By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

During the public comment period of their Dec. 2 virtual board meeting, South Whitehall commissioners heard a request for feedback from Attorney Erich Schock regarding a proposed Wawa convenience store.

The store would be located at the corner of Chapmans Road and Route 309 on approximately 4 acres.

Shock said the issue regarded part of the township ordinances governing motor vehicle service stations.

He said the ordinances included information from old “flammable material ordinances” which required gas stations to be located more than 1,500 feet from one another due to concerns over flammable materials.

He said “common sense” dictated there were no safety concerns due to modern technology and heavy regulation.

Schock noted several gas stations in South Whitehall were located closer than 1,500 feet, including one across the road from the proposed Wawa.

He asked for feedback from commissioners as to whether the separation distance could be removed.

Schock added zoning ordinances were meant to protect health, safety and welfare, which he said was not applicable in this situation, and not a means to regulate competition.

Board President Christina “Tori” Morgan and other board members said investigating whether the old ordinance was outdated and no longer pertinent was worthwhile, but added the board would not make any approvals or decision during courtesy of the floor, and the developer should follow standard township processes.

Additionally, board members heard the second reading of the township’s proposed 2021 budget from Finance Director Scott Boehret.

Township Manager Renee Bickel said the spending plan was a “very good budget for the residents,” with no proposed tax increases.

The budget includes $15,344,402 in total revenue and $15,975,303 in total expenses, leaving a revenue-less-expense of $630,901.

It also includes an estimated cash carry forward of $3,189,790, along with $506,500 in cash outlays for debts and $1,549,218 in transfers out, leaving a budgeted unappropriated reserve of $503,171.

Commissioner Diane Kelly asked about the budgetary estimate of $800,000 in admission revenue for the upcoming year, noting the uncertain nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions.

She asked why the finance team had not included a more conservative estimate similar to the amount of admission money received this year, around $156,000, in order to put the township in a “neutral place instead of worrying about a decrease in the budget,” if COVID-19 restrictions are still in place in 2021.

Bickel said the higher estimate was developed in conjunction with Dorney Park, and noted the township had budgeted much higher in 2020 and yet still maintained its expenses.

She also said the township has consistently been looking at accommodating expenditure reductions, if necessary, and that other revenues had also been conservatively budgeted.

Boehret agreed, adding he wanted to account for the COVID-19 vaccines in his projections.

“As I see the news heading in more positive areas despite cases that are rising here in the states ... that was also taken into account with the admission tax as well,” he said, adding reevaluation of the budgeted amount in February or March next year could take place, if necessary.

In a related discussion, Commissioner Mike Wolk asked about the state of the township’s audits, saying he did not think any budgets were “truly secure” without the prior year’s audits being completed.

He noted that the last township audit was completed in 2015, with the following years in the process of being completed.

He recommended the township determine, as best as possible, a target completion date for the 2016-20 audits.

Morgan said a preliminary schedule was being worked on between the finance department, township staff and independent auditors, but would not be publicly disclosed until finalized.

In response to audience questions about legal requirements to have audits completed every year, Bickel said the township was not paying a penalty or facing any violations, and that the state government had received township reports and were aware of the extension and date differences.

In other business, the board approved the appointment of Boehret to the position of township secretary in a unanimous vote.

Commissioners also approved the extension of the township’s outdoor dining guidelines through Nov. 30, 2021.

Community Development Director George Kinney said the same policy guidelines had been approved earlier in 2020 to allow township restaurants to provide outdoor dining in an “expedited and cost-free manner” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted the policy had been intentionally temporary in nature and had sunset Nov. 30, thus the extension request.

“This has been really great to see the restaurants serving outdoors, clearly it helps the restaurants but it’s also great to dine outdoors versus indoors all the times,” Commissioner Joe Setton said, adding he would like to see the policy extended beyond 2021.

Kinney said more permanent outdoor seating policies could be looked at in the future, but said the process would need to be more concrete than the current expedited policy.

In response to a question from Kelly about safety checks on restaurants using heaters and propane gas, Kinney said the policy involves the fire marshal during initial reviews and provides freedom for checkup inspections as needed to maintain safety.

Furthermore, Morgan said the township’s Green Advisory Council would be putting their work to reduce single-use plastic items on hold for the time being until COVID-19 has passed in recognition of the numerous issues facing restaurants.

She also said the GAC was working to put together recycling information packets and would be posting facts on the township website from each council subcommittee about subjects including recycling, single-use plastics, stormwater and environmental communications.

Bickel also reported the new township website was in the works with a targeted rollout in the beginning of 2021 and would include meeting live streams even after the commissioners return for in-person board meetings.