At the Sept. 18 Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting, council deadlocked 2-2 on a vote that blocked the installation of 12 Flock Safety Inc. cameras on Airport Road. The cameras are license plate readers and are an important tool in assisting police in searches for miscreants and perpetrators who attempt to get away after a crime using a motor vehicle.

The charge to block the expenditure of nearly $220,000 by Hanover Township taxpayers over five years was raised by council Chairman Bruce Paulus. He expressed concern taxpayers would bear the expense for recording a road under the purview of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. He did not dispute the importance of the cameras in the ongoing effort to stifle crime, but said he believes PennDOT should step up and assist with funding.

Paulus calculated taxpayers would pay about $120 a day, every day, for five years for the cameras. Councilmen Michael Woolley asked if there were any other communities the size of Hanover Township that have funded Flock cameras. No one present knew.

“We’d be crazy to not do this,” Councilman Robert Heimbecker said.

Heimbecker then moved to accept the 90-day free installation with the opportunity to have the cameras removed from the township after 90 days at no cost if council agrees to end camera use based on the 90-day experience. The vote was 2-2 – with Paulus and Woolley voting no and Heimbecker and Councilman Robert Lawlor voting for the motion.

“We’d be foolish to have them installed and then take them out in 90 days,” Paulus said.

Paulus, as chair, did acquiesce to have a second vote at the Oct. 2 council meeting to allow Councilman Anthony Rossi, who was absent from the meeting, to vote with the other councilmen in a second vote to settle the issue.

Township Manager Melissa Wehr said she will continue her pursuit of grants and additional funds for the Flock cameras.

In her manager’s report, Wehr said the 2025 budget meetings are set for October. Council approved a resident request to place a memorial park bench in one of the township’s parks.

Kevin Chimics, P.E., reported all four projects he is working on are moving forward, with the Irving Street and Marcon sanitary sewer projects possibly completed within a month.

Council discussed the installation of speed bumps in the township. Chimics explained the distinction between speed bumps and speed humps. Chimics said there is a PennDOT handbook titled “Traffic Calming Handbook” for more information about bumps versus humps. After it was reported that a speed hump may cost between $6,000 and $10,000, council voted unanimously to reject any speed bumps or humps in the township.

Council approved the request for the township manager to file the annual minimal municipal obligation report. MMO is the smallest amount an employer must contribute to any pension plan established for its employees to keep the pension plan sufficiently funded.

Council also voted not to participate in the Regional I and I (Allentown sewer) plan. I and I is infiltration and inflow into a sewer system. The plan allows for a municipality to accrue flow credits. It was reported Hanover Township would not have any benefits from being in the plan.

Council tabled the D&L Trail amendment for a trail head parking area in the township’s section. The cost for design work was $13,500, and no accurate estimate for the completion of the parking lot was offered. Chimics was asked to get a clear estimate of the total cost by the Oct. 2 council meeting.

The next council meeting will be 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at the township municipal building, 2202 Grove Road. It is an in-person-only meeting.