Supervisors will be looking into tightening security for the Secretary’s office after the treasurer reported several items were missing.

At the regular meeting May 5, Treasurer Marie Ribeiro told the Supervisors she couldn’t find the training certificates earned by former members of the Emergency Management Committee, who asked for the certificates back in their letter of resignation last month.

Ribeiro, who has been filling in as secretary during the multiple appointments and resignations in the secretary position, said she couldn’t find the certificates and they were not in the file the last secretary said she put them. Ribeiro also said a packet of software was also missing, and a label maker was as well. The Township auditors also reported someone had gone through their files.

Ribeiro suggested the Township change the locks on the secretary’s door and control who has the key.

The Supervisors installed a security system on the building last year, but that only controls entrance to the building. A resident suggested the Township add a keypad to the secretary’s office. He said the Supervisors would then have a log of who entered the room at what time.

Chairman Pete Steffen said the Board would look into that.

Ribeiro added she was having problems with the computer which includes the bookkeeping software for the Township. She explained the computer had viruses and four versions of Quickbooks. She said the program was constantly quitting and the data from the different versions was being confused between them. She noted she was getting entries for income tax payments that were several years old at times.

Steffen made a motion to purchase a new computer with a limit of $2,000 for the computer, software and the professional help needed to set it up. Supervisor James Mason suggested the motion be more flexible with the costs, but Steffen said they had researched prices and found $2,000 would be enough money.

Ribeiro said she would keep the old computer as a backup since they could use the old files on the new computers because of the viruses.

Steffen also noted the Township had a large number of old filing cabinets spread throughout the building. He suggested the Township buy two new good cabinets and replace seven older ones. The board approved a motion to spend $1,400 on the cabinets.

Handicap Access

The Board received a letter from the Wayne County Commissioners explaining a Federal grant the County received to ensure each polling station was handicapped accessible. Ribeiro said the County Engineer had examined the building last month.

The Supervisors noted the Township had just built a new access. The Township had installed a new ramp prior two years ago. The ramp crosses in front of part of the building and to the side door. The ramp replaced wooden steps.

Steffen said during the election even the handicapped voters used the main office entrance, which has a ramp but according to the County when the side ramp was built does not meet current Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Steffen said they should look into what the County wanted to do.

The first project was funded by a Community Development Block Grant. Steffen noted that there was still $11,000 left from the grant. He said the Redevelopment Authority, the County agency handling the project, explained it had built the ramp using its staff, saving money on the project and leaving more to finish paving the handicapped parking spaces.

He said the money would be enough to construct four paved handicapped parking spaces. He said added he thought they should have the spaces built and it would make the parking lot better for all residents.

Some residents questioned the wisdom of having so many spaces dedicated to handicapped parking. They noted the parking lot was often crowded now with residents parking along the street to attend meetings.

Jamie Mason-Clark said the Township only has ten spaces and building four handicapped spaces would leave them with only six spaces for use by other residents.

“I think it behooves us to get four spots paved,” Steffen said.

Another resident suggested the Township find out if the money could be used for better lighting outside the building.

Supervisor Joe Kmetz offered one solution to the parking with or with the handicapped spaces. He suggested the Township install a pipe in the ditch next the building and fill it using materials from other jobs. He said when the work is completed several parking spaces could be added.