Bethlehem Township Commissioners are considering a new policy for yard waste disposal at the recycling facility. At their Aug. 6 meeting, they discussed a proposal from Public Works Director Richard Grube that will prohibit contractors from dropping off yard waste. The reason is that they are running out of room.

Under the current policy, any township resident can drop off yard waste at the recycling center. So can any township contractor or even an outside contractor who is disposing of a resident’s yard waste. In past years, that has been no problem because Green Pond Nursery was willing to accept the mulch at no charge. But last winter, the nursery stopped accepting township mulch because it had no room either. As a result, the township has been forced to use a hauler seven times to dispose of the mulch at $250 for each 80-ton tractor trailer load.

“If this continues, we’re going to have the problem year after year,” said Assistant Public Works Director Richard Kanaskie. “We have so much of it that we’ll never be rid of it.”

Commissioner John Gallagher asked about using the mulch at township facilities. Kanaskie answered that it is at some locations, but a special kind of mulch must be used at playgrounds and around the community center.

Grube and Kanaskie advised that, in Bethlehem, all contractors are banned from using the recycling center to dump yard waste, even those within the city. “We would like the township to follow this same policy and not allow contractors to dump yard waste at our facility,” they said in a memo prepared in advance of the meeting. They noted that contractors can take yard waste to Grinding Acres on Freemansburg Avenue and pay a fee.

The Public Works Department would like a new policy in place by the beginning of the year so contractors have some advance warning. Commissioners took no action because both President Michael Hudak and Vice President Tom Nolan were unavoidably absent. Malissa Davis served as President in their absence.

In other business, commissioners voted 3-0 to award a $378,417 contract with Grace Industries for improvements to Housenick Park. They include one-half mile of paved walking trail, a gazebo, scenic overlook, children’s nature play area and landscaping. Davis explained that nearly all the money for this project comes from outside sources.

Grace Industries was the lowest of four bids that went as high as $651,000.

Commissioners also voted 3-0 to direct Solicitor Jim Broughal to prepare a new ordinance to address littering and dumping within the township. Police Captain Greg Gottshall has warned that the current laws are inadequate.

They also voted 3-0 to impose an annual $500 registration fee on banks that foreclose on vacant homes so the property can be maintained if the bank fails to do so.

Davis also suggested that the carpentry contract at the Archibald Mansion be revised to include the $17,500 cost for fixing the shutters. Broughal said he would need to review the contract first.

Finally, commissioners considered a proposal that would permit the athletic association to use a 6.59-acre park nestled at the end of Anthony Court for soccer practice by no more than 20 girls, age 5, twice a week. This park is located at Bethlehem Estates, one of the township’s higher neighborhoods. Six years ago, residents there were upset that kids were using the park to play soccer and threatened litigation.

At that time, Anthony Court resident John Murphy reminded commissioners that his is a wealthier neighborhood. “Do you guys have any idea how much taxes we pay in that community there?” he asked. “I guarantee that, with five houses, we’re talking $60,000 a year.”

“You should not have a park in a residential community,” he argued.

Commissioners took no action on this proposal. Solicitor Jim Broughal said it is “more of a political issue” than a legal one.