By SARIT LASCHINKY

Special to The Press

One of the main points of conversation at the Dec. 14 Weisenberg supervisors meeting was an ordinance establishing a multi-stop intersection and installing stop signs at Kecks and Klines Mill roads.

Resident Winona Schappell presented her objections, as well as those of several other residents, before a vote was taken.

She began by saying residents had not been notified of the ordinance or discussion.

Schappell said many questions were not answered in the engineer’s report and proposed the multi-way stop not be installed as it created unsafe driving conditions due to the steep grade on Kecks Road.

This, she said, was counter to the township’s land development ordinance maximums.

Schappell also said the report and summary did not have sufficient data to determine if a four-way stop was warranted.

She added the road was “historically misaligned” and would not be corrected by additional stop signs.

Furthermore, Schappell said stop signs should only be used where warranted by studies.

She reiterated the engineer’s report included no consideration for public safety with regards to stopping on a steep-grade road and no indication of, among other things, vehicle traffic, incidents which occurred due to the misalignment, accidents or reported accidents.

Schappell asked why there was no emergency data provided showing why the multi-way stop was warranted, and why there was no consideration to use the existing stop signs and add additional information signs regarding cross-traffic.

She also told the board stop signs had already been installed along the two roads before the ordinance was approved.

Township engineer Stan Wojciechowksi said a sit-down should be held with residents to create a better sense of understanding.

Supervisors’ Chairwoman Linda Gorgas proposed tabling the issue.

Supervisor Tony Werley acknowledged the signs should not have been placed, and would be pulled down or covered as they are not legal traffic control measures until the ordinance is passed.

The board voted to table the issue until their Feb. 8, 2021, meeting.

“If Wojciechowski and residents are unable to have a meeting and answer questions by then, the matter will continue to be tabled,” Gorgas said.

A second ordinance to establish a multi-stop intersection with stop signs on Clearwater Circle was approved by the board.

In other land development matters, the board approved a lot line adjustment for 9680 Bachelor Road and any necessary waivers.

Supervisors also approved an ag-security application for property along Winding Road.

An eighth escrow reduction request for the Morgan Hills development in the amount of $77,451.88 was approved by the board.

Furthermore, supervisors approved the township’s final 2021 budget and fee schedule, and voted to appoint France, Anderson, Basile and Company to conduct the township’s 2020 CPA audit.

The 2021 millage rate was approved at a township rate at 0.56 mil and the fire tax rate at 0.44 mil.

In other matters, supervisors heard an update regarding property at 2386 Masters Hill Road and its second driveway, which the board had ordered in previous meetings to be closed and removed.

Property owner Curt Silfies said he was still waiting for several shipping containers to be received.

Township Manager Brian Carl said the main issue was time.

Regarding the driveway, Silfies said as soon as work was completed and the materials received, he would be fine with closing off the second driveway.

Werley and Gorgas asked Silfies to erect a fence across the second driveway to close it off until the containers arrived and passed a motion to revisit the issue Feb. 8.

Two renewals were granted to operate junkyards for one-year periods.

One was for Walbert Contracting at 10176 Schoolyard Road; the other to C. Lick Jr. Salvage at 9575 Old Route 22.

A resolution approving the Weisenberg Volunteer Fire Department to participate in activities in 2021 was approved, as was an agreement with the Sanctuary at Haafsville to provide stray animal services at a cost of $50 per cat, $110 per dog and $150 for emergency care.

Supervisors voted to set the 2021 meeting dates, starting with the supervisor closeout meeting at 8 a.m. Dec. 28 and the reorganizational meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 4, 2021,

Supervisor regular meetings will continue to be 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.

Planning commission meetings will be held at 7 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month, except for November and December when meetings will take place also at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 and Dec. 17, 2021,

Zoning hearing board meetings will be the second Wednesday of the month as necessary; Environmental Advisory Council meetings will be the third Tuesday each month at 7 p.m., and fire company and supervisor meetings will be 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday, as necessary.

Supervisors approved the reappointment of Stephen McGlynn, Stephen Schaffer and Allen Cerullo to the planning commission, as well as the reappointment of Scott Searcy to the zoning hearing board.

An ordinance establishing a 25-mph speed limit on Herber Road between the Lowhill Township line and Weisenberg Church Road was approved for advertisement.

The township also approved a motion to have five as-needed employees available for snow removal.

Carl said due to COVID-19 there was a risk of infection among the road crew and had spoken to Lowhill Township about the concern.

During the comment period, Tax Collector Jeff Strauss reported an Overview Court resident had requested to waive the penalty associated with not paying a tax bill and explained the resident had received a second notice but told Strauss they had not received a tax bill.

Supervisors voted to deny the request.

Strauss said by law, not receiving a tax bill does not relieve a person’s duty to pay taxes and penalties, and the township was not responsible to email or keep track of resident’s tax bills.

In the fire report, Assistant Chief Matt Krapf reported the department had 188 calls to date, with 16 in November.

He also noted the department recently moved back to virtual training due to COVID-19 and added a $37,500 grant from Lehigh County for COVID-19 related expenses had been received and would be used to purchase spare turnout gear for front-line firefighters.

Lastly, Carl reported the municipal building’s heating system had recently died and presented new options to the board to replace the old system.

The board approved a $15,508 purchase of a Bosch Heat Pump, Furnace and Indoor Unit to be installed in the near future.