HYDAC Adding New Jobs in Hanover Tp

Solicitor Jim Broughal and Engineer Jim Millot review ordinances

HYDAC is an international manufacturer of hydraulic components, with its US headquarters located at City Line Avenue in Hanover Township. It's been there since 1976. On October 14, CFO Ted Dikeman appealed to Supervisors for relief from rigid enforcement of the Housing Code. Thanks to some suggestions from Solicitor Jim Broughal, a skeptical board was able to help.

An August fire at one of HYDAC's production facilities in Germany means that Hanover Township's plant has had to ramp up production to meet the international demand for accumulators. Those allow hydraulic pumps to operate more efficiently. To that end, the company has already hired 25 new workers for its second and third shifts. But those new workers need to be trained. So HYDAC has been sending small teams of four to six workers from Germany for training.

These workers obviously needed housing. so HYDAC signed a six-month lease for a residential property on Falcon Drive, after consulting with realtors.The first group of trainers is already on its way back to Germany, with a second group on the way for 12-hour days, six days a week, until Thanksgiving, After that, a husband and wife team will finish the training. .  

After the lease was executed, the property was inspected. It's in violation of a code provision obviously aimed at boarding houses. It bars any more than three unrelated persons from living in the same household. This requirement was unknown by HYDAC, the realtors it hired or the property owner.

HYDAC asked Supervisors for a "waiver"of the Code requirement. Supervisors were unanimously opposed. "My concern is precedent," worried Jack Nagle, who suggested others could use this as an excuse to demand waivers for their own violations.

"We've increased employment in the Township," countered company spokesperson Marcia Bolesky. "Without the help of these six workers, we would never be able to do it."

While this discussion was taking place, Broughal had his nose buried in the Township's codified ordinances to find some way that would help a company that is adding to the workforce while ensuring that no precedent is set.

His solution? Order the company out. By Thanksgiving. That's when the last remaining group of six workers will be on their way back to Germany and will be replaced by a husband and wife.

Glenn Walbert immediately went to work and crafted a resolution that all Supervisors could accept.

In other business, Supervisors immediately latched onto a proposal by Keith Zimpfer to make Piramal, a manufacturer of anesthesia for both humans and pets, run more safely. The company, which employs 100 people and is located at Sheldon Circle, is proposing to enclose a storage tanks location for some of the gases it uses in manufacturing, none of which are flammable.Scrubbers will also be added to reduce the risk of air pollution.

"We are very environmentally and safety conscious," noted Zimpfer, who invited Supervisors on a tour of his facility.

"Dis you bring any samples?" wisecracked Nagle.