At the May 6 Hanover Township Council meeting found council chair Bruce Paulus handing the chairman’s gavel to councilmen Robert Lawlor allowing Lawlor to rap the gavel thereby closing the meeting. The informal practice is recognition of a valued peer when the council member 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.

Lawlor was re-elected to Hanleco council in November 2025. He was initially elected in the November 2023 general election. He took the oath of office on January 10, 2024. Lawlor provided no reason for his departure at the May 6th meeting.

Lawlor was a fiscal hawk regarding township budget matters. He supported critical infrastructure projects and public safety through his votes and motions. He was a consistent supporter of township events like the township Community Night (now transformed at a recent council meeting 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 councilman noting 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.

In the Courtesy of the Floor agenda item, a member of the independent audit team concsulted by council 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 receive a “clean unmodified opinion which is the highest rating” a municipality can receive. Residents can review the audit by contacting the township office.

In her township manager Melissa Wehr reported that there was follow up with LVIAirport regarding the issues raised at a recent council meeting be a Catasauqua resident who is also a Catasauqua Borough Councilman. Wehr relayed the airport said the parking lot dust is being addressed with mechanical sweepers. The noise complaint reported is from the unloading of Amazon planes and trucks.

A contentious issue arose in the unfinished business agenda item. Council after much discussion and an interaction with a representative of the Michael Baker International addressing Amendment #2 for the design of the D&L Trail Hanover Section. Council was miffed that a roughly $300,000 project had a requested about 88k in additional costs.

The costs were generated mostly by PennDOT. Some on council demanded that elected officials and others attend a Hanleco council meeting to explain the additional costs. Some members threatened they would withhold a vote if an explanation of the costs was not provided.

Prior to the council vote on the matter, Wehr made a passionate appeal to have the council approve the amendment noting the project is totally grant funded, it already is behind schedule because Hanleco did not approve the amendment at its April 15, 2026 meeting, Hanleco does not meet until June 3 further delaying the popular project that would complete one of the last two sections of the 165 mile D&L trail.

Jason Ulrich, township solicitor informed council that if they deny the amendment now there could be an emergency council meeting set up to re-consider the matter before the June 6th meeting.

A truculent council found no councilmen would make a motion to vote on the matter. A no motion is analogous to a no vote. Chair Paulus then made a motion that was seconded. The amendment failed with all council voting no with Paulus the only approval vote.

The ordinance to amend Chapter 16, Part 6, Sections 602, 604, 605, and 609 of the Hanover Township ordinances that addresses Snow Emergency Declarations and prohibition of parking in tow away zones and associated penalties such as the cost of towing borne by the resident and a fine to the resident from the township. Council passed the ordinance unanimous.

Council approved the township bills for May 5, 2026 in the amount of $1,171,418.51.