January 25, 2001

The meeting of the Supervisors of Franklin Township, held in the Township 
office, was called to order by Chairman John Sachar at 0811 hours with the 
Pledge of Allegiance.  Present were Sachar, David Henderson, Gary and Lisa 
Truitt, Carol Sanders, Linda King and Neil Bullock of Northwestern RECA and 
Eric Kicher of DEP.  Supervisor Denver Ireland was absent due to the death of 
his mother.

VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. King presented a proposal on the Waste Watcher Program offered by 
Northwestern RECA for on-lot waste management.  She stated that RECA is still 
working out the reimbursement for townships.

Henderson - can't we just spend monthly?

King - Act 537 is paid out only once a year in the fall.  It would be a whole year 
before the Township would get reimbursed.  We are still determining what is 
reimbursed at the 85% rate.  The homeowner pays what isn't reimbursed and the 
carrying costs.  They are billed monthly.  The three systems, standard, sand-
mound and small-flow treatment are covered.  We don't think there will be any 
problems with bidding.  The Township would subcontract RECA.  RECA provides 
all the information needed for Act 537 reimbursement to the Township.  We are 
looking at the $8-$14 monthly range.  The program would be voluntary except for 
new construction and repairs to existing systems.  RECA will do the sewage plan 
update for the Township.

Henderson - we talked about maintenance bonds for small-flow treatment 
facilities.  Can the interest on the homeowner's bond offset the costs for the 
agreement?  It would go a long way to covering the homeowner's cost.  They can 
mortgage the bond fee if they wanted.  That could be optional.

Kicher - you don't necessarily need to require a bond, as long as they have an 
agreement for the program.

Henderson - we could just require several hundred dollars in case of a default or 
bankruptcy.  Discussion was held on setting the bond fee in the ordinance 
between RECA and the Township.

Henderson - will the cost be put on the homeowner's electric bill?  

King - yes, and the agreement allows RECA to come onto their property to do 
the maintenance and inspections.

Henderson - come back next month for our February 22 meeting.  Will do.

G. Truitt questioned the cost per year for the program as opposed to the 
homeowner hiring someone to pump a tank on a once every four-year basis.

Henderson - the price is a lot less for an old system as opposed to a new 
system.  RECA has to make their figures appealing to the homeowner or it won't 
work.  Discussion.

Truitt - this can start as voluntary and then it becomes mandatory.

Henderson - most homeowners don't maintain their systems.  RECA has to 
make the figures work.

Sachar - we don't want to be forced by DEP or the Health Department to put in a 
central sewage system.

Truitt - I think the residents need to be informed of this.

Sachar - we're due for a newsletter.

 Sanders - will my small-flow treatment facility that was permitted last year but 
not installed yet fall under this program?  I put up a bond. 

Henderson - if we decide to do something with the bond money, we would offer it 
to those others who have small-flow treatment facilities.

Bullock - you might be all right with releasing the bond or using the interest for 
the maintenance agreement.

MINUTES
Henderson moved to approve the minutes of 1/2/01 as presented.  Sachar 
seconded.  Carried.

REPORTS
Superintendent - Dave reported the crew has had a break in plowing but has 
been cindering a lot.  They did a cutting edge change on truck 5.  The yellow fog 
lights are mounted on #5 and #6.

Agility, Generator, Gravel and Dirt Road Program - nothing.

Girard Township Boundary Road Agreement/Gudgeonville Road - Dave 
reported that he sent the agreement to Girard Township.  No response yet.

Henderson moved to approve the agreement for signatures as presented if there 
are no changes made by Girard Township.  Sachar seconded.  Carried.

FINANCIAL AND TAXES
Bills - discussion on various bills.  Henderson moved to pay the bills as listed 
totaling $13,772.31 general fund and $2,583.57 EIT fund plus state convention 
expense for Henderson not listed.  Sachar seconded.  Carried.

Payroll - Sachar moved to approve payroll #1-01 and #2-01 as presented.  
Henderson seconded.  Carried.

 PLANNING, ZONING, RECREATION, SAFETY AND HEALTH
Planning Commission Minutes - the Planning Commission has recommended 
the Animal Density Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.  Will take up their 
recommendation at the next Tuesday night meeting.

Update Comprehensive Plan - nothing.

Industrial Park/KOZ - Dave reported that there has been a change in the KOZ 
law.  A three-year extension is now allowed.  Dave will get in touch with Rick 
Novotny.  We will apply for the extension and see if the school district and county 
will go along.  The deadline is June 1, 2001 for applying.  We've lost two years 
already and would lose another year for construction.  This extension gives us a 
loophole for solving problems.  The end result would be 10 years tax abatement.

Henderson - Washington Township's plan is to do a sewer expansion alone 
without Edinboro Borough.

Abandoned Gas Wells - Dave said that he would talk to the Solicitor about this. 

Sanders - what's going on with North Coast?  They baled out on our wells.  I 
want them to fill in our 2 wells.  I want my mineral rights back.

Truitt - North Coast decided the lines weren't feasible for them to maintain.

Henderson - you'd have to exercise your legal rights.  The system is so far down 
the hole no one wants to mess with it.

Sachar - if Douglas has abandoned the field and no one wants to buy them, I'd 
say they are abandoned.  They are an environmental hazard.

Storage Trailers - nothing.

SOLICITOR
Western Trail/G. Antolik - Mark Corey outlined repair procedures in his letter.  
There is a $1,500 difference in what he owes us and what is in the bond.

Henderson - do we want to propose in a letter whether Antolik will do the repairs 
or whether we take the $1,500 and do the repairs ourselves?

Sachar - give them a deadline for doing the work and if he misses the deadline 
the Township will do the repairs at cost.

Impact Fee Ordinance - nothing.

Brine Co-Product Determination, Oshkosh Registration - will wait for the 
Solicitor to arrive.

OLD BUSINESS
Lights on for Safety - nothing.

NEW BUSINESS
No Representation on the General McLane School Board - June Shelhamer 
reported that two representatives for the school board are elected from 
Washington Township and Franklin Township, McKean Borough elects two, 
McKean Township elects two, Edinboro Borough elects two and there are three 
elected at-large.  The two representatives for our area are from Washington 
Township.  Currently Franklin Township has no voice on the board and June 
feels there should be a change in the way the representatives are elected.

Shelhamer - a change may not fix the problem but it's in the school board's 
power to change their rules.

Sachar - ask them if they could change their method of electing representatives 
so each district is represented.  Make the two from Washington Township and 
Franklin Township one from each district.  Make it mandatory.  Or take one at-
large and make it one for Franklin Township.

Sachar moved to send the General McLane School Board a letter to that effect.  
Henderson seconded.  Carried.

Municipal Auction - Dave asked if we want to sell the International cab and 
chassis and if so do we want to reassemble it.

Sachar - you won't get anything but scrap price unassembled.

Henderson - the auction is the 7th of April.  Do you want to bring Rick back in for 
that task?

Sachar - yes, and any part-timers as needed.

Act 99 of 2000 - Dave reported that the Act requires that building violations must 
come into compliance with building codes.  All buildings, public and private, are 
included.   Within 18 months of purchase a building with known violations must 
come into compliance or be torn down.  When the state wide building code 
comes into effect next year and with this Act, purchasers must bring the building 
into compliance or it must be torn down.  Discussion. 

HB 1142 of 1999 - this bill is now law and allows for Neighborhood Improvement 
Districts.  Neighbors, with Board approval, can assess themselves to do any 
project they want like building a park, an airport, etc.

Sachar - people who want a project can run roughshod over those who don't.

Henderson - and we don't get any say in it.

County Aid Project for 2001 - Henderson moved that the project for this year 
would be graveling.  Sachar seconded.  Carried.

Web Site Meeting - Dave reported that the meeting is to put in place processes 
and funding for establishing a web site for municipalities for public outreach.  The 
design cost is $300 and up, monthly charge of approximately $30 a month, dial 
up account would be $50 a month plus ongoing update costs.

Sachar - a newsletter is cheaper.  What's the benefit to the Township?  
Discussion.

Recycle Day Schedule - our grant runs out in May.  We can get 2 newsletters 
out before it runs out.  There is no money left in the container category.  Dates 
available in June are the 16th, 23rd and 30th.  Will look around and see what those 
dates conflict with.  Henderson will report back. Will apply for a new grant.

Sell 40-Ton Salt Allotment - Dave stated that we don't need the salt allotment 
and Wesleyville Borough wants it.  Henderson moved to transfer our salt 
allotment to Wesleyville Borough.  Sachar seconded.  Carried.

CORRESPONDENCE
State Convention - Denver and Dave will attend.

Brine Co-Product Determination - Dave reported that our determination was 
declined by DEP.  We'll wait for Brad Reese from Mountain Resources to come 
back from vacation.  We can take samples from several wells to test for cadmium 
and chromium.  If the tests done were not an anomaly, do we make a case to 
use it as is?  There are no test limits for this use but there is for drinking water.  If 
it is an environmental contaminant, we don't want to use it.  If it's not, we'd like to 
use it.

Sachar  - find out from them, do they see these 2 minerals as a contaminant.

Henderson - I can call them and find out if they feel that it is.  Discussion.

Oshkosh Registration - nothing.

PA State Police Meeting - Dave attended the meeting and reported that the first 
issue under discussion was people plowing snow across the roads.  They are 
looking for the means of helping townships with this problem but they have to 
work within their regulations.  We can create an ordinance banning this practice.  
If someone has an accident from this, the township would be sued and we in turn 
would sue the landowner.  The landowner has no tort limit, the township does.  
As an example, if the case was for $2 million in damages, the township would 
pay $500,000 and the landowner would have to pay the $1.5 million.  

Some other issues were ATV's and snowmobiles.  There isn't much PSP can do 
about them.  Discussion on various elements of crime statistics was held.  Thefts 
and domestics are on the rise along with a slight increase in sex crimes.

ADJOURN
Sachar called the meeting adjourned at 0932 hours.

Bonnie J. Bernhardt, Secretary