ALLENTOWN – Mayor Thomas Fritts has named residents to serve on Allentown’s boards and commissions.
He made the appointments during the 2020 reorganization meeting of the borough’s governing body on Jan. 7 in Borough Hall.
Named to the Board of Recreation Commissioners were Dianna Bamford, Barbara Pleva, Michael Pleva, Craig Rondinone and Joe Sensi for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2024. Alternates are Eileen Kuzma and Robert H. Schmitt Jr. for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2024.
Dan Payson was removed from the Environmental Commission from the Alternate No. 1 position due to his election to the Borough Council.
Bill Cotte and Rick Jakober were appointed to the Environmental Commission for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2022. Jeffrey Ploshay was appointed to the Alternate No. 1 position for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2020 and Elaine Saullo was appointed to the Alternate No. 2 position for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2022.
For the Planning Board, Fritts was appointed for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2023; Payson was appointed for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2020. Jeffrey McLaughlin was appointed for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2023.
Kathy Fidler and Suzanne Valpreda were appointed to the Shade Tree Commission for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2024.
Michael Cesaro of Bowman and Company was appointed as borough auditor for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2020 and Fritts was appointed as Allentown’s emergency management official for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2023.
In other business, Borough Council members authorized the Roberts Engineering Group to complete work surveying, designing and bidding the Pondview Drive improvement project. The firm’s work will be completed at a cost not to exceed $32,000.
According to a resolution, Allentown is the recipient of a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant for municipal aid for Fiscal Year 2019 for the project. The Buildings and Grounds standing committee supported the work to be completed and the council followed with its authorization.
And, council members authorized a change order for the recent water meter replacement project which will lower the cost of the project to Allentown.
According to a resolution, the reduction in the cost of the project is due to the changes to the anticipated water meter sizes found through field inspection. The change order adjusts the contract to match as-built quantities.
The change order approved by the council will reduce the final contact amount from $410,277 to $343,470 (a savings of $66,807). Lenegan Plumbing and Heating, LLC, replaced the water meters at residences in the borough.
Finally, the council created a Senior Citizen Committee and appointed Melinda Brown, Linda
Cotte, Kathy Hamnett, Eileen Kuzma, Claudia Lilley, Kelly Owens and Joan West for a term from Jan. 1, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020. All committee members must be borough residents.
