Increasing volunteerism in the township was one of the topics discussed at the March 12 Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners meeting.

Resident and committee member Joe Wilfinger asked the board to be more aggressive about recruiting volunteers for township committees, many of which he said are short staffed and often don’t even have a quorum when they meet.

Board member Jeffrey Dutt said he and fellow board member Shawn Clary recently met with 31 students at Whitehall High School to talk about volunteer opportunities. Dutt said all 31 students signed up for different volunteer positions in the township.

“We had a good response,” Dutt said.

Clary, a WHS teacher, said he was optimistic that the student volunteerism would pave the way for other residents to get involved.

During public comment, resident Daniel Wadusky asked why the township doesn’t have a noise ordinance. He complained that someone in his neighborhood was playing loud music until 1:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. He noted that both Catasauqua and Allentown have noise ordinances.

Thomas Slonaker, board secretary, said noise ordinances are almost impossible to enforce.

“You need to have equipment to measure the level of the noise,” he said.

Dennis Hower, commissioners president, told Wadusky to call the police to report disorderly conduct if it happens again.

In other business, the board approved a small subdivision of two homes at 1313 Pennsylvania St. A request to defer sidewalks was withdrawn after the board expressed concern about the traffic on nearby Mauch Chunk Road and pedestrian safety.

The board also approved the purchase of a 2019 TYMCO 600 street sweeper, which John Meyers, acting mayor, said will replace an older sweeper that needs repair.