South Whitehall commissioners had a shortened business agenda during their July 1 virtual meeting.

During the correspondence period, Police Chief Glen Dorney noted the township police department had been assessed June 24 by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.

The department originally earned accreditation June 23, 2017, and is one of 120 agencies in the state to be accredited by PLEAC.

Dorney said accredited agencies must meet 136 standards that are “best practices and policies in modern policing,” and must show documentation that the department meets the standards and perform duties in accordance with PLEAC standards.”

He added that, unofficially, the assessors indicated the South Whitehall Police Department will be recommended for reaccreditation.

“This is validation the South Whitehall Township Police Department do things right and meet the high standards imposed by PLEAC,” Dorney said.

He also spoke about the ongoing national discussions around police reform and divestment, which have occurred since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn.

“[I] can confidently state the South Whitehall Township police have already addressed most concerns by the public about police reform,” Dorney said.

He also talked about the eight use-of-force policies of the “Eight Can’t Wait” reform agenda - banning choke holds and strangleholds, requiring de-escalation, requiring warnings before shooting, exhausting all alternatives before shooting, instilling a duty to intervene, banning shooting at moving vehicles, requiring a use of force continuum, and requiring comprehensive reporting.

“These ‘eight that can’t wait’ have been present in Lehigh Valley policing for about 25 years, since I went through the police academy,” Dorney said. “We constantly review policies and procedures and ensure we are addressing the concerns of 21st century policing.

“I can confidently tell you South Whitehall Township officers are doing things right and doing them right for the right reasons,” Dorney said. “We care about all members of our community, and strive to provide the best service without prejudice.”

He also acknowledged police officers are human and make mistakes.

“And sadly there are bad cops out there, as we’ve seen in Minneapolis,” Dorney said. “One bad cop out of 800,000 plus police officers in this country should not paint all police officers as bad.

He added nobody hates bad cops “more than good cops,” and noted his department works “to serve you the best we can, and we do it right 99 percent of the time.

In closing, Dorney said he was proud of being a member of the South Whitehall Police Department and commended the department’s members for “their hard work and dedication to our community.”

He also thanked the community for its support, as well as the board for “not entertaining the ridiculous narrative of defunding the police.”

Board members thanked Dorney for his correspondence and leadership, and for the service of the department.

Under township business, the board approved a motion to award a bid for the Jordan Road Guide Rail Replacement Project to Tri-Boro for $5,413.

Superintendent of Public Works Herb Bender said replacements would be done along the Jordan Road Bridge, which will be inspected in November, to bring the rails up to standard.

He also noted the project was budgeted $50,000 in the 2020 township budget, but through use of existing parts and in-stock materials, the costs were dramatically reduced.

Additionally, the board also approved the withdrawal of a request for proposal for the Jordan Creek Greenway Project, which was originally approved during a March board hearing and would provide for the construction of two miles of trail from Wehr Mill Road to Cedar Crest Boulevard.

Parks and Recreation Manager Mike Kukitz explained that due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project has remained in limbo, and the township is not ready to award a project bid as the necessary easements, rights of way and properties for the trail have not yet been obtained.

He also said the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recommended the bid be terminated and the project move forward in a phased approach.

Next, Kukitz also asked to award Phase 1 of the Greenway Design Project to Michael Baker for $119,570.

He said DCNR granted permission for South Whitehall to select a contractor to work with, without redoing the RFP process, due to the unusual circumstances.

Kukitz added the Phase 1 would cover necessary trail design work through Covered Bridge Park and township-owned property, while Phase 2 will include future work needed to continue the trail to Cedar Crest once the necessary easements and properties are secured.

He noted the total cost from Michael Baker for both phases will be $239,141 and will be jointly funded by general fund money and a DCNR grant.

The board unanimously approved the Phase 1 motion.

Furthermore, the board also heard a waiver request from UGI Utilities regarding its planned GET Gas Project to install a natural gas line in the Bungalow Park area.

Solicitor Joe Zator said the project would trigger a township ordinance requiring the entire area to be milled and overlaid, which would make UGI’s project cost-prohibitive.

Zator noted the board had approved an ordinance in May to provide a waiver procedure for the ordinance and allow commissioners to waive the necessary provisions, but UGI’s previous request had been pushed back in order to provide residents with more information on the project and its impact.

Bender also said the project allows residents to hook up to the GET gas line over a 12-year period and said performing milling and overlaying for a 12-year project would “kill” the project.

UGI project engineer Hugh Harris said the company had sent a letter to inform homeowners about the project’s impact and the company received only positive feedback from interested homeowners.

He said the projected gas line would be installed in the township’s right of way and off the pavement edge, and will avoid all driveway cuts whenever possible.

Zator said since the line is running in the public right of way, property owners do not have to give approval for UGI to install the gas main and cannot deny excavation, although if any private property needs to be accessed, UGI would need to contact the impacted homeowners.

The board unanimously approved the waiver request.

Lastly, in response to a courtesy of the floor question from Monica Hodges asking if South Whitehall Township has a noise ordinance in place, Attorney Tom Harper said an ordinance is in the works which covers numerous quality of life issues, including noise, and will go before the board shortly.

Harper said the ordinance includes a provision for fireworks and was drafted in cooperation with Dorney Park.

He added enforcement will be carried out by the township police department and code enforcement department.

The next board of commissioners meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 15.