Foster Township Bidding
Process Questioned Again

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director


The issue of Foster Township employees – including supervisor Cary Kaber – doing work on a project that wasn't put out for bid was a topic of discussion again at Monday's supervisors' meeting.

Contractor Bob Baker said it violates the Second Class Township Code because a township supervisor is using his position for monetary gain.

"I don't want Cary Kaber lining his pockets at the taxpayers' expense because he wants to circumvent the process and not be fair and bid it like he's supposed to," Baker said.

Supervisor Bob Slike said, from now on, they'll bid out even the smallest of projects even if it would cost less to have Kaber do them.

Baker said that's not the point.

"Now you're kind of turning this into me wanting to cost the taxpayers more money and it ain't about that," Baker said. "I want to keep the system honest. That's what I want to do. And if that requires that you do your job, Mr. Slike, Mr. Kaber and Mr. (Chris) Wolcott, and make sure we get bids if we require bids, that's my goal."

Supervisors and Baker agreed to have their lawyers look into the situation.

Supervisors said part of their rental agreement with the county for District Judge Rich Luther's offices includes the renovation work being done by township employees.

Also during Monday's two-hour meeting, supervisors gave their OK to designating about 14 acres on Bolivar Drive as a Keystone Opportunity Zone for American Refining Group's proposed "green coal" plant.

The Bradford Area School Board and McKean County Commissioners gave their stamps of approval during their last meetings. The state Department of Community and Economic Development still has to approve the project, but ARG has already gotten a $1 million grant from the state.

During last month's school board meeting, ARG CEO Harvey Golubock said they expect to start construction next year and will employee 20 to 30 people full time.

Monday night, township resident Jim Connolly mentioned the recent seminar by Jack Schultz of the Boomtown Institute in which he mentioned the "incredible" economic affect 25 good-paying jobs can have on an area.

Wolcott said the township currently receives only $341.65 a year in property taxes from the parcels. He said for the amount of taxes they'd be losing, and what they'll gain, it's worth it. He added that the property would only be off the tax rolls for 10 years, then would go back on at the full amount.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for us," Slike said.

They also agreed to extend the KOZ designation for the Lafferty Hollow Industrial Park.

Betty Cochran of the OECD said PennDOT has been reviewing bids for the access road and she hopes they'll be breaking ground soon.

"We'vebeen waiting a long time," Cochran said.

Also Monday, supervisors agreed to allow Police Lieutenant Tom Munn to submit a request to the US Department of Justice for a new full-time police officer.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes money for municipalities to hire police officers who would be paid with federal stimulus money.

On the subject of police officers, township residents Dave Gomes and Joe Piganelli brought up former officer Todd McClain.

Wolcott reiterated what he said in January, as part of the $5,000 settlement with McClain, all the parties have agreed to not discuss the matter any further.

In May, a jury found McClain not guilty of taking money from the township police station.

Gomes also asked about a statement Kaber made concerning the township not having job descriptions for its employees.

"You can't discipline (employees) if you have no job description," Gomes said.

Wolcott said they have been working on job descriptions, but have gotten bogged down.

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