Tuesday, December 11, 2012
South Whitehall residents will soon get a letter announcing a trash collection fee increase and new billing procedure.
South Whitehall Director of Administration Tony Ganguzza said last week that residents will be getting a letter soon regarding a $59 increase in trash removal fees and a new billing procedure that are effective in January 2013. A copy of the letter released at the Dec. 5 commissioners meeting reads: In the past, the township has utilized its reserve account to either partially or completely offset increases in the refuse/recycling fee paid by you, our residents. During the preparation of the 2013 budget, it became apparent that the reserves can no longer offset the deficit in the fund, and as such, we found that we must increase the annual fee for your refuse/recycling service from $285 per year to $344 per year. We can assure you we have …
Thursday, December 6, 2012
In order to keep up with a $63,000 increase in hauling fees charged to the township, South Whitehall Commissioners vote to increase trash collection fees.
South Whitehall Commissioners voted to increase trash collection fees 20 percent -from $286 a year to $344 - during their meeting Wednesday night. Township Director of Administration Tony Ganguzza told commissioners that the hauling fee portion of the township's five-year contract, which is set to expire at the end of 2013, is going up by $63,000 next year. Board president Christina Morgan said the increase is a "necessary requirement" in order to ensure the service and quality of work.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
South Whitehall Commissioners will discuss tax rate, fee changes, animal control contracts.
The South Whitehall Commissioners meeting starts at 7:30 tonight in the administration building. 1. Commissioners will vote on a resolution establishing municipal solid waste collection charges for 2013. 2. Commissioners will discuss an amendment to Ordinances 822 and 796 regarding South Whitehall's fee schedule. It would repeal the "obsolete permit and escrow fee schedule of Ordinance 796; and provide for a general repealer, severability clause and effective date." 3. Commissioners will discuss proposed Animal Control contracts from: The Lehigh County Humane Society and the Sanctuary – Assistance for Strays. 4. Commissioners will discuss a memo regarding a new crosswalk at Broadway and N. 42nd Street. 5. Commissioners will discuss an …
Friday, November 9, 2012
County official is granted a last-minute waiver from commissioners Wednesday night.
South Whitehall Township Commissioners on Wednesday waived their land development process so construction of a 1,100-square-foot addition could start immediately at Cedarbrook Nursing Home. The addition will add space to the community room, according to Glenn Solt, director of general services for Lehigh County. Solt said he was "throwing himself on the mercy of the court" by asking for a last-minute waiver from the township's land development process. It became clear the county needed the waiver when the contractor applied for permits for the addition and was told he had to go through the development process. Township administrators advised Solt to ask commissioners for the waiver. Solt said the addition doesn't affect impervious services…
Thursday, October 25, 2012
South Whitehall Commissioners get a first look at the 2013 Operating Budget, and no tax increase is included.
In the first of three South Whitehall Township 2013 budget workshops, Township Manager Jon Hammer told commissioners that pension expenses, health-care costs and operating costs are going up while the capital fund is dwindling. But, he said, real estate taxes will remain the same -- as they have for 20 years. "All the news isn't gloom and doom - we will be free of long-term debt after this year and I firmly believe that in South Whitehall Township the best days are ahead of us," Hammer said. Thanks to cost-saving efforts like renegotiations with contractors, early retirement packages for employees and a $1.1 million cash carryover from 2012, the township will avoid the need for a real estate tax increase. Hammer said it's been two decades …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
South Whitehall Commissioners will host the first of three budget workshops starting tonight.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
South Whitehall Township's first budget workshop is scheduled tonight, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8. Commissioners announced the workshop schedule at their Oct. 17 meeting. The second and third workshops will be from 5 to 7 p.m. before regularly scheduled business meetings on Nov. 7 and Nov. 21. Residents are encouraged to attend and discuss the township's proposed program and services budget for 2013.
Monday, August 27, 2012
After lobbying by neighbors, South Whitehall officials get moving on a new playground for the Devon Circle area of Springhill Estates.
Patch stopped by the Devon Circle area of Springhill Estates last week to check the progress on the new playground. Rubberized flooring is in place, as well as playground equipment that includes a sliding board. The area is still roped off as South Whitehall finishes the project. Devon Circle neighbors had lobbied South Whitehall commissioners for the playground, given that developers had set aside open space money when the area was first developed. Officials have said that neighbors initially did not want a playgound, but current neighbors had circulated a petition in favor of one. The commissioners had budgeted $44,000 for improvements to the Devon Circle playground in this year's budget, but before the work proceeded, they had been …
Thursday, August 16, 2012
South Whitehall's longtime Public Works Director Jim Weber died July 28, 2011.
Friends and co-workers of South Whitehall's longtime Public Works Director Jim Weber are hoping to honor his memory with a memorial. Weber, who worked for the township for 37 years, died July 28, 2011. On Wednesday, township Manager Jon Hammer told the commissioners at their meeting that Weber's friends and co-workers had presented South Whitehall with $1,250 they had raised for a memorial. They did not provide preferences but ideas included: "They kind of left that to us, as to how we would like to spend [the money]," Hammer said. The commissioners said they will discuss options. "I'm sure we can figure something wonderful out," said Commissioner Board President Tori Morgan. Hammer said it was more important "to do something significant…
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Scott Smith served South Whitehall for more than 24 years.
Scott A. Smith, 57, a patrol officer with the South Whitehall Township Police Department, has retired from the force. The retirement announcement from Police Chief Thomas J. Toth was shared with the South Whitehall Commissioners on Wednesday, July 18. Smith retired on July 7. After graduating from Catasauqua High School, Smith received his certification from the Allentown Police Academy. He began his career in law enforcement with the Lehigh University Police Department in 1976. Smith then served as a patrol officer for the City of Bethlehem Police Department from 1979 until 1988. Upon his retirement, Smith had completed 24 years and five months of service with the South Whitehall Township Police Department.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
State budget deal means litigation over earned income taxes for Allentown's hockey arena is "moot," according to South Whitehall solicitor.
The South Whitehall Board of Commissioners veered off its written agenda Wednesday night and voted to end its participation in litigation involving the Allentown hockey arena. The commissioners had voted in April to join a legal fight over a state law that diverted suburban earned income taxes to the construction of the $158 million hockey arena in downtown Allentown and other developments. South Whitehall officials were upset about the loss of the tax revenue and viewed the law as unconstitutional. For the first quarter of this year, South Whitehall lost $15,270 to the Neighborhood Improvement Zone. However, as part of a recent state budget deal, Allentown’s NIZ will have to give back the earned income tax dollars collected from suburban …
Hula Hooper Gal
9:15 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
South Whitehall Trash: $344 Upper Macungie Trash: $284 Vote out Christina Morgan and Thomas Johns this election year more ›