Lower Nazareth unveils meeting space
With all the joy of a professional sports team moving into a new stadium, supervisors in Lower Nazareth Township on Wednesday happily welcomed visitors into their new public meeting space.
“History’s being made tonight,” Supervisor Robert Hoyer told a small gathering of residents who attended the meeting in the newly completed room in the township building at 623 Municipal Drive.
It marked the first public meeting in the space for the board, which previously used a community room at 306 Butztown Road.
The board room features mahogany furnishings and a gray concrete block wall displaying the township logo in gold lettering, along with four computer screens to display maps and project plans.
“I think this is going to be a big improvement and do the township good in the future,” Hoyer said.
The space also provides an updated public address system and microphones for each board member, along with ports to allow them to charge their tablets.
“It’s been a work in progress for several years now; it really is the 21st century meeting room which we desperately needed,” Chairman James Pennington said.
Long in the planning stage, the new digs allow the township to accommodate up to 108 people, where before it could only seat 68, Township Manager Lori Stauffer said.
“This is definitely more warm and welcoming,” she said.
Stauffer credited her public works crew for working tirelessly to bring the meeting space to fruition, mentioning each by name.
“They did an excellent job of putting this meeting room together,” Township Engineer Al Kortze said. “It’s a tremendous improvement and something the township should be proud of.”
Jeff Shepard, a resident of Trio Fields who regularly attends supervisor’s meetings, welcomed the venue.
“I think it’s great, an upgrade sometime in coming,” he said.