BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. – The Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners discussed two longstanding salient issues following a reorganization meeting Monday night at the township building.
PennDOT officials are proposing intersection safety improvements at Freemansburg Avenue and Farmersville Road. The two roads currently form two offset intersections with single-lane approaches. The Farmersville approaches are stop-controlled at both intersections.
The project will realign the north Farmersville leg, widen Freemansburg to provide left-turn lanes, and add a traffic signal. The improvements are being implemented in conjunction with the Freemansburg/Wolfe Dental land development plan located at the intersection’s southeast corner.
Much of Monday night’s discussion was devoted to sidewalks.
Mansion Renovation
The board discussed a proposal to initiate soil testing and sewage facilities planning services for the planned renovation of the Archibald Johnston Mansion.
The mansion, located at 3811 Christian Spring Rd., is scheduled to receive renovations through the township and other non-profit organizations. Given the extensive renovations, the township’s initial plan is to open the first floor of the building for community groups and meetings and to provide a restroom to serve this use.
Ultimately, larger events with up to 100 people are expected to be held at the facility. These larger events are scheduled to be served by outside caterers, and no food preparation or extensive kitchen use is expected. Because the building is outside of a public sewer service area, an on-lot sewage disposal system is proposed to manage the mansion’s evolving wastewater needs.
Approval of on-lot sewage disposal is a two-step process. It requires sewage facilities planning approval followed by system design and permitting. The firm attempting to procure the Johnston Mansion contract, ARM Group, indicated in a Dec. 2 letter to Bethlehem Township that in their experience the project will require an Act 537 Plan revision and completion of a sewage facilities planning module.
Soil testing is a component of sewage facilities planning to document site suitability for the proposed system. This requires determination of an estimated sewage flow, identification of limiting soil zones and system type, and percolation and permeability testing to ascertain system sizing.
The board approved two proposals for the work from Whitestone Associates. The deals total $24,975.
Oath of Office and Reorganization
Incumbent John Merhottein and Matthew Deckman were each administered the oath of office to serve as commissioners at the meeting’s outset. Merhottein and John Gallagher were then elected president and vice president of the legislative body, respectively.