The supervisors board of Franklin Township voted in a new nuisance property ordinance Tuesday night.

In a move to save taxpayer money, the board has decide to implement a ticketing program where any Franklin Township police officer may write a violation ticket for a number of different property issues. The list includes garbage, hazardous waste, junked vehicles, weeds and overgrown vegetation, animal waste and animal welfare to name a few listed on the six pages."It'll save the township magistrate costs to be able to just ticket the person directly," said Chairman Rod Green. "It'll speed up the process."A second ticket in a 12-month period could result in the fine being doubled.According to the ordinance, the first violation will be $25, the second will double to $50, up to $100, if received within the same time frame of the first written ticket. Any person may appeal a ticket within the 10 days. After 20 days a citation will be issued to the person to appear before the magistrate judge.John Freundt spoke before the motion was passed about a neighboring property that needs immediate attention."I wrote a letter about a neighbor. The property is falling down. Garbage is blowing onto our own property from their place," he said."Carl (Faust) looked into it and said he talked to (Rep. Doyle) Heffley to help him condemn it," said Vice Chairman Robin Cressley."I heard Heffley offered her help and she denied it. There are still two dogs in that house. The ASPCA came and trapped 17 cats already. It is hurting property values for me and my neighbors," Freundt said."It's unsafe for them to be there," Cressley said."We've got to get Carl over there," Green said."No one wants her to lose her home, but it is unsafe," township secretary Brenda Neeb said."We definitely have to get Carl to jump on that," Green said.The board passed two other motions during the monthly meeting, one to reserve the upper dam for exclusive use by the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club for the annual youth fishing day to be held May 15. The dam will be reserved until 1 p.m. that afternoon."We police the area and get permits from fishing commission. There is no cost to the township," said Barry Reed of the gun club. "We appreciate that the township supports us."The club will also work on the overgrown vegetation in the upper dam this spring by purchasing grass-eating carp."They are sterile and are similar to the tiger muskies at Beltzville," Reed said. He told the board the club would put up the money to purchase the fish, which have a six- to eight-year life span."It'll help the residents fish better, make it more conducive conditions."Reed asked to board to put up the $75 permit fee and to construct screening at the upper dam under the bridge where the pond begins to flow.The board agreed to both conditions."We just need dimensions to let us know what we've got to get. We'll get something up there," Cressley said."The carp have a good track record of cleaning up. We can see how successful they are. Then we consider putting them into the other ponds," Reed said. "It'll be a natural way to control it."