Scott Lindenmuth, Lehigh County emergency management director, told Upper Milford supervisors they have authority over their emergency management plans; he is a conduit with the state and federal governments to ensure the township gets the funds it is entitled to.

At the Nov. 7 meeting, he offered to meet with township officials to go over the plan in detail.

Later in the meeting, at the request of William Stahler, the township's emergency management coordinator, supervisors agreed to set up a meeting with Lindenmuth to finalize the township's plan.

Lindenmuth told supervisors all municipal emergency plans follow a standard format, but there is wide latitude within that format. Their plan will differ from those in other municipalities in such areas as identifying risk factors and evacuation routes.

He said the county will step in "when you get to the point where your needs are unmet.

"Your plan just needs to work," he said. "It doesn't have to include everything."

Township Manager Daniel DeLong told supervisors Planning Coordinator Brian Miller has been developing base mapping for evacuation routes in the event of an emergency, so those can be included in the plan.

In other action, supervisors briefly reviewed a draft w2014 budget and authorized DeLong to present a final budget at the next meeting.

Supervisors suggested no changes in the draft DeLong prepared. The draft is a balanced budget with no anticipated tax increase, DeLong said. It includes transferring $25,000 to the capital reserve fund to increase the balance to $275,000.

It also increases donations to the fire companies and to other organizations by 5 percent, and a 2 percent increase in wages for town employees.

The donations include the full amount requested by the Emmaus Public Library, which is $38,043.

Librarian Frances Larash thanked the board for the donation and talked about how important the library is to township residents.

Resident Phil Casey said the economy is still down and asked where the extra money is coming from.

DeLong replied property transfers are up by about 15 percent and the earned income tax revenue is up by about 5 percent.

"I guess we're doing better as a township than what we hear," Chairman Daniel Mohr said.

Supervisors also discussed a request from Lower Milford Township to establish an inter-municipal agreement to enable a trade-off of services.

Supervisor Robert Sentner said he is concerned about what such trade-offs might entail. Mohr said it might mean something like Upper Milford plowing a small section of their township, or vice versa.

DeLong said his staff will continue the discussion and come back with something in writing.

In other action, supervisors authorized spending $2,000 to redesign and update the township's website. Secretary/treasurer AnnaMarie Zeravsky told the board the current software is no longer supported. She said she met with a representative of Smart Blonde Creative of Monroe County who can do the redesign and make the website easier to manage.

Supervisors also approved hiring Keystate Publishing of Shippensburg to codify all township ordinances in a standard form so it will be easier to find specific laws. DeLong said this has been needed for some time, and has been budgeted for this year. The cost is $8,240.

Sentner asked whether there is anyone more local who can do this and DeLong replied Keystate is "pretty much the key player in Pennsylvania."

Supervisors also approved sending Brian Miller's letter to Lower Macungie Township saying he has reviewed Lower Macungie's Smart Growth Plan to implement the Southwestern Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan.

Casey remarked sarcastically, "I'm surprised that Lower Macungie has developed a social conscience," adding, "Their impact on us is enormous."

Supervisors also authorized the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission to apply for a $25,000 grant to update the Southwest Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan.

Supervisors said they would view favorably Scott Bieber's request for a waiver of the isolation distance to install a new septic system on a Fountain Road property. The system would be less than the required distance from a nearby well. If they approve the request, they would require regular testing of the well, a hold harmless agreement from a neighbor and other conditions.

An executive session was held for 25 minutes to discuss legal, personnel and real estate issues.