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LOWER MILFORD TOWNSHIP LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF SUPERVISORS - WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005 MINUTES
PRESENT: Richard D. Harris, Chairman; Arland H. Schantz, Vice-Chairman; Joan B. Dreibelbis, Supervisor/Treasurer; Ellen L. Koplin; and Thirteen (13) members of the audience.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Harris at 7:31 pm.
Comments were received throughout the meeting.
Announcements:
- Planning Commission Workshop on February 21, 2005 will be attended by the Board of Supervisors to discuss the proposed Zoning Amendment addressing Home Occupations. - A Lower Milford Representative will need to be appointed to serve on the Library Board. - Letters are requested for anyone interested in the auditor vacancy - In receipt of the Lehigh County Human Society Agreement for renewal Discussion: The merits of the renewal were discussed. A comparison will be made between last year’s agreement and the one we have received for 2005.
A question was raised concerning the items to be covered during the Planning Commission workshop meeting. The response was the Home Occupation Draft Amendment was to be discussed and finalized.
Police Chief Applications
- The Board of Supervisors met on February 2, 2005 to review the applications received. They will meet again on February 23, 2005 to complete the review.
Resolution for Trees within the township road right-of-way
- A draft resolution was read which will set the policy for notification of property owners by the township when trees growing within the road right-of-way need to be removed.
- Arland stated that the township needs to be notified by the property owner whether or not they want the wood from the trees that are to be removed.
- Howard Shelly raised a road issue unrelated to the proposed resolution which concerned sight distance when traveling north on King’s Hwy. and making a left hand turn onto West Mill Hill Road. He indicated he has spoken with PENNDOT and they were out to the sight but nothing was done to improve the situation. Public Works Director, Dick Schilling will contact PENNDOT to see if something can be done.
- Other discussion included height of stumps when trees are removed along the roads. A request was made to check the stump height at Scout Road near King’s Hwy. A question was asked how we determine which trees are to be removed. Richard Harris responded that we have some removed yearly, prioritizing by most hazardous.
Schultz Bridge Road Bridge Update
- A memo dated Feb. 3, 2005 was received from Keystone Engineering stating that we are still waitingon DEP for permit approval, the work cannot begin until June due to the wild trout stream designation, and Keystone would like to be considered to complete and oversee the bridge project.
A. Schantz suggested that after the permit is obtained, we may want to think about switching to our new engineer. Anne Frey asked if we had considered a wooden bridge. Yes, the township looked at the PENNDOT timber bridge program.
Kraussdale Road – PENNDOT District 6 Inquiry
- We have been contacted by PENNDOT District 6 concerning the Wal-Mart proposed in Upper Hanover Township and the impact to Lower Milford with expected traffic on Kraussdale Road. We have been asked to consider a proposal to re-align Kraussdale Road. Discussion: Re-alignment of the road would need the cooperation of the landowner and it would dissect their property. It would encourage more truck traffic through Lower Milford from I-78 at Saucon Valley Road to the Upper Hanover Industrial area. The Board of Supervisors acknowledged that the residents in attendance did not feel it would be beneficial to Lower Milford.
Joint Municipal UCC Board of Appeals
- We have received correspondence from Upper Milford concerning forming a joint building code board of appeals. There are five municipalities which would joint together, Upper and Lower Milford, Upper Saucon, Alburtis and Macungie Boroughs. We had our own board of appeals under the BOCA code. We are now under the Uniform Construction Code adopted by Pennsylvania as Act 45. It appears to be a good idea, since the building board of appeals meets only occasionally upon a challenge, to form a joint, cooperative board. The Township Solicitor needs to review the document.
Discussion: A resident asked if joining with Boroughs, since we are a township, would be a problem. Response was no, the UCC was adopted by the state and is the same in all municipalities.
Township Festival -2005
- Richard Harris announced that in order to continue the annual festival, citizen volunteers will need to help organize and run the festival instead of primarily the township staff. An article to this effect will be in the next newsletter. Don Weinberger offered that some members of the Lower Milford Residents Association will be volunteering for the 2005 festival. Ted Zapach mentioned that the old-time crafts that are featured at the festival should be included in the Fire Co. Carnival to expand the attractions.
Other Items of Discussion
- Chairman Harris announced that he met with the Director and President of the Southern Lehigh Public Library concerning our support of the library. They assured us that under their revised by-laws, they cannot mandate what we contribute. The Board of Supervisors will look at how much the township should donate for this year and the budget will need to be amended and voted upon at a public meeting.
- Bill McGonigal asked what the disposition is of the archeological site on Maplewood’s subdivision. The American Archeological Conservancy will be taking title to the site.
- Anne Frey wanted to know why the Board of Supervisors workshop was still posted on the website as the second Wednesday of the month instead of the first Wednesday following the first Thursday. It will be checked on and corrected.
- Joan Dreibelbis announced that we have the most recent issue of the Penna. Bulletin which lists the unclaimed property. The copy will be at the township building if someone would like to look through the list.
The meeting adjourned at 9:24 pm.
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