Upper Hanover supervisors keep 2026 millage at 1.45 mills, review draft budget and approve administrative contracts

Upper Hanover Township Board of Supervisors met Oct. 20 for a budget work session at the Township Municipal Building in East Greenville. Chairman Steven R. Rothenberger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and recorded roll call; Supervisor Timothy Woodward was absent. Township Manager Anne W. Klepfer presented the draft 2026 budget and staff recommendations.

Klepfer told the board the township’s real estate millage would remain at 1.45 mills, unchanged from 2025 allocations and proposed for a 20th consecutive year. She reported there were no requests to increase emergency-services funding in the draft.

The manager outlined proposed interfund transfers from the General Fund totaling $663,380: $100,000 to the Open Space Fund, $63,380 to Parks and Recreation and $500,000 to the Capital Fund. The draft also proposes using $736,882 in fund balance (Revenue Account 399), including $652,492 from the General Fund applied to capital purchases and specific Schedule G projects: $287,095 for general fund capital purchases, $60,000 for Water Street stormwater improvements, $180,194 for pipe-lining projects, $105,000 for capital roadway repairs and a $20,203 portion for MS4 BMP work. Additional proposed uses included $16,500 from the Road Improvement Fund and $67,890 from the Liquid Fuels Fund.

The board and manager reviewed budget schedules A through G. Klepfer was instructed to correct an error in Schedule B totals, remove any grant funds from schedules where agreements are not yet secured, and avoid double-counting maintenance costs for building doors. The board agreed to reduce roof repairs and park bathroom floor repairs to $2,000 each and to budget a $500 donation to the Chamber for the Holiday Parade and $1,000 to the Chamber-coordinated USA 250th Celebration.

On capital and operating projects, the supervisors retained the Kingsward/Kings Road roadside drainage project in the Road Improvement Fund but said they will reassess if it qualifies for low-volume road grant funding. They kept capital road funds in the General Fund to pay for an Oak Road mill-and-overlay. The board reduced planned BMP construction to $50,000 and agreed to consider a gazebo and picnic furniture for staff if grant funding is obtained.

For meeting-operations technology, the board approved budgeting $5,000 for conference-room presentation equipment and $5,000 for tablets and stands to support digitizing meeting packets; Vice Chair Ben Fiorito confirmed he and most board members will continue to request paper packets.

In other business the supervisors approved four administrative items. The board voted 4-0 to approve a new three-year agreement with Hough Associates for recycling reporting and DEP grant submission; to accept Kellers Small Stream Solutions’ Oak Tree Stabilization proposal for $2,900 (to be charged to stormwater/BMP funds); and to apply $16,673 in available DVIT Rate Stabilization funds to medical/vision/prescription costs while keeping the employee contribution schedule unchanged. The board also approved switching to DVIT for dental coverage and increasing the annual plan benefit to $2,000 per person; Manager Klepfer was instructed to verify whether that $2,000 figure is per covered person.

The board asked the manager to obtain Comcast’s customer list and reconcile it with the township tax duplicate to ensure all township roads are properly listed for franchise-fee accounting. The board also approved closing the township office and shop on Dec. 26 if employees use paid time off to account for the day.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. after a motion by Dottie Diehl and a second by Stefan Laessig.

Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve new three-year agreement with Hough Associates for recycling reporting/DEP grant submission. Mover: Dottie Diehl. Second: Ben Fiorito. Outcome: Approved 4-0. - Motion: Approve Kellers Small Stream Solutions Oak Tree Stabilization proposal, $2,900 (chargeable to stormwater/BMP funds). Mover: Stefan Laessig. Second: Dottie Diehl. Outcome: Approved 4-0. - Motion: Apply $16,673 DVIT Rate Stabilization to medical/vision/RX plan costs and keep employee contributions unchanged. Mover: Stefan Laessig. Second: Dottie Diehl. Outcome: Approved 4-0. - Motion: Switch to DVIT for dental and increase annual plan benefit to $2,000 per person; manager to verify per-person basis. Mover: Not specified in minutes. Second: Not specified in minutes. Outcome: Board approved (vote tally not specified in the minutes).

Clarifying details: Use of fund balance $736,882; General Fund portion $652,492 with Schedule F capital $287,095; Water Street stormwater $60,000; pipe lining $180,194; capital roadway repairs $105,000; BMP portion $20,203; interfund transfers total $663,380 (Open Space $100,000; Parks & Recreation $63,380; Capital $500,000).