Letter To The Editor...........

Attention: Genesee Township Residents, Business and Camp Owners:

Are you as upset as I am when required to pay a Garbage Assessment Fee of $50.00 per year, in addition to the $2.00 per 30 pound (maximum) bag fee?

Is the $50.00 per year assessment really necessary?

I understand that it costs approximately 5.5 cents per pound of garbage if an individual chooses to take their garbage directly to the Transfer Station. At 5.5 cents per pound, a 30 pound bag costs $1.65, leaving approximately .35 cents for the township ( at $2.00 per bag) towards fuel, labor, and equipment costs.

Can we therefore eliminate the broad application of the $50.00 per year assessment (which currently includes vacation homes, camps, businesses as well as permanent residents) and operate the garbage collection system based on the per bag fee? This would provide each assessed taxpayer with the individual choice to purchase the $2.00 per bag sticker or not.

In support of the above, as a result of recent information received from Genesee Township, it appears significant excess funds have been accumulating in the Garbage Fund. These excess funds have apparently been systematically transferred to the Township General Fund and utilized for payment of items not related to the Garbage Fund.

Again, I would like to repeat, is the $50.00 yearly assessment necessary when excess funds are being generated and apparently not being utilized for payment of Garbage Fund items? If the $2.00 per bag fee is not sufficient to cover all costs, consider with justification, increasing the per bag fee, but eliminate the $50.00 per year assessment.

We were also informed by Township Supervisors at a regularly scheduled meeting that the Genesee Township Secretary/Treasurer, is a part time employee working 4 hours a day - 4 days a week. We were also informed that her annual pay is $23,660.00. Based on this information, this works out to be $28.43 per hour. This year as a part time employee, she was also provided two weeks vacation and six sick days . According to PSATS, (Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors Wages and Salaries Survey of 2012) , the Genesee Township Secretary/Treasurer is the highest paid in the North Central West Region of PA. The Genesee Township Road master (full time salaried) is currently paid $52,000.00 annually ($24.99 per hour) with 4 weeks vacation and 6 sick days. ,The average per hour wage for a Road Master in the North Central West Region of PA, according to PSATS, is $15.50 per hour. Is this appropriate for such a small rural township as ours.

If any of the above matters are of concern to you, I suggest you inform the Township Supervisors of your thoughts, and/or suggestions. Better yet, take the time to attend the next Genesee Township Monthly meeting on the first Monday of each month at 7MP to express your concerns.

Look for additional editorials in the coming weeks addressing issues of concern to the taxpayers of Genesee Township.

Lon Seitz