Where I stand on issues that concern Plainfield Township citizens

The four candidates for two seats on the Board of Supervisors were requested to respond to four questions, asked by a local news reporter.  Since there is no guarantee there will be a news article that includes my responses, I am posting them here, verbatim.  There was a 100-word limit to each response.

1. What types of businesses would you like to see generating tax revenue and jobs in the township?

Our light industrial zone had been underutilized until a light manufacturer redeveloped lots on Engler Road and Bangor Road, which are planned to provide 50 to 70 good paying jobs.  I worked hard as a citizen to have the township adhere to its ordinances and not allow nuisance businesses that were not permitted by zoning to continue to operate or to develop these sites.  As a result, they were available and a world-class facility has replaced the destroyed NICOS building.  I would like to see more light manufacturers locate in the township.  

2. If elected (or re-elected), how would you help bring those businesses here?

I did an analysis six years ago, which showed that relatively little land is zoned or available in the township for commercial or light industrial use.  If elected, I would propose looking at strategically rezoning select land near city water and/or sewer, to make additional sites available.  I assisted the partner of the company that redeveloped the Speck Plastics property, by interfacing with officials in both Bushkill Township and our Township, and determining that the proposed use complied with all applicable ordinances.  The Zoning Office had errantly informed two previous applicants that their proposed uses were not permitted.

3. And how would you help ensure they don’t harm open space or quality of life?

 In 2020, Waste Management requested and was denied rezoning of 211 acres of farmland to solid waste, so that a new landfill may be created when the current space allotted has been consumed in 2028.  The Supervisors felt that the Township has done its Fair Share to provide for solid waste disposal, and I agree.  A Trust Fund forecast to be approximately $20m when the landfill closes could replace lost revenue for 15 to 20 years.  If elected, no special interests or conflicts of interest will cloud my judgment of what is best for the citizens of Plainfield Township.

4. What’s your background (job, any current and/or former elected and/or appointed positions held, volunteerism, etc.)?

 I spent half my professional career as a high school teacher of mathematics and multimedia design, and half as a systems engineer in the fields of consumer telephony and aerospace.  I have served on the township Environmental Advisory Council and Zoning Hearing Board.  I was also appointed to and elected Chairman of the Eldred Township Parks Committee.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Waste Management holds informational meeting to promote rezoning proposal rejected two years ago

Image
  A week ago, Waste Management sent a mailer to the citizens of Pen Argyl, Wind Gap and Plainfield Township, extending an invitation to an informational meeting on June 21 st to explain a request that Plainfield Township expand its solid waste zoning district by 211 acres so that Grand Central Sanitary Landfill may install a second landfill across Pen Argyl Road from the existing one. Waste Management Mailer, inviting citizens to attend meeting to explain proposal that was officially rejected two years ago  Missing from Waste Management’s invitation, and related materials on its website, is the fact that this request was officially rejected almost two years ago in a 3-0-2 vote on July 8, 2020 by Plainfield Township supervisors following discussion at two lengthy in-person public meetings.  No modified request has been submitted.  The supervisors who voted against expansion are all senior natives of this area – they are not what some refer to as “transplants” from NY or NJ.   These su
Read more

Election topic: Attracting new businesses to Plainfield Township

Image
ASGCO Manufacturing Headquarters, grand opening in August 2021 at 730 Bangor Road  In a certain circle in this area of the Slate Belt, you will hear grumbling that "Plainfield Township is not friendly to new businesses."  This false claim was repeated by Bob Cornman, another of the candidates in the election for township supervisor in an article published a few days ago in the Morning Call.  This is a narrative that simply does not fit the facts. Exhibit A is the newly constructed ASGCO Headquarters building at 730 Bangor Road, Plainfield Township, the site of the former NICOS Polymers Recycling business.  ASGCO is a light manufacturer of conveying products, and this site is in the township's light industrial zoning district.  The NICOS Polymers bulk recycling business was previously located here.  NICOS had constructed a spec building permitted as a "Commercial Use", and did not originally intend to have a bulk recycling use - which is not permitted in the lig
Read more

Election Topic - the Economics of a Landfill, the Importance of Avoiding Conflict of Interest, and Who's Garbage is That, Anyway?

Image
The financial stakes for the planned closure of Grand Central Sanitary Landfill as it consumes the last available portion of space that was carefully planned and zoned for solid waste disposal are huge.  Let's look at 2009, the latest year for which statistics are publicly available for the amount of waste generated by Northampton County, disposed of in the landfill. The Northampton County Municipal Waste Management Plan 2010-2020 shows that in 2009, 43,046 tons of municipal solid waste generated in the county were disposed of at GCSL.  The Plan also shows that tipping fees received by GCSL were $105 per ton. For that year, Plainfield Township records reflect that 371,290 tons of solid waste were disposed of in the landfill.  Since the landfill operates roughly 5-1/2 days a week, this works out to 1298 tons per day.  At $105 per ton, the 2009 average daily income for an operating day is $136,290, and the income for 2009 is $38,985,450. It should be noted that in 2009 a decline in w
Read more