East Franklin Township Employees Also Given Raise

By Jonathan Weaver

East Franklin Township employees will also be given a raise in 2015.

As decided by elected supervisors during their reorganization last night, Police Officer Robert Gahagan, Roadmaster Ron Lithgow, Secretary/Treasurer Debra Cornman, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Carla Scholl and part-time work crew members Norman Bennett and Dean Hepler will all receive at least a $1 raise per hour in 2015.

As long as those employees work at least 35 hours per week, they are also eligible to receive eight days of holiday pay – for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving or the first day of buck season, Christmas Day and New Years Day 2016.

Cornman, secretary for the past 20 years, said the job has only gotten better in the past two decades – especially with the new Township building on the site of the former building.

Scholl has worked for the Township about eight years, Cornman said. She started as part-time and now works the 35 hours per week.

Supervisor David Stewart was also re-appointed the working supervisor - to be assigned as sewage operator.

He learned the operation as supervisors were getting grant funds to build the treatment facilities. Prior to working for the township, Stewart worked in construction and owned the Worthington Exxon gas station.

Former Roadmaster Tim Lewis will be paid $17.35 as zoning officer after scaling back to part-time in the past few months. He currently works about 15 hours per week.

No full-time working crew member was appointed yet, nor were summer laborers (usually college students that are already trained).

Police Sergeant William Evans’ wage was not determined by the supervisors due to his full-time contract with the Fraternal Order of Police. He is currently in contract negotiations.

Supervisor wages are determined by auditors - which meet tonight at 7PM.