Franklin Township supervisors approved a request from Wayne Wentz, president of the Franklin Township Athletic Association, to place vinyl banners on the outfield fences to raise funds for the cash-strapped Little League program.

Wentz appeared before supervisors on Tuesday night with a sample sign that will help raise funds by having businesses and individuals pay a fee to have their advertising signs be displayed during the baseball season on the outfield fences.Wentz said that the Franklin Township Little League Association has gone from 44 teams to 49 teams and that each child is assessed a $25 fee, which helps pay the insurance costs to play.Wentz thanked the supervisors and staff for all of their support in the past."You, the supervisors or township employees never say no to the kids," said Wentz.Wentz said the signs would only be displayed during the playing season and would be removed for the winter season.Wentz said that the program had expenses last year of $108,000."That is a lot of hot dogs to sell," said Wentz.In other business, Franklin Township accepted the resignation of Matthew Neeb as the Franklin Township zoning officer and appointed Carl Faust of Blue Mountain Inspection Services as his replacement.Faust is also the township's building code enforcement officer.Faust will continue to hold office hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday evenings in the Franklin Township administrative office except for the second Monday, when hours will instead be held on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. To contact Faust, call (570) 943-2577 or email him at

bmisinspector@gmail.com.Byron K. Long, supervisor, said that the supervisors accepted Neeb's resignation, "With regret."The board also reappointed Sean Corey of CodeMaster Inspection Services as the township's sewage enforcement officer.Township secretary Sandra Gaumer read a letter from Spotts, Stevens and McCoy Engineering that they were not performing sewage inspection services anymore and that Corey had started his own business and would continue.The board approved a resolution that will increase the rates for rental of the pavilion at the Phifer Ice Dam Park and hired Lacey Haldeman to work as part-time custodian at the park.Long recommended that new forms and procedures be adopted to assist the worker with making determinations about returning deposits. Rates for the pavilion will range from $75 for four hours to $125 for an entire day rate.The board also approved the request of the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club to hold a Youth Fishing Day for children and grandchildren of armed services personnel and youth service groups on May 5.Supervisors also approved the request of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church to have the fire police assist on March 24 for Palm Sunday services.The board also approved a donation agreement with the estate of Lawrence Marra at 16 Willow St. The home will be torn down using grant funds.