Fire tax funding was one of the main talking points during the Feb. 20 Heidelberg Township supervisors’ meeting.

Supervisor David Fink reported that at the meeting of the Goodwill Fire Company, Germansville, there was discussion on the over allocation of $53,730.41 in fire tax funds from 2018 and 2019 due to a calculation error.

Fink proposed the township establish a loan with the fire company in annual installments over a five-year period, commencing with the 2020 fire tax collection.

The loan would have a 0 percent interest rate to pay back the full amount, noting the need to establish a paper trail to correct misappropriation errors.

“There were three people, three entities who should have caught that,” Fink said.

Germansville Fire Company President TJ Stellar objected to the proposal, saying it would place additional burdens on volunteers to pay back a loan for unknowingly misappropriated funds on top of an outstanding $225,000 payment for new equipment.

“Now we’re asking our volunteers to take time away from their friends, their family, their personal lives on the weekends to come and sell more wings, more cheese steaks … to pay back something they didn’t even realize was a mistake until after we had already spent the funds,” Stellar said. “The funds were spent on the truck which benefits the whole community, the addition which, at the end of the day, the building there is yours, so I would like to look at it as a.) a donation or b.) an investment into a township building property.”

Chairman Steve Bachman said the fire tax, when first implemented, planned to raise about $100,000 annually, and that the amount was variable from year to year.

“You got a bonus by mistake but you should have still been budgeting for $100,000,” Bachman said.

Bachman and Vice Chairman Jonathan Jakum said that while they may be willing to forgive a portion of the fire tax funds out of the general fund, the township budget could not handle a $50,000 donation and the fund was already budgeted.

Fink said supervisors could be impeached and removed by the state for “misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance” if the incorrect allocation was not addressed.

The board approved the fire tax loan proposal, but supervisors told Stellar the topic would be revisited and would include consideration of the fire company’s current financial status.

During the March 19 Heidelberg supervisors’ meeting, critical township business was addressed.

Due to concerns about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the meeting room was configured to encourage social distancing by increasing spacing between seats.

Extra hand sanitizer also was available and the room was also thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after the meeting.

During the monthly reports, Emergency Management Coordinator and Zoning Officer Dawn Didra proposed the adoption of a township disaster declaration in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Didra, Lehigh County and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency recommends all municipalities declare an emergency in response to COVID-19 to ease critical funding access and the purchase of needed supplies.

The board voted to approve the declaration.

Under unfinished township business, the proposed adoption of a Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance, which was first discussed during the Feb. 20 board meeting, was tabled until the next board meeting in April.

The ordinance would prevent township funds from being used on “unconstitutional Second Amendment-infringement policies” such as the confiscation of firearms and accessories, according to Bachman in February.

Additionally, a measure to add handicap ramps to the walkways of Heidelberg Heights was also tabled until April.

Regarding new township business, the board voted to appoint Barry Isett and Associates as the township building inspector to close out open permits originally approved by Code Master Inspection Services.

Supervisors also approved the adoption of the Heidelberg Township Emergency Operations Plan, which details the township’s chain of command and procedures during a disaster or emergency situation.

In a follow-up email, Didra told The Press that both the disaster declaration and Emergency Operation Plan were filed with Lehigh County EMA and PEMA on March 20.

Additionally, the board voted to table one landowner’s application to be added to the Agricultural Security Area, which protects farming rights and land use security in the township.

Didra said the vote was just a formality, as the tabled application will be automatically approved after six months.

Finally, a multitownship bid for road oil and chip seal supplies was also approved.