“We’ve seen a rise in house burglaries,” Bradford Township Supervisor Gayle Bauer warned residents at Monday’s regular meeting.
Bradford Township Police Chief Robb Shipman asked residents to call “if you see something in your neighborhood that’s out of place” — such as a suspicious person or vehicle.
They explained burglaries seem to be spreading south and west of Bradford City.
Supervisors also voted on several personnel-related matters.
They voted in favor of terminating road maintenance employee Terry Boyle, effective Aug. 22.
Supervisor Steve Mascho was the lone holdout in the vote.
The supervisors were not able to discuss the reason for the move, but Mascho said after the meeting that Boyle has worked for the township for around 30 years and was “one of the most valuable” employees.
Supervisors voted to nominate Frank Behan for the position of road crew foreman.
“We haven’t had a road crew foreman in a while,” said Supervisor Chairman Jim Erwin, who explained that it will be nice to have the position filled when the winter weather begins.
Mascho opposed this move, too, explaining there were employees who were in the department longer than Behan who knew how to use all the equipment. He also opposed a motion to take steps to hire a new road crew member to replace Behan.
Of promoting Behan over more senior employees, Mascho said it is a “slap in the face not to ask them (the senior employees) first.”
Mascho also opposed a motion passed by the other two supervisors regarding new township secretary/treasurer Susan Gibiser.
Effective Monday, Gibiser’s salary was increased to $47,000, a move that Mascho said it was increasing her pay too soon. He explained, “When we hired Nora (Stewart), we did it in increments.” Gibiser took over for Stewart when she retired.
“Nothing against Susan; she’s doing a great job,” Mascho said.
Supervisors passed resolutions appointing Gibiser as the voting delegate for the McKean County Tax Collection Committee and the designated chief administrative officer for the police pension and non-uniform pensions for the remainder of the year.
West Warren Road resident Rolanda Hart came to ask about the status of complaints she’s made to township officials about her neighbor, David Emerson, who she says is still running his auto repair shop, Off Your Rocker, on his property.
Hart said after the meeting that Emerson was denied a variance to have the property zoned as commercial rather than residential.
At the last meeting of the supervisors, they indicated they’ve sent the code enforcement officer to Emerson’s property, but he tells the officer that he’s not running a business, but rather fixing friends’ vehicle. The supervisors explained they needed proof that he was running a business before they could take action.
On Monday, Hart had in tow photographs of Emerson’s flyer, text messages from his phone and a Facebook page indicating that he was still running the business.
After looking at items Hart brought, Bauer said, “It doesn’t have an address on it. That’s one of the problems.”
Code enforcement officer George Corignani indicated he was going to continue investigating with the leads Hart brought.
Another resident, Kerry Roslinski, wondered about an expensive piece of equipment the township bought a little while ago to check the condition of sewer lines. Bauer said the vehicle is not working properly, but it is under warranty and repairs are pending.
Mascho brought up complaints from Fuller Road residents. He explained the residents have been waiting for around three years for a bridge there to be blacktopped.
“I can’t blame them for being mad,” he said.
The supervisors agreed it needed to be done.
The next meeting of the Bradford Township supervisors will be 7 p.m. Oct. 9.
