Health vs. Money

In a 7-0 vote during Old Forge council’s meeting Tuesday, elected officials rejected a proposed multi-million dollar agreement with Waste Management-owned Alliance Landfill.

The vote came one day after council hosted an informational meeting at the Old Forge High School.

During Monday’s meeting, public opinion on the issue was mixed.

Resident Robert Hughes called the proposal a “slap in the face,” while former mayoral candidate Ralph Chase referred to the borough’s expansion opposition as “an impossible fight.”

“We have a landfill and it is here to stay,” Chase said.

Yellow pamphlets outlining details of the proposal were handed out to residents attending Monday’s meeting — the back of which contained a survey. Three options were available: continue opposing the expansion, attempt to continue negotiations, or accept the current proposal. There was also an area to provide additionalcomments. Council president Tony Pero explained the survey total was 127 — with 20 people saying “take it as is,” 17 encouraging more negotiation and 90 people urging council continue fighting expansion.

“Old Forge’s primary concern has always been health and safety,” he said.

According to Pero, the proposed deal was negotiated with the aid of the borough’s environmental committee and included daily tonnage fees beginning at 67 cents per ton (advancing to $1.65 per ton in four years).

Additional benefits included 95-acre parcel of land known as the Stocki property once the proposed expansion was approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection and free garbage removal (the proposal is available online at www.triborobanner.com).

Prior to the vote, council listened as the public expressed concerns with the offer, namely the issue of host municipality status.

Pero called the state’s unwillingness to define Old Forge as a host municipality unconstitutional, especially because the proposed expansion potentially brings operations within 900 feet of a residential area.

According to copies of the proposed agreement provided by the borough and  Alliance Landfill, “Effective immediately, Alliance will consider the borough a host municipality as that term is defined by Act 101. Specifically, Alliance agrees to conform to the following requirements imposed on landfill operators by state law regarding host municipalities.”

At press time, Pero was not available for clarification.  

“According to the agreement Alliance says they will consider the borough a host municipality,” said councilman Brian Rinaldi in a phone interview. “It’s not what we’re getting, or not getting. It’s the rights.”

Rinaldi would not go into further detail with his clarification, citing the state Department of Environmental Protections’s (DEP) harms/benefits phase that concludes Monday, Feb. 22.

According to February bills, the borough has paid a $2,500 retainer fee to the Philadelpiha area law firm Hangley, Aronchick, Segal and Pudlin. Pero did state that the borough had enlisted the aid of a Philadelphia-based law firm to prepare its commentary for submission to DEP.

“The rejected agreement would have provided Old Forge with benefits greater than required for a host community as defined by state regulations,” said Alliance spokesman John Hambrose. “Those regulations define a host community as a community where waste is placed and Alliance has not proposed placing waste in Old Forge.”
 

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