CLEARFIELD – IT caused a heated exchange at Tuesday’s Lawrence Township board of supervisors’ meeting.
During the supervisors’ reports, Supervisor Scott Way sought to make Morefield Communications the owner (under the township’s name) of the township’s IT equipment, and then to make Township Manager Ashley Pritchard a secondary admin.
Way also sought to have all township supervisors removed from administrative access.
Supervisor Jeremy Ruffner said he thought this had already been done, but Way said it had not.
Ruffner insisted that Morefield had sufficient control of the township’s IT equipment already, and that this would open the door for Morefield to possibly remove Pritchard as the secondary administrator.
However, Way disagreed, saying the township has hired and is paying Morefield and therefore, it should have full control to do its job.
Way accused Ruffner of not wanting to surrender his access to and control of the township’s IT.
“It’s a power struggle,” Way said of the situation.
Ruffner indicated he had been removed as an administrator, and advised that he wasn’t sure why the township had hired a manager, only to hire and pay other people to perform work.
When Way disagreed, Ruffner said he wasn’t trying to be impolite, but IT isn’t his (Way’s) “bag,” or area of expertise, as he just doesn’t have the same level of understanding of how IT works as him (Ruffner).
Way’s IT request passed, 2-1, with Ruffner in opposition.
The township also scheduled multiple public hearings including a zoning ordinance hearing Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m., and then prior to its regular meeting Dec. 3, there will be a conditional use hearing for Todd English at 6 p.m. pending planning board approval, with sign and ATV ordinance hearings to follow at 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.
The supervisors will also deliberate the upcoming year’s budget during a workshop meeting at 8 a.m. Nov. 12 so it can be prepared for presentation.
During the manager’s report, Pritchard proposed a half-mill tax increase to generate funds that would be specifically designated for the Lawrence Township Rec Park.
However, Ruffner suggested that instead of allocating a millage amount, the township should have a fixed line item amount within its budget.
He explained how various factors can cause fluctuations in millage, and that he’d rather do a one-mill tax increase that could be used for the rec park as well as roadway maintenance and possibly other areas, too.
The next supervisors’ meeting is Nov. 19, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the township municipal meeting.