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Lehigh Township Board approves payment for ladder truck; General Fund to cover shortfall pending fire-tax reimbursement
Summary
Supervisors approved disbursing funds tied to a new ladder truck and directed the General Fund to cover an immediate shortfall, to be reimbursed from the township's recently adopted fire tax; the motion drew one explicit dissent and prompted commitments for monthly updates and a meeting with the Fire Company.
The Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors voted Feb. 24 to approve payment tied to a new ladder truck that has been ordered by the Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Company, directing the Township to temporarily cover any shortfall from the General Fund and be reimbursed as fire-tax receipts arrive.
The dispute centered on a July 2023 Board motion in which the Township committed $1,550,000 toward the ladder truck (including $600,000 from the capital fund and up to $200,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds) and expected the Fire Company to raise the remaining balance and provide annual financial disclosures by Feb. 1. Manager Alice Rehrig told the Board that the Township has already made a pre-payment of $614,968; the minutes record remaining balances and multiple shortfall figures discussed during the meeting.
Board member Cindy Miller said the 2023 motion was intended to limit the Township's exposure and to require written agreements for future apparatus purchases. "We should not be held hostage by a manufacturer's deadline," Miller said, urging legal review and clearer contract terms.
Fire Company representative Rick Hildebrand told the Board the company was not previously informed that a fundraising obligation or a capital-campaign sign (a thermometer-style public display) was required. "We were never contacted," he said, and reiterated the Company's current operational and maintenance strains.
After extended discussion about whether the Township could temporarily advance funds, Finance/managering options and the timing of the 2026 fire-tax collection, Janet Sheats moved — and David Hess seconded — a motion to approve Check 29446 with the shortfall coming from the General Fund and to replace that money from the Fire Tax Fund as taxes are received; the motion requires monthly updates from the Township Manager and a meeting between the Board and the Fire Company to review future apparatus and contracts. The minutes record "Jerry Pritchard, Mike Jones, Janet Sheats, and David Hess voted aye. Cindy Miller was opposed." The minutes also state the motion carried.
The minutes contain varied references to the outstanding amounts (the text cites a prepayment of $614,968 and several different shortfall amounts discussed by board members and Fire Company representatives). Manager Rehrig committed to provide monthly updates to the Board on fund status and potential reimbursements as fire-tax revenue arrives.
The Board also directed that future apparatus contracts come through the Township for legal review and that the capital plan be amended to reflect the payment and its impact on timing for future purchases. The motion as recorded includes those conditions.
The Board's decision resolves immediate payment needs for the apparatus but leaves open how outstanding shortfall amounts will be finalized; Manager Reigh will provide monthly reconciliation updates, and the Board scheduled to meet with the Fire Company to discuss finances and future procurement. The minutes do not show a formal guarantee of reimbursement timing beyond the commitment to use fire-tax receipts for replacement of General Fund advances.
