Glitches increase phone calls to 911

Accidental butt dials and occasional glitches in the telephone system contributed to an increase in 911 calls, said Lehman Township Police Chief Howard Kocher during the board of supervisors meeting on Jan. 7.

Kocher said emergency personnel must respond to each call, even if it is a hang-up, adding that last year emergency personnel responded to 108 hang-up calls and 123 burglar alarms, most of which were also false alarms.

During the board's reorganization meeting prior to the regular meeting, the board approved a resolution that would increase the property tax to 1.45 mills. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value. There are no other tax or service increases this year.

The board voted to appoint Marian DeAngelis as secretary and Right-to-Know Officer at an annual salary of $30,000.

The board also voted:

To re-appoint Dave Sutton as chairman, Ray Iwanoski as vice chairman and Alvin Cragle as treasurer. Cragle's salary was set at $17,000 per year.

To re-appoint Howard Kocher as chief of police at a salary of $41,700 per year.

To appoint Mark Liparela as temporary, full-time police officer at a salary of $30,000 per year.

To re-appoint Peter Savage as the township's solicitor as a salary of $600 per month.

To appoint Michael Sholtis as zoning officer at a salary of $8,000 per year.

To appoint Barbara Simms as assistant zoning officer at a salary of $5,900 per year and planning commission administrator, also at $5,900 per year.

To appoint Doug Ide to a 4-year term on the planning commission.

To appoint the following to the zoning hearing board: Joseph Rutchauskas, 5-year term; John Hanish, 4-year term and Brian Doran as an alternate.

The next regular board of supervisors meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 18 following a public hearing at 6 p.m. regarding abandoned roads near the Lake Silkworth area.