It is a Man's World in South Strabane Township

It’s a man’s world in South Strabane Township

By Judi Panasik
The Weekly Recorder
April 25, 2008

As always the South Strabane Township Meeting on Wednesday April 23, was mind numbing. And keeping true to form there were several questionable votes cast for motions and appointments to positions.

The evening started with resident Burt Barale, who asked what was going to happen to the huge heaping pile of dirt and the wall that were the result of the Premier project, The Foundry, now that the company has gone bankrupt. The township wasn’t sure but was waiting to hear back from Premier.

In the past Barale, whose home is across from the project, has stated concern for the piles of dirt as they were turning into mountains. Barale has asked in the past if that township could do anything about this, to which he has been told no. There was a bond on the project but it was released after that portion of the project was done.

The supervisors stated that the land was Premiers and they could do with it what they wanted regarding the dirt.

Another resident asked if the township can have ordinance’s that state lawns can not be more than 8 inches high, why couldn’t the township make ordinances regarding commercial land. If residents own their land why can’t they do what they want with it? Why are companies allowed to do what they want with their land but residents can’t?

Resident John Richmond was denied rezoning of his land from residential to commercial. Richmond owns the home that sits on the corner of Wal-Mart and the park and ride, is surrounded by commercial land but is not allowed to have his rezoned. The land across from Richmonds, which he sold to Charlori Federal, is zoned R-4 which is a residential area that allows for banks because they are not considered commercial.

Richmond was told that by zoning his land commercial there may be too much congestion at the intersection. The intersection is already a hot spot for accidents and looks to be an even bigger on in the future. Charlori Federal has been approved by PennDot, with much concern from residents, to have a left turn out of the bank. The turn is going to be right next to the yield sign coming off of Lakeview Road.

As Supervisor Bob Hollick went on a tirade, as he often does with residents, he may have made a statement that could lead to a court case regarding Richmond’s property. Richmond’s lawyer was present that evening. Hollick was upset that a resident stated the board did nothing when residents showed concerns months ago when they were voting on approving the project. The supervisors claim they couldn’t deny Charlori Federal, who was also made aware of the concerns but stated they didn’t feel they should have to purchase the land behind their project to provide a way out to Lakeview instead.

The question may end up being how much is someone’s life worth as accidents occur. The township, PennDot and Charleroi Federal were all made aware of residents concerns, but allowed the project to continue.

Because the townships planning commission approved the project, the supervisors said they had to approve it. Which leads to the next decision of the evening.

For a township that claims they want resident involvement they chose to replace Supervisor Tony Zelenka with someone who already sits on one of there boards.

Dan Piatt, the Chairman of the Planning Commission that approved the aforementioned project, was appointed the new township supervisor over six other candidates, three of which were women.

Supervisor Ed Mazur first nominated Paula Phillis, who was seconded by Supervisor Tom Moore. However upon the vote Supervisors Hollick and Bob Koman voted against Phillis. Piatt was then nominated and approved.

Phillis was one of the first people to come forward years ago regarding the Victory Center Project. Without her families knowledge their property was in the original TIF. Phillis has been involved with the TIF and is a resident that will stand up to the board. Because she speaks her mind and tends to question developers may be a reason Phillis did not garner the votes. Or is she just not part of the boys club?

Resident Sheri Blackburn, who came in a very close second to Moore in last years election for supervisor without putting up one sign was also one of the candidates.

Blackburn comes to various township meetings and is very involved locally with charities.

Koman said that he had no problem with Phillis but felt that appointing Piatt was like appointing someone from inside the business.

But isn’t the point to get more people involved? And someone who doesn’t make decisions on a board that they supervisors may not approve of? If that’s the case why not place all the supervisors on all boards and stop holding elections.

Or maybe like this country, some members of the board aren’t ready to work with a woman?

But as always the evening was filled with questionable decisions.

An attorney for CATIF, the group that opposed the TIF, came before the board to explain to them that the TIF that had been approved by the former board was not the TIF that currently existed.

Koman is the only member left from the board that voted on the TIF. Koman had voted against it, but many have wondered if he did so because he knew it was going to pass anyway but that the public was against it.
CATIF’s attorney asked that on May 6th, when one of two lawsuits goes before the court, the township ask that the Washington Redevelopment Authority redraft a TIF that reflects what actually happened as opposed to what they said was going to happen.

Currently the TIF states very specific dates and plans that will support the TIF. It states that the three taxing bodies, Trinity School Board, South Strabane Township and Washington County are willing to give up 80% of the taxes for at least 20 years. CATIF’s attorney told them that according to the current plan they can ask for an extension of the TIF and that more of the tax money than originally thought could go to the project.

The TIF was supposed to be giving up taxes for bonds over $14 million in value and a NID that would be the sale of over $12 million in bonds for a project costing over $350 million dollar. Tanger Outlets, which she described as the lamb of the project and estimated as only a $73 million project has taken more than $23 million of bonds that were only supposed to be about $26 million total. The question is what will there be left for Bass Pro?

The attorney gave a very specific account of what happened and what she felt was going to happen.

Mazur, who is a member of CATIF and a supervisor had issues being involved with any decision by the board. Mazur was allowed to ask that the board hold an executive session, but was not allowed to attend any discussion on the matter with South Strabanes Attorney Tom Lonich.

Lonich was very careful to explain to the board what was being asked and what was going on regarding Mazur.

All that was being looked for was a discussion, but both Hollick and Koman voted against the executive session. By doing this there was no way for the board to discuss the matter before the court date.

Some residents questioned if the reason Koman choose to hold off was his need to talk to others to get advice before making a decision on his own. Koman said that he needed paperwork, but like most things Koman says, it was not clear what he meant.

When asked if he had a copy of the TIF and the legal brief on the lawsuit Koman said yes. When asked if he read it he stated yes to the TIF and some to the brief.

Apparently there is some paperwork that Lonich has given Township Manager John Stickle, but has not been passed to the supervisors. When asked why not retrieve that info since it should be in the building there was really no answer. Koman said he wanted paperwork on exactly what she told them.

Since Koman has been involved in the project from the beginning he should not only know the TIF but the differences the attorney was talking about, if he’s been paying attention. All they had to do in executive session was hear out Lonich as to the legality the other