Lehigh Township keeps pavilion alcohol permits but requires insurance after split vote

Lehigh Township supervisors debated three options for handling alcohol in township parks on March 10 and voted to retain the current permit-based approach while adding a requirement that anyone obtaining an alcohol permit provide a certificate of insurance.

Staff presented three options: expand current permit requirements, remove alcohol language entirely so it would not be addressed by ordinance, or ban alcohol in parks. Supervisor Janet Sheats moved to adopt the second option, removing alcohol from the ordinance; Mike Jones seconded, but the motion failed on a 2-3 vote (Sheats and Jones in favor; David Hess, Jerry Pritchard and Cindy Miller opposed).

After further discussion about enforcement and liability, Supervisor David Hess moved to keep the existing permit system and add a requirement that permit holders provide a waiver, indemnification agreement and a certificate of homeowners or event insurance. The board approved that motion 3-2.

Township Solicitor Backenstoe advised that if the township chooses to regulate alcohol it must provide enforceable regulations and suggested the insurance requirement would reduce township exposure. "If you're going to permit alcohol, you need to have regulations and they need to be enforced," he said in the discussion.

Police Chief Henry told the board enforcement would remain a matter for officers to exercise discretion; officers had previously told a group of baseball players to stop drinking after a game and no citation was issued because there were no signs of intoxication. Supervisors agreed rental organizations already provide insurance for pavilion uses and that a certificate should be required when alcohol is permitted.

The board's vote keeps the permit framework in place; supervisors instructed staff to add the insurance and indemnification requirement to the ordinance language and to continue providing copies of issued permits to Police for enforcement purposes.