At the Feb. 4 Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting, township Manager Melissa Wehr commented on council Chair Bruce Paulus’ tenure serving the community. At a previous meeting, his volunteer and elected office work were unclear to those attending the meeting.

Wehr said Paulus began as a member of the zoning hearing board in 1988 and was reappointed in 1990. In 1992, he was appointed as a council member and has remained on council continuously since then. Much of his time on council has been serving as the council chair.

Paulus’ amiable demeanor has made him a beloved member of council. He closely watches the township finances and will question any expenditure so he and his council peers can evaluate the cost and need for the payment or purchase.

In October 2024, he voted against a proposal to install safety cameras at locations on state roads in the township not because of safety concerns, but because, in his view, the cost to local taxpayers was too high. He felt the state, given the cameras would be on state roads, should provide greater funding for the cameras.

In honor of his service to Hanover Township, the entrance street to the municipal building was named Paulus Way when it was constructed, to honor his dedication, effective service and leadership for decades in the township.

During the manager’s report, several fire department leaders were present to explain why the number of and cost of the new microphones that attach to firefighter radios cost $5,301.07. Forty-seven microphones were purchased with the assistance of Lehigh County.

Fire Department President John Wechsler, Assistant Fire Chief Will Hummell and firefighter Nina Hummell attended the meeting to provide information about the purchase. Wechsler noted they had to replace all the microphones.

Paulus felt too many may have been purchased, considering the number of volunteer firefighters. Councilman Robert Heimbecker said he wanted to see a spreadsheet of where the microphones will be used, and in which trucks, to explain the need for so many.

Will Hummell said officers carry two radios, so they need two microphones. The department is seeking two more assistant chiefs, a captain and lieutenant, which will take eight more. Each seat in the trucks also needs a microphone and radio so in an emergency call, the firefighters are not scrambling to get their radios and microphones.

The department representatives said they will provide a spreadsheet to show the location of and the needs for the radios and microphones.

Wehr also noted some vehicles in the township have not been moved from the snow emergency streets. She asked council to grant permission to have offending vehicles ticketed and the vehicles towed. Council granted that permission.

Council introduced ordinance 669 that initiates a process that will amend the township charter, establishing contract bases tied to the Consumer Price Index.

After some discussion, council then approved bill 2026-01 that will also place the ordinance on a 2026 election. It must be ratified by the public because it is a change to the township charter. The plan is to get the ordinance on the primary ballot this May.

Council also approved the township bills for Feb. 4, in the amount of $309,444.24.

The next Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting was scheduled to be held Feb. 18 in the township municipal building, 2202 Grove Road, Allentown.