Manor Township Auditors Approve Employee Wages, Welcome Newcomer

By Jonathan Weaver

Manor Township employees were officially given a raise last night after voted on by township auditors.

During their reorganization meeting held Monday evening, Township supervisors recommended an at least 50 cent per hour raise to all employees.

That includes: Road Foreman Robert Southworth and road workers, Police Chief Michael Karbain and other officers and Township Secretary/Treasurer Jill Davis.

Supervisor Pat Fabian was one of the supervisors who agreed with the raises.

“The road foreman is the highest paid full-time employee,” Fabian said. “We value (Davis) as our secretary/treasurer – she is the heartbeat of our township.”

Fabian said the addition of a new plow truck has cut back plow times in the municipality – such as yesterday and during Saturday’s ice.

Southworth is now paid $19.04, Davis and road workers are now paid $18.37, Chief Karabin $16.11, Sergeant Terry Bish $15.34 and part-time officers $14.93.

Auditor Secretary Kelly Shoop confirmed that the trio – including appointed Auditor LaRee McKinley - set the wages for the employees

LaRee McKinley – who was bookkeeper at Mr. Tile and Furniture World in Manor Township for 41 years – saw an advertisement for the one-year appointment and wanted to give it a go.

“All I can say is I can try,” McKinley said.

The first impressions of Shoop and Auditor Chair Grant Kanish were “very professional,” McKinley said.

McKinley and former Julianne Olsen served as auditors the past few years after the 25 year appointment of Auditor Secretary Cheryl Peters.

Employees received a 60 cent raise in 2013 and 50 cents in 2012 as well.

A special meeting was held before the reorganization with County Planning and Development Division Director Adrienne Commodore to discuss the Community Development Block Grant funding allocation.

In 2014, Manor Township was allocated more than $83,600. With a little more than $15,000 in administration fees to the County Planning and Development office, the remaining $68,500 will be disbursed in two ways: about $48,750 to be utilized to extend water service to three residences along Boyd Road (based on the road’s condition and engineering) and the remaining funds allocated toward housing rehabilitation.

Supervisors also considered disbursing funding in that manner when they met with Commodore during the summer. Supervisors previously conducted a storm sewer improvement project along Short Street, near the Manor Township fire hall, to benefit five residents after allocating portions of 2012 and 2013 CDBG funding.

Supervisors will continue to meet the first Wednesday of each month at 7PM.