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Lower Gwynedd supervisors approve auditor’s report, financial adviser engagement, forest plan, stormwater change order and community‑center Wi‑Fi
Summary
The board accepted a clean 2023 audit, unanimously approved an engagement letter with financial adviser PFM (no payment unless bonds are issued), authorized a forest evaluation/strategic plan with Gilmore paired with DCNR assistance, ratified a $59,212.22 stormwater pipe change order and approved $5,467 for Wi‑Fi at Penland Woods Community Building.
The Lower Gwynedd Township Board of Supervisors on June 25 approved a slate of administrative and capital items.
The board accepted the township’s 2023 audited financial statements and an unqualified (clean) opinion. Melinda summarized results: an operating surplus of about $335,000, capital funds increasing by roughly $1.1 million and a sewer surplus of about $740,000; she said much of the unexpected surplus reflected higher interest income and a delayed intersection capital project.
The supervisors authorized execution of an engagement letter with financial adviser PFM to assist with analysis and possible future bond issuance. Staff emphasized the township would not pay PFM unless the board later authorized a bond issuance; supervisors discussed fee structure and the rough marketplace estimate that typical bond‑issuance costs (bond counsel and other expenses) could be in the six‑figures range for larger issuances.
The board approved a forest evaluation and strategic plan with Gilmore (supported by a DCNR high‑level assessment), authorizing an amount presented during the meeting up to $4,510 and noting the tree‑in‑lieu funds in the stormwater fund could be used to pay for the work.
Separately, the board ratified a contractor change order to replace a stormwater pipe under Sumneytown Pike and approved payment for the contractor bill of $59,212.22.
The board also approved installation of Verizon FiOS internet service and a firewall for the Penland Woods Community Building at a cost of $5,467, acknowledging the expense was not previously budgeted and might require a budget amendment.
Each of these items carried motions and votes during the meeting. Board members also received updates from township engineers and the traffic engineer on the Spring House intersection and a Bethlehem Pike pedestrian bridge, including revised foundation work and estimated change‑order costs related to the bridge project.
Motions passed by voice vote during the meeting; no dissenting votes were recorded in the transcript.
