Manor Auditor Appointed; Preliminary Budget Approved
Manor Township Supervisors (L-R) Pat Fabian, Paul Rearick and Jim McGinnis unanimously appointed Julianne Olsen as the new township auditor to replace the seat retired by Cheryl Peters. They also unanimously approved to advertise the $1 million preliminary budget, which does not call for a tax increase.
by Jonathan Weaver
Manor Township will have a new auditor in 2013.
After Auditor Board Secretary Cheryl Peters resigned last month due to ‘retirement, health and other contributing factors,’ three residents submitted applications: John Szul, Fred Walbert, Jr. and Julianne Olsen.
Supervisor Pat Fabian motioned that Olsen be appointed and the motion was unanimously approved.
Olsen will reportedly have to be sworn in at the Armstrong County Courthouse before the auditors meeting January 8.
Olsen will serve as auditor until at least the November 2013 General Election. She would have to announce herself as a candidate for office in the April Primary Election, which Olsen is reportedly interested in doing.
Peters served nearly 25 years as an auditor. In her resignation letter, Peters wished her successor luck.
Peters looks over the budget during the yearly auditors meeting in January 2012. (KP File Photo)
The other two residents will be thanked for their interest.
Fabian also told residents that conversation in regard to changing the burning ordinance has ceased. He received 10 emails since the last public meeting in regards to the topic with eight responses in-favor of keeping it as is – with burning allowed from dawn until dusk everyday except Sunday.
“Just based on that, I don’t think we have plans to change anything – it’s going to stay the same” Fabian said. “(The discussion) initiated from a resident who had concerns about it, I brought it to the Board’s attention about possible changes, obviously we had a discussion about it and a majority of the supervisors – and also residents - decided not to (change the ordinance),” Fabian said.
Resident Larry Cecchi inquired about the discussions and favored keeping the ordinance as is.
As did Supervisor Paul Rearick.
“I’ve stated before and I’ll state it again: I’m not in favor of changing it,” Rearick said.
Supervisors have spoken with Police Chief Mike Karabin and other officers and have asked for increased enforcement.
“Hopefully that will solve the problem,” Fabian said.
Supervisors officially adopted a resolution creating a capital expense fund for the more-than $125,000 in Act 13 Marcellus Shale impact fees received. They have discussed how to utilize that money – including for maintenance repairs at the township municipal building or new equipment for the police department – but that money has not been officially appropriated for such.
In response to a resident question, that money can also not be used for wages.
A similar payment is to be received during the summer.
Fabian said the supervisors are ‘looking out for the residents’ by keeping tax rates the same.
Supervisor Chair Jim McGinnis agreed.
“We don’t (raise taxes) unless its absolutely necessary,” McGinnis said.
Residents currently pay six mills of taxes. One mill generates about $60,000.
In other news, the Community Development Block Grant process has been delayed, according to a letter written by County Planning and Development Housing Division Director Adrianne Commodore.
Secretary Jill Davis read the letter.
“Even though I will not be meeting with the supervisors, I still think it is imperative the supervisors begin to think about possible projects to fund with their 2013 funds – perhaps there is a project the supervisors have already discussed or several that need to be more-closely considered requiring income surveys or ensuring they are eligible, fundable-type projects,” Commodore wrote.
Supervisors aimed to use about $50,000 toward repaving Short Street this year. The total allocation for next year has not been determined by the State.
The 2013 preliminary budget will be advertised during the next three weeks.
The budget is a total of slightly-more than $1 million throughout all accounts.
Supervisors will begin 2013 with more than $500,000 – which includes their impact fee allotment – in the bank. According to Davis, figures indicate nearly $900,000 in receipts will be received and more than $1 million in expenses will be totaled.
A vote for budget adoption will take place at 3PM December 28.
Local News | jweaver December 6, 2012
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By sickofpayingforit, December 6, 2012 @ 6:37 PM
Nice job Manor Twp elected officials! It is quite refreshing to see some people get elected and put the work in to NOT keep digging into my wallet. Raising taxes is the easy way out, it always has been, and always will be. Balancing a budget with no tax increase or a tax-cut is the hard way to go, and they did just that!
By jumbo, December 7, 2012 @ 1:41 PM
Burning Ordinance…. One supervisor received 10 emails with 8 responses in favor in keeping it as is. He said: Just based on that I didn’t think we have plans to change anything. Wow!! Is that how things get done? What if you received 11 emails to change it would you change it?