RANSOM TWP. — At its regular meeting Monday evening, Feb. 1, the township board of supervisors approved a 3-percent raise to the hourly pay rate of working township supervisors, via a resolution amending the 2016 reorganization resolution. The township workers also received a 3-percent raise, per the original resolution.

From 2011 through 2014, the supervisors received a similar raise each year, but in 2015 the rate remained at $17, the same as the previous year. This year’s raise brings the hourly rate to $17.51.

Township Solicitor Edmund Scacchitti explained after the meeting that, under the township code, a group of auditors meets after the municipality’s annual reorganization meeting, always held on the first Monday of the month, and sets the salaries for the working supervisors. This year, they approved the 3-percent “cost of living” raise.

This hourly rate applies to work outside the regular duties of the board, such as facilitating the spring and fall cleanups and operating a snow plow or salt truck. It is in addition to the supervisors’ annual salaries of $1,874, paid in quarterly increments of $468.5o. The salary rate is set by the state, per the second class township size and will change only with a size in population.

According to Township Secretary JoAnn Pane, the number of hours a supervisor works under the hourly rate in a given year varies.

“It could be 10 hours, it could be 200 hours,” she said.

In other business:

• The meeting opened with a moment of silence in honor of the late Hank Jones, who served as a Ransom Township supervisor from approximately 1992 to 2006.

• Supervisor Dennis Macheska announced the appointment of Donald Wells as township zoning officer.

• South Abington Township Police Officer Hank Zimmer gave the police report. He said the department recently responded to a report of suspicious persons in the township, who turned out to be vacuum cleaner salesmen. Scacchitti verified that one must have a permit to conduct door to door soliciting in the township. Zimmer said to his knowledge the salesmen in question did not carry such paperwork and were told to “knock it off.”

• Newton Ransom Volunteer Fire Company Chief Jeff LaCoe gave the fire report and thanked the township crew for coming out to assist during a recent fire at the Sunset Mobile Home Park.

• Macheska updated residents on a question asked by Rich Tenio at last month’s meeting regarding whether the official name of his road is Rock Drive or Rock Road. Macheska said after looking into it, the township determined it is Rock Drive.

• The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. March 7 at the municipal building on Hickory Lane.

By Elizabeth Baumeister

ebaumeister@timesleader.com

Reach Elizabeth Baumeister at 570-704-3943 or on Twitter @AbingtonJournal