SMETHPORT — The Keating Township Supervisors agreed Wednesday to put a project together to determine if inmates in the McKean County Work Release Program could be used in the jobs.
During the discussion, it was reported that responsibilities, in addition to painting and maintenance, could also include work at the baseball field in East Smethport.
Following a ten-minute executive session to discuss personnel, the supervisors unanimously approved the appointment of Dan Davis as part-time operator of the wastewater treatment plant in Cyclone while the full-time operator is fulfilling his military reservist duties. Davis could also be assigned other duties.
In another matter, the supervisors discussed a problem that has occurred with the archaeological digs in Farmers Valley, the Phase III of the municipal wastewater treatment plant. While the original archaeological service, which had a contract with Stiffler McGraw, the township’s engineering firm, recovered and catalogued artifacts, but did not curate them and therefore will not meet the standards of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Until that happens, this phase of the wastewater treatment plant project can’t proceed.
If the original archaeological company doesn’t curate the artifacts, then the supervisors plan to seek the approximately $3,000 in reimbursement and then have the second archaeological firm do the curating.
The supervisors also decided unanimously to seek quotes from paving companies to do the paving work this season.
Three resolutions were approved. One named Kelmar Services as the township building code enforcement official, replacing an earlier resolution that was abolished since it did not include all information and a fee schedule for Kelmar.
The third one increases the assessment permit fee and demolition permit fee to $25 per packet.
The township approved the advertising of an ordinance naming the Warren firm of Stapleford and Byham as the township’s third party agent to assess collection costs of delinquent accounts to property owners.
During the discussion of the need for as new generator, Supervisor Rich Tanner suggested the purchase could be made through COSTARS, the state’s cooperative purchasing program that provides competitive bidding.
After the discussion, the supervisors voted unanimously to allow the purchase with the expenditure capped at $1,369.
Township secretary-treasurer Melissa Jo Smith wrote a grant application for $976.50 that was approved for purchasing two computers, two monitors and software. One computer is for the township office, and the other one is assigned to the wastewater treatment plant in Cyclone.
The county assessor’s office has notified the township of five changes in valuation, resulting in an increase of $1,530 to the township.
The supervisors will meet in a workshop at 4 p.m. March 23 at the township office in East Smethport.
As a point of information, Supervisor chairman David McClain informed the audience about an item in Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget that would assess those municipalities without police protection contracts a fee of $25 per resident for state police coverage. “That could cost us about $75,000,” he said.
