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Audit: Lawrence Township finances in order
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
By Jeff Corcino Staff Writer
Lawrence Township received a clean bill of health in its financial audit for 2011. Craig Livergood of Walter Hopkins Co. of Clearfield presented the audit at last night's meeting of the Lawrence Township Board of Supervisors.
Livergood said all the township's financial reports are in order and said the township added to its fund balance by $156,000 in 2011.
By comparison in 2010, the township added $83,000 to its fund balance.
Livergood said most of it came about because of a reduction in spending due to the township not filling an open position in the police department.
Last February, the supervisors voted to place a referendum on the November General Election Ballot asking the voters if they are willing to raise property taxes by six mills, which would allow the township to hire three additional part-time officers, according to a previous article in The Progress.
The supervisors tabled the audit report for review.
In other business:
• Cliff Meeuwsen of Pennsylvania Grain Processing LLC, which owns the ethanol plant, asked if the township owns or maintains Hammermill Road because the company would like to use it as another entrance to the plant. Supervisor Ed Brown said the township does not own the road and does not maintain it and isn't sure who does.
Solicitor James Naddeo said the best way to determine who owns and maintains the road is to talk to adjoining property owners. He said even if it is a private road, the ethanol plant probably has an easement to allow it to access the road.
• At the request of township Animal Control Officer Melissa Farmery the supervisors voted to hire an additional part-time animal control officer to assist her because of the heavy workload.
The township will first search its applicant list the last time the position was advertised, to see if there are any qualified people in it who are still willing to serve in the position before advertising it again.
• Township Secretary Barbara Shaffner reported after consultation with state officials there were a few changes in the grant application to the state for the Recreation Park. She said most of the changes were to make the park more handicapped accessible such as adding additional handicapped parking and seating and handicapped accessible walkways.
She also said they are also looking to put asphalt underneath the new bleachers so the township won't have to periodically pay for weed removal.
• Albert White of Daisy Street Extension complained that the township's storm water drains are clogged and are causing flooding in his home.
Brown said the township was planning to fix the problem when he worked as a roadmaster several years ago and said it probably still has the drawings on file.
Supervisor/Roadmaster William Lawhead said they are busy this week, but said they could get to it next week.
• Naddeo reported the township does not have the authority to maintain private roads except when public safety is involved and can maintain them only to the point to keep them clear to allow emergency vehicles to pass. Naddeo said he was asked to look into this by the township.
The supervisors voted to:
• table the Clearfield Municipal Authority's Land Development Plan for the improvements to its wastewater treatment plant because the township is still waiting to receive comments from the township's engineer.
• award the bid for painting intersections to Mid-Atlantic for $25,700.
• send a letter to local legislators expressing the township's opposition to the current redistricting plan that would divide the county into three separate legislative districts and divide the township into two districts.
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