By MICHAEL HIRSCH

Special to The Press

At the beginning of the South Whitehall commissioners meeting Board President Diane Kelly welcomed Jacob Roth, who was appointed to the board at a special meeting on Nov. 30, 2022.

There were several presentations, the first was a public hearing.

Commissioners approved the intermunicipal transfer of a restaurant liquor license into the township.

Macho’s bar license in Allentown was to be transferred to the existing Exxon station along Route 309 in the township.

Solicitor Joseph Zator explained that a public notice would appear once a week for two successive weeks in a newspaper and the purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment.

Attorney Anthony Brichta said the application would only be used to sell beer. The motion carried.

The next presentation was an update on the Hotel Hamilton, at 3051, 3125, 3127 and 3141 Hamilton Blvd., which includes the former King George Inn.

The board gave final approval in 2020 but there were several extensions due to outstanding issues, including a six-month extension in September 2022.

Commissioner Monica Hodges asked about the modifications to the King George Inn, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Bud Newton, of Newton Engineering, said the walls are historic but the rest of the structure is not.

“It may be used as an office. The intent is to keep the stone walls intact and hopefully be able to make some kind of use out of it,” Newton said.

Kelly said she expects to get an update in about three months.

The Pidcock Company proposed a review of the 2023 Professional Fee Schedule.

Anthony Tallarida, with Pidcock, requested an increase to the board of 2.8 percent.

A motion was made to proceed, and Tom Petrucci said action will be taken at the first meeting in January.

The final presentation was a proposed 2023 professional fee schedule for Spotts, Stevens and McCoy, a regional engineering, environmental and surveying firm.

Jason Newhard said the increases would average 6 percent, and would need to be approved in January.

There was a discussion on Trexler Boulevard/Suncrest Traffic Calming and a recommendation from PennDOT Local Technical Assistance Program.

The LTAP reported crash date for the most recent five years (January 2017-December 2021) for Trexler Boulevard.

There were two reported fixed object crashes on Trexler Boulevard in 2019.

There was a figure shown that located the crashes west of N. 36th Street and N. 38th Street.

Also, the reported pace speed was 25-35 mph and 59-60 percent of the vehicles on Trexler Boulevard traveling at this pace.

The pace speed is the speed range at which the highest number of vehicles are traveling.

There were no accidents reported on Suncrest Drive.

Residents will be notified, and traffic calming will be discussed at a later meeting.