The May 6 Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting found council Chair Bruce Paulus handing the chairman’s gavel to Councilman Robert Lawlor to close the meeting. The informal practice is in recognition of a valued peer when a councilmember decides to vacate his office.

The meeting was Lawlor’s last meeting as a councilman. His resignation was fully accepted by council earlier during the meeting. He provided no reason for his departure.

Lawlor was reelected to council in November 2025. He was initially elected in the November 2023 general election, and he took the oath of office Jan. 10, 2024.

Lawlor was reportedly a fiscal hawk regarding township budget matters. He supported critical infrastructure projects and public safety. He was a consistent supporter of township events like Community Night, now transformed into a Community Day, and child safety initiatives like the Community Partners 4 Kids ID program.

His council peers wished him well in his future endeavors, with one saying he was sad to see Lawlor step down.

Council will need to engage the selection process to fill the vacancy on council. Interested applicants can contact the township office or visit hanleco.org for further information about the vacancy and how to apply.

A contentious issue arose in the unfinished business agenda item. Council, after much discussion and an interaction with a representative from Michael Baker International, addressed an amendment for the design of the D&L Trail’s Hanover section. Council took issue with about $88,000 in requested additional costs from the roughly $300,000 project.

It was reported the costs were mostly generated by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Some on council demanded elected officials and others attend one of the Hanover council meetings to explain the additional costs. Some members threatened they would withhold a vote if an explanation of the costs was not provided.

Before the vote on the matter, township Manager Melissa Wehr made a passionate appeal to have council approve the amendment, noting the project is completely grant funded.

She reported the project is already behind schedule because council did not approve the amendment at the meeting April 15, and council does not meet again until June 3, further delaying the project that would complete one of the last two sections of the 165-mile D&L Trail.

Jason Ulrich, township solicitor, informed council if it denies the amendment now, there could be an emergency council meeting set up to reconsider the matter before the June meeting.

The amendment failed, with all council voting no, except Paulus who offered the only approval vote.

In other business, a member of an independent audit team provided council a report and opinion of the financial condition of the township. The gentleman noted there was “no material misstatements” found in the audit. He concluded the township received a “clean, unmodified opinion, which is the highest rating” a municipality can receive. Residents can review the audit by contacting the township office.

Wehr reported there was follow-up with Lehigh Valley International Airport regarding the issues raised at a recent council meeting by a Catasauqua resident. She relayed the airport said the parking lot dust is being addressed with mechanical sweepers, and the noise complaint is from the unloading of Amazon planes and trucks.

Council unanimously passed an ordinance to amend Chapter 16, Part 6, Sections 602, 604, 605 and 609 of the Hanover Township ordinances, which address snow emergency declarations and the prohibition of parking in tow-away zones and associated penalties.

Council also approved the township bills for May 5 in the amount of $1,171,418.51.

The next Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. June 3 at the municipal building, 2202 Grove Road, Allentown. Visit hanleco.org to review the meeting’s agenda or call the township office for meeting information.