On Monday, the Bradford Township supervisors held their monthly meeting — and despite the frigid air on the outside, things got a little heated on the inside when it came to a recent sewer project.
The meeting started out with Supervisor Steve Mascho requesting a moment of silence “for the veterans who have served this country” following the reciting of the pledge of allegiance.
Supervisor Chairman Jim Erwin, Mascho and Supervisor Gayle Bauer –– who attended via phone –– ended the moment of silence by approving a work session for a review of the 2019 budget at 6:30 p.m on Nov. 26.
Jack Carns, zoning officer, reported the issuing of five certificates totaling to an estimated $24,000 for the township.
Erwin noted that there have been issues with flooding on High Street and Crookerhouse Lane caused by beavers.
Bradford Township Police Chief Robb Shipman reported that they have stepped up on watching school buses, but have not had any issues with drivers running through the stop signs when buses stop. Shipman also noted the approval of signs to display the prohibition of brake retarders between Lewis Run and Minard Run after conducting a study on noise.
Once Erwin made the motion for a change order to pay Chivers Construction for a recent sewer project in the Owens Way area, the tension in the room increased. Mascho alleges that a employee who works in the sewer department and a foreman from Chivers Construction discussed payment and gave the foreman approval. Mascho questioned the quality of the work and said Chivers Construction ended up going over their bid by $112,000, which Mascho believes is wrong.
“We never sat down as supervisors, as a board, and went over figures. We let one of our employees give the OK for all that stuff,” said Mascho.
However, Erwin says that the sewer employee never approved anything.
“I was there with the sewer guy; the sewer guy made no decisions. That sewer guy never made a change order and never approved anything,” Erwin said.
Mascho also said, “They want to raise taxes and this is the reason why they’re doing it –– wasteful spending. It’s not right that some residents are getting one thing and others are getting nothing; it’s not fair to the taxpayers.”
“The motion was made to approve change orders at the meeting, that’s the end of it. Steve voted no, and Gayle and I voted yes,” said Erwin.
The supervisors approved the rescheduling of December’s monthly meeting to 7 p.m. on Dec. 17.
