October 11, 2005 The meeting of the Supervisors of Franklin Township, held in the Township office, was called to order by Chairman John Sachar at 2002 hours with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present were Sachar, David Henderson, Gary Truitt, Diana Stoker and friend/Pennington Lines. Supervisor Jarrett Miller was absent. HEARING: CONDITIONAL USE REQUEST FOR A HUNTING PRESERVE AT 11334 SILVERTHORN ROAD, DANIEL NETZLER Sachar asked for comments from those in attendance. No comments. Hearing closed at 2004 hours. VISITORS/PUBLIC COMMENT Diana Stoker said she had 38 acres listed on Silverthorn south of Crane in the KOZ zone. The property is zoned I-1 and she wanted to know if there was any chance of rezoning or allowing residential use. Henderson – it’s I-1. If someone used the land for light industrial use and built their home on the same lot, they could do that. A home business is not allowed; it has to be light industrial use. Stoker – I wanted to confirm with the other Supervisors that this is the case. Sachar – the Board determined previously that it stays I-1 only. Henderson – that area will have sewer and water within two years. We are required by law to have I-1 zoned land within the Township. The residence that you are asking about on the corner of Silverthorn and Koman predates the zoning ordinance. They came to us for a building permit to replace their existing house and they signed a form saying they would not object to having I-1 land around their house. Stoker – I ran a list of I-1 properties that have sold within the last five years. Only five have sold. It is not a common occurrence for I-1 properties to sell. Residential use would increase your taxes. Henderson – the State says you have to have I-1 land within your township. We only have 2% or around 350 acres zoned I-1. That land has always been I-1 and is our only growth zone within the Township. Stoker and friend left the meeting at 2015 hours. MINUTES Henderson moved to accept the minutes of 9/13/05 as presented. Sachar seconded. Carried. The 9/29/05 meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum. REPORTS Roadmaster – Dave reported that the crew has done several grading rounds, some sign repairs, ditches, driveway pipes and a cross-pipe on Falls Road near the bridge. Agility, CDL Driving Hours, Grader Agreement, Dirt and Gravel Roads Grant Application, Francis Road Grant Application, Equipment Repairs – nothing. Falls Road Bridge #1 – the bridge is under construction. It took two days to demolish and haul away the old one. The demolition material was taken to Brooks Road and some to Francis Road by the dip. They appear to be making good progress but contractor and engineer are concerned about the road surface during bad weather and when it snows since no paving can be done until spring. It may not be open to traffic until spring. Dan Netzler arrived at 2020 hours. Anti-Skid Building – PennDOT will lend us the forms for making the blocks but will not make them for us. Dave reported that he is working on prices with local cement plants doing the work. Gas Well Drilling in the Township – two are going in on Silverthorn Road. Henderson – the bonding requirements in our older ordinances are inadequate and need to be updated without specific monetary amounts written in. Elk Creek Township/Franklin Township Snowplowing Agreement – Elk Creek has agreed to the revised plowing agreement. Henderson – I am redoing the boundary road agreement with them. They wanted us to share the cost of any spring breakup of Ivoray Road. Discussion. If we do that for a paved road, they need to do it for our gravel roads as well. Review the draft agreement. FINANCIAL AND TAXES Bills – Henderson moved to approve the bill list for payment as presented totaling $12,772.39 general fund; $3,216.14 state fund; $983.63 equipment fund; $8,680.64 eureka road assessment fund; $775.00 permanent improvement fund. Sachar seconded. Carried. It was noted that this bill list is for a one-month period as the 9/29/05 meeting was cancelled. Payroll – Henderson moved to approve payroll #19-05 and #20-05 as presented. Sachar seconded. Carried. Clean and Green Assessments, Procurement Cards, EMS Tax – nothing. Employee Benefits Credits – will work this into the budget. PLANNING, ZONING, RECREATION, SAFETY, SANITATION/RECYCLING, HEALTH AND THE COMMON GOOD Planning Commission Minutes – reviewed. Regional Planning Committee – meeting 10/12/05 at Washington Township. Industrial Park/KOZ, History Grant, Ordinance Compliance, Shooting Range, Edinboro Lake Watershed – nothing. Recycling – Dave commented that the west county municipalities are doing a good job with their recycle day. It is cost effective by spreading the expense over many municipalities. Nuisance Complaint/Swanson Property, 9648 Mohawk – Henderson stated that before the Board needed to make a decision on the nuisance complaint, the potential buyer has backed out of the contract to buy the property from Mrs. Swanson. A letter will be sent to her stating that there is no need to make a decision on the nuisance and junkyard complaint since the prospective buyer has backed out of the deal and it is expected that the personal property of the buyer will be removed. Netzler Conditional Use Request/Hunting Preserve at 11334 Silverthorn Road – Sachar stated that there were no comments from those present during the hearing. Sachar moved to grant the Netzler Conditional Use Request. Henderson seconded. Henderson – the only condition we should consider is the hours of shooting. What are the State requirements? Truitt – sun up to sun down. Henderson – even though it is allowed to start shooting early in the morning, that would not be wise. Truitt – you need to be 150 ft from any house. I don’t see it as a big problem. It would be no worse than guys sighting in their rifles. Henderson – frequency of the occurrence is what would cause the problem. Vote: Sachar – aye; Henderson – aye. Motion carried. Dan Koman Public Assembly Permit/Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm – Mr. Koman submitted the required paperwork and permit fee. Henderson – since our meeting was cancelled, his application is deemed approved. Should we adopt a Fireworks Ordinance – discussion on a recent change in State law. Truitt – you would need to be able to enforce it. Henderson – new State law says townships have to regulate and permit public displays. We would have to issue a permit. We have had public displays put on by private citizens in the past. Sachar – why bother? My answer is no. SOLICITOR Vittorio Hearing – hearing is 11/3/05 at 1:30 p.m. OLD BUSINESS Internet Broadband – nothing. NEW BUSINESS ECATO Annual Convention – Convention is 10/27/05; Dave, Bonnie and June will attend all day. VFW Dedication Ceremony – Board is invited, 10/15/05. CORRESPONDENCE Reviewed. Szymanowicz Mylar – Mylar shows Lot 1 with 2.504 net acres with an existing house at 8040 Crane with 266 ft. of frontage. Residue (Lot 2) is 91.1 acres. Sachar moved to accept the Szymanowicz Mylar as presented. Henderson seconded. Carried. Mylar was signed. ADJOURN Sachar called the meeting adjourned at 2055 hours. Bonnie J. Bernhardt, Secretary