In response to a plea from township resident John Hinkle, Upper Milford Township supervisors last week agreed to expand the hours of the township's yard waste recycling center.

The center is currently open noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

At the supervisors' May 2 meeting, Hinkle argued many residents work on Saturdays and cannot get their yard waste to the center. Even for those who do not work, the current hours are not enough time to clean up their yards and get to the center before it closes.

"Keep it open at least all day Saturday," he urged supervisors.

Supervisors said the hours were limited because so many nonresidents and commercial enterprises were dumping illegally at the site, and it is too expensive to have someone there all the time to police it.

"Every landscaper working in Lower Macungie Township knew Upper Milford was open 24-7," Township Manager Daniel DeLong said.

But after some discussion, the board agreed to expand the hours to noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, with the additional provison a security camera be purchased for the site to help apprehend people dumping illegally.

According to the township, the new hours will go into effect May 11.

Hinkle was not the only resident to address supervisors with a complaint or concern.

Another resident was critical of the repaving job recently done on Main Road East in Vera Cruz. DeLong and supervisors agreed the job was not acceptable, but said PennDOT is responsible. Residents were encouraged to call PennDOT to complain.

In other business last week, William Ahlert, chair of the Joint Environmental Advisory Council updated supervisors on the council's activities.

He said the primary function of the council, which serves both Upper Milford and Emmaus, is educating residents on such issues as care of septic systems, streambed management and proper outdoor burning techniques.

The council recently sponsored a successful Earth Day event in Emmaus Community Park, and has a booth at the Emmaus Farmers Market once a month with information on such issues as ordinances affecting the environment.

They are also sponsoring a series of informational programs about South Mountain, he said.

DeLong also recognized Emma Ahlert, an Emmaus High School student who is an intern on the council and was instrumental in organizing the Earth Day activities.

Supervisors were also notified of new officers and appointments on the Planning Commission. Matt Hunter, Joyce Brown and Phil Hartranft are the new officers, and three members, Hartranft, Henry Kradjel and Angelika Forndran were reappointed to three-year terms.

The Planning Commission also is recommending the township remain a member of the Southwest Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan and work continue on updating the plan.

Sentner, a member of the commission, said they discussed what went wrong with the comprehensive plan previously. He also announced there will be a public meeting May 29 at the township building to discuss the comprehensive plan.