By MICHAEL HIRSCH

Special to The Press

South Whitehall’s March 20 commissioners’ meeting began with a distinguished service award being presented to Police Chief Glen Dorney who presented his resignation on March 4, effective March 22.

Board President Diane Kelly called Dorney a dedicated public servant with 29 years of law enforcement experience who began as South Whitehall police chief on April 9, 2018.

“In his six years leading the South Whitehall Township Police Department, Chief Dorney focused on ensuring the department had the necessary resources to achieve the principles set forth in the department’s mission statement,” Kelly said.

“During his tenure, the department added two police K-9 units and designated additional officers to become school resource officers to meet the needs of the Parkland School District.

“He excelled at creating and maintaining partnerships by improving lines of communication and developing strong interpersonal relationships which will continue to benefit our community.”

Dorney said he wanted to thank the community and turned to face the audience.

The chief said he came to South Whitehall Township as an outsider after working in Allentown, and was welcomed with open arms.

Dorney spoke about making a lot of great friendships, great partnerships and working together as a community and a police department.

He offered his full support to Interim Police Chief Stephen Brown.

Township Manager Tom Petrucci said commissioners must appoint a designated successor.

“It is appropriate to appoint Capt. Steven G. Brown to the position of interim acting chief of police at this time,” Petrucci said. “Capt. Brown has served in his current role since Feb. 1, 2023.

“Brown was sworn in as a police officer on Feb. 8, 2007.

“He is a 2001 graduate of Parkland High School and served in the U.S. Navy from July 2001 until 2005 being honorably discharged as a Master at Arms, Second Class.

“He’s a graduate of the Allentown Police Academy’s 80th class in June 2007.

“He graduated magna cum laude from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s degree in law in society with a minor in criminal justice.

“With that being said, I would ask for approval of the resolution to appoint Capt. Stephen Brown to the position of the interim acting Chief of Police for South Whitehall Township.”

On other matters, there was discussion to grant final approval to an amended major plan for Dorney Park.

Planner Gregg Adams said Dorney Park submitted an amended application to further develop their property at 3030 Dorney Park Road.

The company is constructing a new 161.67 foot-tall attraction on the site of the Stinger roller coaster, withdrawing the previously proposed 450-square-foot addition to the Chef’s Grill and keeping the proposed 300-square-foot concession stand east of the midway.

The original application for just the new attraction was approved by the planning commission in April 2023.

The planning commission reviewed the amended application on March 14, and recommended approval with five conditions and nine favorably recommended waivers.

The proposal was approved unanimously.