February 8, 1994 The meeting of the Supervisors of Franklin Township, held in the Township office, was called to order by Chairman Benjamin Sitek at 2000 hours with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present were Sitek, Herbert Netzler and David Henderson. MINUTES The minutes of January 27, 1994 were corrected to read: pg. 120, "Sitek - it was abused each time the tile on Fry was replaced" and pg. 121, Computer Update - "Sitek - how long would it take to teach her to run payroll reports. Henderson - 15 minutes". Will do. Dave moved to accept the minutes with the additions and corrections. Ben seconded. Carried. VISITORS Denver Ireland - explain the front foot assessment on Silverthorn. Netzler - wait until the Attorney gets an information package together. I think the matter should go before the constituents. If it's voted down, fine. Sitek - I think the big question is will the rest of the Township be done by front foot assessment also. Ireland - you didn't take good care of the road and now it's full of potholes. You say there's no money for repairs, if you wanted to force us to pave, you wouldn't do anything about it. I wouldn't mind paying but we're paying taxes now to ditch, gravel and grade. Henderson - a big chunk of the money would be for the road base and top gravel. We would do more than is normally done if the road was to stay a gravel road. If you want to pave, I'd propose doing it by front foot assessment. Ben Sitek, Jr. - not all Township money goes for roads. Some of it goes for other things like equipment, payroll, building upkeep. We're a poor township and the only way to get revenue is to raise taxes. We have to start somewhere. Henderson - most of the state does front foot assessment. It's very common in other areas. Most boroughs do it that way. It's just the rural counties that don't. Netzler - taxes won't go up. It's a one shot deal. You don't have to pay for it for the next 150 years. Henderson - ongoing repairs come from the general fund. Denver, you think you pay so much in Township tax, you only pay $141.51 a year to this Township in tax. The rest goes to the county and school district. Sitek, Jr. - Fry will be a good indication on how the roads will hold up. You guys have been doing a good job of plowing. REPORTS Superintendent - Dave reported that plowing has slacked off, there were water problems on Old State, Crane, Mohawk, Eureka and Francis. This Township got off easy compared to our neighbors. We are moving snow back again. Four Year Road Plan - Herb said we should wait to see the budget after snow season then decide what we can do. Hough 2 - will start when we get a new starter. Phone Line Repair Bill - GTE engineer will check the pedestal location. The bill was for cutting the phone line at the fire dept. Dave said the line was 8-10 feet off the marker stake. It was in over 2 feet deep. It was south of the road from where the marker said it should be. I'll show the engineer that too. Netzler - the law says if it's not 36 inches down, it's illegal. The bill should go the the fire dept. Henderson - we took labor cost out of the fire dept. before the year end adjustment. County Aid - waiting. Snow Plowing Across Road - Ben presented his east side list. Waiting for west side. JCB Backhoe - Dave said that if serious consideration is given to replacing it, we need to get it in this year's auction. The auction combines the city, county, several boroughs and next year will include a New York county. We need to make up our minds within two weeks. Netzler - my answer is no, don't trade it in and go in debt. Henderson - it's a 1989 model with 2,200 hours on it. A new one would be $5,000 to $6,000 a year payment. The expense on it has gone up dramatically. Inflation and price will increase if we wait. The trade in value is at it's peak. Discussion. Sitek - if repair bills are going so high, how do you answer that. Netzler - the rear end repair was labor only. Henderson - two cylinders need repairs, the electrical harness needs to be replaced etc. We use it and it must be reliable and be a horse. It was down three days where we couldn't load cinders. We need reliable equipment. Sitek - put a package together. Henderson - that takes a lot of time. If you're not interested this year, I won't do it. If you are, I will. Sitek - let's blow it off another year. Will wait. Netzler - the Hough at the pit should be here. The employees don't want to be in an open cab. They're spoiled. Henderson - there's one problem with that, Frosty was using it to load gravel. I had made arrangements with Russell Standard to load cinders with Washington Twp. as a back up. Plow for Grader - will check the auction then Federal surplus. Payloader Work - Dave reported that he has a list of bad spots. We can see if Russell Standard will move the snow banks back for us. Netzler - if the grader can't move it, use the JCB. I'll do it on Friday. All agreed. Mailboxes - Dave said that the mailboxes being hit, most are posts on the shoulders with overhanging ridged arms. They are over the road too far. I'm tired of the moaning. People can't measure how to build their boxes. Netzler - it's the residents responsibility to move it back and clean out the snow. Sitek - boxes are hit because the roads are so wide. Henderson - Denny Swift had an idea to get someone to design a box and arm that are approved, build them and sell them. Netzler - the liability would come back on us. Sitek - someone can take it upon themselves and sell them themselves. Weather Station - Dave reported that the money was budgeted in the building fund, $400. It will allow us to make short term predictions etc. We are one of sixteen reporting locations in the county recording weather data. The snowfall this year is close to 250" thus far. Henderson moved to approve the purchase of the weather station. Sitek seconded. Carried. Septic Problems - tank was full of water, was pumped. Lines are frozen, will pump as needed until lines thaw. FINANCIAL AND TAXES Bills - Dave moved to pay the bills as listed excluding Certified Labs and Harbor Freight Tools totaling $6,029.42 general fund. Herb seconded. Carried. Payroll - none. Computer Update - nothing. PLANNING, ZONING AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT Board read P.C. minutes. Industrial Parks Grant - Herb reported he is working up a plan for money to move Roberts Trucking. Dave added that we want to keep him in the Township on Rt. 98. SOLICITOR No updates on any items. OLD BUSINESS Sesquicentennial - nothing. Safety Meetings - working on it. Herb reported that the Township News reported on the liability to a township by their police. We must do something with the rules for employees and with our fire department, Edinboro and McKean fire departments. Health Care Provider List - working on it. Employee Rights - working on it. Fire Department Snow Plowing Request - Ben and John Hudy will meet. NEW BUSINESS Cinder Accident Scenes with 1-Ton - Herb said to prevent workers comp. claims, he feels cinders should be spread at an accident scene to control the ice situation. He will do the job and will stay in Franklin Township only. Mutual aid calls are on the other department's policy. Board approved. Set Solicitor's Wage - Dave moved to set the Solicitor's wage at $50/hr. and $100/meeting. Herb seconded. Carried. Man Living in Travel Trailer on Mohawk - Dave reported that someone is living in a travel trailer which does not meet zoning standards. Ben moved to have Herb call the Health Department and have them check it out. Dave seconded. Carried. Secretaries Vacation - secretary will be gone from March 19 to April 1. Ben moved to appoint Dave Henderson as temporary secretary/treasurer while the secretary is on vacation. Herb seconded. Carried. DER Meeting with Public at Fire Hall - Herb will try for April 25th or April 26th and will check on securing the F.D. social hall. Henderson - now is the time to tell the Attorney to draw up specs. for the garbage contract. Will add to his agenda. CORRESPONDENCE Training sessions reviewed. Herb will attend the PA Landowners meeting on Feb. 21. ADJOURN Sitek called the meeting adjourned at 2123 hours. Bonnie J. Bernhardt, Secretary