Under the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code, all townships are required to reorganize on the first Monday of the new year.

As was the case with other townships, Upper Macungie supervisors met to comply with the mandate.

Jim Brunell was selected as chairman with Sean Gill as vice chairman and Kathy Rader as secretary.

Other appointments made included Andrew V. Schantz Esq. and Davison and McCarthy P.C. as legal counsel for the board of supervisors, planning commission and township authority.

Legal counsel for the zoning hearing board will be Steckel and Stopp Law Office, Slatington.

Township engineer will be Keystone Consulting Engineers.

The company will be the engineer for the board of supervisors, planning commission and township authority.

Third party inspections will be handled by Base Engineering I. as primary and CodeMaster Inspection Services Inc. and Keycodes Inspection Agency as secondaries.

Auditing will be handled by Maillie LLP.

Other appointments included John Kuhns to the vacancy board, Kenneth Kratz to the building code board of appeals, Joel Kohler to the impact fee committee and Makala Ashmar and Kenneth Pavkovic to the township planning commission.

Robert Rabe was appointed to the zoning hearing board, Brian Kresge to the recreation board and Barry Moyer to the township authority.

Pennsylvania State Association of Township Officials ‘conference delegates will be the three supervisors and Dan Olpere, township manager, with Kathy Rader as the voting delegate.

After the appointments were made, the board adjourned and re-convened to open the normally scheduled meeting which would have been held the first Thursday.

Attorney Joe Zator, representing the Paarth Corporation, approached supervisors to discuss a proposed land development.

A four-story motel is planned for the southwest corner of the intersection of Blue Barn and Memorial roads.

A maximum of 91 rooms is proposed and will be called Townplace Suites by Marriott.

It appears several problems have arisen during the planning process and the developer is seeking some relief.

J. Scott Stenroos, township engineer, noted it might be necessary for the developer to seek relief from the zoning hearing board. The applicant will demolish the adult book store across the street along with some other buildings on the tract.

Township resident Chris Engelbert told the board the intersection could not handle some of the larger tractor trailers and this should be taken into consideration when developing the property.

The board will take the proposal under advisement.

Two resolutions were on the agenda for the evening. One established township fees for the year.

Daren Martocci noted the building permit fees have not changed in several years.

The second resolution concerned the intersection of Grim Road and Route 222.

Stenroos advised the board there would be some modifications made at this site.

Solicitor Andrew Schantz mentioned the subject of drones to the board.

He was of the opinion the township should look into the matter and possibly enact an ordinance on the subject.

Schantz said there are privacy issues involved with the drone situation.

Grange Road Park was acquired in several parcels. In order to apply for grant money, the park must be in one tract.

Therefore, Rader suggested the engineer prepare a plan uniting all the parcels.

The recreation board did not meet in December 2015.

However, several new programs are scheduled for 2016.

A resume workshop is being offered 9:30-11 a.m. Feb. 6 at Independent Park.

A night with psychic Laurie Moore will be 7-8:30 p.m. March 3 Hunter/Trapper Safety Course will be March 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. while the Hippity Hoppity Show will be the following week on March 11 at 6 p.m., all at Independent Park.

Pick-up volleyball continues from 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays until March 29 at Fogelsville Elementary School.

Contact the township office for more information.

The police report, given by Deputy Chief Joe Wilson, indicated the total calls for service for the month were 767 and total for the year to date were 8,828.

The most reported crime was theft with 15 offenses, while fraud came in a distant second with 5 incidents.

The K-9 unit had three narcotics assignments.

The motor carrier safety program held a total of 27 inspections which resulted in 49 violations discovered and 16 citations issued.