An appreciative crowd was on hand at the June 1 Upper Milford supervisors meeting, where the principal agenda item was a ceremony and reception honoring Henry Kradjel for his decades of service to the township. Kradjel has announced he is retiring from the planning commission, of which he has been a member for 44 years.

Supervisors Chairman George DeVault presented a proclamation to Kradjel which noted his years on the planning commission, as well as having served as the township zoning officer in the 1980s and a term as supervisor 2004 to 2010.

“This geezer is grateful” for having had those experiences, Kradjel told the audience. He talked about how he had gotten interested in township affairs when, during the winter of 1957-1958, he talked to a snow plow operator who had also been a supervisor.

He moved to Upper Milford during transitional times, he said, when World War II veterans were returning home and needed places to live. “Farmers found a better cash crop – in houses,” he said.

Supervisors all individually thanked Kradjel, and received warm words in response. Daniel Mohr credited Kradjel for getting him involved in township politics and said he had “13 to 14 years to catch up to you.”

Sentner said “I did everything in my power to keep him on the planning commission” and DeVault called 44 years “an amazing accomplishment.”

Matt Szuchyt, local government liaison for State Sen. Pat Browne, R-16th, presented a Senate proclamation to Kradjel.

“Any definition of a full and productive life must include service to others,” Szuchyt said.

Township Manager Daniel DeLong also praised Kradjel, then commented on a proposal by Gov. Tom Wolf to impose a head tax on municipalities which rely on state police for protection. If the $25 tax proposed by Gov. Wolf goes through, it would cost Upper Milford $193,000, he said, which would likely mean a real estate tax increase.

Sentner noted the alternative would be for the township to have its own police force, which would probably cost a lot more.

In other business at the June 1 meeting, supervisors authorized advertising an ordinance which would provide for the establishment and regulation of medical marijuana facilities in the township. The ordinance will still have to be approved by the board.

In other action, supervisors:

Approved adding seven more parcels, totaling about 80 acres, to the township’s Agricultural Security Area;

Hired Miguel Mascarinas as a summer office intern. He was one of three applicants, all of whom had outstanding qualifications, according to Jessi O’Donald.