After a perfunctory hearing at the Oct. 6 meeting, Upper Milford supervisors added another 26 acres to the township’s agricultural security area. The land included a little over nine acres owned by Richard Malburg at 6220 Vera Cruz Road and 3.4 acres at 6060 German Road.

Also added were the following parcels owned by Judith Parker: 7.5 acres at 5482 Chestnut St. and 6.35 acres at 5546 Chestnut St.

Supervisors also received two more requests to include land in the area. Cletus and Carol Landis asked to include 22 acres at 6001 Vera Cruz Road and 4.3 acres at 6072 Vera Cruz Road. Jayne Fogle has asked to add 23 acres at 6071 Vera Cruz Road.

If township residents approve the open space ordinance which will be on the November ballot, all land in the agricultural security area will be eligible to have development rights purchased by the township.

In other business last week, supervisors reviewed the recommendations from the recreation commission for development of the Fulmer Nature Preserve. The recommendations are proposed in several phases. Phase 1 would create a soccer field and parking area around the field currently being mowed. Phase 2 would create nature trails for walking and biking, including building bridges to cross the creek and adding picnic tables. Phase 3 would create a disc golf course, open a new entrance off Vera Cruz Road and create a small baseball/softball field.

Phase 4, which supervisors took issue with, would renovate the Danner farmhouse on the property into a display center for visitor information, Native American artifacts and township history. Supervisors said it was never their intention, when acquiring the Fulmer property, to use the farmhouse. Instead, plans were to subdivide and sell the portion of the land where the farmhouse is.

The final phase would be to create a trail to the pond and install a fishing dock, map access to the rails to trails system and make space available for community gardens.

The commission also suggests creating a superintendent of parks position.

Supervisors will take the commission’s recommendations into account when developing next year’s park budget.

In other action, supervisors awarded the bid for replacing the flat section of the township building’s roof to Pro Com Roofing Corp. of Warrington, the low bidder, for $44,000. The township received three bids for the project, ranging from $44,000 to $59,687. That section of the roof had not been replaced when the township building was renovated several years ago.

Supervisors also heard a complaint from Jason Jenkins about the condition of half a twin home at 6635 Kings Highway South. His family lives in the other half of the twin, at 6625, and he said the people who bought 6635 a year ago haven’t done any maintenance on the property. He said the windows are broken, there are holes in the roof and the yard is full of trash and rodents and completely overgrown.

Supervisors Chairman George DeVault said the first step should be to file a formal complaint with Zoning Officer Alan Brokate.

Supervisors also agreed to disband the fire company steering committee, which was created about a year ago to look into issues with the township’s two fire companies. DeVault said everyone involved is “busy enough without having an extra meeting.” He said any issues that come up can be resolved during regular supervisors meetings.

Township Manager Daniel DeLong presented a draft 2017 budget, with no tax increase, to the board. He said they can probably hold a hearing on it in early November, before making it available for public review.