By John Chambless
Staff Writer

At the Feb. 17 meeting of the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors, Pam Baker, a partner at Barbacane Thornton, the township’s auditing firm, presented the 2015 audit findings. She complimented the township on its management and processing of the financials. The audit will be posted on the township website soon.

Jim German of the Franklin Sportsman's Association (FSA) reported that the season ended on Jan.21, with a total of 12 deer harvested. The FSA’s community service projects last year included cleaning up the Goodwin Preserve, a roadside cleanup of Parsons, Chesterville and Creek roads, cutting the Form Farm Trail, and installing a flagpole at the municipal office.

Planning Commission chairman Dave Hoffman reported that, on Feb. 4, the commission welcomed new member Brent VanLith, and alternates Penny Schenk and Zach Elwyn. The commission discussed the Keen three-lot land development plan and recommended that the Board of Supervisors should waive the requirement for a preliminary/final plan due to the rural character of the area, and that the board also not require sidewalks or street lighting. They did recommend grading the property so sidewalks could be installed at a later time. Hoffman said the recommendation was intended to give pedestrians and runners a place to get off the road when a car is coming. On a motion by board chairman John Auerbach, the board granted the waiver to the Subdivision & Land Development Ordinance, which was carried unanimously.

Auerbach explained that the original Keen plan, which included the conservation of most of the original property and the creation of the three lots, was approved in late 2012 and the plan was recorded in 2013.

Chuck Phillips was unanimously appointed to fill the architect vacancy on the Historic Architectural Review Board, to a term that expires at the end of 2017.

In a discussion of communications in the township, Auerbach said the work of producing the township newsletter, and the cost of publishing it, was not justified. He has learned that most residents don’t read the newsletter. He suggested that the township should develop a Facebook page as a way of getting information out. The township’s webmaster will work on upgrading the website to allow the township to post information on Facebook to link back to the website, and to allow people to view the website easily on their smartphones. There will be a more detailed discussion at next month's supervisors meeting.

For more information, visit www.franklintownship.us.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].