Concerns over stormwater retention, conditions of township roads and paving were among the issues brought to the attention of Bethlehem Township Commissioners by a handful of residents during Courtesy of the Floor of the April 1 board of commissioners meeting.

Cold In-Place Recycling and Overlay Project, the township’s annual road paving contract, was approved by the board.

Budgeted at $640,000, the winning bid came in at $617,365.40 from Recon Construction Services.

According to Township Manager Doug Bruce, an amendment was needed to a memorandum of understanding between the Bethlehem Township and the Police Department of the Township of Bethlehem due to an error in wording.

The error, pertaining to how an officer’s vacation is accounted for, has been changed to “anniversary” year of an officer’s hiring, rather than “calendar” year.

On the recommendation of Police Chief Greg Gottschall, Bethlehem Township Officer Eric Norder will be attending Top Gun Narcotics Interdiction Training.

The event, held by Pennsylvania Narcotic Officers’ Association, will take place April 17-23, in Fort Indiantown Gap.

The commissioners have authorized a letter of support to both the Lehigh Valley Planning Commissioner and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s joint application to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The application is related to funding of green transportation project, for the corridor of Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton. It will include U.S. Route 22, and state routes 33 and 378.

Commissioner Michael Hudak took the lead on discussions of what he refers to as “the best park in the township,” the Housenick Park Trails, and its official opening.

“I would not expect anything real big. Just a lot of advertisements to get the people out there. Give a little history on what went on, the battles we had to overcome, mostly money.” he said.

Throwing out different suggestions for consideration, Commissioner John Gallagher backed Hudak’s idea of setting up a ribbon-cutting ceremony and publicizing the completion of the trails, covering 55.84 acres of land.

Bruce will research the various suggestions for an event in the fall.