Franklin Township supervisors last week heard a complaint about permits.

James Zettlemoyer, of Malibu Drive, informed supervisors that last year he had wind damage to his home.

Zettlemoyer said that he received a phone that the township has no reports of him taking any permits out for work he began on his home.

As a result, Zettlemoyer said that as soon as the situation was brought to his attention, he immediately stopped working on his home.

He then came out to the township building and picked up an application.

Sometime thereafter he said Paul Jarrett, the township’s zoning officer, told him his rates have tripled.

The township has a resolution for schedule of zoning fees that states “After-The-Fact” permits will be triple the cost of the original zoning/building permit.

“I should just be charged the normal fee,” Zettlemoyer said. “I’m patiently waiting for a resolution.”

Supervisor Leroy Kemmerer Jr. told Zettlemoyer that as far as he was concerned, Zettlemoyer should pay for the application and continue building.

But, board Chairman Fred Kemmerer Jr. said he knows people who have been fined for putting on a deck.

“This isn’t the first time something like this has happened,” Fred Kemmerer Jr. said. “We can’t deviate from what’s already on the books.”

Instead, he said they should focus on “how do we make it better so that it’s transparent. Unfortunately, we have to go by the ordinances in place.”

Township solicitor Tom Nanovic recommended that supervisors speak with Jarrett to get his side of the story.

Another concern

Mary Pachorkowsky asked about a complaint she filed against a township employee.

Fred Kemmerer Jr. said they aren’t allowed to divulge any names as it’s a personnel matter.

Pachorkowsky said she understood, but said, “When you were receiving invoices and receipts that are inaccurate, it’s not a good thing.”

Joe Pachorkowsky, Mary’s husband, said the person retaliated and filed a police complaint against him.

Fred Kemmerer Jr. said the board will “deal with that in-house.”

“I’m sure I’m not the only person in the township who has had these issues,” she said. “It’s really disturbing.”