By MICHAEL HIRSCH

Special to The Press

Upper Macungie supervisors began first with their reorganization meeting on Jan. 3.

James Brunell was designated temporary chairman and Jazmin Vasquez was designated temporary secretary.

Supervisor Sunny Ghai was attending remotely.

Supervisor James Brunell made a motion to nominate Ghai as chairman for the new year and Kathy Rader as vice chairwoman.

The motion was approved.

Vasquez read the rest of the 2023 nominations: Kalman A. Sostarecz, Jr., assistant secretary and assistant township manager, Bruce T. Koller, treasurer, and Robert R. Ibach Jr., township manager.

After a short break the general business meeting began.

Vasquez then led the meeting in place of Ghai who was not present.

There was a motion authorizing health insurance copay holiday for township staff.

Sostarecz said employees pay 12.5 percent toward the cost of health care and, when claims are low, the township receives a dividend.

He suggested giving it back to the employees in the form of a copay holiday.

For four pay periods of the year, township employees will not have to contribute.

“This is a well-deserved holiday for our township staff,” Rader said. “We talked to others around the state and we have one of the best staffs in the state here in Upper Macungie.

“A lot of times they are way ahead of the curve and doing things that we are advised to do. Most of the time we’re already doing it.”

The motion was approved.