LOWER MILFORD TOWNSHIP
LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - WORKSHOP MEETING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2007
MINUTES
PRESENT: Richard Harris, Chairman; Arland Schantz, Vice-Chairman; Donna Wright, Supervisor; Ellen Koplin, Township Manager; Maureen Kinney, Treasurer/Bookkeeper and approximately 12 members of the audience.
Chairman Harris called the meeting to order at approximately 7:30 pm.
September 2007 Fire Company Report
Schantz pointed out the need to respond as per the first paragraph of the report. Wright and Harris stated the report was prepared before the 8/16/07 Board of Supervisors meeting and reviewed with Fire Chief Rich DeFiore after the meeting that evening when they spoke of what information the Supervisors would like to have in a monthly report.
Schantz also pointed out the lack of response from the Supervisors as to the allotment of fuel for the command vehicle. He suggested doing it on a monthly basis allowing filling of the command vehicle with township fuel 7 out of 12 months of the year. Harris suggested paying quarterly on a percentage basis so that it can be budgeted. The Emergency Services Advisory Committee(ESAC) can work out the details.
Schantz then brought up the issue of house numbers. Koplin stated this issue was gone over in the meeting of the ESAC on Monday night. The Supervisors will review the report from the ESAC before making decisions concerning these things.
West Mill Hill Road Traffic Study
The report has just recently been received and recommendations are included. It will be discussed at a later meeting.
Maplewood Estates Subdivision
Request to utilize Belgium Block Curb rather than concrete curbing as previously approved in the Improvements Agreement. Wright stated the Crossroads Development was approved to utilize the Belgium Block Curb. This will be addressed at the regular Board of Supervisors meeting.
Service Electric
Kinney reviewed the findings of a Subscriber Review Update conducted to see if Lower Milford was receiving all franchise fees due to the township and felt that all seems to be in order. Approximately 61% of Lower Milford residents utilize Service Electric. There are approximately 40 homes that were being credited to Lower Milford which were not in the township boundaries which were reported to Service Electric. It was decided there was no money to recoup and therefore no need to do any further research.
Annual Bridge Inspections
The following five roads will be inspected in 2007 School House Ln. N., Bellgate Rd N., Orchard Rd., Hoffman Ln. and School House Ln. S. at $350/bridge. In 2004 all bridges were looked at in terms of priority to determine which were the worst and needed immediate inspection.
Emergency Services Advisory Committee Report
Lois Gadek the township representative of the ESAC gave a report on the first meeting held by the ESAC on 10/8/07. (See the attached reported dated 10/9/07). She also read a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, dated 10/9/07, to appoint a second Lower Milford Township Police Officer. (See attached)
Harris was impressed with what was accomplished in one meeting. A part-time officer at 32 hours per week is inferred as budgeted.
Beverly Hills Road Speed Limit Reduction Request
There was a request to lower the speed limit on Beverly Hills Road to 20 miles per hour. PennDOT sent a letter laying the burden of financial responsibility on Lower Milford and Upper Saucon Townships. There is also an amount of liability associated with this responsibility. A call will be made to Upper Saucon to see what their thoughts are on changing the speed limit.
Township Property Tax Second Notice Billing
It was decided to go with Option B having the County do the second notice billing.
Upper Milford Township Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment
Harris suggested the Planning Commission review the Upper Milford Zoning Ordinance Amendment at their workshop on 10/17/07 and forward their recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for the 10/18/07 regular Board of Supervisors meeting.
Act 319 Application
The Board had no comment or objection to the application of George Haas, for his preserved property in Upper and Lower Milford Townships to be entered into Act 319.
Citizen Comment:
Andrew Robinson of Limeport Stadium asked the Board of Supervisors to take Limeport Stadium out of the budget for next year. They would request financial help at a time when they are more in need. He announced their 75th anniversary in 2008. They will be having a July 19, 2008 event to celebrate.
Wright asked them to notify Representative Karen Beyer of the event.
Draft 2008 Budget
The budget was discussed as to what will be the expenditures for the 2008 donations and recreation.
Announcements
§ Trick-or-Treat night will be held October 26, 2007 from 6 pm to 8 pm.
§ Wright gave a report on the Fall Festival:
Receipts and donations - $2,171
Expenses - $3,617
($554 under budget)
Silent Auction receipts - $1,625
Harris adjourned the meeting at 9:37 pm.