Franklin agrees to accept fields

Franklin Township plans to have its engineer begin the process of subdividing the baseball and soccer fields from the Franklin Elementary School’s property.

Township supervisors on Tuesday voted to instruct township engineer Gregory Haas to start that process, pending Lehighton Area School Board’s decision to transfer the fields as an intermunicipal transfer to the township at no cost.

The township currently leases the four fields from Lehighton Area School District for $1 per year and, in turn, allows Franklin Township Athletic Association to use them.

Christman Field, however, is located on the same parcel of land as Franklin Elementary School, which the district is currently looking to sell.

Last month, five Lehighton school board members approved an intent to subdivide the portion of the property where the fields are located and transfer that land to Franklin Township. In turn, the municipality could continue allowing the association to use the fields.

Two Lehighton school board members voted against that subdivision intent, while two others abstained from the vote, including Director David Bradley, who said he believes the athletic association should buy the property outright.

At the April school board meeting, Bradley said he didn’t feel “FTAA was given the proper information,” but instead were “emotionally pawned into coming here all worked up against myself.”

Costs of project

There was plenty of discussion before the vote.

Resident Gail Maholick, who serves as a school board director, questioned how much it will cost the township.

Supervisor Robin Cressley told Maholick, “Nothing until you decide what you’re going to do.”

The school board meets at 7 p.m. Monday.

Supervisor Barbara Beltz told Maholick, “This is all contingent that you guys approve it.”

Maholick and Bradley attended an athletic association meeting and she said it appeared members didn’t want to hear what was being said.

Kevin O’Donnell, information officer for the Franklin Township Little League, told Maholick, “That’s untrue.”

Maholick retorted, “It was like talking to a bucket of rocks.”

“Our district is $119 million in the hole right now,” Maholick said.

Resident Tom Beltz, former township police chief, then chimed in and told Maholick that the school board meeting “was like talking to a bucket of rocks.”

Maholick asked how much it costs the township to maintain Christman Field.

Supervisors said the estimated total cost to maintain the field is around $7,500. Of that, about $6,000 goes toward the electric and mowing grass, and around $500 is for liability insurance of the fields, concession stand, dugouts, lights, along with about $1,000 in wages for work to maintain the fields, such as rolling the field, grading the road and parking areas.

Phifer’s Ice Dam Park is a different fund, as the township has a recreation fund that can only be used for the park. The township gets its revenue to maintain the park through its pavilion rentals and recreation fees from subdivisions. The athletic association mows the baseball field at Phifer’s, while the township mows the rest of the park.

Board Chairman Jason Frey told Maholick he believes the cost is well worth it to have a place for the kids to play.

Cressley echoed that sentiment and said, “What a deal for the kids to have somewhere to go.”

O’Donnell thanked everyone in the township who has supported the athletic association since 1979.

“You guys do a lot of things for us, we do a lot of things on our own,” O’Donnell said. “This whole thing, we were blindsided by it.”

O’Donnell told Maholick he was offended by her remark about the athletic association being like a “bucket of rocks.”

Support for group

O’Donnell then asked if the athletic association has the support of the board of supervisors.

At that, Maholick said, “I’m not against this thing.”

O’Donnell said the athletic association hasn’t made a decision yet.

“You put us in a heck of a spot,” he said.

Maholick reiterated that the district is $119 million in debt.

Brian Feick, business administrator for Lehighton Area School District, said the figure is $58 million, but that they are adding the state pension liability to get to $119 million.

By comparison, Palmerton Area School District totaled just over $70 million between its debt service and pension, according to the district’s 2016-17 audit.

Frey told O’Donnell, “I totally support you.”

Ron Steigerwalt, president of the Franklin Township Little League, told Maholick she doesn’t understand how special it is to coach the youngsters.

Tom Beltz asked Maholick, “Why don’t you just give that property to Franklin Township, and we will continue to do what we’ve done for the last 39 years. It’s simple.”

Frey noted that the township could obtain the property through eminent domain.

O’Donnell thanked the board of supervisors and everyone else for their support.

“Our hands are tied right now,” he said.