The Board of Supervisors met April 20 in Lower Milford to discuss several issues – one being the disbanding of the Lower Milford Police Department.

The Pennsylvania State Police have been enacted as the municipality’s police force.

A few concerns rose from residents who attended the meeting, including questions regarding open case files and the state of the old township’s police’s equipment.

Open case files are currently being sorted by state police, according to Board of Supervisors Chairperson Donna Wright. Further investigations into the open files will now be headed by state police. Anyone in Lower Milford wishing to learn the current status of their open cases can contact the state police with further questions.

The disbanded police force’s equipment will be auctioned at a later date, which is still to be determined.

Also discussed was Zoning Ordinance 114 enacted on July 20, 2009. Ordinance 127 was scribed to “revise, clarify and expand the provisions for residential uses, agricultural uses, definitions and other revisions and clarifications” of the original ordinance.

The majority of the changes dealt with the definition of terms commonly used in Lower Milford zoning. Among the redefined words are “common domestic farm animals,” “animal husbandry” and “group home.”

Under the amended zoning ordinance, residents are able to house horses, pigs, sheep, goats and other farm animals as pets.

Two members of the public audience gave their opinions about this new ordinance.

William Roy, of Lower Milford Township, who is in support of the amendment, commented, “Lower Milford is a farming community… and I firmly believe that we need to support that.”

However, not everyone shared Roy’s opinion.

Debora Hagerman, another resident of Lower Milford Township, raised concerns about the containment of the newly-defined farm animals. She worries since there was no guideline mentioned on how to contain the animals, there stands the possibility people will let their chickens, goats and other animals roam free if there is no specification on how to house them.

“That’s a trespass issue, not a zoning issue,” Ellen Koplin, Lower Milford Township’s secretary said. Wright also mentioned there is a clause in Ordinance 127 that can solve part of this concern. It states an animal dwelling must be at least 25 feet from any resident buildings.

Hagerman then asked about what type of shelter can be built. This concern stemmed from thinking property and neighborhood value will go down if animal shelters are not built properly. Koplin stated there was a state code adopted by Lower Milford Township exempting agricultural buildings from shelter design.

Ordinance 127 was unanimously approved by board members.

When it came time for the board to rescind an appointment for the Board of Auditors, Board Supervisor John Quigley stopped the meeting to bring up an issue concerning the township auditors.

According to Quigley, a few members of the Board of Auditors were spotted together outside of a public forum. This could be considered in direct violation of Pennsylvania’s Sunshine laws, which state members of a government council cannot meet without there being public knowledge. If the members seen together from the Board of Auditors were discussing governmental issues, then they would be in violation of the law.

Quigley presented the Board of Supervisors with three letters he intends to send out to get more information on the matter. Among the recipients, a daily paper and the district attorney were on his list.

In response, an executive meeting was called by Wright. The board reconvened after a 15 minute recess.

Lance Tittle, who is one of three members on the Board of Auditors, defended his and his colleagues’ actions, stating the event in question was one member giving another member a car ride to Town Hall. According to Tittle, since no auditing business was discussed, Quigley’s accusations were false. Further, Tittle said the Board of Auditors would like a public apology, but did not expect one.

The ordeal was tabled, in order to be looked at in more detail by all parties.

Alex Templer, one of the developers of the Highmeadows Subdivision, requested an extension for the completion of improvements in his development. His deadline was originally slated July 2 of this year. Templer asked for a two-year extension.

“It seems awfully long,” Supervisor Michael Snovitch said. “It’s not normally what we grant.”

Templer was asked why two more years. In response, Templer listed a number of incidents that set back improvement production, including his builder leaving, receiving the wrong permit from the Department of Environmental Protection and having to get the right one, health issues and the untimely death of the head engineer on the project.

The board agreed a one-year extension from the pre-existing deadline should suffice. Templer has until July 2, 2017 to make the required improvements to Highmeadows.

In other news, an agent was appointed to oversee Federal Emergency Management Agency Snowstorm Reimbursement, which will reimburse the township for snow-related clean up and damage.

An announcement regarding the 2016 Clean-Up Day was scheduled for April 23.