The town hall meeting for the proposed Hokendauqua historic preservation district, set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Teamsters Union Hall Local 773, 3614 Lehigh St., drew a protest at the board of commissioners meeting Monday by Commissioner Linda Snyder, on grounds the session should instead be held at the municipal complex.

“It should be here. All township meetings should be in this building,” Snyder said.

Snyder asked Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt how he selected the site for the meeting. Dutt replied it was the decision of the Hokendauqua historic preservation district committee, taking into account conversations with residents of that area.

Discussion continued on whether the Sept. 27 meeting was advertised and on the number of commissioners required to be present for the session. Board members discussed possible legal ramifications if four commissioners attend, which would result in a quorum of the board.

Commissioner Philip Ginder suggested the home rule charter be reviewed to determine whether such a meeting is permitted to be held outside the municipal campus.

“Take care of it right now,” Ginder said, adding if the meeting adheres to the charter rules, then having the town hall meeting at the union hall is allowed.

Township Solicitor Charles Fonzone then spent a few minutes reviewing the home rule charter and was unable to come up with any prohibition that would deny such a forum outside the municipal building.

The proposed historic district, which would run from Front Street to Third Street, would be the first such corridor in Whitehall. It would impact approximately 100 homes that were built in the 1880s era.

An 1884 published history of Lehigh and Carbon counties heralded Hokendauqua as “a model industrial town.”

The proposed historic district would include the ruins of the Thomas Iron Works, the residence of David Thomas, the first public school in the village, dating back to 1864 - now a day care center on Third Street - First Presbyterian Church of Hokendauqua on Front Street and other buildings.

Dutt said the official designation is to prevent any demolition of structures in the historic area.