Franklin Township Supervisors heeded the advice of concerned resident and moved forward with improvements for the safety of residents on a popular roadway.

Resident Timothy Heimbach addressed the Board of Supervisors regarding his concern about the speed limit on Walnut Street. According to Heimbach, "there is no posted speed limit on this road."He also pointed out that while other roadways in the township that border a park, specifically "Phifer Dam, such as Main Road and Church Road are 25 miles per hour."A concern pointed out by Heimbach is that Walnut Street "borders a park that hosts hundreds of families and children, both locally and nonlocally, every year."While there are no reports of pedestrian injuries in this area, Heimbach said is it "better to be proactive than reactive," and requested signs that depict children at play in the area of the park.Supervisor Robin Cressley said he "agrees that the township should be proactive with erecting the children at play signs." Cressley did not dismiss lowering the speed limit lower and sign placement, but said there will need to be an engineering study completed to change the legal speed limit and place signs depicting this.A motion was made to purchase and install the "Slow, Children at Play" signs with agreement to contact the township engineer and look into the process of changing the speed limit on Walnut Street.Cressley said, "I will order the signs tomorrow."In other actions, supervisors approved the Donald and Susan Dorward Subdivision, which will effectively reduce their current 50-acre parcel into three parcels, two that can be sold for residential development and the third being retained for the Dorwards' private use.The Franklin Township Police Department also had its new contract ratified by the Board of Supervisors. The new pact will be for a five-year term.Vice Chairman Paul Kocher said, "The changes from the last contract to this contract are minimal, a 2.9 percent wage increase, allowing the officers to work 12-hours shifts as opposed to eight, and removal of the chief from the contract."This is the first collective bargaining agreement that excludes the chief of police. It would pertain only to the other three full-time officers.Cressley said, "We will be working with the chief to work out his contract very soon."Additionally, Cressley made a motion, which passed unanimously, to apply to reinstate a Franklin Township Safety Committee.Township secretary Brenda Neeb said, "This will be a 5 percent reduction in our workman's compensation premier."Cressley said this committee will review any incidents involving the township.