East Franklin Township supervisors held their monthly meeting last night and approved the 2018 budget that they feel will continue to move the township forward in growth.
This year showed steady growth in one Armstrong County township.
As East Franklin Supervisors met last night, Zoning Officer Greg McKelvey told them that there was a significant number of permits issued this year. In 2016, the township issued 46 permits. That number increased to over 60 permits in 2017 - and the year isn’t over yet.
“That number comprises additions, accessory structures, burning permits - it’s a running list of the whole total,” McKelvey explained.
McKelvey said there were both residential and commercial permits issued.
“We did have some commercial additions added on. Heilman-Reed Investments on Butler Road just applied to build a second 40-foot x 160-foot self storage unit. The first one was constructed in 2016. BLX put on a pretty nice addition, which is not totally finished over at the Industrial Park. A newly-constructed building is the Food Bank building on the property of Armstrong County Community Action (former East Franklin Elementary School), which is to be opened by the end of the year.”
The Township Planning Commission met on November 28 and reviewed the issued permits. The Commission also reviewed a proposed property subdivision for Melanie Wonderling at 144 Pleasant View Drive. The plan is identified as Wonderling Plan #1. Wonderling desires to separate the current 18-acre parcel into three separate parcels. The Planning Commission approved the subdivision and supervisors agreed with their recommendation.
While some projects were started this year, others were postponed. A park that was planned to be built in Tarrtown was put on hold this year while the Township waits for formal grant approval. McKelvey said he wasn’t sure if or when the application would be approved.
Supervisors approved the final budget for 2018. Supervisor Chairman Barry Peters read the motion.
“There is no real estate tax increase. There is no increase for sewage rates for Adrian, Cowansville, or Tarrtown customers, but Fox Hollow will have an increase from $55 to $61 per month starting in January. Total budget was $1,720,000 in revenue and $1,718,000 in expenses for next year,” Peters said.
Supervisor David Stewart made the motion to approve the budget and it passed by all three supervisors with no further discussion.
An ordinance established in 2001 creating the office of a township manager was abolished last night. The ordinance set forth duties and compensation of a township manager and was created when Donna Rupert was hired as the township manager. Rupert held the office until 2003. The position was left vacant, and last night, it was officially eliminated.
The final meeting of the supervisors will be held on Thursday, December 28 at the township office. A reorganizational meeting will be held on Monday, January 8.