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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP SUPERVISORS Supervisors approve tentative budget

Upper Milford Township supervisors approved a tentative 2014 budget of $2,246,620 at their Nov. 21 meeting. The budget includes no tax increase.

It will be advertised through Dec. 17 for residents to review and comment on.

The principal sources of revenue in the budget are $118,530 in real estate taxes and $1.2 million in earned income tax.

Among the major expenses are $428,100 for highway construction and rebuilding, $339,516 for maintenance of highways and bridges, $265,427 for employee benefits and $119,630 for fire protection.

The budget also restores contributions to local and county organizations which had been reduced or eliminated in recent budgets, including $5,000 to the Upper Milford Athletic Association, $2,000 to Meals on Wheels, and $600 each to Vera Cruz, Old Zionsville and Lehigh County senior citizens.

In other business, Don Scott, of Buss Drive, complained about PennDOT rerouting large tractor trailer trucks onto township roads, including Shimerville Road, St. Peters Road and Main Road.

He said this is dangerous and bad for the roads.

"These roads aren't meant for that kind of traffic," he said.

"We are aware of it," supervisors Chairman Daniel Mohr said, but they aren't sure how to deal with the problem.

Township Manager Daniel DeLong said after the meeting the trucks are being rerouted to avoid a bridge at Route 100 and Batman Road which is deteriorating. Southbound trucks are diverted from Route 100 at St. Peter's Road, to Seisholtsville Road and down to Hereford. He noted PennDOT has acknowleged some of the bridges from which the trucks are banned do not have to have a weight limit now, but one has been imposed to keep the bridges from deteriorating further.

DeLong said all the roads used as detours are state roads, so there isn't much the township can do.

In other action, after thanking local fire companies for their excellent work battling a blaze at Seem Seed Farm Nov. 20, supervisors, on a motion by George DeVault, authorized the township to investigate the fire and, if warranted, take legal action.

DeVault noted the township has a burning ordinance prohibiting commercial establishments from burning trash.

Supervisors also approved, 2-1, with Robert Sentner opposed, an agreement with PennDOT to work on mutually agreeable projects and share resources, if appropriate. Sentner said, "Everything we do for PennDOT…." and mentioned, among other issues, PennDOT's rerouting truck traffic onto township back roads. "I don't want anything to do with PennDOT," he declared.

"None of us do," DeVault responded, but said it still could be beneficial to work with the department.

Supervisors also met in executive session for 45 minutes to discuss personnel matters. Mohr announced supervisors had also met in executive session 3 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 to review personnel matters.