Elizabeth Rosencrans, with the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, returned to Hanover Township, Lehigh County, during the Oct. 19 council meeting to discuss another grant for the Delaware and Lehigh Trail.

Rosencrans appeared before council months earlier to discuss the Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation Program’s grant to support the design, engineering and construction of the gaps within the trail.

The recipients for the multimodal transportation grant were supposed to be announced back in September, but the vote was pushed until November. With the possibility of another delay, Rosencrans suggested council apply for another grant, which appeared as a resolution on the meeting’s agenda.

Rosencrans mentioned an inside source at the department encouraged her to apply for the grant, insisting the administration is looking to see an application from the organization.

The resolution to apply for the grant was approved unanimously across council, and Rosencrans said the grant recipient is expected to be announced before January.

If awarded, funds will go on to rehabilitate the existing trail within Hanover’s Canal Park and develop a new trail connection south of the park to St. Luke’s Center.

In other business, Councilman Robert Lawlor mentioned a letter he and his neighbor received from the township regarding tree trimming. The letter detailed tree-trimming expectations for branches that may grow outward onto the street lining and how residents will be required to handle this matter on their own.

Lawlor explained, in the past, this was always taken care of by the township as a courtesy to the residents. Township Manager Melissa Wehr explained mandates for the public works crew have fluctuated during the years and more has been put on their plate.

Chairman Bruce Paulus agreed with Lawlor the tree trimming for street overhang has always been provided by the township. Paulus asked for the opinion of other councilmen, and the majority agreed it should be taken care of by the township.

Wehr said she would look into getting that taken care of, and Councilman Anthony Rossi suggested reaching out to his wife about renting their company’s cherry picker, free of charge. More information is to come.

The council also discussed a new meeting time for the upcoming new year. Wehr mentioned comments had been made by meeting attendees, including attorneys and developers, concerning the late-evening time slot for the council meetings.

Wehr proposed the new start time of 7 p.m., beginning 30 minutes earlier than the current time. She discussed how in other townships, the 7 p.m. start time is relatively standard for council meetings. By changing the Hanover Township time, meetings may be more uniform across the Valley.

The township clerk confirmed council is able to control the meeting times and that it is only the day on which the meeting takes place that is controlled by higher state officials. The council saw no issues in this and agreed to move the meeting time to 7 p.m. beginning in January 2023.

Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council will next meet 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at the township building, 2202 Grove Road. To view the agenda, visit hanleco.org.