Hot air balloons took to the skies at the West Bradford Youth Association Balloon Festival on Friday at the Embreeville State Hospital complex.

One balloon remained tethered for rides on location.

The two-day event was co-sponsored by the Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau and Suburban Propane and featured more than a dozen hot air balloons.

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Limerick township paid out at least $170,000 to a former township manager and two former council supervisors, according to Whatsthe422.com.

The local blog site, said the payment was made to settle a legal dispute over a severance package.

Edward Fink, who had served as township manager, was involved in the dispute after his contract with the township was terminated early. He was supposed to work through September 2002 but was replaced in January of that year, according to Whatsthe422.com. Fink was owed $134,406.57 as part of his severance.

Under the recent agreement, former supervisors Tom Neafcy and Glen Holcombe received a portion of the settlement. They had been listed in the suit, along with Greg Richardson, as defendants.

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The Lower Pottsgrove commissioners have approved fees that attorneys can collect after making collections for the township. A new ordinance would require residents and taxpayers to pay $125 to any attorney that collects delinquent taxes, fees, liens, etc. from them. The cost would be tacked on to their overall bill, according to the Sanatoga Post.

According to township solicitor R. Kurtz Holloway, the township is owed thousands of dollars in unpaid fees, taxes and the like, but no definitive amount was given at the recent meeting.

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Home Depot won't be coming to Limerick any time soon. According to Whatsthe422.com, the store planned to build at Ridge Pike and Township Line Road, but the current economic downturn has been stifling growth at the home improvement chain. The 21-acre lot will sit vacant for now, at least until the economy improves.

As it now stands, the township is out $500,000 that they expected to receive from the developer for open space. Luckily the township has not budgeted that money into their future spending plans.

The payment came as part of a settlement after the township tried to restrict what kind of development went on the land after plans had been announced by the developer, according to Whatsthe422.

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Building a Better Boyertown will hold its board meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday night in Borough Hall and its facade meeting at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at its offices at 12 N. Reading Ave.

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The Spring-Ford School District is planning to vote on its new school budget at tonight's meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of the senior high school. Tonight's meeting agenda, available here, also includes plans to accept the resignation of Royersford Elementary School speech therapist Tracy Peppiatt, effective retroactive to June 15.

Also resigning is Sandra A. Kerchner, an administrative assistant in the district office who is retiring. Her last day will be Aug. 21.

Also on tonight's agenda are several changes in the staff.

The following teachers and staff are requesting leaves of absence or extensions of their leaves of absence:

Laura E. Camp, a teacher at Evans Elementary, effective August 25, 2009 until the end of the second marking period of the 2009/2010 school year.

Stephanie M. Cooper, a teacher at Evans, effective tentatively October 2, 2009 for the remainder of the 1st semester of the 2009/2010 school year.

Doreen Krebs, an instructional assistant with the fifth and sixth grade center, is seeking for her leave of absence to be extended until the end of the current school year.

Kelli Rokita, a teacher at Upper Providence Elementary, and Lydia M. Wisler, the school nurse at the fifth and sixth grade center, are also seeking leaves of absence for the first semester of the upcoming school year.

Karen E. Davis, an Upper Providence Elementary School teacher, effective August 25, 2009 for up to a maximum of twelve weeks.

Carrie A. Kuklinski, Brooke Elementary School speech therapist, effective August 25 for up to 12 weeks.

Carol L. Mays, district office secretary, effective June 24 for up to 12 weeks.

Miranda Paradise, Oaks Elementary School teacher, for the 1st semester of the 2009/2010 school year.

Bernadette R. Pence, Evans Elementary School teacher, for the 1st semester of the 2009/2010 school year.

And, Krista A. Zollers, Evans Elementary School art teacher, for the 1st semester of the 2009/2010 school year.

Also up for approval are several temporary positions for the summer and new hires.

For the summer:

Ronald Logan as a Special Education teacher for Summer ESY Program, to be paid $30 an hour plus benefits. "Funding will be from 2009/2010 IDEA funds," according to the agenda.

Temporary employees:

Andrew Bright as high school biology teacher, to be paid $43,500 a year.

Daniel Butterweck, 7th Grade Center special education teacher, to be paid $43,000 a year.

Jamie Buckwalter as peech Therapist, to be paid $43,500 a year.

Megan McDonald as 7th Grade Center mathematics teacher, to be paid $44,500.

Bradley J. Seltzer as high school social studies teacher, to be paid $46,000.

Support staff:

Alex Cushman as custodian at Evans Elementary School, to be paid $16.57 per hour with benefits.

Cecilia Felice as food service employee. "position has been
increased to a 4.5 hour position, effective for the 2009/2010 school year," according to the agenda.

George Versak as custodian, to be paid $16.57 per hour.

Also at the meeting, 27 teachers will be receiving their tenured status.

Up for consideration is the recommendation of an Employee Assistance
Program at a cost of $1.45 per employee per month. The cost will be offset by savings in the Worker Compensation premiums, according to the agenda.

The board will also approve the salary of Superintendant Marsha Hurda. The salary was not listed on the agenda.

The board will also vote on putting out bids for a sidewalk and crosswalks at Lewis Road, and the replacement of a roof at Royersford Elementary.