The Upper Milford Township Board of Supervisors meeting April 16 opened with public comment from resident Phil Casey who questioned if the township maintains liability insurance for fire companies other than workers’ compensation.

Upper Milford Township Manager Bud Carter said the township does not.

Casey also inquired about the status of trucks purchased with funds during the Obama Administration and questioned employee mileage.

Also in public comment, resident Lauren Haponski complimented the newsletter that Kyle Walbert produced for the township as “very informative.” Haponski also said after a car altercation and bus situation in the Jasper Ridge subdivision, the residents received emails regarding no parking on the street unless signs were posted and most people are following it. She said the trash company and visitors complimented how easy and safe it is now to park. Haponski thanked the board for their efforts in making Jasper Ridge a safer community.

Resolution 2026-027 Liaison between Upper Milford and Berkheimer will now include new secretary/treasurer Kimberly Mory which was approved.

Also in new business, state Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-16th, provided maps depicting the vision for the Western Lehigh Greenway. Coleman imagined cyclists and walkers utilizing the 20-30 miles of trails from the D & L to Jim Thorpe trails without using public roads.

Coleman explained Upper Macungie Township has done the initial review and Lower Macungie Township will submit the DCNR grant to access funds to conduct a feasibility study, which will cost approximately $150,000. The grant will pay for $75,000 of the cost and the municipalities will pay the other $75,000, broken up depending on the amount of miles included in the plan.

Upper and Lower Macungie townships will pay 98% while Upper Milford Township will pay approximately 2% ($1,500).

Coleman committed to actively pursue other funding to get the money for all the municipalities. Coleman stated the lands to be utilized are “all public.”

Lower Macungie Township had engineers look for the interceptors and indicated some homeowners associations are close but that they might enjoy having them provide access to the trails, according to Coleman.

Coleman anticipates approaching for-profit companies to raise additional funding. Coleman hopes the feasibility study can be completed over winter.

Carter noted the purpose of the feasibility study is for the townships to decide if this is something they want to consider. Coleman explained “this grant will be awarded whether residents in Upper Milford get this money or not. The money will go to one of the other municipalities,” he said.

The board approved an authorized letter of support to be sent to Lower Macungie Township for the feasibility study.

In subdivisions, Attorney Stephanie Kobal of Fitzpatrick, Lentz, and Bubba provided a letter from Kay Builders President Rick Koze requesting a time extension through Nov. 8 for the Fields at Jasper Ridge.

Supervisor John Zgura questioned why the permit was not renewed and Kobal explained, “The permit just ran out.”

Board Chair Angela Ashbrook said the punch list should have been done by now and Carter added “it is not done yet.”

Kobal said the sidewalks were repaired but not in the way they wanted them and they cannot legally do the irrigation.

Ashbrook said the punch list due for the end of March was not completed.

“You will be back in September asking for another six month extension,” she told Kobal.

Solicitor Marc Fisher clarified the Nov. 7, 2025, deadline was extended to May 8 because the irrigation could not be done over the winter.

Zgura made a motion the deadline for Nov. 8, is for irrigation only; but everything else needs to be finished by July.

“There is no reason this cannot be done now,” Zgura said.

Kobal proposed the updated punch list items could be sent monthly to Carter.

Ashbrook told Kobal, “We are beyond this. This should have happened already.” Zgura agreed with Ashbrook and proposed July 17 to complete everything and Nov. 8 for the irrigation.

Fisher clarified the default process can occur after the first meeting after the May 8 deadline. If the permit is not reissued, nobody will be able to complete the work.

In a 2-1 vote, the board approved a final extension for the punch list through July 17 and a final extension for Nov. 8 for the irrigation. Ashbrook voted against the motion. The next meeting will take place 7 p.m. May 7 in the township building, 5671 Chestnut St.