To the Editor,
This editorial is in response to actions by the Washington County Hanover Township Supervisors and Jesse White, the PA State Representative for the 46th district, who oppose completion of the planned township sewage project. Their recent actions negatively impact every resident, business, and church dwelling in this township, especially those in Paris, that are already hooked into sewage.
In an attempt to covertly delay construction of the sewage project, a special meeting was arranged and held by the township supervisors on May 7, at 4 p.m. to vote on appealing the DEP Order to complete Phase II of the project. The supervisors voted 3 to 2 in favor of appealing, effectively delaying the project. Don Winkler, Al Contumelio and Nancy Voelker voted in favor of the appeal, while Dave Deurr and Herb Grubbs voted against it. Thus, no motion was made to cosign the documents necessary to approve the 30-year 1 percent loan funding, which also jeopardizes $900,000 in grant money, both from Pennvest, awarded for the sewage project.
State Representative Jesse White publicly applauded their actions and supports the supervisors' intended legal battle with the DEP. Mr. White is doing irreparable harm to this township by putting his own personal agenda of pandering for votes ahead of what is in the best interests of our township. He represents himself more like a Hanover Township elected official than a State Representative. Jesse White previously stated that tap-in fees in Cecil, where he resides, were in excess of $6,000. What he failed to mention was that the same E-One system operating in Paris is also employed in the Cecil Township sewage plan with far fewer pumps, so perhaps, the Hanover Township sewage plan isn't quite as bad as he states. Which raises the question: Is Jesse White attempting to undermine our Hanover Township sewage project and capture grant money we may lose in order to channel it to Cecil Township?
To start all over, as the supervisors propose to do, is utter nonsense, ill-fated, and guaranteed to cost even more, regardless of the outcome of their appeal. Derailing the current plan now would do a great disservice to this community. The fiscal well-being of both the sewer authority and that of Hanover Township are at stake.
In order to dispel rumors and misinformation about Phase II construction, a meeting of concerned citizens is planned for 6:30 p.m. June 14, in the Old School House Building at Hanover Park to discuss the facts of the approved sewage plan and the dire consequences of the supervisors' non-approved plan. In the interest of being informed, all residents are urged to attend, especially the township supervisors.
Also, please plan to attend the upcoming Hanover Township meeting on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. and demand fiscal responsibility from our elected officials. Convince them to "Do the right thing" for all the citizens of this township, by rescinding their vote to appeal the DEP Order, and keep this sewage project's costs at a minimum.
Dennis D. Carulli
Paris, Pa.
