The Upper Milford Township Board of Supervisors Nov. 22 meeting began with public comments by a resident who inquired about inspections on houses that have burned down in the township. A recently burned home in his area has the basement wide open with no protection. He shared “anyone can just walk in” and he was concerned about “lots of kids in the neighborhood.”

The resident also commented about another burned down house in the township and nothing was done about it. “The grass might have been cut, that’s it,” he said. He said he would come to the meetings to speak about this concern but “nothing is being done about it by the township.”

Township Manager Bud Carter requested the resident contact him during the week so he can address his concerns.

There was also a comment regarding the differences between a code official and zoning officer with Carter explaining the two positions are different.

An additional public comment came from resident Frank Kuklis who has lived in the township on Mill Road for 40 years. Kuklis is concerned about the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s efforts to remove the Mill Road underpass so the turnpike can be widened from four to six lanes. Kuklis said the “township will be dealing with the detrimental effects of this decision” and encouraged the board to “be the squeaky wheel” with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

It was said there are green and blue paint lines under the bridge to indicate the Vera Cruz sewer line beneath the bridge. It was also noted the elimination of this underpass could negatively impact response times from emergency vehicles.

Kuklis said in the spring, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission held a meeting at Emmaus High School and explained that maintaining the underpass was “too much of an engineering issue” and the commission is looking for a “cheap way” to expand the turnpike at the cost of the residents of Mill Road and Upper Milford Township.

In old business, Board Supervisor Angela Ashbrook read from a prepared statement directed to Kevin Kleinsmith who was not present at the meeting. Ashbrook wanted to make her position clear “the fire tax was approved to get the fire companies the equipment and trucks needed for the safety of the residents” and a “new building is not within that mission.” She noted she voted “no” to the resolution passed “partly because it included buildings as an approved expense.”

Ashbrook made it clear the Western District “knowingly signed a contract for two trucks that would not fit into the existing building.” She said “taxpayers are not a blank check” and she will not raise taxes again if these township funds, which were nearly doubled in this upcoming budget, are exhausted. There was no public comment that followed this statement.

Carter shared the specs for the new Mack truck. He said there will be a $6,000 difference between a manual transmission ($14,000) compared to an automatic transmission ($20,000). Carter asked for direction from the board regarding this issue. A resident asked, “Why doesn’t the township just keep the truck we have and change the transmission?” Carter explained the repairs have become too costly for the current truck.

Board Chair John Zgura also noted the larger truck could be more efficient on the larger roads as well as hauling stone and salt and the smaller trucks will continue to be used for the smaller roads.

The new business discussion of Western District fire company’s request to store a truck in a public works building to avoid its pump freezing brought out much discussion from those in attendance as well as the board. If the township does not allow the truck to be stored in one of its heated buildings, the truck will need to be winterized and thus not be able to be utilized if needed in an emergency.

Carter proposed storing the truck in one of the heated buildings in case it might be needed if there is an issue with the current truck. Additional keys to the storage garage would need to be created. Carter mentioned there are no liabilities or insurance issues for the township.

Zgura was concerned that if the electricity cut out, could the truck be accessed? Carter said a manual cord will have to be pulled to open the garage door in this case. Ashbrook was concerned this truck was purchased in April and she just found out about this issue with this truck 6 a.m. Nov. 22.

A representative for the fire company said they have talked about it previously and also shared they did not realize they needed board permission for the $100 a month lease for the truck when the fire company is paying for it with its own funds and not the township funds. Ashbrook said she is confused and Zgura explained the board is requesting “more transparency” from the fire companies. Carter said the “fire companies have their own money and they purchased this truck with their own money.” Ashbrook questioned, “Why do they come to the township for funds if they have their own money?”

Solicitor Marc Fisher explained the resolution approved by the board and agreed upon by the fire companies states quarterly submissions must be made seeking reimbursement of expenses and a semiannual requirement the fire companies submit a treasurer’s report outlining assets and debits by Jan. 31.

Fisher said “Nothing in the resolution demands that if you want to buy something with your own money that you have to come before the board with it.”

One resident inquired, “Are you micromanaging the fire companies with their own money they raised?”

“How do you tell the taxpayers?” Ashbrook asked.

A volunteer firefighter said they could be up all night battling a fire and then have to be up at 6 a.m. to host a fundraiser. He also questioned, “What happens when you have no more volunteer firefighters?”

Resident Bill Casey chimed in recalling memories of the “angst” of the fire companies and for many years they had been mostly self-supporting through auxiliary fundraising. He described the fire companies today as “asking Dad” for money (meaning the board) and they are getting it. He acknowledged the increasing costs and even commended the fire companies for working together. He asked for more transparency from the fire companies because they continue to come to “Mom and Pop” for money and he supports a referendum for future funding. He even suggested the fire companies consider uniting as a single department. He finished by commending “the guys for getting what they want from the township.”

The fire company representatives informed the board and residents they meet the first Thursday of the month for Western District and the Vera Cruz Department meets the first Monday of the month. These meetings are open for the public to attend for transparency purposes.

A resident in the audience attempted to refocus the discussion to the original request of being able to store one of its trucks in one of the township heated public works buildings to prevent its pump from freezing. Carter proposed one of the heated buildings which would not be an additional expense for the township. The truck is expected to be housed in this building through January 2025 until its current building is insulated.

The board approved Western District to temporarily store a truck in a heated township building. Supervisor Dan Mohr added this is not the first time that the township has housed a fire truck. “This is not a new issue,” he commented.

In other new business, Resolution 2024-037 was approved for the operations and maintenance for the Fields at Twin Run as well as Resolution 2024-038 for the operations and maintenance for Engleman at 4702 Indian Creek Road. This approval provides permission to inspect the area because the pipe goes through the Engleman property.

Secretary/Treasurer Jessi O’Donald asked the board to approve a separate fundraising account to be established through New Tripoli Bank. Previously Hunter Ryan approached the board explaining his Eagle Scout proposal involving an area of Jasper Park. He would like to create a GoFundMe account to help raise money to fund this project. O’Donald noted there will be separate ledgers/accounts and people would still need to bring projects to the board for approval. There was much discussion that appeared to be against having the township be involved with the GoFundMe account.

Zgura commented “part of being an Eagle Scout is to reach out to people in person to support the project” and described the GoFundMe approach as a “problem with this generation.” O’Donald explained Ryan creates the account but the township is the beneficiary. Ashbrook was concerned about the amount of time O’Donald would be committing to this project that should be handled by the Eagle Scout and his family.

O’Donald said “minimal” time would be needed for this project. The board was also concerned about leftover funds and O’Donald noted the township would receive any leftover funds from this project as a donation. Residents at the meeting also appeared to be in agreement with the concerns the board has for this approach and what it could mean for future requests.

O’Donald said there have been five Eagle Scout proposals in 10 years in the township. She also said Ryan just received approval for this project and he is beginning to make his direct contacts. Ryan was not present at this meeting to answer a number of their concerns.

Fisher added that any money collected has to be turned into the township. O’Donald reiterated her request for a separate account for fundraising be established through New Tripoli Bank.

Casey verbally commented the township should not be involved in this. “I was a Scout,” he said,” and we never asked for a bank account.” Ryan’s project involves Jasper Park which is a township property.

Mohr made a motion for a fundraising account to be made through New Tripoli Bank and it was approved; however, Ashbrook clarified “we are not approving the GoFundMe account right now.” This will be tabled for a future meeting. O’Donald said money from this fundraising account would be transferred to the township general account so checks could be written as necessary.

In other business, Carter asked the board to maintain the summer hours at the yard waste facility through Dec. 15 due to a Lehigh County no burn ban in effect due to the extreme drought conditions. Carter explained there is money in the budget to provide for the longer hours through Dec. 15. This was approved. Upper Milford residents can use the yard waste site through Dec. 15 noon to 4 p.m. Mondays, 3-7 p.m. or dusk Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to noon Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Also, the board approved the use of both fire departments if they are willing and able to assist with the traffic for Christmas Eve Service at Zionsville UCC.

The board also accepted the resignation letter from Lisa Marten from the library board. Marten said she will still attend meetings and someone else is already interested in the position. The board thanked her for her service and noted a more formal recognition will take place closer to the resignation date of Jan. 6, 2025. Martens said she hopes they will have a new director of the Emmaus Public Library before she leaves her position.

Finally, Mohr mentioned about 30 arrows were painted closely together on Main Road East and Mountain Road and was not sure of why. A resident commented the location is where a plow truck got stuck and wondered if this could explain it.

The next township meeting will be held 7 p.m. Dec. 5 in the township building.