South Whitehall commissioners advertise two ordinances, approve solar array and adopt official seal in unanimous votes

The South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners took multiple formal actions at its July 1, 2026 meeting. All votes recorded in the public session were unanimous (5-0).

Votes at a glance

- Minutes: The board voted 5-0 to adopt the June 17, 2026 meeting minutes after a motion from Commissioner Felinger Ricker and a second from Commissioner Gronowski.

- Ordinance advertising (7A): The board voted 5-0 to advertise an ordinance amending chapter 58 (pension plans) to remove a reference to a specific trustee and authorize trustee appointments by board resolution; staff said the change is administrative and does not alter benefits or funding.

- Ordinance advertising (7B): The board voted 5-0 to advertise an ordinance to restrict truck traffic on Brickyard Road after an engineer’s analysis recommended the restriction; the proposed ordinance would exempt emergency vehicles and local deliveries and would mirror Title 75 enforcement provisions.

- Resolution 8A (St. Joseph the Worker Parish solar array): The board adopted a resolution granting preliminary/final approval to a major plan to consolidate parcels and install a solar array to serve the church property; applicant waivers reviewed previously by staff, engineers and the planning commission were included. Vote: 5-0.

- Resolution 8B (township seal and logo): The board adopted an official township seal and logo intended to reflect local landmarks; implementation of new signage and materials will be phased in as funding allows. Vote: 5-0.

- Authorization of payments: The board voted 5-0 to authorize the payment of invoices and disbursements for the evening.

Details and context

Township manager Tom Petruchi presented packet materials and explained that the pension code change corrects an outdated trustee reference and moves trustee appointments to a resolution process. For the Brickyard Road item, the township engineer described concerns about truck turning movements and pavement/structural constraints; staff recommended the prohibition with statutory enforcement language. The St. Joseph solar-array plan was presented by Director Kent Baird and an applicant representative; commissioners expressed support for renewable energy.

What’s next: Advertising of the two ordinances begins the legal notice process; public comment and formal advertisement are prerequisites to final adoption. The packet and supporting documents are posted on the township website for public review.