Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. notified the township Board of Commissioners recently that the Lehigh County reassessment has brought about "numerous tax appeals.

As the township awaits the outcome of the assessment appeals in the county Court of Common Pleas, Hozza said, "Dozens of other reductions were made by informal appeals."

The mayor said earlier that the administration contends the appeals filed before the countywide reassessment that gave many major retailers substantial reductions will not be occurring in the future.

The board was also informed the township continues to transition the management and oversight of the police pension fund. Hozza mentioned the creation of an investment policy statement was well under way. It was said one of the money managers, whose performance was below benchmarks, was terminated, and funds liquidated and returned to the account.

The administration's human resource officer continues to obtain and manage background and child abuse checks for members of the volunteer fire department.

In other business, the commissioners were told by Hozza the township continues negotiating with Met Life to provide an option for deferred savings accounts for township employees. The township also continues to work toward the establishment of a new defined payment pension plan for nonuniformed employees.

Regarding recreation matters, the youth martial arts and yoga programs continue and the indoor family and adult swim program and aqua aerobics programs are under way at the Whitehall High School pool.

Township personnel met with the contractor for the Lehigh Street bridge replacement to secure fill for the Egypt Park ball field expansion.

It was also reported the 2012 road program was completed at $2,300 over the budgeted amount.