EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County Council passed an emergency resolution Thursday to seek to intervene in zoning hearings regarding Bethlehem Landfill’s proposed expansion.
- Northampton County will seek to participate in zoning hearings for Bethlehem Landfill’s proposed expansion
- County Executive Lamont McClure and members of the council said they oppose the expansion
- An emergency resolution authorizing McClure to seek party status passed unanimously Thursday night
The resolution, passed unanimously, spells out the county’s opposition to the expansion and authorizes County Executive Lamont McClure to represent the county as a party in zoning hearings, which gives the county a right to participate.
Bethlehem Landfill in Lower Saucon Township is seeking to nearly double its size, thereby extending its useful life span by decades.
To expand, it needs permission from the township under its zoning rules. Zoning hearings in the matter began last week.
More than a dozen opponents of landfill expansion spoke Tuesday, imploring the council to seek "party status," or approval to participate in the hearings.
A representative from Hellertown Borough Council asked the council to seek party status; Bethlehem Township Council submitted a letter asking the same. Both municipalities already are parties to the hearing.
“The phrase party status is somewhat of a misnomer," council solicitor Chris Spadoni said. "It is standing that you have a direct and relational interest [in] the application.
“You can participate, you can cross-examine [witnesses], you could present evidence, you can present documents.”
A quiet celebration
The measure was not on the meeting’s posted agenda; several landfill opponents who spoke said they had only heard about it earlier Tuesday afternoon.
Typically, for the council to consider new legislation, it must appear on a publicly posted agenda 24 hours before the meeting. McClure said that because of an approaching March 9 deadline to seek party status, the resolution constituted an emergency, and needed to be voted on that night.
“What your commissioners did was they handed over their wallets before they were even mugged.”Northampton County Commissioner John Cusick
Landfill opponents in the audience quietly celebrated every step the measure took forward: Some swapped hopeful glances as the council voted to add the measure to their agenda while others squeezed a neighbor’s hand as commissioners expressed support.
As the vote approached, when Council Vice President Ron Heckman commented that the measure seemed likely to pass, a murmur went across the room with a few small gasps.
“What your commissioners did was they handed over their wallets before they were even mugged,” Commissioner John Cusick said.
“The zoning change is the most important thing in your disposal when you are a local municipal official, and it seems to me, essentially, that they gave that away."
Council President Kerry Meyers said, “It's a simple fact that the folks that represent you beat the hell out of you.”
When the resolution finally passed, its supporters rose to their feet in applause, many with tears in their eyes.
