BY SUSAN BRYANT

sbryant@tnonline.com

South Whitehall Director of Finance Scott Boehret began the Oct. 6 commissioners’ meeting with a presentation on the importance of having a fund balance policy.

Boehret told the board he was not requesting any formal action, but was merely there to give a presentation designed to educate them.

“One of the suggestions that came out of the 2016-19 audit report was the township should have a fund balance policy,” he stated. “It is advantageous to both the township and its taxpayers and, as such, we should have a fund balance policy which will allows us to provide sufficient capital for daily financial needs.”

He explained the different types of fund balance policies.

“The range suggested in a graph the finance committee is working on is that our fund balance policy be no less than 20 percent of our general fund revenue, but no more than 30 percent.”

Later, in the meeting, the board approved a motion to transfer $10,000 from the salaries and wages line item to the contracted services line item to assist with the full plan of hiring a consultant to work on the deficiencies listed in the 2016-19 auditor report and to offer some guidance to move the finance department into the future.

Next, was granting conditional approval to a waiver of certain subdivision and land development review and approval requirements for the plan for Chabad Lubavitch of the Lehigh Valley, 4457 Crackersport Road.

Attorney Zachary Cohen for Chabad Lubavitch said the board’s approval was requested for the erosion and sedimentation plan due to a lapse in time and they are ready to break ground for the expansion to the building.

The board approved the waiver for the 3,400-square-foot expansion to the existing 5,120-square-foot building by a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Diane Kelly voting no.

Kelly said she does not agree moving forward without the Lehigh County Conservation District’s enforcement or oversight.

The next, by a unanimous vote, the board gave approval to Tilghman Holdings LLC to enclose the overhang on the side and front of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, 4750 West Tilghman St.

Commissioners also in a unanimous vote approved Police Chief Glen Dorney’s request extending conditional job offers to three police officer candidates upon satisfactory completion of all job requirements.

They also unanimously approved Fire Commissioner Chris Kiskeravage’s request to proceed with the new camera security system.

Kiskeravage said the project is to complete the fire alarm and security system upgrade at Woodlawn Fire Department.

“This was a project in the capital improvements for 2021,” he said. “They are finishing up the project with the installation of the security cameras.”

He said the total cost is $17,932.32.

The board unanimously approved the sewer allocation request for proposed independent living apartments at Luther Crest Senior Living Community.

Mike Elias with PW Utility and a MS 4 coordinator said Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries is looking to construct a multistory 37,500-square-foot addition to accommodate 74 additional independent living apartments with an additional 16,502 gallons per day of sewer flow (74 EDUs) through the existing sewer service connection at the South Whitehall Township rate of 223 gallons per day.

The board also approved the minutes for Aug. 18, Sept. 1 and 15, after a debate about statements made during previous meetings regarding the 2016-19 audit report.

President Christina “Tori” Morgan stated during the debate “I believe the narrative is there for anybody to listen to on the record and that is why we do that to be clear and precise. There is no interpretation.”

Kelly said the audio is very difficult to hear.

“A number of residents while listening to the meeting in real time and then have gone back including myself to edit these minutes to hear the conversation is extremely difficult knowing the topic to understand what was said,” Kelly added.

Under courtesy of the floor, the availability of the auditor’s report became a major topic of discussion after resident Jacob Roth asked through the township’s chat site when a report with the list of deficiencies will be posted to the web, after he stated it has been almost two months since the auditor’s report was given.

Boehret stated it does not normally occur in the government realm to post to the website.

Roth then asked if he would be able to access the report under a Right to Know request.

“The Right to Know Act presumes that everything is disclosable unless there is an exception,” Solicitor Joe Zator said. “Off the top of my head, the township could use discretion.”

Commissioner Michael Wolk then said as a commissioner accountable for the township’s finances he wants people to know the state of affairs for the township finances.

“I want them to know what is going on that is positive,” Wolk said. “I want them to know what is going on that is not so positive, where corrective action is required.

“I think, we the government, owe it to the people to be completely open and transparent with them on all issues, but in particular, especially the township finances.”

Wolk said he wants residents to know that accountable people in this township are willing to take the corrective actions to fix the deficiencies in the auditor’s report.