Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Council’s July 3 meeting got off to a slow start. At the 7 p.m. start time, a perplexed council Chairman Bruce Paulus counted the members present and found only two seated — Michael Woolley and himself.

Three council members need to be present to constitute a quorum. Absent three council members, no township business could be completed. Efforts to obtain a third council member were successful when Councilman Robert Heimbecker called into the meeting. It was agreed to have Heimbecker attend via telephone.

Township Solicitor Jackson Eaton III explained the procedure to have a council member call in for a meeting. The meeting then moved forward.

In the engineer’s report, Al Kortze, P.E., of Keystone Engineering, said the Allendale swale project is delayed because it involves the laying of sod. The recent heat and dry conditions require delaying the sod-laying part of the project until September.

It was also reported the Marcon sanitary sewer project is set to begin this month.

Council officially authorized a time extension to Stonewood Landscaping Inc. to complete the project until the fall because of the recent hot, dry weather.

Kortze noted the Troxell Street project was almost completed. A release of payment in the amount of $74,539.55 to New Enterprise Stone and Land Company Inc. for the Troxell Street neighborhood milling and overlay project and retain $20,000 for completion was approved.

Council authorized the release of a final fifth payment to Telco Inc. for the Catasauqua Road and Valley Plaza signal improvement project in the amount of $54,474.02.

Council authorized a release of a second payment to Stonewood Landscaping Inc. for stormwater rehabilitation and enhancement projects in the amount of $76,299.30 for contract B for Canal Park restoration.

State House Bills 1976 and 2045 were rejected by council. The bills would, if passed in Harrisburg, create statewide zoning mandates for housing in municipalities with a population greater than 5,000. The Pennsylvania State Association of Townships requested the two bills be defeated.

Township bills were paid via a council vote through July 3 in the amount of $1.35 million.

The next council meeting is set for 7 p.m. July 17 in the township municipal building, 2202 Grove Road. It is an in-person-only meeting.