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

Absent: ------------------ 1

Attendance: ----------3

Courtesy of the Floor: None

Approval of Minutes: ---------- November 15, 2004 - Budget Meeting

Motion: ---I move we waive the reading of the Minutes of the November 15, 2004 Budget Meeting and accept same as presented.

Paulus, Kovacs: Moved and Seconded

Atkinson, Hayden, Kovacs, 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. He noted that in attendance at this meeting were representatives of Northampton Regional Emergency Medical Services to review their services anticipated in the year 2005 with the Township Council. In attendance were Mr. Eric Wescoe and Mr. Joseph Solderich of NREMS. Mr. Wescoe approached the Board and advised Council that Mr. Kutzler was still the president of NREMS but that his job duties in Bethlehem Township keep him very busy and that he and Mr. Solderich are here on his behalf. Mr. Wescoe noted that the Township Manager had contacted him with respect to concerns, which she expressed on behalf of the Township relative to the ambulance service.

The first issue reviewed was a perceived lack of presence in the Township by the ambulance corp. Mr. Wescoe indicated that they are in the Township frequently but admitted that they are not there as much as they have been in the past. As Council may recall, Mr. Wescoe indicated that they used to stage at the Hanover Township fire station. Mr. Wescoe commented that they have gotten away from that. There had been minor differences with the fire fighters but those have been resolved. However, the equipment always needed to be kept outside and there were issues in the winter with the ice and snow in having to scrape the windows of the trucks, etc. It was also noted that at a certain point in time they had utilized space at the LVI Airport. Nonetheless, Mr. Wescoe advised the Board that the issue of lack of presence in the Township will be resolved. He indicated that the airport has given us five key cards and bay space to keep the truck at the airport.

The second issue of concern, which was noted by the Township Manager to Mr. Wescoe involved the length of response time within the Township. Mr. Wescoe advised that when they are dispatched they are asked a series of questions. He also noted that there are various types of responses, which come into play. For example, an Alpha response is a non life-threatening situation. There are also Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo responses. The Delta and Echo are the two that require an immediate response and the presence of paramedics. One of the points Mr. Wescoe was trying to make was that depending on the type of response the ambulance service would sometimes not need to use their lights and sirens and would proceed at a more cautious level to get to the scene. He noted that there are liability issues which come into play if the ambulance corp. is utilizing the lights and sirens all the time even when the response does not require same, i.e. a fall victim, etc. Mr. Wescoe also noted they have mutual aid with numerous entities. In that regard, it should be noted that Mr. Wescoe provided the Hanover Township Council with a breakdown of incidents per community, response times per community, time of day calls are received, primary coverage area, mutual aid, as well as a copy of an emergency medical transportation satisfaction survey and additional informative information which Council might find of interest. With respect to a mutual aid call at the LVI Airport, Mr. Wescoe commented that NREMS was not available but Mutual Aid was utilized in that instance. He further noted that they have maybe one call a week where mutual aid comes into play. Mr. Solderich commented that they appreciate the fact that the Township is utilizing the Opticom System, which assists them in making a faster response in the Township. There was a discussion about the Township Council budgeting next year for additional Opticom Control Units and asking the ambulance corp. for any recommendation they may have. Mr. Solderich noted that it would be his opinion that the Township should install the Opticom Controllers proceeding south through the Township.

Councilwoman Hayden expressed her concern over the fact that the ambulance corp. did not have a presence in the Township. She noted that the Township was not aware of it. Additionally, she indicated that she felt the response time certainly would be longer if they are coming from Allen Township as opposed to being in the Township at the time of a call. Vice Chairman Atkinson commented that originally NREMS had been at the fire station and then at the airport. The Township received a series of complaints from individuals and businesses since NREMS left the Township. Since it appears that the ambulance corps presence in the Township terminated on or about July 2004, Council Atkinson indicated he would be more interested in the response times for the first six months of the year versus the remainder of 2004. He noted he would be more interested in the response times for the Delta and Echo calls when the ambulance corp. had a presence in the Township in 2004 versus thereafter.

Mr. Wescoe advised Council that their plan for Hanover Township is as follows:

A. To provide the service we agreed to do. Our intent is to be in Hanover Township at the airport where we have a place to put our truck

B. To implement a survey for people utilizing our services.

Councilman Kovacs commented that he has used the NREMS services and find them to be very competent individuals. Mr. Wescoe noted that there are 16 full-timers and a total of 51 individuals at NREMS. Chairman Paulus reiterated that NREMS is indicating that they will have a presence in the Township at the airport and Mr. Wescoe confirmed that they would do so as much as possible. Vice Chairman Atkinson commented that his concern is that during the day there is a large concentration of people in the Township. Mr. Wescoe finalized the discussion by advising that NREMS is planning to schedule a meeting for all the communities they serve which in this case are six municipalities. The meeting is planned some time after the spring of 2005.

At this point in the meeting, Council returned to its review of the proposed 2005 Operating Budget, in particular, the department for Planning and Zoning Expenses. Council reviewed same and made no changes at this time. Council then reviewed the department for Recreation and made no changes to same at this time. With respect to the Miscellaneous Expenses departments, Council reviewed same and entered into a discussion relative to the Greater Lehigh Valley Visiting Nurses Association request for an allocation from the Township. After considerable discussion, Council determined to add a line item to the Miscellaneous Department for the Lehigh Valley Visiting Nurses Association and to fund same in the amount of $1,000 in the year 2005. It should be noted that there was a discussion with respect to the Rental of Hydrants item listed in the miscellaneous department as to why the figure has been going down. Council directed the Township Manager to make a determination as to why same has occurred and whether it relates to hydrants being out of service or has anything to do with the Witko Mobile Home Park going out of business, etc

At this point in the meeting, Council proceeded to back track and reviewed the General Fund Budget from the beginning. It was noted that the changes previously made were acceptable as same related to the revenues portion of the Budget. With respect to the Expenditures portion of the Budget, there was a discussion regarding the $25,000 set forth in the Municipal Building Expense department for Materials and Supplies. The Township Manager advised that those monies relate to the Township’s desire to revamp the system in the Township for having plans put on disc, as well as the many development plans in the Township’s map room area being put into a different type of system where you can hang the plans rather than store them in cabinets. Council determined to leave the $25,000 appropriation as is.

The Township Manager also noted that a more likely scenario for the surplus coming into the year 2005 rather than the $600,000 shown would be $450,000 to $475,000. She reviewed this matter with Council and Council determined that for the purposes of balancing the Budget, the Township Manager should revise the Capital Program, in particular, the line item for Future Road Construction and decrease same accordingly to balance the Budget.

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

Courtesy of the Floor:

Mr. Frank Dreisbach, 2066 Troxell Street, advised Council that as they are aware he has indicated in writing his desire to be considered for the opening on Council and if they had any questions for him he would be happy to address them at this time. Chairman Paulus noted that they are in receipt of his letter as well as another party who has expressed interest and that next Monday at 8:15 P.M. a meeting will be held at which time he should be in attendance and the entire issue would be reviewed at that point and time. Chairman Paulus also noted at the next meeting of the continuation of the Public Hearing on the Budgets scheduled at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, November 29, 2004, Council would review employee wages and benefits at that time by way of an Executive Session. That meeting of course would be followed by a Special Meeting to be held at 8:15 P.M. for the purpose of discussion regarding the vacancy on the Hanover Township Council which resulted from the resignation of Councilman William Williams who has since moved from Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

Adjournment:

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

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

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra A. Pudliner
Township Manager