Lt. Paul Gaspich, station commander of Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, Fogelsville, attended the regular monthly meeting of Weisenberg supervisors to give his annual report.

His department consists of more than 80 troopers including five new recruits.

Troop M responded to 13,286 incidents in its coverage area. This total included 1,272 crashes and 1,780 criminal investigations.

A record 488 DUI arrests were made last year, along with 9,620 traffic citations being issued.

Troopers responded to 1,182 incidents in Weisenberg Township last year. There are many categories and sub-categories into which each response is relegated.

Of the major categories, burglaries accounted for 13 responses while thefts were 24, crashes totaled 89 and DUI arrests amounted to 16.

In other matters, several minor matters were voted on by the board.

The drywell ordinance was unanimously approved; the Peters junkyard permit was renewed; a motion was approved to advertise for the driveway ordinance; the 2013 fee schedule was adopted and Leroy Sorenson was re-appointed to the Uniform Construction Code Board of Appeals.

Solicitor Donald Lipson was authorized to proceed with the purchase of property along Route 863 near Weisenberg Elementary School.

Brian Carl, in the absence of Fire Chief Scott Freeman, gave the fire company report for the Weisenberg Township Volunteer Fire Department.

He said there were 159 fire calls in 2012 with around 40 of them Hurricane Sandy related.

The breakdown of the calls was as follows: 14 structure fires, 11 vehicle fires, 11 brush fires, 22 vehicle accidents, 15 EMS assists (assisting ambulance corps) 23 false alarms, 62 miscellaneous calls (downed power lines, police assists, trees down, etc.) and one animal rescue.

Members of the fire company completed seven weeks of state training to be certified as a Quick Response Service.

They would assist the ambulance service personnel at the scene of accidents or other incidents.

The fire department is also obtaining certification in the Pennsylvania Voluntary Fire Service Certification and Recognition Program.

Fireman's Fund Insurance will present a grant in the amount of $6,500 at the February meeting of supervisors to be used for the purchase of one additional airpack.

A $3,500 donation was received from the New Tripoli Bank with a $1,000 donation from Wells Fargo and a $550 grant from Bank of America.

Numerous residents also made donations.

The fire department received a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant of $20,330, with the township adding 5 percent, for new hose, nozzles and related fire fighting equipment.

A $12,454.67 grant from the state was also acquired. This will be used for vehicle maintenance costs.

The fire company will order a new truck this summer to replace the 1986 Mack. Expected delivery is sometime in 2014.

Chairman Bob Milot asked if the ambulance corps would be able to station an ambulance in the fire company's building.

Carl said he would look into the matter and added that two thirds of the fire company staff are medically certified.

Township Roadmaster Tony Werley reported the township crew is currently trimming brush along township roads and will continue to do so as long as the weather holds.

The agreement was signed with the Sanctuary at Haafsville for the collection of stray animals within the township.

The fee will be $750 for the year, an increase of $250 over the previous year.

The annual mini convention for the second class townships in Lehigh County will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Schnecksville Fire Company.

Milot, Secretary/Treasurer Donald Breininger, Township Administrator Brian Carl and Secretary and Permit Clerk Judy Hoffman are planning to attend.