A police officer in Lehigh Township is retiring July 1.

Resident Robert Hawke asked what the township is going to do. He thought the process should begin with finding a replacement.

Supervisor Darryl Snover said he found out about the retirement at the meeting April 28.

Hawke said crime is moving north.

Supervisor Cindy Miller made a motion to begin the process of hiring a full-time officer. The motion passed.

Township Manager Alice Rehrig said some people remain on a previous list.

Supervisor Del Grove said he knows there are officers patrolling alone, which he said he does not approve of.

In other business, Odyssey of the Mind Club from Access requested a waiver for use of the Danielsville pavilion. It was approved by a 3 to 2 vote.

Miller asked how often the board is waiving fees.

She was told that Access is a handicapped group and there are three churches that receive waivers.

Snover said he takes no issue waiving the fee for nonprofits as long as they clean up the area.

Supervisor Sandy Hopkins asked why the group wants to come to Lehigh Township when there is a pavilion next to a Northampton school.

Also during the meeting, Speed Tec land development offered an extension from April 30, when its plan expires, to June 30. The planning commission granted its conditional approval.

Supervisor Keith Hantz reported the public-private partnership interested in constructing the maintenance building will attend a meeting to present the advantages of construction.

Brown and Brown was chosen as the insurance broker at a cost of $2,000 less with a deductible. In the past, a deductible was only used once and so was given little consideration. Currently the township pays $51,000 and the new cost is $46,348.

With the time for Eastern States, Blue Mountain and Senior Men's tournaments at the recreation fields approaching, supervisors were asked who might be able to prepare the fields.

Dennis Hock, who has done so in the past, was considered, but the board decided against retaining him for the job.

Snover said he can volunteer but cannot be paid. The field rental should cover preparation until someone is found.

Miller said if Hock cannot serve on the recreation board, he should not be permitted to volunteer. The cost is $42 per hour to have someone prep the fields on the weekend.

Hantz suggested starting a volunteer list and directed Rehrig to talk to roadmaster Frank Zamadics to determine if any crew members are interested.

People from the senior citizens' center might be interested in return for food from the concession stand, Hantz said.

When changes were made to the recreation resolution, the cost for light usage was set at $55 per hour, nonregistered tournament teams at $450 and commercial teams at $500. The portion of a team required to live in the township will be 25 percent for a team to be considered resident to the township.

It will cost between $10,000 and $20,000 to modify the Hills of Greenock plan. According to the plan, detention basins cannot be filled in until a certain number of homes are built, but there is dirt available at the top of the hill to do so now.

Solicitor David Backenstoe said the decision is between spending a smaller amount now or spending $200,000 later. His advice was accepted.

The Northampton Area School District called to ask where the township stood in appointing an alternate tax collector. The individual will have to be accepted by the bonding company but will not need additional bonding since the tax collector's bond will carry over to the alternate.

At the Turkey Hill development, residents are being pressured to sell land for the intersection improvements for $1, Hantz said.

Backenstoe said the developer has to improve the intersection, and Penn DOT requires that they get the right of way. It is between the developer and the owners. If it should go to eminent domain, the owners will get paid.

The individual with the most seniority on the summer crew will be in charge. He will receive 50 cents additional in pay. The third person will receive $9.50 per hour.