At its special reorganization meeting on Monday, Hanover Township (Lehigh County) Council unanimously elected Bruce Paulus as chairman. Paulus had previously served the township as chairman for nearly 20 years, but was not elected to the position last year.

For the past decade, councilmen who were appointed to fill a vacant seat on the council were later elected to the position for many years.

In contrast, during the 2013 elections, a number of seats on council were contested.

The voters chose two new councilmen, Joseph "Bob" Heimbecker and Curtis Wegfahrt.

Paulus nominated Heimbecker as vice-chairman and council unanimously elected him.

The township has a Home Rule Charter which differs from surrounding municipalities.

One charter requirement is to annually reappoint members to committees and reaffirm relations with supporting firms.

Once council officers were set, the council went about the long business of appointing and reaffirming members to committees. Council agreed to continue its working relationship with Solicitor Jackson Eaton III.

Paulus did announce that longtime council member William Kovacs recently resigned from council.

A special meeting will be held 7 p.m. Jan. 20 to fill the vacant position.

A vacancy also exists on the planning commission because Peter D'Ambrosio stepped down from his position as chairman.

The planning commission is a seven-member committee.

The council will resume its regular meeting schedule 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15.