A local group that’s been helping to take care of a historic waterway for 40 years was honored at the Feb. 15 Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors meeting.
Township Environmental Advisory Council member Jim Bray presented the EAC’s 2022 Stewardship Award to the Friends of the Delaware Canal. Board President Brett Webber, Executive Director Michael Ginder, Secretary Jack Torres and member and former Director Susan Taylor accepted the award — which included a plaque and $1,000 check — on behalf of the FODC.
“For the past 15 years, the Lower Makefield Township EAC has given out an Environmental Stewardship Award that recognizes accomplishments that have contributed positively to both the environment and the quality of life in the Lower Makefield community,” said Bray, reading a statement from the EAC. “It is our considered opinion that the FODC has admirably fulfilled such a role.”
Cleanup and restoration efforts led by the nonprofit have taken the canal from a “smelly muddy ditch” 40 years ago to “waters that are now clean enough to support not only fish, but a myriad of other aquatic creatures as well,” Bray said, who added that the canal improvements have “enhanced the lives of our residents by offering a buffet of activities such as fishing, biking, birding and hiking.”
Webber called the award a “really powerful tool to advance the advocacy we promote and our mission and the work we do.”
In other actions from the Feb. 15 meeting, the supervisors approved a resolution requesting a PA Small Water and Sewer grant in the amount of $147,537 that would be used for Phase Two of the Maplevale drainage improvement project. The resolution designates township Manager David Kratzer as the official to execute all documents.
A revised consulting agreement extension for former Public Works Director Greg Hucklebridge that ups his regular rate from $75 to $100 an hour was also approved. He resigned as PW director in Lower Makefield about mid-2022 to take the same job in nearby Northampton Township, but has continued on with Lower Makefield on a part-time consulting basis to help with projects and other matters he was an important part of but were not finished when he left.
Hucklebridge’s original consulting agreement expired at the end of 2022 and the extension runs through this year, township Solicitor David Truelove explained. The extension provides that Hucklebridge will be paid a higher hourly rate of $150 anytime he testifies in court on litigation with the Morrisville Municipal Authority, Truelove added.
Board members also approved additional programming this year at the township swimming pools complex and the summer camps program that will bring in additional revenue. They include American Red Cross lifeguard training, an adult swim clinic and stay-and-play private swims at the pools. For more information, visit lmt.org.
Parks and Recreation Director Monica Tierney reported that pool memberships for 2023 continue to sell fast. As of Feb. 5, revenue from memberships stood at $242,475, which is $46,170 more than at the same time last year. The four-pool complex on Edgewood Road is open to all area residents, with Lower Makefield residents enjoying lower membership fees.
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