Upper Hanover supervisors approve subdivision conditions, conditional use, personnel and finance items

The Upper Hanover Township Board of Supervisors handled a range of routine and substantive items at its June 14 meeting, approving land‑use actions, personnel allowances, equipment repairs and short‑term investment actions.

Land use and planning: The Board approved a waiver of land development for the open‑space portion of the 65‑unit Kershner Subdivision (in Red Hill Borough with open space in Upper Hanover) subject to conditions: signage and a rope line marking the edge of development/open space on the north/west property line; a note on the record plan and a written disclosure in HOA declarations noting proximity to the Gun Club; a physical barrier at the termination of the former railroad right‑of‑way (Perkiomen Trail) on the northwest property line; and a note that the open space is to be owned and maintained by the HOA and deed‑restricted from further subdivision. The Board also approved Resolution No. 2022‑38 granting conditional preliminary/final plan approval for the Wassmer Ventures/Artisan Display land development at 1239 E. Sixth Street. Two separate Zoning Hearing Board matters (Loft at Sweet Water and Christopher Weikel) were scheduled for June 28 and the Board declined to intervene.

Conditional use: The Board granted conditional use approval for Lisa Egolf Stitt to build a 960‑square‑foot detached garage at 3711 Layfield Road, subject to agreed drainage controls including French drains and an absorption pit.

Finance and investments: Committee Chair Ben Fiorito described options from the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust (PLGIT) and recommended using proceeds from two recently matured CDs to purchase 90‑day PLGIT‑Term products. Fiorito noted PLGIT‑Term yields were materially higher than current CD and money‑market rates but that PLGIT‑Term funds are not FDIC insured; he said the risk is mitigated by short terms and Act 10 governance. The Board authorized the manager to make the investment.

Personnel and equipment: The Board authorized an annual $200 safety boot allowance for each full‑time Road Department employee and approved E.M. Kutz Inc. option #2 for $4,980 to repair truck rails on the 2012 Mack truck. Members also discussed seeking Co‑Stars quotes to replace Truck #8 and a Ford F‑550.

Appointments and parks: The Board accepted Cathy Fried’s resignation from the Park Board and appointed Danielle Zifra to the unexpired term; Zifra introduced herself and confirmed interest. An Eagle Scout exercise‑circuit project was reported to be progressing with minor product changes after the original item was discontinued.

Administrative items: The Board authorized renewal of the Hunter Access Program for Mill Hill Preservation properties, approved participation in the Montgomery County Consortium annual salt bid, and approved tax refunds for Charles & Delores Reifinger ($62.00) and Eugene S. & Jennifer A. Moran ($277.00). A public hearing on an ASA application for James & Sherry Scheick was opened and continued to July 12 due to the applicant’s absence.

What was said: During public comment a resident of 754 Victor Drive said helicopters had been flying overhead for an extended time and were "disturbing the peace." Chairman Rothenberger reported the manager had learned the flights were connected to PPL installing lightning retarders on high‑tension lines and that the township had not been notified about that specific installation; the resident asked the Board to request advance public notification in similar future projects.

Next steps: Several vendor contracts and project awards require follow up: finalize the Ott's Road Bridge contract under the preliminary award; execute the St. Paul's Church Road Bridge design contract with Gilmore & Associates; and the manager will proceed with short‑term PLGIT investments as authorized.