Whitehall Township will have its fourth woman to be a member of the township police force once she completes her training at the Allentown Police Academy.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. informed the township board of commissioners of the new hire at its Jan. 12 meeting.

"The Civil Service Commission met to certify three names for the hiring of a new police officer, as provided for in the budget," he said. "Lindsey Whipple was the successful hire."

Whipple will be enrolled at the police academy this month.

The township has three other females employed as officers in the police department, including Police Chief Linda Kulp.

When Whipple graduates from the police academy, she will receive her oath of office by township officials and will be given her badge. She will ride and work with a seasoned police officer for an unspecified time, then will be assigned a patrol beat and a police vehicle.

In other administration activities at the meeting, the commissioners were informed the township was successful in negotiating a lower rate for the provision of animal control services. Lehigh County Humane Society agreed upon a fee of $20,000, down from $24,896 paid in 2014.

"The township met its compliance with the Affordable Health Care Act by the payment of $13,000-plus to the federal government as required by the Act," Hozza said. "This is based upon the number of insured employees and dependents." The payment is less than the township originally expected to pay.

In other business, the township and police union met to present testimony on a contract grievance over payment for orthodontic services, representing four grievances filed over several years. After briefs were filed by both parties, Hozza said, the township was informed the grievance was denied by the arbitrator, who ruled in favor of the township.