Franklin Township residents will see a reduction in their monthly sewer fees.

On a 2-1 vote, supervisors on Tuesday passed a resolution to reduce the monthly sewer fees to $53.

Along with that, the board agreed to use the funds from the paid off loan to lower the monthly sewer user fees by $7 per EDU.

Township secretary Brenda Cressley said that the township has $375,000 in savings.

Supervisor Robin Cressley, who was opposed, said the township needs to plan for potential unforeseen costs, and reiterated his stance from last month that the money should be banked.

Cressley said last month that in the past, the township used to give to the savings, and now it takes from the savings.

However, board Chairman Fred Kemmerer Jr. said that it’s money the township was spending that it no longer has to spend, and that it could be split between the savings, as well as the residents.

Resident Ty Poole applauded Kemmerer for being a responsible public servant.

“Give something back to the people,” Poole said.

A resident asked how the township’s rates compare to that of neighboring municipalities.

Brenda Cressley said that the Borough of Lehighton is lower, while Mahoning Township is about the same as Franklin.

Poole asked the board to follow Kemmerer’s approach.

“Compromise,” Poole said. “Give something back to the people.”

Resident Jason Eidem agreed that the board should give something back to the residents to make them happy.

The board’s decision comes after the board last month backed off on doing a feasibility study to determine where sewer expansion should be.

Kemmerer said the township has a loan that would be paid off this month, and added the board wanted to see if it could give residents who have been paying for so many years a break, and split the loan amount that will be paid off in October in half, with half for saving and the other half to be used to reduce the monthly sewer fee by about $5 to $7.

Currently, customers pay a $60 per month user fee.

Robin Cressley said the board was told the township should have around $900,000 to $1,000,000 in its account before it should even think about expanding the sewer or reducing fees. At that time the township had about $400,000 in its sewage account, though it has spent some of that.

The township will need to have a reserve to able to maintain its sewer line and pump stations in case of repairs or replacements that may be needed because its system is now 20 years old. The township still has a PennVest loan to pay back for another 10 years.

Cressley cautioned that things aren’t going to get any cheaper in the foreseeable future.

Kemmerer then suggested splitting 50% into capital reserve, and 50% savings to the residents who are in good standing.

Kemmerer said that while it might sound unheard of to give money back to residents for paying all the time, it’s something the board should consider.

The township was interested in expanding the line to Christman ball field.

It was also stated at that time the township also wants to be prepared if a proposed 72-home development goes through.

The sewer line, which encompasses Lehighton, Franklin, Mahoning and Weissport, is 20 years old.

About 600 customers in Franklin Township are on the initial sewer line.

New customers would pay $3,000 to connect and then $60 a month.