Bethlehem Township commissioners added two new police officers at their Nov. 18 meeting. They were selected from a field of what were initially 400 applicants. They were recommended by Chief Dan Pancoast. President Paul Weiss, Tom Nolan and Phil Barnard supported Pancoast's judgment.

But the remaining two commissioners, Mike Hudak and Marty Zawarski, attempted unsuccessfully to have a woman appointed in place of one of the two male recommendations.

Resident Barry Roth criticized these new hires at the Dec. 2 meeting, arguing that more diversity is needed in the police force.

Weiss agreed, noting the township has had no female police officers in more than ten years. But he told Roth he tries to support the decisions of department heads.

"The board should hire as they deem fit," countered Hudak, noting the female applicant was the "highest scoring candidate." But Marty Zawarski said she still needed to be certified, and Chief Pancoast wanted boots on the ground now. Zawarski said he would have preferred to hire her and wait the four or five months for her to be certified.

In other business, commissioners unanimously endorsed a letter supporting the purchase of the Leckonby and Central Moravian tracts next to Housenick Park. Rough plans call for community gardening, a preserve and trails at that site. It was originally a part of the Camel's Hump farm, owned by Bethlehem's first mayor, Archibald Johnston.