The Upper Milford Supervisors voted unanimously Thursday “to deny and dismiss” an appeal related to the board’s choice this summer of a provider for township pension services.

The supervisors had voted July 19 to choose Municipal Retirement Trust, a non-profit organization sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs, to provide township pension services. Two other organizations also had submitted proposals for the work.

According to minutes of the July 19 meeting, Supervisor Robert Sentner said that Municipal Retirement Trust was the clear choice because it only deals with municipal pensions.

Also, Township Manager Dan DeLong said Municipal Retirement Trust specializes in smaller municipal pensions.

However, one of the other bidders for the work, Integrated Capital Management, subsequently filed an appeal. Township solicitor Marc Fisher told the supervisors at their Aug. 2 meeting that the firm’s objections centered on whether Municipal Retirement Trust has “clearly articulated their bottom-line price to the township.”

Fisher also told the supervisors on Aug. 2 that Integrated Capital Management’s objection was in line with an appeals process set up by state law. It then was up to the township solicitor to decide if the company’s objections had any merit.

Consequently, Fisher told the supervisors on Thursday, “The appeal and the objection are not valid. Municipal Retirement Trust has adequately disclosed the true costs.”

Fisher then recommended that the supervisors make a motion to deny and dismiss the appeal. Supervisors Chairman Daniel Mohr, Supervisor George DeVault and Sentner then agreed unanimously to follow the solicitor’s advice.

Following the vote, Sentner asked the solicitor whether Integrated Capital Management could take its appeal to another level. Fisher said yes, adding, “They would have to file something in court.”