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

Absent: ------------------ 0

Attendance: ----------4

Courtesy of the Floor: None

Approval of Minutes: ---------- November 8, 2004 - Budget Meeting

Motion: ---I move we waive the reading of the Minutes of the November 8, 2004 Budget Meeting and accept same as presented.

Paulus, Kovacs: Moved and Seconded

Atkinson, Hayden, Kovacs, Williams, Paulus: ------- Aye ------- Unan.

Old Business:

1. Public Hearing – Continuation of Proposed 2005 Operating, Capital Reserve, Liquid Fuels, Water and Sewer Budgets (Review and Discussion)

Chairman Paulus opened the Public Hearing relative to the Proposed 2005 Budgets. Chairman Paulus noted that the Township’s Fire Chief and the Public Works Director are in attendance this evening to review the Fire Budget, Emergency Management Budget and Highway Budget.

Council began its review with the department for Fire Expenses as set forth in the Operating Budget. The Township’s Fire Chief, Robin Yoder, reviewed with the Board the proposed Expenditures for the year 2005. In that regard, a discussion ensued initiated by the Township’s Fire Chief with respect to the Firemen’s Relief line item set forth in the Fire Budget. Mr. Yoder felt that Council should consider removing that item from his budget and making same a separate line item. Mr. Yoder noted that the line item this year has thrown his budget in the red. He also noted that in the alternative it can make it look like he has extra money left in his budget which is not the reality of the situation. Council discussed the matter but determined that they would prefer to leave the Firemen’s Relief line item under the Fire Expenses. However, the line item for Firemen’s Relief was increased from the Proposed $25,500 to $31,000.

At this point in the meeting, another discussion ensued relative to quotes, which had been secured for an emergency generator to power both the fire station and the Township Building. The quote for the fire station was in the amount of $24,397. The quote for the Township Municipal Building was in the amount of $38,100 (natural gas generator) or in the alternative in the amount of $40,515 (diesel generator). The Township’s Fire Chief felt that since the Township Building is the command center, the Township Building should have emergency generator capacity. Council discussed the issue and determined that the Township should look for grants to see if funding was available. Fire Chief noted that he could also look for grants for the fire station. Councilman Williams suggested the Township look into the utilization of propane instead of natural gas or diesel. Councilman Atkinson commented that he felt that any unit should be self-contained.

At this point in the meeting, the Township Manager initiated a discussion with respect to the Township’s ambulance provider, Northampton Regional Emergency Medical Services. The Township Manager noted that she has become aware through various individuals, including residents, of the fact that the Township’s ambulance provider no longer has a presence in the Township. Originally, as Council will recall they had an ambulance at the Township’s fire station and more recently the Township Manager was informed that the ambulance was at the airport. It appears that the ambulance provider has now removed the presence in the Township and has an ambulance in Allen Township to service this entire area. The response time has become way out of line, 13 minutes or more to the scene. The Township Manager felt that due to the Township’s aging population, this type of response time was not acceptable.

The Township’s Fire Chief commented that when Northampton Regional took over the Township, they promised to keep an ambulance at the fire station or at the airport. They also indicated that within a year they would have an ambulance somewhere in Catasauqua. They even noted that they would have a close response time as the Township had when we utilized the services of the Catasauqua Ambulance Corp. As the Township Manager noted, they are now in Allen Township and the response time has not been good, approximately 11 to 15 minutes.

Council discussed this matter and advised the Township Manager that this type of situation is not acceptable and that the ambulance corp. should be contacted to indicate that if they are not in a position to honor their agreement with the Township, the Township will seek another ambulance service provider for Hanover Township. The Township Manager advised that she would contact the ambulance corp. immediately to review this matter. With respect to the Emergency Management Budget, the Township’s Fire Chief, also the Township’s Emergency Management Director, reviewed the Emergency Management Expenses with the Board and the Board felt that the proposed budget figures were acceptable.

At this point in the meeting, Council reviewed the Highway Budget with the Township’s Public Works Director, Bruce Pudliner. As a result of that review, the line item for Snow Removal Materials was increased from $11,000 to $15,000. With respect to the line item for Traffic Signal Maintenance, the $30,000 proposed figure was increased to $42,000. This resulted by way of a discussion regarding the Township modifying additional signal lights to allow emergency vehicles to trip the light to green. This would benefit both the ambulance service and the Township’s fire personnel. The Township Manager advised that she had anticipated doing Airport and Postal Road as well as Airport and Catasauqua Roads in the year 2005. There was a discussion as to whether or not the City of Bethlehem would have any cost reimbursement to the Township for the Airport and Postal Roads signal light. The Township Manager would research that issue.

At this point, Chairman Paulus determined to continue the Public Hearing on the Proposed 2005 Budgets until the next scheduled hearing, which would be Monday, November 22, 2004 at 7:00 P.M.

New Business: ---------- NONE

Courtesy of the Floor:

Mr. Joseph Feskanin, 1680 N. Irving Street, advised the Board that after hearing the potential issues involving the ambulance service he felt the Township should indeed pursue a resolution of that problem.

At this point in the meeting, Councilman Williams who will be leaving the Board as a result of moving out of the Township, expressed his appreciation to the Board and everyone involved for the lovely farewell they provided for him and his wife. He noted that it was a worthwhile experience coming on the Board and that he was never sorry for his involvement as a councilman in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. Councilman Kovacs commented that it was a pleasure having him on the Board and working with him over the years.

Adjournment:

Motion: ---I move we adjourn this meeting of the Hanover Township Council at 8:10 P.M.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra A. Pudliner
Township Manager