Officials in Lower Salford voted last Wednesday to take steps to allow the construction of a shopping center adjacent to the Shops at Harleysville, which currently houses Walmart and Giant, among other retailers.    

                During a brief meeting, supervisors authorized an application to PennDOT seeking approval to modify the existing traffic signal at Main Street (Route 63) and access to The Shops at Harleysville. With the proposed shopping center's access from either Main Street or Route 113, changes to the existing signal could be necessary to accommodate increased traffic, officials said.

                "This will allow for future widening should we need it," Chairman Douglas Gifford said of the application.

                Supervisors didn't vote on preliminary approval for the proposed commercial development after it was postponed again this month at the request of the applicant. The commercial space is planned to include a Tractor Supply store as well as a bank, restaurant with drive-thru and several other smaller retail stores.

                The board also passed a resolution allowing township staff to dispose of certain archived public records as authorized by the Commonwealth. According to Gifford, these items include evidence and case files from 1993-1994.

                Gifford announced that the township will be selling two vehicles on municibid.com.  A 2000 Ford Taurus and 2011 Chevy Tahoe will be sold through the online government auction website.

                Finally, Gifford reported that the township has used 1,500 tons of salt so far this winter season.

                "Last year, which was the worst year, we used 1,800 so we're getting close. I expect we're going to exceed it," he said.

                The board adjourned to an executive session to discuss litigation matters with no action taken afterward.