East Franklin Auditors Reduce Hourly Wage

(L-R) East Franklin Township Auditors Sam Daugherty, Rose Brosius and Barry Montgomery review hourly wages for working and non-working supervisors last night before unanimously voting to reduce the non-working supervisor rate by more than $1.25.

by Jonathan Weaver

Auditors in East Franklin Township tried to ‘even the tables’ among supervisors last night during their reorganization.

The three auditors further divided the wage by more than a dollar between working and non-working supervisors. After a unanimous vote, working supervisors will earn $16.05 per hour and non-working will earn $14.

Auditor Secretary Rose Brosius explained the difference to the supervisors and half-dozen public residents in attendance.

“A working supervisor is considered working 35 hours a week on the schedule every week,” Brosius said. “Non-working supervisor works only on an as-needed or on-call basis.”

In 2011, working supervisors earned $16.05 per hour, whereas non-working supervisors earned $15.35. Both groups of supervisors received a 25-cent raise last year.

Supervisor David Stewart was and remains the only current working supervisor. He also receives full health insurance as part of his benefits and will earn time-in-a-half for overtime work. Eight paid holidays are also a benefit.

Township Secretary Deborah Cornman was not at the meeting to ask how much the other two supervisors – Barry Peters and Doug Flanders – worked in 2011.

Chair Barry Montgomery proposed the wage reduction to auditors and why.

“With the work that’s being done, they could use the money elsewhere. As far as why we lowered it – they are still being paid 100 percent full benefits, so we are trying to even the tables out,” Montgomery said. “If you add the 100 percent, they would be making over $16 an hour – same with the (working) supervisors; if you add their 100 percent on to the $16 they’re making, that’ll bump it up to about $18 an hour. That’s pretty fair across-the-board.”

He said he was shocked the motion was unanimously passed.

“I’m totally surprised that Sam and Rose went with me because I wanted to drop it more,” Montgomery added.

Newly-elected Supervisor Dan Goldinger previously worked in the township as Roadmaster. He remains the assistant road manager on-call, even though he is a non-working supervisor.

Auditors were not open to discussing police salaries or contracts. Township supervisors are the only body with authority to change such. Sgt. William Evans is currently in discussion with the supervisors via his representative from the Fraternal Order of Police for a renewal of his union contract.

A township audit is due by the end of March.

East Franklin Passes $1 Million Budget

East Franklin Township Supervisor David Stewart (left) and Vice-Chairman Doug Flanders approved a $1 million budget with no tax increase during last night's regular meeting. The meeting served as the last one for Chairman Doug Flanders, who lost his bid for re-election in the November General Election to Republican Dan Goldinger. Flanders had been a supervisor for 7 years.

by Jonathan Weaver

East Franklin Township residents will not see a tax increase in 2012 after township supervisors unanimously approved their 2012 budget last night.

During their regular monthly meeting, Vice-Chairman Doug Flanders and Supervisor David Stewart

Chairman Barry Peters was absent from the meeting due to health reasons.

The nearly $1.1 million budget does not call for a tax millage increase. Through 2011, one mill generated nearly $77,000 of income.

The tax rate is six mills.

Flanders said the final budget includes $15,000 set aside for a new salt hopper if supervisors desire

“We have three of them, all of significant age, and I think it would be wise to incrementally replace these things so you don’t get saddled with multiple spreader problems,” Flanders said.

This was the last regular meeting for Flanders as he was defeated in his race for re-election in the November General Election by Republican Dan Goldinger by more than 160 votes.

He thanked some of the township staff for their support during the meeting.

“I did my best for ya,” Flanders said.

He said the township’s biggest success during his seven years as a supervisor included working agreements toward the area’s sewer separation project. Three plants – in Adrian, Cowansville and Tarrtown, as well as pump stations throughout the township – have remained operational for months and supervisors are working on further agreements to cover more residents.

“It was building toward the future,” Flanders said. “It can lead to nothing but positive improvements.”

Supervisors also learned that a proposed salt storage building – drawn by Axis Architecture of North Huntingdon – planned to be built beside the township’s new municipal building, is to go out for bid next month.

Township road crew workers will receive 498 tons of ashes to add to their allotment for this winter’s weather and a combined 260 tons of salt and anti-skid.

Meetings next year will remain on the fourth Thursday of each month and will begin at 7PM.