Hanover Township's Board of Supervisors breezed through a light agenda during their Sept. 24 meeting, which lasted only 13 minutes. The record is 11.

But they used to be much longer. Steve Salvesen, a 30-year veteran of the board, reminisced about meetings that went past midnight.

Much of this was due to new developments like Pointe North or controversial issues like a gigantic oak tree on what is now Crawford Drive. As a result of a "Save the Tree" movement, the township had to design the road so that it wound around the massive trunk. They also built a retaining wall around it to keep it in place. The next year, the tree was stuck by lightning and promptly died.

In addition to lengthy meetings, the pay was low; $5 a meeting. In his first year as a supervisor, Salvesen voted for a pay hike, but his monthly check went even lower. That's because township solicitor Jim Broughal ruled that supervisors could not give themselves a pay raise. These days, the pay is much higher. $2,500 a year, before taxes.

Salvesen said the most controversial issue supervisors faced during his time on the board was the decision to go with a single trash hauler. Some in the community strongly objected: His car was keyed and someone also spray-painted, "You're a Nazi," on the side panel.