Manor Township Adopts Tentative 2012 Budget

Manor Township supervisors adopted a tentative $1.1 million budget last week - one that does not include a tax increase for the second-straight year.

by Jonathan Weaver

Manor Township supervisors adopted a tentative $1.1 million budget Thursday – one that does not include a tax increase for the second-straight year.

Supervisors approved the budget after a work session November 10.

The budget allows for a police wage increase -after allocating $50,000 to the budget for the five part-time force – a $1,875 wage for each supervisor and reinstating allocating one mill of taxes to the volunteer fire department.

One mill generates about $65,500. Supervisors did not if any additional funds can be allocated to the fire department for a new fire truck.

Supervisor Jill Davis said supervisors worked hard on the budget.

“We’ve done everything we can try to save money,” Davis said.

Davis said the budget allows six-figures potentially at the end of the year.

“$245,125 will be what’s left if they spend just to our budget in 2012 – that’s what they’ll have in their check book,” Davis said. “Without any unforeseen expenses and if we budgeted OK -with the new supervisors coming in 2012, you don’t know what their expenses are.”

By adopting the tentative budget, supervisors did not have to advertise for another meeting on the matter.

Davis questioned whether her salary as Township Secretary would change next year.

“The Secretary has never not been a supervisor – how do they get meeting pay? I’m sure they don’t come for free; none of the other secretaries I’ve talked to come for free.”

Supervisors budgeted $22,631 for Davis as secretary, which would be $10.88 an hour.

“It’d be up to your supervisors to set that or if they want to include that in your salary,” Jack said.

The Township will also receive more than $138,000 in liquid fuel money by the State. State funding also allows supervisors to spend $28,533 for a new-or-used pick-up truck.

There were no township residents in attendance, including supervisors-elect Paul Rearick and Pat Fabian, who received more votes than Davis during last week’s General Election. Davis criticized both for not being in attendance.

In response to the criticism, Fabian recalled suggested that supervisors hold the work session in the evening. He said that the change might have allowed for working individuals to be in attendance and ask questions.

“That’s reason No. 1 – I couldn’t miss work,” Fabian said. “I have a responsibility to 17 students Monday through Friday. I wasn’t going to give up my vacation/personal time to be at this meeting.”

Fabian, who works as a full-time Mental Health Therapist at Family Counseling Center’s Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program in Leechburg, has committed to evening meetings when he is in office.

Rearick declined to comment.

The budget total amounts to $1,106,300 million with $861,175 in general fund expenses.

Davis announced the budget will be advertised and available to the public for viewing.

“I’d like to have the total budget advertised by (November) 15^th, and we would adopt it our December 6^th meeting,” Davis said.

The reorganization meeting is scheduled for January 3, 2012. Auditors will reorganize January 4.

Supervisors will also interview to hire road crew workers next year.

Davis Ousted, Fabian/Rearick Elected in Manor Township

Patrick Fabian, shown in the audience at a township monthly meeting last June, was elected into office for two years as the new Manor Township supervisor.

In addition to being Armstrong County Chief Detective, Paul Rearick will also take office within Manor Township as a Township Supervisor in January.

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by Jonathan Weaver 

Two Democratic challengers outnumbered an incumbent supervisor in Manor Township Tuesday.

Republican incumbent Jill Davis – who was running on both the two-year and six-year supervisor tickets – was ousted by Patrick Fabian on the two-year ticket and Paul Rearick on the six-year ticket.

For the two-year seat, Fabian received 592 votes – 56 percent – as opposed to Davis’ 444 votes, or more than 42 percent. In the six-year race, Rearick received 557 votes – more than 53 percent – as opposed to Davis’ 479 votes, nearly 46 percent.

Rearick – who is currently the Armstrong County Chief Detective – said he is ready to work with Fabian and Supervisor Chair Jim McGinnis when the township reorganizes in January.

First, I want to thank the voters of Manor Township for their support, and hopefully we can do what they want us to do because we do represent them,” Rearick said. “I’m looking forward to working with Mr. Fabian and with Mr. McGinnis to move the township forward – not be stagnant anymore – and try to help the taxpayers and bring more jobs into the township.”

Davis was appointed in 2010 to finish the term held by Ludwig Miller.