Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council passed an ordinance granting the adoption of the 2023 budget during the Nov. 16 meeting. Council discussed the proposed budget in detail Oct. 18 and 19 during special council meetings.

Some changes include an increase in legal fees, as the township attorney requested a raise to $225 per hour, which is said to be a 15% increase. There will also be a 5% salary increase for all township employees, as the cost of living has moved up to 8.7% from the previous year’s rate of 6.2%.

The fireman’s fund will take a $5,000 loss and will be dropped back down to $10,000. There are several reasons listed for this change, but a lack of reports to township Manager Melissa Wehr detailing the cost breakdown is a major contributing factor, it was mentioned.?A report regarding expenditures and the purpose of the purchases was due to Wehr in September; reportedly, however, no report has been received to date.

Council also discussed budgets for the liquid fuels, water, sewer and capital reserve funds. A report detailing the special council meeting can be found on the township website under the council meeting minutes.

The township will be working with an overall budget of around $5.4 million for the 2023 year.

In other business, Wehr was authorized to release the final maintenance security in the amount of $27,974.85 for the parking lot expansion project at 200 Cascade Drive.

Wehr was also authorized to release the maintenance security in the amount of $8,092.50 for the project at 1650 E. Race St. concerning Airport Ventures LP. The township engineer was present and said this project has been in maintenance for the last 18 months and is ready to be released.

During the review of the reports, Wehr mentioned there will be a Lehigh Valley General Assembly, hosted by Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. A representative was asked to participate on behalf of Hanover Township, and Wehr proposed the idea to council. Members will discuss the matter and determine who will be attending at a later date. The assembly is scheduled to take place 7 p.m. March 29, 2023.

Council will next meet 4 p.m. Dec. 21 in the main meeting room at the township building, 2202 Grove Road. To view the agenda ahead of time, visit hanleco.org and click on the council subpage.