North Whitehall Township secretary Brenda Norder told supervisors and the audience the township office would be closed on Sept. 1 for Labor Day and the regularly scheduled meeting would be Sept. 8.

Moving on to the agenda, the board addressed the request for a "Watch Children" sign on Redwood Drive.

Supervisor Steve Pany visited the site and traveled the route and said a sign was not necessary.

The rest of the board agreed and no sign will be erected.

The only subdivision plan for the evening was the Ed Klusaritz minor subdivision at the intersection of Rising Sun and Echo roads.

Surveyor Bob Hoppes presented the plan and said only one lot will be partitioned out of the 39-acre tract.

Several waivers were requested for the plan.

The applicant asked to have the plan reviewed as a preliminary/final and requested areduction of the utility easement width, along the property lines to decrease from 20 feet to 10 feet.

In addition, he asked access to the lot be allowed off Rising Sun Road.

The board granted the waivers and approved the plan contingent upon any conditions applicable, the payment of the $2,500 recreation fee and the $200 traffic improvement fund.

The township tax collector asked to exonerate two properties, one at 2382 Levans Road; the other at 2830 Vista Drive, from the street light tax.

Pany made the motion to exonerate and the motion was seconded and passed.

Lehigh County Conservation District forwarded a letter to the board concerning stormwater management.

A new memorandum of understanding was presented to all municipalities and an agreement of cooperation must be signed.

Township Manager Jeff Bartlett was authorized to sign the agreement at an upcoming meeting with the district.

Ironton Rails to Trails group, led by Ray Deutsch, told the board the project should be completed by the end of the year.

The trail head would start in North Whitehall's park.

The group wants to extend the trail another 745 feet in the park.

They also want to erect a small building and have the township to do the rough grading.

A handout was given to the board outlining what the group is proposing for the future.

Pany wants to look at the area before making a decision.

He said improvements could be made to the entire site while they were working in the area.

In other matters, Bartlett had several items on his agenda.

He said the last paving of the year will occur on Coplay Creek Road.

He also said notices of violation have been sent to several commercial properties in the township.

The developer of the Grist Mill subdivision was interested to know if the township would be interested in 2.78 acres of residue property remaining in the subdivision.

The land is an unbuildable lot because of its steepness.

Pany said the township had enough property and should not take over this site because it would be hard to maintain. Bartlett will tell the developer.

Bartlett commented about the recent fire along Route 309 in Schnecksville that claimed the lives of 61 cats and two dogs.

Bartlett asked the board to consider a property rental ordinance so all rental properties would be inspected and, if any violations are found, the landlord would be re-quired to correct the problem.

He said a yearly inspection would be sufficient with health and safety of the occupants being the main reason for scrutiny.

Among items checked would be windows, hot and cold water, railings and smoke detectors.

The building inspection company could do the inspections.

Pany wanted to know how many properties would be affected.

Bartlett will look into this and report back with the count and a sample ordinance.

The August zoning hearing board meeting has been postponed until September.

Bartlett said some residents are not applying for building permits. Construction is occurring without permit application.

Some citations have been issued.

The township is again looking for a yard waste attendant. The newly hired employee resigned to take another job.

The attendant would be required to work from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; and from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays.

Anyone who is interested, should contact the township office.

Solicitor Lisa Young presented a resolution to provide coverage for the firefighters and establish procedures for township employees who would be covered under the fire company workman's compensation policy when answering a fire call.