Open space, fire company ordinances OK’d

Board approves purchase of two police vehicles

The township can now use open space funds for things other than purchasing land or buying development rights to preserve land.

Following a change in state law, Franconia has changed its open space ordinances to allow open space funding to be used for things such as preparing required plans for open space properties or “to develop, improve, design, engineer, and maintain property acquired using tax funds or alternatively, the creation of an open space maintenance fund,” according to agenda information at the June 18 Franconia Township Board of Supervisors meeting.

“The law was recently amended to include those things that I just mentioned and you are updating your ordinance to comply with that new law and allow the expenditure of funds for those purposes,” Frank Bartle, the township’s solicitor, said.

In other matters at the meeting:

• The board approved an ordinance authorizing the four fire companies that are the lead companies serving portions of the municipality to have bills sent out to reimburse the fire companies for reasonable costs of firefighting materials and equipment used in the incident.

Only insurance companies are billed, not the property owners, Bartle said. The coverage is already included in most insurance policies, so it does not increase insurance rates, fire officials have previously said. Several other local municipalities have passed similar ordinances. The four fire companies whose primary coverage area includes parts of Franconia are the Perseverance of Souderton, Telford, Harleysville and Tylersport fire companies.

• The board approved the lease/purchase of two 2019 Dodge Durango Special Service vehicles for the police department.

The total cost over the four year lease/purchase period will be $65,222, board member David Fazio said.

One of the vehicles was budgeted for, but not purchased last year, leading to the two now being purchased, board Chairman Grey Godshall said.

In another police-related matter, new Chief Michael Martin, who was hired in May following former Chief Joseph Kozeniewski’s retirement, said the transition seems to be going well.

“I’ve met with all the officers and staff and everything seems to be going along very smoothly,” he said.