At the Dec. 4 Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting, council members started planning the year-end meetings and the January 2025 reorganization and monthly meetings.

Township Manager Melissa Wehr requested council set the date for the reorganization and clarify plans for the January meetings. Typically council members would meet Jan. 1 and 15. With the Jan. 1 being New Year’s Day, the reorganization was set for Jan. 13.

Wehr suggested canceling the Jan. 15 meeting because it is within two days of the rescheduled reorganization meeting. Council Chairman Bruce Paulus suggested council hold the reorganization meeting first and follow with a regular council meeting after. Council agreed.

No decision was taken about holding a second council meeting in January.

Resolution 2024-48 approved the final land development plan for JW Development Partners IV LLC for the Lot 3 warehouse at 1112 American Parkway, Allentown. The resolution updates the plan that relocates a water line and other minor changes to the plan.

Resolution 2024-49 adopts 2025 budget amendments that were approved by council. The resolution included the addition of $336,059 for the pickleball court for a park in the township. The court is grant funded.

Resolution 2024-50 was approved to adopt the amendments to the five-year township capital program for 2025-29.

Ordinance 659 was adopted by council to approve the 2025 budgets. The general fund has no tax hike for 2025.

All ordinances and resolutions are available for resident review by contacting the office or visiting hanleco.org.

Wehr noted the township is collecting for Toys for Tots and teaming up with the Catasauqua Community Cares Program to collect winter coats. Drop off the toys or coats at the township municipal building, 2202 Grove Road.

Council expressed concern about the purchase of an administration vehicle. Wehr, in conjunction with public works Director Josef Fragnito, moved forward on the purchase of a 2023 Ford Explorer. The rationale was that the township needed a larger administrative vehicle to transport more personnel as needed for conferences, trainings and other events.

Council members preferred an electric-powered vehicle and felt they were not informed about this vehicle purchase. Council felt they should have had input into the purchase. Wehr replied she had the impression from a prior discussion that she had permission to purchase the Explorer. Paulus disagreed.

”We buy them, and council needs to be involved in the decision to purchase a car,” Paulus said.

Paulus noted the township council is a home rule council that looks into these matters and is in charge of expenditures.

”We were taken out of this decision,” he said.

Wehr apologized to council for the situation.

Council closed the meeting with approval to pay the township bills through Dec. 4.

The next council meeting is 7 p.m. Dec. 18. There is another meeting planned for 4 p.m. Dec. 26 to approve the payment of year-end bills and entertain any issues that arise in the meeting.