Designed to replace South Whitehall's outdated 20-year-old phone lines, the new Mitel communiction system is scheduled to go live on Sept. 26.

Finance Manager Lenore Horos anticipates the transition from old to new will be smooth with, at most, a 10-minute interruption of service.

At the Sept. 5 commissioners' meeting, township Manager Jon Hammer said the new phone set-up will have voicemail for commissioners.

He said the personal touch for residents contacting the township office, however, will not be lost.

"We will still have a person at the front desk answering calls," Hammer said.

Supplied by ET&T of Bethlehem, the new phone system was approved for acquisition in March at a base cost of $135,567, with an additional $7,270 for wireless data installation and a $619 annual maintenance fee.

In other business, commissioners approved $80,000 for payment to Computer Management and Marketing Associates.

Horos said the firm of information technology consultants has been working in township offices since May to tighten security and controls in the South Whitehall network.

Commissioners also approved $22,000 for Buckno, Lisicky and Co. which will provide internal control consultant services.

In another item, Attorney Joseph Bubba, on behalf of his client, Dorney Park, asked commissioners to approved the vacation of Hillview Drive.

Dorney Park owns all the property east and west of Hillview Drive in a section that intersects with Dorney Park Road and reaches a dead end near Hamilton Bouldevard.

Although Hillview Drive once intersected Hamilton Bouldevard, redesign of the I-78 corridor during 1986 and 1987 resulted in the dead end.

Since then, the section of Hillview Drive to be vacated has not been used as a public street and has been maintained by Dorney Park.

Bubba commented on the situation.

"Even the township believes Hillview Drive has already been vacated from Route 222 down to Dorney Park Road, but the township does not have a formal record of the vacation," Bubba said.

Hammer said his staff would look into township records regarding Hillview Road to see if information is sufficient for vacation.

He also announced the first session of budget talks for 2013 will take place 6 p.m.Oct. 24.