The Upper Milford Township Supervisors met Feb. 17. The Pledge of Allegiance commenced before public input was welcomed.

Discussions of donations toward the Boy Scouts, fire hydrants and Emmaus Public Library funding arose. A resident said he found it difficult to draw specific answers from the library regarding his financial inquiries. “$44,000 is a lot of money,” he said. A rough spreadsheet of their expenses was presented. The supervisors assured the resident his concerns would be taken into consideration.

When another resident questioned the allocation of stimulus spending, Zgura described plans to put out grants for small businesses, which “is in the works.”

A motion was then seconded and passed to approve minutes from the Upper Milford Township Supervisors meeting from Feb. 3.

Another motion was seconded and passed to approve paying the bills which include: the general fund of $91,976.49, the streetlight fund of $2,345.11, the fire hydrant fund of $2,071.51, and the open space referendum fund of $26,904.95.

A memo disclosed the need for new rules and regulations for the yard waste facility at the public works garage. The justification to upgrade the policy was based on new improvements made to the area. This is planned to help mitigate suspected illegal dumping and commercial haulers. A motion to approve Resolution 2022-025 was seconded and passed. This will replace Resolution 2010-026.

With the death of Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor Mark Malkames Jan. 30, the reappointment of the role resurfaced in the agenda. The motion was seconded and passed to appoint Attorney Stephen Strack as Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor. Vice Chairperson Joyce Moore clarified Strack has served as an alternate in the past and is already familiar with those he’ll be working with.

Zgura began the American Rescue Plan Act Grant Program discussion, sharing he is in the process of drafting a program overview and collecting information. Meeting with the Chamber of Commerce serves as the consequent step to proceed. Secretary/treasurer Jessi O’Donald sent out questions to the board members in advance, the first of which involved a 5 percent Chamber of Commerce financial allotment.

Zgura proposed granting them $50,000 initially before observing the program’s performance, before compensating again, to mitigate the risk of underestimating eligible businesses, etc.

Concerns of who forms the ARPA committee followed; Zgura postulated it should involve “someone from the board, someone from the staff and maybe two or three residents because the chamber will do the first couple grants.” The logistics of location and date are to be decided.

It was also established gross revenue is dependent on tax returns, which are handled by the Chamber of Commerce, whereas committee members would not see the financial records for the business.

Over the phone, the chamber confirmed their process entails an entirely online application, before the information is transferred or converted to a spreadsheet, which would then - on a first come first serve basis - be given to the committee.

Businesses must also have a business permit to be eligible for a loan. May 31 is the cutoff date goal for applications for grants to be distributed in August. Hopeful sentiments to establish the system in 90 days were expressed.

The maximum distribution of $5,000 and/or 25 percent of gross revenue per grant was deemed acceptable. Nonprofits were also reckoned worthy of similar support, churches serving as a key figurehead of such nonprofits in the discussion.

A resident recruitment proposal involved the suggestion to advertise on Facebook. Specifics were left as food for thought. It was said there remains no method to prove how a business has been impacted by COVID-19; thus, the committee must rely on the assertions from the business.

A motion to give the Langdon Subdivision an extension of 90 days was seconded and passed. A Department of Environmental Protection planning module was completed for the 3674 Bleiler Road, Emmaus property. Plans and testing were provided. The motion was seconded and passed.

A request letter was sent by the Vera Cruz Community Association for special fire police assistance during the Easter Egg Hunt April 16, as well as the homecoming celebration and Halloween parade later in the year. The motion was seconded and passed.