Firefighters pay tribute, Page 2
The Home News Your Local News
JANUARY 21-27, 2016
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Allen Township board hiring an extra laborer by BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Allen Township’s official family is pictured here. Seated (l-r) are vice chairman Dale Hassler, chairman Bruce Frack of the Board of Supervisors, and Ilene Eckhart, township manager. Standing – Supervisors Alfred Pierce, Gary Behler, and Larry Oberly. –Home News photo
Pledge against racism
Misericordia University student Juli Stella, a Campus Ministry representative from Wyoming, looks on as fellow students Christine Zopf, Northampton; Isiah Solomon, Bridgewater, N.J.; and Juwan Petties-Jackson, Somerville, N.J., take turns signing the United Nations Personal Pledge Against Racism as part of MLK Week activities at the campus in Dallas. (Story on page 4). – Contributed photo
The Allen Township Board of Supervisors, after some discussion Thursday night, approved a sewer capacity reservation for Northampton Industrial Park. It will be 4,250 gallons, and there is a charge of $4,000 each for the 189 units. An estimate was made in the beginning. If it changes, then the gallons would go up, and whatever is used, they would be billed for it. But the biggest discussion of the night was about additional labor in a grass cutting contract as an amendment to the 2016 budget. Supervisor Larry Oberly suggested hiring one full-time worker as a laborer to do low level grass maintenance and shovel work when it needs to be done. Supervisor Dale Hassler agreed. CDL people would handle the big trucks. Supervisor Alfred Pierce said they should start the employee at the bottom and let him work up. However, chairman Bruce Frack thought there should be two people hired. “You gotta get the work done,” he said. “I don’t understand what you’re doing. We’re nickel and dimeing it. The township is in good shape (financially). The township is getting bigger and bigger. We’ve got roads to maintain. We need enough people.” But in the end, Oberly moved to hire just one person and look for a second person in the next budget. The board approved that sentiment. Laborers are paid between $15 and $16 an hour. Other Matters • Emergency management coordinator Gary Krill said the township’s plan is ready to send to Northampton County. • A PennDOT winter services agreement will net $19,455 for township roads.
• On the inter-municipal sewer service agreement for High Meadows and the Northampton Industrial Park: they will purchase the sewer capacity over a period of time, solicitor Lincoln Treadwell said. High Meadows would go to Northampton themselves, under one option. Another could be a three-party agreement. • Township Manager Ilene Eckhart said there is an issue with vacant properties, and bills not being paid. One solution would be to file a municipal lien, Pierce, a lawyer, said. Oberly said when garbage bills are paid by credit card there is an additional fee.
Home Improvement Page 4
Allen Township Board Reorganized on Jan. 4
Bruce Frack was named chairman when the Allen Township Board of Supervisors reorganized on Jan.4. He replaces long-time supervisor Paul Balliet. Others named were Dale Hassler, vice chairman, and Ilene Eckhart, secretary-treasurer. Meeting dates will continue on the second Thursday and the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Holidays will include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day following, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Other appointments: Keystone Collections, tax collection officer; engineer, Hanover Engineering Associates; solicitor, B. Lincoln Treadwell; zoning/code enforcement officer, Michael Edelman; sewage enforcement officer, Hanover Engineering primary and alternates, Scott Brown, Jeffrey Huff and Jason Peters; emergency management coordinator, Gary Krill. Continued on page 3
Jacobsburg community programs Page 11
Phantoms end skid Page 15
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