Fogelsville State Police Lt. Greg Emery attended the Aug. 20 Lower Milford Township board of supervisors meeting. He wanted to introduce himself to the public and assure residents he is very accessible for contact. He provided the public with some short criminal statistics and also mentioned the police station was almost back to full staff.

Supervisor John Quigley asked Emery how many officers patrol Lower Milford at any time.

“It could be three, it could be one,” Emery said. Quigley spoke about a recent incident in the township and complimented the state police for their response time.

The treasurer’s report and last month’s minutes were motioned for approval. They were seconded for discussion by Quigley. Quigley then voted no due to his belief of the bookkeeper’s inability to do her job.

Quigley then provided a handout, objecting to the minutes, saying they were worded incorrectly. He said bookkeeper Stacy Smith changed his statement in last month’s minutes to reflect that he stated she made “alleged” racial threats against the former township manager’s family.

Quigley said the wording should not be “alleged racial threats” as it was reported to the supervisors, state police and township’s legal counsel.

In frustration, he continued on, stating there is a history of making false statements and allegations against him. Quigley said there was an investigation against him for “gender-based harassment or discrimination” and for placing a secret camera in the municipal building. Both investigations were conducted and no evidence was found of either allegation.

Quigley requested the minutes be changed from the wording, “racial threats that she allegedly made” to the statement he made during the actual meeting.

“I object to the presence of Stacy Smith because of her verbal threats to the Lower Milford Township manager’s African American family. Such behavior is completely unacceptable and the fact that this action is not only tolerated by Supervisors Koplin and Wright but rewarded is despicable.”

These changes were approved by the board.

Minutes of the July 16 and Aug. 6 meetings were approved.

The August minutes were, again, seconded by Quigley for discussion. He noted the law firm Clark Hill has now been paid over $20,000 in legal fees for the investigation against Quigley that came up completely false.

He objected to paying the bills, because he objects to the hiring of Clark Hill by Supervisors Donna Wright and Ellen Koplin for the investigation against him.

Koplin responded that the investigation was not against Quigley directly. The investigation is into a highly illegal recording device that she states was placed in the township office, which, she believes, was placed there by the former township manager and public works director. Koplin mentioned the former township manager as Quigley’s nephew.

Quigley said this device was not placed there in secret. He said it was placed there to protect the employees from people randomly coming up to the building.

The following ordinances were approved: Ordinance 135 - the order to obtain permits to solicit in the township; Ordinance 136 - providing the regulation and administration of open burning and fireworks displays in the township and Ordinance 137 - amendment to the nuisance ordinance. The amendment reflects that if there is a nuisance complaint to be made, they have the right to proceed to the district magistrate.

In other business, former Public Works Director Drake Grizenhoff told the supervisors township employee Ray Lindaberry was leaving his position. The supervisors voted in approval to make it official, as he was technically on the township payroll.

Smith suggested the township use Lehigh Valley Lawn for township lawn maintenance. Previously, the work was performed by the road crew. Rather than paying the hourly workers, who could be working on more urgent needs, an outside company was shown to be more economical.

The idea was approved, but definitive costs still need to be ironed out at a future meeting.

An application for a working foreman was posted to job sites and the township website. A union member, John Hagan has put in a bid for the position. Union regulations dictate the bid be accepted since it is the first and only bid. The hourly rate will still need to be negotiated as he is part of the union.

In his application, Hagan submitted plans detailing township issues and areas needing to be addressed. The supervisors seemed happy with his experience and enthusiasm to get started.

In new business, the chief operations officer from Bell Gate sent a letter thanking the road crews’ efforts in cleaning up the road in such a short time period following recent flooding.

It was then announced a Lehigh Valley Small Business Relief Grant Pool was created to distribute $5 million of funding. Shortly after this announcement, a statement was made by Quigley.

“I’m angry at the interpretations of my comment by the board secretary in the Lower Milford Township minutes. These interpretations do not reflect the exact meaning of my comments, but rather seem designed to protect the secretary herself and then disguise the purpose and counter my comments to suit her own purposes…,” Quigley said.

He suggested supervisors should hold the meeting through Zoom so others can join in. He tried to blame Smith, though Wright said the building is in a bad spot for reception as she has had issues as well. Quigley said they should at least be recording the meetings. It was stated Smith records an audio version of the meetings.

A motion was made by Quigley the audio recording of the regular meeting should be posted to the website. A second was not made. Wright felt a better solution for a connection would be best so they can host virtual meetings live.

Wright is scheduled to swear in five new fire police officers 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Lower Milford Fire Department. A fire company hoagie sale will be held Sept. 22. Visit lowermilford.org or the Lower Milford Facebook page for more details.

The next Lower Milford board of supervisors meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17. at the Lower Milford Municipal Building on Chestnut Hill Church Road. A virtual option will not be available.