The Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners meeting was held April 2 with all commissioners in attendance and certain staff members involved remotely. Future meetings were discussed. A law requires a quorum be available in person to vote on official business. This is being suspended temporarily which now allows for remote voting and a quorum not having to be physically present. Solicitor David Brooman said Gov. Tom Wolf has made this possible during this time of crisis.

Staff and commissioners are checking into other options such as Zoom which may allow residents better access during this time frame. Zoom can allow for better interaction and input from the public.

With these changes, there is also a decision to cancel the planning commission meeting for the month of April. Extensions were granted where necessary. Other committees are also not meeting this month.

Along with these changes are changes to parks and recreation. After a discussion as to what should be open, the commissioners spoke about people playing basketball, playing on playground structures and other activities that involve contact or even closeness. Some activities even include spectators accumulating to a crowd.

Commissioner Brian Higgins said people say they need to stay active, that there are those that say they clean the playground equipment and other things but it’s a matter of our health and can be considered a matter of life and death.

After discussion, the commissioners made a motion to close all parks and recreation facilities considered strictly for those activities. Where there is no ability to walk on a path, these facilities will be closed. There have been issues with the skate park which is padlocked with people finding ways to get in. It is being monitored. Higgins further stated “just stay at home.”

In addition to recreational situations, the yard waste dump site was discussed. There will be curbside yard waste pickup eventually but it is not available presently. After further discussion, it was decided to leave the yard waste site open.

Township Assistant Office Manager/Secretary Renae Flexer has updated the website to show all current information in a “one stop shop” method. Visit lowermac.com for more information.

In other business, there was discussion about a sidewalk on Sauerkraut Lane by The Hillside School. This has been previously discussed. It is a difficult area to walk but it is popular as it is a pleasant area. No decision was reached about it as it will involve The Hillside School.

Township Manager Bruce Beitel presented the package for the upgrade to the township’s phone and cloud-based technology. An agreement was reached with Infradapt to provide this service for 44 months.

The township also received a letter regarding delays in plan approvals from Zator Law Offices. The motion was to send a letter to the planning commission that they should not hold up plans due to pending National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits from the state.