Franklin Township remains committed to a new administration and police building.

Resident Tim Wagner asked the board of supervisors on Tuesday if they’re still planning to construct a new building.

Board Chairman Fred Kemmerer Jr. said, “Right now, we are in the midst of that planning,” Kemmerer said.

Kemmerer added there will be meetings, and a committee possibly formed.

Wagner told the board, “I’m not against a new building.”

Earlier this month, supervisors hired AR Popple Tkg & Exc LLC, Wilkes-Barre, to demolish the Hobby Shop building at 903 Fairyland Road per Carbon Engineering’s recommendation per PennBid results in the amount of $27,500.

Demolition of the building will make room for a new administration and police building.

They have to start within 90 days of awarding the bid.

In October, supervisors accepted the feasibility report for the former Carpenter’s Hobby Shop at 903 Fairyland Road, and to have Carbon Engineering complete a demo contract to demolish the building.

The township wants to build a building that would have enough room to accommodate eight police officers, administration, zoning officer, zoning hearing board and/or supervisors for when they have to go into executive session.

The plan is to knock down the former hobby shop building, and possibly the current administration office. The current township building is only 2,800 square feet.

In turn, the township would construct a new 7,200-square-foot building in between the former Hobby Shop site and current administration office.

In May, supervisors said the former hobby shop building was no longer an option for a township building expansion.

Township engineer Mike Tirpak, of Carbon Engineering, conducted a feasibility study and determined it isn’t worth repairing the building.

The township started a building fund nearly 30 years ago with plans to build a new township building, and supervisors believe it has come to the point where the township needs to expand for the police department and its administration office meeting room.

Budget

Wagner also questioned the board why it initially considered raising taxes this year when it had a surplus.

Kemmerer explained the rationale behind the board’s decision to not raise taxes this year.

“We went over everything, and we found it wasn’t necessary,” he said.

“In listening to the community, we wanted to hear your point of view.”

Last month, supervisors agreed to adopt the 2023 budget with no tax increase after hearing from residents who pleaded with them to not raise taxes.

Roughly 20 residents attended last month’s meeting after supervisors at a budget workshop in November tentatively adopted this year’s spending plan with a 1.5-mill increase, which had it have been approved, would have raised the millage rate from 7.64 to 9.14 mills.

Supervisors at that time cited inflation (fuel costs doubled, health care premiums), and the eventual hiring of a part-time code enforcement officer among the reasons.

Supervisor Robin Cressley noted that the township still hasn’t raised taxes since 2010, when taxes were raised by 1.5 mills.