Windfall from landfill association wind-up roadblocked by one borough, three members say
RINGTOWN – Seventeen municipalities were set to receive a more than $200,000 windfall from the imminent wind-down of the North Schuylkill Landfill Association. That’s come to a grinding halt as three municipalities said this week that one had put up a ‘roadblock.’
The North Schuylkill Landfill Association has existed in limbo since the landfill itself closed in 1990 and the transfer station built at the site was sold in 2010.
The association has been working toward winding down and dissolving. It has just over $3.5 Million on hand that it plans to split evenly between the 17 member municipalities.
All but four are considered “charter,” or full members. Four — Ashland, Gordon, Butler Township, and McAdoo — are not.
Last year, the association approved the split between all members and have been working, with the help of Ashland Solicitor Jack Price, to close the organization.
As each regulatory hurdle was cleared, the organization moved closer to a closure though, officials at Shenandoah, Ringtown, and Union Township all said this week that one member has put up a roadblock.
“From what I understand, Frackville is the hold-up,” Robert Matta, solicitor for Ringtown and Union Township, said at Tuesday’s Union Township meeting. “All the other municipalities have approved the distribution. To Union Township, it’s a little over $205,000. But now Frackville has put up a roadblock and they are challenging the non-charter municipalities.”
“Frackville is saying they shouldn’t be able to participate in the monies that are to be distributed,” Matta said. “Everybody is in the same boat waiting for this money to be distributed.”
Matta said that, worst case scenario, the distribution is delayed by up to a year and is reviewed by a court, cutting into the proceeds for all 17 municipalities.
For some members, like Union Township and Gilberton Borough, $200,000 is a massive amount compared to their budget, Matta said.
Union Township Supervisors Chairman and North Schuylkill Landfill President David Briggs said that the organization’s bylaws make non-charter, or limited members, full members after three years.
“I just don’t know why,” Briggs said. “I don’t know why [they are] not happy with $205,000.”
Ringtown Borough Council Vice President Tom Murray, at their meeting, recalled a landfill association meeting where all but two municipalities — Frackville being one that was absent — where the distribution was approved.
“I don’t know how Frackville can hold off,” Murray said recalling the vote.
Council President Len Kamarousky said the difference between including the non-charters and excluding them is about $20,000.
“Instead of $220,000, we would get $202,000, handed to us,” Kamarousky said. “What’s the big deal?”
“For each of those 17 boroughs to get $200,000 as a gift for being members of an association, what’s the sting,” Kamarousky asked.
Shenandoah Mayor Andrew Szczyglak also discussed the matter at Monday’s borough council workshop, which was a public meeting.
Frackville Borough Council meets Thursday at 7pm.
Charter members of the association are Delano Township, East Union Township, Frackville, Gilberton, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Ringtown, Rush Township, Ryan Township, Shenandoah, Union Township, and West Mahanoy Township.
Non-Charter members are McAdoo, Ashland, Gordon, and Butler Township.
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