have monitored his expenditures more carefully. The Township Clerk did indicate to Council that the Fire Chief indicated to her that the most recent bills submitted would most likely throw the department over budget, and if necessary those expenses could be paid in 2004. The Township Clerk advised Council that she had made a determination to prepare the Budget Transfer Resolution to include those expenses in the year 2003. In any event, Council determined that the expenditures set forth on the current Bill List involving the Fire Department would not be paid in the year 2003. The checks for such expenditures would be voided and payment for those expenses would be made from the 2004 Fire Department Budget. Accordingly, Resolution No. 2003-44 was not adopted at this time.

Payment of Bills:

Motion: ------- I move Council authorize payment of Voucher No. 000032, from the Liquid Fuels Account in the amount of $150,000.00; Voucher Nos. 10038-10085 (12/29/03 Prepaids), Voucher Nos. 10086-10118; BC/BS Wire Transfer (January), Payroll dated 12/19/03, from the General Fund Account in the amount of $43,497.00 (Voucher Nos. 10102 & 10106 were voided pursuant to Council’s determination that they be paid in the year 2004); Voucher No. 1408-1409 (12/29/03 Prepaids), from the Capital Reserve Account in the amount of $308,716.22; Voucher Nos. 1162-1165 from the Escrow Account in the amount of $546.00; Voucher Nos. 1393-1397 from the Water Account in the amount of $147.76; Voucher Nos. 2251-2257 from the Sewer Account in the amount of $1,555.18 for a Grand Total Expenditure of $504,462.16.

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

Courtesy of the Floor: None

There was a discussion at this point in the meeting wherein the Township Manager advised Councilman Kovacs and Chairman Paulus of the reservation made for their attendance at the Lehigh County Association of Township Officials’ Convention on Friday, January 9, 2004. The Township Manager also questioned the Board as to the attendance of the Board at the upcoming PSAT’s Convention in April, 2004. Chairman Paulus indicated he would be attending. Councilman Atkinson and Councilman Kovacs also indicated they would attend. The Township Manager advised Council that the Township Engineer had received a registration form and has completed same for his attendance at the convention. A discussion ensued relative to the fact that the Township’s Engineer is also the township engineer for Forks Township and that his attendance at the convention would benefit both Hanover Township, Lehigh County, as well as Forks Township. Accordingly, Council felt that the Township Engineer should ask Forks Township to pay half of the cost for the attendance at the convention. The Township Manager was directed to take this matter up with the Township Engineer.

At this point in the meeting, Councilman Kovacs raised certain issues. He noted that in one of the recent magazines from PSATs he read an article which indicated that the Township’s Fire Police must be approved by the governing body before becoming fire police. Councilman Atkinson commented that he thought that the Township had approved the charters relative to the Fire Company some time ago, but that the Township Manager should double check on that.

The second item raised by Councilman Kovacs involved vandalism which occurred on his property with respect to his Christmas lights on the Friday after Christmas. He noted that another of his neighbors, namely, Mr. Malozi, had the same problem. Councilman Kovacs advised that he should have called the state police but neglected to do so. However, he had called the Township’s Code Enforcement Officers’ number at approximately 10:30 to 11:00 P.M. that evening and received no response and no answer to his call. Discussion ensued at this time as to the lack of response from the Township’s Code Enforcement Officer. It was noted that Code Enforcement was on duty at that time. The Township Manager was directed to check into this matter and if necessary reprimand the Code Enforcement Office for not responding to the call. It was also noted that the Code Enforcement Officers be instructed that they need to carry that phone with them at all times so that they are able to receive all calls incoming.

Adjournment:

Motion: ---I move we adjourn this meeting of the Hanover Township Council at 4:35 P.M.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra A. Pudliner
Township Manager