Present: ---------------- Councilwoman Hayden; Councilmen Atkinson, Dreisbach;
-------------------------------- Kovacs, Paulus and Sandra A. Pudliner

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

Attendance: ----------2

Courtesy of the Floor:

Mr. and Mrs. Chism appeared before the Board and advised Council that they are from North Carolina but are in the area at this time of year for certain craft displays. Mrs. Chism indicated to Council that they are in attendance at the meeting this evening to advise the Board of the treatment Mrs. Chism received from a Township employee, namely, Mr. Robin Yoder. Mrs. Chism indicated that she received a parking ticket, which she feels is very unfair. With respect to the ticket, she noticed there is one sign on the entire road approximately 40 feet down from where they had parked. She further noted that where they are staying locally for the craft activities, there is a street directly behind the building, which is No Parking but has ample signage all along the entire street. She noted that they have a large truck with a camper on the back of it. She advised that they had been going to a restaurant know as C. L. Checkers for dinner. They had parked on a road which she now understands is a private road and that they did not see the sign at all. Since the issuance of the parking ticket, Mrs. Chism advised that she has walked down toward BJ’s and located a sign which sign she felt was twisted in such a fashion that it could be mistaken as going the other way. In all fairness, Mrs. Chism indicated that maybe they should have seen the sign. After receiving the ticket, Mrs. Chism advised that she had gone to the Township Building and was advised to call Mr. Yoder. Mrs. Chism advised the Board that her conversation with Mr. Yoder was extremely unpleasant, that he was very nasty. He noted to her that anyone with common sense would not have parked there and had told her that she should have parked at The Hilton Hotel. Mrs. Chism noted that she and her husband thought that they should not park in the private parking lot for the hotel and thought that was a towable area. Mrs. Chism reiterated that she was treated horribly by Mr. Yoder to the point that she actually began to cry. She advised the Board that she had been a newspaper reporter for 35 years in California and there you have to prove your case. Mrs. Chism concluded by indicating that she is willing to pay the ticket, however, she still feels that it was an unjust ticket. Chairman Paulus advised Mrs. Chism that the Township would look into this situation and check the area in question and the Township Manager could be contacted regarding the disposition of this matter. In that regard, the Township Manager advised Mrs. Chism to call her the next afternoon to allow the Manager time to investigate the matter and determine what action would be taken.

Approval of Minutes: ---------- November 29, 2004 - Budget Meeting

Motion: ---I move we waive the reading of the Minutes of the November 29, 2004 Budget Meeting and accept same as presented.

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

At this point in the meeting, Chairman Atkinson commented that the Township has been receiving complaints with respect to Mr. Yoder’s manner in dealing with various individuals and that he felt this is a matter of concern to the Township.

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. The Township Manager advised the Board that she has provided them with a corrected 2005 Budget. At this point in the meeting, the Board proceeded to review the amendments. The Township Manager noted that with respect to the General Fund Budget items of interest would be the revision of Surplus Funds from the Proposed Budget of $600,000 to $475,000. Council reviewed the other changes with respect to the Revenues portion of the General Fund Budget at this time. With respect to the Expenditure portion of the General Fund Budget, the Township Manager noted that salaries have been set as follows: A 5% increase with respect to the Manager’s salary and a 3.7% increase with respect to all other Township employee salaries. The Township Manager noted that no changes were made with respect to the Department for Municipal Building, Code Enforcement Expenses, Planning and Zoning Expenses, Emergency Management Expenses, and Recreation Expenses. The Department for Fire Expense, the Township Manager noted reflects a revision to the Firemen’s Relief from $25,500 to $31,000. With respect to the Highway Department, the Township Manager advised of the changes made therein including the salaries of Township employees with a projected wage increase of 3.7%. Additionally, with respect to the Highway Department, it was noted that Snow Removal Materials was increased from $11,000 to $15,000 and Traffic Signal Maintenance was increased from $30,000 to $42,000. With respect to the Capital Reserve/Future Road Construction category, that was reduced from $1,000,000 to $837,000. It was noted the previously adopted Five Year Capital Program would need to be amended to reflect that change. With respect to the Miscellaneous Expenses Department, it was noted that Social Security was revised from $27,025 to $26,850. It was also noted that the Contingencies line item was revised from $3,512 to $12,457. Additionally, a new line item titled Greater Lehigh Valley Visiting Nurses Association was added in the amount of $1,000. The net effect of all the revisions, the Township Manager stated shows total year to date Revenue in the projected 2005 Budget at $2,725,674, with the Expenditures also at $2,725,674.

With respect to the Capital Reserve Account, the Township Manager noted that the revision with respect to both Revenues and Expenditures is the line item for Highway Future Road Construction Project which was reduced from $1,000,000 to $837,000.

With respect to the Liquid Fuels Budget, the Township Manager noted that the Expenditures portion of same, in particular, the line item for Road Construction was revised from $95,000 to zero dollars, leaving an ending balance of $97,428 rather than the $2,428 proposed. It was noted that neither the Water nor Sewer Budgets were changed and that the proposed figures for same remain.

Chairman Paulus closed the Public Hearing relative to the proposed 2005 Budgets. The Township Manager advised that on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. Council will hold a special meeting to adopt a Resolution for Budget Amendments, a Resolution to Amend the Five Year Capital Program, and an Ordinance to Adopt a Budget for the year 2005.

At this point in the meeting, there was a discussion relative to the possibility of holding an office party at the Township Municipal Building for Township employees and Township officials. As a result of this discussion and potential legalities involved therein, the Board felt that such an office party would be inappropriate.

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

Courtesy of the Floor: ---------- NONE

Adjournment:

Motion: ---I move we adjourn this meeting of the Hanover Township Council at 7:35 P.M.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Sandra A. Pudliner
Township Manager