At its regular meeting May 28, East Allen Township Board of Supervisors agreed to move forward with the summer camp program at Bicentennial Park.

Camp is slated to start June 29 for six weeks until the first week in August. Frantz wants to target the 7- to 10-year-old age group.

The cost is higher than previous years, and there are fewer benefits due to the coronavirus pandemic. Keeping the costs down was necessary because only half of the usual number of campers will be permitted. There will be no field trips or special guests this year.

Recreation Director Chuck Frantz indicated he has been in communication with recreation directors across the state on the issue of summer camps.

“The municipalities not holding summer camp are those with indoor facilities, but most camps with an open-air facility are moving ahead,” he said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has not commented on the proposals.

Frantz indicated the overriding concern among government officials is the liability. Solicitor Joseph Piperato indicated there are still open issues, and he does not expect resolutions on how the insurance industry will respond to all the pandemic nuances for a while.

Frantz elaborated on safety factors that will be taken.

The program will be limited to 75 campers instead of the usual 150. Campers will be checked in when they arrive to see if they have been in contact with anyone who has had the virus. The campers are broken down into groups of 15 and have two counselors assigned to each group.

Restrooms are open only to the campers and are sanitized every night.

East Allen Township residents will have priority to register their children.

Nonresidents will be placed on a waiting list and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis when slots are available.

There is a minimum requirement of 20 campers, although it was reported no one expects that to be a problem.

Registration forms and details are available at eatwp.org.

In other business, township supervisors made changes to update the emergency plan and to appoint a coordinator for pandemic-related issues.

Supervisors released final payments on the road improvements for the Monocacy Drive resurfacing project.

The ambulance company reported it is functioning well and not in a stressful situation. Personnel are looking to improve their services and want to improve their funding campaigns.

Erin Shaffer, of Shady Lane, voiced her concern about vehicles speeding on her street.

“This was once a neighborhood with older couples; now there are families with children,” she said.

Shaffer cited several near-miss instances.

“This is critical. I talked with the (Pennsylvania) State Police, who said I need to talk with the township,” she said.

Township Engineer James Milot agreed to get out to the site quickly and provide options by the next meeting, June 10.

Township Manager Brent Green noted the next meeting will be held using the teleconference system. He expects some restrictions will be lifted, so future meetings can be held in the municipal building.