Speaking out at the April 14 Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Gerard Palagonia expressed disapproval toward Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. about a story which found itself on the pages of the Whitehall-Coplay Press last week.

The story reported Hozza's opposition to a proposed electronic LED billboard Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski wants to have erected in Jordan Park, which is city-owned land. A portion of the park is located in Whitehall Township.

"Not a good thing," Palagonia said of the article. His objection was based on the fact that information in the article came out of a discussion between the mayor and commissioners that occurred during an April 7 executive session, which should not be made public. Such meetings are permitted by state law if they pertain to legal or personnel matters.

"I am personally not in favor of taking the City of Allentown to court over a sign," Palagonia said.

Palagonia mentioned their attorney, Kevin Fogerty, had advised against taking the issue of opposition to the sign to court.

This brought a strong rebuke from Commissioner Thomas Slonaker.

"You're just coming out with whatever you want," Slonaker said to Palagonia, saying Palagonia breached what was discussed at the executive session himself, since there was no mention in The Press about what the attorney had advised concerning the board's response to the sign proposal.

"Unbelievable," Slonaker said as he sat back in his chair.

"I think we should be good neighbors with the City of Allentown, not going behind closed doors," Palagonia said. "That is not the way it should happen."

Board Vice President Phillip Ginder questioned if the city was being forthright with the township.

During the executive session, Hozza had asked commissioners to sign a letter to Pawlowski concerning objections to the billboard proposal. They included that the sign would be in a flood plain and the Jordan Creek Greenway and the township zoning regulations prohibit LED signs.

While steps have not been taken to file suit, Palagonia told The Press Friday he perceived the letter as a first step in that direction, an adversarial approach.

Hozza, in The Press article, said he learned of the city's intent to have an electronic billboard erected on the Allentown side of the park by reading a legal advertisement in the papers.

He did not respond to Palagonia's remarks at the meeting.

Palagonia said the billboard would be small and the township would be allowed to place messages of civic and public interest on the billboard.

Board President Linda Snyder commented that it is unfortunate when matters are discussed in an executive session and the following day they are already public knowledge.

"Why was it in the newspaper?" she said.

"I did sign [the letter to Pawlowski]," she said.

On whether to go to court on the matter, Snyder said that is not before the board.

"No comment," Hozza said on Friday, when asked if litigation could occur if the city goes ahead with the billboard.

"Technically the LED billboard would be in the city," Hozza said Friday.

Although the letter was sent two weeks ago, Hozza said the township has not received a reply.