By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

During the fire company report presented at the Nov. 19 Heidelberg board meeting, Supervisor David Fink discussed the lack of support from Lowhill Township for the fire company and other emergency services, which he said was discussed in previous meetings.

Fink said with regard to per capita contributions from Heidelberg versus Lowhill Township residents to all of the fire companies that support Lowhill, Heidelberg taxpayers were paying four times as much as Lowhill residents for emergency services.

Goodwill Fire Chief Jay Scheffler said a meeting was scheduled for Dec. 3 with Lowhill’s supervisors and nearby fire chiefs.

The board asked Scheffler to report back on the meeting’s outcome, and to voice the township’s concerns.

Supervisors also noted that, if necessary, the township could generate a letter of support.

In his report, Scheffler said mask-wearing was now required in the fire company building, during training and when riding in vehicles to and from calls due to the recent spikes in COVID-19 cases.

Additionally, Scheffler and Fink noted the insurance for the fire company building increased by $1,700.

Fink added the building was valued at more than $3 million.

Scheffler requested to have the total estimated amount of fire tax the company should be receiving yearly, noting variances in the amount of taxes collected during the discount period, on-time period or during delinquency could create confusion.

Township Administrator Janice Meyers said she would send the estimated total fire tax to help the fire company budget and track collections.

In addition, Scheffler noted that the township’s Santa Run would start 10 a.m. Dec. 19.

For the Northern Valley EMS report, Chairman Steve Bachman reported that for October the ambulance corps handled 19 calls, missed five calls, for 79 percent coverage, bringing the year-to-date total to 93 calls.

NOVA liaison Dianne Huber told Bachman he and Jason Breidinger, NOVA’s public relations co-chair, could work together to have Lowhill Township, which is also served by NOVA but contributes less than other townships, give more to the EMS service.

Huber also said NOVA increased household subscriptions from $70 to $75, while also eliminating deductibles.

She said a deal was being discussed with Cetronia Ambulance Corps, noting that due to COVID-19 and financial hardships, Cetronia has been going into other ambulance squad areas and soliciting for money.

“Meaning if they come into our area, they’re soliciting for money, but yet it should go to NOVA because it’s in our area,” Huber said.

She said five different squads were affected by Cetronia’s actions, and the matter would be collectively discussed by all organizations.

Under subdivisions and land developments, supervisors approved a lot line adjustment plan for resident Michael Masiko’s property along Rex Road after township engineer Chris Noll said all comments and requirements on the preliminary plan were addressed.

For new business, resident Kyle Shipwash asked the board whether permits or inspections were required to complete renovation work, noting that he intended to do work on his existing siding and deck.

Shipwash said he was told permits were not required for removal and replacement work, but when he applied for permits, he was told they could not be issued as his house is located in a flood plain.

He also said he received a letter threatening a $1,000 daily fine if he did not cease construction and renovations on his deck, and was directed to speak to the township’s building code inspector, who acted unprofessionally and was “very, very belittling.”

Zoning Officer Dawn Didra suggested Shipwash contact the second building inspector to get the needed permits.

Bachman said if the second inspector route does not work out, Shipwash’s next step would be to go to the Uniform Construction Code Board of Appeals, which is mandated by the state, to appeal the ruling on the UCC.

But, Bachman noted there could be significant associated costs.

Noll and the supervisors advised Shipwash to keep people off the deck for safety and to avoid liability, code violations and fines, but added if he was working on the process to resolve the issues and erected temporary safety structures, the township would not be in a hurry to prosecute or impose any financial penalties.

In other business, supervisors were provided with an agreement from the Sanctuary at Haafsville to take care of stray animals.

Bachman stated there was no longer a maximum out-of-pocket expense included.

Meyers said if the township did not contract with the Sanctuary, residents may face trouble if they come across stray cats and dogs, and noted the Sanctuary’s hospital did good work to find foster homes for animals and provide trap and neuter services.

Board members said they would prefer having a spending cap added to the agreement as an addendum and approved a motion to set a $900 limit.

Additionally, supervisors approved a motion to advertise the proposed 2021 budget, which Bachman noted had been balanced after a series of budget meetings.

Furthermore, the board discussed how to spend the $57,912.98 in COVID-19 relief funding allocated to the township from Lehigh County.

A $57,750 bid for an air vac system intended for the municipal building’s garage - which was approved for bidding at the previous meeting was rejected because the cost was nearly the total amount of grant money received.

The board ultimately agreed to get additional quotes on air vacs for an amount not to exceed $20,000 to allow for other expenses to be covered by the grant, and to stay under the prevailing wage limit which simplifies the process for applicants and the township.

The board did accept a $5,204 bid quote for an Alert Security camera system for the exterior of the municipal building.

Additionally, Didra noted NOVA was having a hard time obtaining N-95 masks and had requested purchasing reusable N-95 mask kits and filters.

The board agreed to purchase the personal protective equipment for $4,210.

The fire company also put in a request to purchase air pack systems for $20,429, which Scheffler said will be used during fire calls, and also when responding to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 medical calls, as they provide “the highest level of respiratory protection there is.”

The board accepted the proposal, but with an amendment to adjust the bid cost to the maximum remaining amount of the grant money.

Meyers asked the board to carry the $1,500 Emergency Management Coordinator stipend forward into 2021, noting Didra has been serving as EMC and had undergone a significant amount of training, and that work still needed to be done to update the township’s manual, emergency operations plan and continuity of operations plan.

The board agreed to put the EMC stipend on the agenda for the township’s reorganization meeting.

Lastly, Meyers said the board received a request from the Slatington Lions Club for donations, due to the hard times brought on by the pandemic.

“We [the township] don’t take money from the taxpayer and give it to individual organizations except for fire and emergency services,” Bachman said.

But both he and Fink suggested encouraging residents to donate to the Lions, and the board accepted a motion to send a letter to the club explaining the township’s position.

The next board of supervisors meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17.