Upper Macungie Board of Supervisors honors officers amid new developments

BREINIGSVILLE, Pa. — The Upper Macungie Township’s Board of Supervisors honored both old and new officers while also passing new contracts for future developments for new police and fire stations at its public monthly meeting in the Municipal Building on Thursday, Aug. 7, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Board of Supervisors hosts meetings on the first Thursday of the month to discuss developments pertaining to fire safety in the township and other issues, according to Upper Macungie Township’s website.

The staff members who attended were the Herbert, Rowland and Grubic, Inc.’s Municipal & Water Resources Group Manager Ryan Kern, Solicitor Andrew V. Schantz, Director of Community Development Meredith Keller, and Assistant Township Manager Kalman Sostarecz Jr.

Township Secretary and Executive Assistant Jazmin Vazquez, Vice-Chair Sunny Ghai, Chairman Jeff Fleischaker, Member James M. Brunell, Township Manager Robert Ibach, Jr., Chief of Police Michael J. Sitoksi, Fire Commissioner Peter Christ, Finance Manager Michelle Souls, and Director of Public Works Scott Faust were also in attendance.

Sitoski introduced the Police Department’s new hire, Timothy Kline, who previously worked full-time at the Emmaus Police Department. Kline’s family attended the occasion. His girlfriend pinned his badge to his uniform.

“It’s tradition that the families or significant others pin the badge on…a police officer when they get hired,” Sitoski said. “For it is these people that will be the most important for the officer’s life, to be a very important role…and support system for when they’re not at…work.”

Sitoski announced Officer Nicklaus Morris as the Department’s new Community Outreach Officer after 20 years of service to the Township. Morris will focus on developing relations between the Department and the community.

Sitoski promoted officer David Malischewski to the rank of Sgt., and Mrs. Malischewski pinned his badge.

Sgt. Dan Fagen retired after 28 years of service and received a shadowbox of his badges.

The Board reviewed an architectural contract for the police and fire stations. Godshall Kane O’Rourke [GKO] Architects and Alloy5 Architecture were two of the firms.

GKO Architects won the bid for the new police station at a cost of $945,000 to mitigate delays and improve quality, despite Alloy5 currently constructing the townships’ recreation center.

Ghai initially expressed skepticism about GKO Architects’ location outside the Lehigh Valley and the higher bid, but later changed his mind.

The Board also voted to give GKO Architects the fire station contract for $819,500.

The Board of Supervisors later reviewed a construction manager contract for construction company Alvin H. Butz, Inc. to build new police and fire stations for an estimated $3,596,000.

“They’re dedicating $95,000 towards pre-bid and bidding work,” Ibach, Jr. said.

The Board then voted to pass the contract to Alvin H. Butz, Inc.

The Board of Supervisors will meet again on Thursday, September 4, at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 8330 Schantz Rd, Breinigsville, PA 18031.

For more information on upcoming events and the Township’s boards, visit Upper Macungie Township’s website.