FRANKLIN TWP — A proposed Marcellus Shale natural gas well pad in the township brought 50 residents to Monday’s township supervisors meeting.

XTO Energy is proposing to build a well pad on property owned by Clair Cratty off Election House Road. Company representatives attended a supervisor’s meeting in March.

Herman Bauer, chairman of the supervisors, said that XTO’s next step would be submitting a land development plan to the township. He said the company has not made any official submissions to the township.

He said township officials do not know of any other potential drilling sites.

Resident Connie Fleeger said many residents are concerned about children, Moraine State Park and property values. She said other states like New York have held back on drilling to see potential side effects.

“Pennsylvania has been the guinea pig of the world,” Fleeger said.

John Zak wondered if the community would be ready if there is a problem at the site.

Bauer noted that the land development includes emergency preparedness plans, and said fire departments would get training.

Zak asked who would pay for any special equipment.

“Training is one thing, equipment is another,” Zak said.

Rose Tokarchik said she is concerned about potential carcinogens and chemical exposure. She said her husband has had 10 years shaved off his life due to exposure to dioxin in Vietnam.

“What kind of legacy are we leaving behind?” Tokarchik said.

Ron Tokarchik, Rose’s husband, said that chemicals from the well site would be a danger to the public. He also said he was concerned about local wildlife.

David May, contrasting with most of the other public comments, said that chemicals used in the fracking process are found in household cleaners and that 1,000,000 wells have been drilled elsewhere.

“There is not a single proven episode of it contaminating a water table,” May said.

Bill Meyer said that fracking is going to happen one way or the other, so it should be done safely and responsibly. However, he said he is against fracking and is worried that children could get sick.

He said the township has the power to help make the process safer.

“Let’s be a model for all of the other townships,” Meyer said.

Mary Ann Meyer said the township has the power to change zoning ordinances to keep fracking away from local schools.

She asked if the township could use its zoning powers under Act 13 — the state’s oil and gas law — to prevent drilling.

Kathy Raabe Jesteadt, zoning officer, said the township has no ordinance that prohibits drilling and said changing ordinances could take months.

Township solicitor Mike Hnath said there are a lot of items in land development plans that are not regulated by the township but by the state Department of Environmental Protection. He said the township also has no authority to regulate activity on drilling sites.

Bill Meyer said the township should try to change its zoning ordinances.

“If it takes longer, who cares?” he said.

Mike Michalowski said every case of contaminated water does not become public knowledge. He also said he had several questions for XTO that the company did not answer, and that the township should get answers for itself.

Dale McCandless said he does not think that fracking is a danger, but he had concerns about air quality when the wells are burned off, a process called flaring.

Jesteadt said once XTO submits a land development plan, if there are no major problems, it could be approved within a month.

Representatives for XTO did not attend the meeting and did not return a call for comment.