At the July 17 Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting, council heard a presentation from Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, Bethlehem, and representatives of Flock Safety Solutions.

PSP Capt. Greg Emery strongly advocated for council to employ the requested safety features offered by Flock. State police provide law enforcement services to the township.

Flock provides a variety of technology-based safety programs. It was noted 10% of reported crimes in the United States are solved by municipalities using Flock technology. Their technological products work 24/7, so the surveillance never stops. Flock Safety currently has more than 2,000 law enforcement partners nationwide.

Visit flocksafety.com for more information.

The program offered for possible purchase are license plate recognition cameras. The recommendation from Flock Safety and the state police is to begin with 12 cameras at strategic locations in the township.

Township Manager Melissa Wehr said local shopping centers and Lehigh Valley International Airport are interested in engaging Flock Safety equipment.

Emery said the city of Allentown uses Flock technology, and the city of Bethlehem is developing a relationship with Flock Safety.

Council Chair Bruce Paulus noted the township population is small, and this technology is quite expensive. Wehr noted costs are in the township’s 2025 capital budget, and grant funding may be available.

Council plans to review the Flock Safety proposal and its costs at upcoming meetings before making a decision.

In her manager’s report, Wehr said the River Central Multi-Municipal Planning Steering Committee will attend the Aug. 7 council meeting to update the efforts to move forward with the comprehensive plan. Hanover is a member of the committee with East Allen Township and Catasauqua, North Catasauqua and Northampton boroughs.

Council introduced bill 2024-05 to amend chapters 14 and 21 of the Statutory Code of Hanover Township, Lehigh County. The ordinance prohibits camping, including the placement of sleeping bags or other material for bedding purposes or a stove or fire maintaining a temporary place to live on the township’s streets, sidewalks, parks, trails and other township property. There is an exception as provided in chapter 19 for holders of official park reservation permits.

There was a discussion about a $75,000 add-on cost to a street repaving effort that required a redo. Councilman Robert Lawlor expressed unhappiness with this additional charge council did not approve. It appeared to be the result of an examination of the road and a meeting with the township manager, the public works director and the contractor. The expense was reportedly agreed to at the meeting.

This did not mollify Lawlor and Councilman Robert Heimbecker, who asked that the contractor attend the Aug. 7 council meeting to answer questions.

Township Solicitor Jackson Eaton said there are provisions for change orders in most contracts. Wehr said she would review the situation, contact the contractor and prepare a report for the Aug. 7 council meeting.

In the engineer’s report, Kevin Chimics, filling in for township Engineer Al Kortze, reported the Marcon sanitary sewer project was progressing well. The Catasauqua Road and Marcon Road project is expected to begin in August, and the sanitary sewer manhole project is expected to begin in the township in late August.

Editor’s note: Al Kortze is the website-listed township engineer. Several recent articles identified Chimics as Kortze. The Press regrets the error.

The next Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting will be 7 p.m. Aug. 7 at the township municipal building, 2202 Grove Road.