By MICHAEL HIRSCH

Special to The Press

There was a badge pinning ceremony for Police Officer Jacob D. Warnet at the South Whitehall commissioners’ Aug. 7 meeting.

Interim Police Chief Stephen Brown introduced Warnet.

“He graduated from Indian Hills High School in New Jersey,” Brown said. “He attended York College of Pennsylvania in 2016, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

“Jacob was hired by the city of Philadelphia Police Department in 2019.

“He comes to our department with over five years experience as a certified Act 120 police officer.”

In other matters, Township Manager Tom Petrucci introduced an ordinance to amend Chapter 240 (Parks and Recreation) of the Codified Ordinances of the Township.

The township has been experiencing issues at Covered Bridge Park, including loud music, cooking and grilling, littering, and improper parking.

A revised park ordinance will address these problems and regulate park usage.

Permits will be required for various park activities, including using recreational buildings, athletic fields, and reserving any park area for groups of 10 or more people.

Exemptions include playground use and individual activities.

There will be a formal permit process for events including 5K runs, birthday parties and weddings.

Large events with more than 1,000 attendees will require an emergency action plan.

There will be vehicle regulations to specify where vehicles can be parked and operated within the park, rules to protect natural areas, plants and wildlife.

Other restrictions cover a wide range of activities, including alcohol consumption, animals, fires, fireworks and more.

Essentially, the ordinance aims to establish clear rules for park usage, protect the environment, and address the issues occurring at Covered Bridge Park.

The ordinance was unanimously approved by the board.

During the public comment period a resident Janet Mohr voiced her concerns about a property at the corner of Broadway and Adams Street in Cetronia.

She said the approved lot size and setbacks are significantly smaller than the township’s requirements, leading to concerns about building restrictions and safety.

Mohr said the planned parking pad is too small, forcing cars to back out onto a busy street with limited visibility, increasing traffic hazards.

If the township’s plan to widen Adams Street is implemented, the new home would be extremely close to the road, potentially impacting safety and snow removal, Mohr said.

The small lot size and setbacks will make construction difficult, potentially leading to safety issues for workers.

Mohr asked the board to reconsider the zoning board’s decision and deny the variances for the new home due to safety, traffic, and environmental concerns.

Petrucci advised Mohr that within a window of time where a decision has been rendered, she could appeal the decision the zoning hearing board rendered.