Upper Macungie supervisors called a special meeting Sept. 26 to discuss the preliminary budget for 2013.

A few non-budget issues were taken care of at the beginning of the meeting.

Among them was the adoption of a policy for routinely signing off on road agreements, the authorization of Ken Maloney and Scott Faust to handle electronic filing with PennDOT and the permission on a PPL easement.

A traffic study for the intersection of Chapmans and Ruppsville roads was authorized by the board.

A temporary stop sign was placed at the intersection in conjunction with the rebuilding of the bridge on Tilghman Street.

This intersection was in the detour route set up by PennDOT, and since the sign was erected, the township noticed there were fewer accidents at this site.

Supervisors said it might be a good idea to keep the sign at this intersection, but to keep the sign, the township must perform a traffic study.

PennDOT requires municipalities maintain any speed limit signs with speeds under 35 mph.

The board authorized sending a letter to Penn-DOT agreeing to the matter.

Fire Commissioner Grant Grim requested the reimbursement rate for the firefighters and fire police who respond to calls be increased from $5 per call to $7.50 per call.

Supervisors unanimously agreed, citing the increased cost of gas as a good reason to approve the request.

When the budget matter was opened for discussion, the largest item of concern was the newly formed police force.

Since the breakup of the Berks Lehigh Regional Police Department, a few stumbling blocks have arisen. The major issue is police vehicles.

Of the vehicles on hand, Maxatawny Township requested the newer vehicles while Upper Macungie Township would receive the older vehicles.

From communications with Maxatawny, that township's force might not be operating until March or later of next year.

Upper Macungie's force, however, will be ready to operate on Jan. 1, 2013.

As there would not be enough time to have the existing vehicles repainted with the new logo, the board decided to buy new vehicles.

The consensus was the existing equipment and vehicles should be auctioned off.

The projection is six vehicles are needed immediately (one utility vehicle and five police interceptor vehicles) and another six vehicles later.

All of these must be provided with the equipment necessary to operate the force.

The board anticipates the cost to equip and establish the police force will be less than it was in 2001.

A breakdown of the cost was supplied by Supervisor Sam Ashmar: vehicles, $161,750 (which will be bought from Milham Ford through the state COSTARS program); guns, rifles, Tasers, ammunition, not to exceed $95,000; computers and programs, not to exceed $48,000; radios, not to exceed $70,000; accessories, $100,000; miscellaneous, $30,000.

Supervisors anticipate approximately $1.2 million, money derived from the local services tax, will still be available for emergency services. Police Chief Edgardo Colon will verify the vehicles are properly equipped.