November 14, 2001

The budget meeting of the Supervisors of Franklin Township, held in the 
Township office, was called to order by Chairman John Sachar at 0802 hours.  
Present were Sachar, Denver Ireland, David Henderson and Jarrett Miller.

EXPENSES (continued)
472 - the big loan for the two trucks and grader will be paid off in March of 2002.  
Dave suggested putting $22,000 after the payoff in the Equipment Fund.

487 - proposed cost-of-living increase of 2.8%.

Sachar - what's your pleasure for some kind of health benefits for the 
employees?

Henderson - most of our neighbors benefit package is more than what we're 
paying our employees per hour.  I looked into the Manufacturers Association 
benefit package.  It would cost $5,000-6,000 per employee for health insurance.  
Cost for family coverage would be $8,000-9,000 per employee.  A full benefit 
package would cost $15,000-18,000 per employee a year.  The PSATS package 
is very expensive, $12,000 per employee a year for family coverage.

Sachar - I don't think we can afford a plan but a health benefit could be a dollar 
amount per month toward the employee's chosen health plan.  Can we do it 
legally?

Henderson - we would have to be careful of the Federal Benefits Act.

Ireland - what about those who are covered by a spouse?

Henderson - you can do it universally (all get it) or a use it or lose it way (only 
those who need it).

Miller - if you write the check to the employee, they'd have to pay income tax on 
it.  Discussion.

Henderson - no one who works here is full-time.  We lay off after Thanksgiving.  
There is a difference between being laid-off for lack of work and laid-off and not 
called back.

Ireland - my question is do we have to give it to everyone, even if they don't 
need it.

Henderson - that's our choice.  At $150/month x 5 x 12 it is $9,000 a year.

Sachar - would we have $9,000 to put out for this?

Henderson - not unless we did something different in the budget.  The only 
money is the $22,000 to be put into the Equipment Fund.  In the next 5 years 
we'll be replacing 2 trucks and a backhoe.

Ireland - if we work 40 hours a week all year, could we cut out an employee?

Henderson - then you cut out the amount of work you can do.

Sachar - Elk Creek Township has 4 workers plus the Roadmaster year round.

Ireland - I think we should set aside $4,500 a year for employees.

Henderson - that's under budgeted.  Nine thousand a year is the figure.

Ireland - you'll still go with the 2.8% cost-of-living and the insurance or can you 
do the insurance payment and no cost-of-living?

Henderson - we can't expect to get or keep quality employees if we don't offer 
something.  One other option is to reduce the pay rate and give full benefits.  I'm 
not recommending it.

Sachar - we'll take the $9,000 out of the $22,000 and you can figure out the 
details.  We'll budget for all of it.

Henderson - do we index it by cost-of-living per year?  There is an indexing from 
the Consumer Price Index Medical.  This will be for our 5 permanent employees.

Ireland - if you're working only part-time, do they get the benefits?  The 
insurance companies base their rates on a 40-hour week.

Henderson - we have 5 permanent employees.  No one else who works here 
would fall into that category.

Sachar - I'm leaning toward the indexed benefit for all permanent employees.

Henderson - there will be the money saved next year from the windfall we got on 
West Stancliff from Russell Standard yesterday, $2,500.  I would put that into the 
#57 stone budgeted for next year.

Sachar - good idea, that material is much better than gravel.

Will take the $9,000 for employee benefits from the $22,000.
Will take the $2,500 savings on seal-coat and put it into #57 stone.

Ireland moved to not purchase a website or hire start up help for the website.  
Sachar seconded.  Vote - Ireland, aye; Sachar, nay; Henderson, nay.  Motion 
defeated.

Sachar - we have to become less parochial in our thinking and be more 
futuristic.  If not now, when are we big enough to use a website?

Ireland moved to not purchase a new computer and software in 2002.  Sachar 
seconded.  Vote - Ireland, aye; Sachar, nay; Henderson, nay.  Motion defeated.

Henderson moved to advertise the budget and present it for adoption at the 
December 11, 2001 meeting.  Sachar seconded.  Carried.

Black Interests Limited Partnership SFTF - an agreement and $1,000 escrow 
deposit is needed for all small flow treatment facility systems.

Henderson - the agreement says the owner must abide by all present and future 
rules and regulations on these systems.  DEP is getting stricter on maintenance 
agreements.  Every level of government has more responsibilities than money.  
Ultimately the local municipality is responsible.

Sachar - take up the third party maintenance agreement in January and make it 
part of our policy.

Discussion on Northwestern RECA's third party maintenance agreements.

Ireland - what about an ordinance that requires an owner of a SFTF to present 
an inspection certificate from a third party maintenance company once a year?

Sachar - you could give them a choice, a monthly fee for inspections or a yearly 
inspection.

Henderson - if we can keep our septic systems alive and well, it's much cheaper 
than sewer hookup.

Ben Sitek Memorial - Ireland stated that a memorial should be made in Ben's 
name and suggested the local VFW. 

Sachar moved to make a $100 memorial donation to the VFW Post 740 in Ben 
Sitek's name.  Ireland seconded.  Carried.

Thank You to Russell Standard - a thank-you will be sent to Russell Standard 
Corp. for the material put on West Stancliff Road.

ADJOURN
Sachar called the meeting adjourned at 0925 hours.

Bonnie J. Bernhardt, Secretary