September 13, 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, David Henderson, Don Baumann of Baumann Disposal and several residents. MINUTES Netzler moved to approve the minutes of August 25 and August 30, 1994 as presented. Henderson seconded. Carried. VISITORS Daniel Parker - the ditch at the corner of Crane and Silverthorn looks good. Henderson - the pipe is still plugged until PennDOT brings the machine up from Pittsburgh to clear it. It's at about 50% capacity now. We have several others in the Township that need to be cleared. Will call PennDOT again. Don Baumann, Baumann Disposal - how much will the performance bond be for the garbage contract? Netzler - it will be on bags in our bin only. No bond is needed for private pick-up. That service is between the hauler and homeowner. Set the bond at $5,000 renewable each year of the contract. Baumann - there's nothing in the ordinance on what can't be hauled. We can't take refrigerators to the landfill. If I haul something like that there is a separate charge because I take those items elsewhere. Henderson moved to amend ordinance #3-94 Garbage Collection to exclude from the definitions those items restricted and not able to be delivered to the landfill such as freon, batteries, commercial paint, tires, leaves, etc. Netzler seconded. Carried. Ben Sitek, Jr. - the Township took out a driveway pipe at Lechners. Henderson - there was no tile left there, we will replace it tomorrow. Sitek, Jr. - I'm spokesman for the section of Silverthorn from West Stancliff to Old State. We are forming a committee. Is the price quoted of $5.68 firm or will it go up. Is any increase the residents cost? Henderson - it can go up, it depends on the cost of materials and yes any increase is the residents. Netzler - if OPEC ups the price of fuel, it would change the price. Sitek, Jr. - any change for inflation and is the cost tax deductible? Henderson - yes, in our bids there is an inflationary clause. There will only be 3 or 4 months from the bid letting to the start of the project. It is tax deductible the same as other real estate taxes are. Sitek, Jr. - can we have the choice of withdrawing from the proposal? Henderson - the Supervisors have the choice to reject the bids if they are high. With a 3% increase a year, the price would be $6.02. The price of $5.68 is for paving only, no prep work. Sitek, Jr. - a lower bid should benefit the residents, not the Township. No increase in taxes? We're taking the petition around now. Henderson - the assessed value of your property will not go up. Sitek, Jr. - if we raise money each year, how will it effect the assessment on a whole for each resident? Sitek - if you raise $20,000 divide it into the total frontage so each person's cost is lowered. Henderson - that money doesn't come to the Township at all. You might have a problem if one pays up front and someone takes the 10 years. But that's between you residents not us. The current property owner must sign the petition. Have it in by October 24. REPORTS Superintendent - Dave reported that the crew has been ditching, cleaning up what has been done, doing pipes, waterways on Thursday and driveway pipes. Netzler - I'm putting a unit from Langner's on the front end loader of the Hough. You must use more grease on those machines including the JCB and Athey. Henderson - every machine is greased in the morning, the service interval is 10 hours. Netzler - they should be greased in the afternoon also. Sitek - I never greased the Athey after lunch when I worked with you Herb. I grease the Athey every day. The next day it only needs a couple of pumps. I agree the Hough should be greased more. If so someone would have noticed the pin was out and it wouldn't have broken. That Hough is only used 10 hours every 2 months. Henderson - Ben was over to the Girard pit regularly to grease the equipment. The Hough only used 2 tanks of fuel a season. Netzler - grease the dump bodies every morning also. Sitek - tell the guys to grease more often. Plows for Grader - Herb reported that the plow is here for inspection. It is the same type of plow that is on the Oshkosh. Decision will be make on Sept. 29. Orders from the Board - Herb said that when ESTA is done put a freeze on the Zessinger pit. Only the Township will get gravel from it. Also, when you crush, stockpile it at the Twp. building or on the roads. Leave nothing in the pit. Sitek - I agree, no furnishing gravel to other townships. If we're stupid enough to let them take from the pit without checking on them, we deserve to be taken. Netzler - the Girard gravel that we paid to bail out should be taken out of the amount owed Elk Creek. Henderson - we could deduct the price we charged him of $2.30/yd. We have to figure how much is over there, they should be charged for what we dug. Frosty said he wants it this fall but there's no loader over there. We can't charge him $2.30/yd. with no loader. Deduct 50 cents a yard and he hires his own loader. Netzler - what are we doing with that pit. I'll check with Pustelak and report back. How can we get a check from Washington Twp. when no price was set. Henderson - we charged them $3.00/yd. Netzler - we voted on $4.50. If they don't like it they can take the gravel back off the road and return it. Will handle at the Sept. 29th meeting. Waterways - will do this Thursday. Tiger Mower/Tractor - Henderson renewed his motion to purchase a new self propelled boom mower and ditcher on bid. Sitek - what did we pay Frosty last year to mow and how much did we pay Crandall to mow? Henderson - $40/hr., $6,400 equivalent amount owed to Frosty and $800 so far to Crandall. He has some amount outstanding which should bring it to around $1,200 total. The payments depend on the number of years financed. Total cost would be approximately $69,664 financed 10 years with payments of around $6,900 a year. Labor and maintenance should be added to that figure but there will be savings in labor and material costs. There are uses for that machine that we haven't even thought about like opening a ditch during a winter meltdown. Sitek - I talked to several townships for pros and cons. We pay out over $72,000 for mowing in a 10 year period and end up with nothing. It seems like we should be putting the money into our own equipment. We can use it when we want to use it. I'm not convinced the ditch digger is that great but maybe it is. I second Dave's motion. Vote - Henderson yes, Sitek yes, Netzler no. Motion carried. Netzler - I think it's a kick in the ass to the Township residents. You're putting nothing into the roads, it's all going into payments. Sitek - I voted yes, why pay $72,000 to someone else when we could have our own piece of equipment. Henderson moved to advertise for bids to be opened on September 29, 1994. Sitek seconded. Carried. One nay, Netzler. Elk Creek will not mow the Township this fall. Salt Bid - nothing. Lost Gravel - on hold. Anderson Shifter - we received a credit for the first shifter in the grader. The replacement shifter was bad also. We were billed for labor and mileage to install the second one. Will argue over labor charges. It was not our responsibility for the original equipment failure that was warranted. Plugged Pipes - Dave said that at least 40 driveway pipes within the Township are not operational either because they are plugged or have collapsed. Almost every pipe where the ditch was full, the pipe was full. We now have clean ditches with plugged pipes which will result in the ditch filling in again. Sitek - we may have created the problem by not ditching. Maybe they will open now that there is a ditch. Notify the homeowner to open their pipes. Henderson - if the homeowner is physically able. When the ditch is running, poke the pipe with a stick to open it. All the work we have done this season will go to naught if pipes aren't opened. There is a company in Pittsburgh that has a machine to open them. It costs about $60 a pipe. Discussion on how to open pipes. Sitek - In the past we've thrown pipes in with no ditches, now what. It's partly our fault. The Township is not in a position to clean them. Forty pipes at $60, that's too much money. Netzler - dig them up and shake them out. Henderson - not enough time or resources to do that. Sitek - maybe we should pay half and the homeowner half. Netzler to Henderson - you dug out a pipe. The Solicitor says to never dig out a pipe and leave it open. The liability is too great. Dave added that that was a good point. Sitek moved to contact the vendor for a price. Netzler seconded. Carried. Snowplows/Gledhill - nothing. Property Line/Zessinger Pit - question on survey lines. Netzler will get a subdivision map from Washington Twp. FINANCIAL AND TAXES Bills - Dave stated that money is getting tight. We owe Ivancic and Tan a big chunk. ESTA has paid for the crushed material but nothing for run-of-bank. In the end we'll come out ahead but the problem is the lost yardage. Even if ESTA pays us by October, it's still not enough to pay for the missing yardage. Dave added that he is trying to reach Ivancic. Netzler - get a letter from Rudy. Our contract with him is to pay him a month after the gravel is taken. I will get in touch with Rossi of ESTA and our County Councilman Paul Foust. Sitek moved to pay the bills as listed excluding the Anderson Equipment bill for the shifter (702.50) totaling $4153.04 general fund. Netzler seconded. Carried. Payroll - Ben moved to approve payroll #18-94 as presented. Herb seconded. Carried. Copier - nothing. PLANNING, ZONING AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT Industrial Grants - nothing. Sewage/Washington Twp. - nothing. Replacement/Soltys - nothing. Pekelnicky/Old State - nothing. Print Zoning Ordinances - Herb will find out the minimum order and prices. SOLICITOR All items on hold. OLD BUSINESS Sesquicentennial - Herb reported that Bob Berry said to hold the celebration and he will do the book later. Safety Meetings - nothing. Provider List - waiting for insurance company. Employee Rights - nothing. Neighborhood Crime Watch - start in October. NEW BUSINESS Garbage Billing Changeover - Dave said that the bid will be accepted on September 29 and the start of the contract is October 1. It's not possible for the haulers to notify their customers. Netzler - give them until January 1, 1995 to make the changeover. Henderson - that's against our ordinance. Discussion. Netzler - the haulers know which way it flies, they know the county regulations. Henderson - instead of automatically giving them 3 months, ask the successful bidder when he can make the change. We'll need flexibility from the other haulers. Henderson moved to send a letter to the haulers stating that the performance bond is set at $5,000 renewable each year. Netzler seconded. Carried. CORRESPONDENCE Skipped. ADJOURN Sitek called the meeting adjourned at 2130 hours. Bonnie J. Bernhardt, Secretary