Upper Milford supervisors Nov. 20 adopted a tentative 2015 budget of $2.5 million which holds the line on taxes at the current rate of 0.171 mills. The budget will be advertised and available for review for a month before being finally adopted at supervisors' year-end meeting.

Supervisors made no comment on the proposed budget, which had been discussed at an earlier workshop, other than George DeVault saying, "everybody involved [in preparing the budget] deserves a pat on the back."

Township Manager Daniel DeLong noted there is a contribution of $2,000 to Lehigh County Meals on Wheels in the budget, after supervisors turned down a request to donate $7,133 to the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley.

The latter request came in a letter from CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings, who outlined the problem of homelessness in the Lehigh Valley, saying it is not confined to the city. The amount requested was based on a per capita calculation.

Sentner agreed homelessness is a problem, but said the township does not have the resources to make a contribution.

Among the items in the budget is $57,000 for an assistant township manager, a newly created position. Township Manager Daniel DeLong told supervisors he has received 12 applications for the position, which was created last spring after supervisors fired Public Works Supervisor Steve Ackerman.

DeLong said at that time the new position will enable him to spend more time in the field, since there will be someone else in the office.

DeLong said last week only three of the 12 applicants for the new position "stand out" and asked for one of the supervisors to take part in the interview process. Chairman Robert Sentner agreed to do so.

In other action, supervisors unanimously agreed to award the contract for renovations to Yeakel's Mill Bridge to Rylind Construction, Inc., of York, which submitted the low bid for the project of $124,000. DeLong said 11 bids were received, ranging from Rylind's bid to $217,660.

"Rylind specializes in this kind of stuff," DeLong said.

He said the old wall of the bridge will remain in place, but new walls will be built to hold the new deck. All the work must be done in the winter because of the presence of a colony of bog turtles in the vicinity.

There is $125,000 in next year's budget for the project.

In other business, Sentner said the township needs to change the rates it charges for renting the building. The current rate is $125 for everyone. DeLong has collected rates from neighboring municipalities, all of which give a break on the rate to residents. DeVault and Supervisor Daniel Mohr agreed with Sentner.

DeLong said he can propose a new fee structure but it will have to be voted on at the supervisors' reorganization meeting in January.