JACKSON TWP. — Residential concerns about American Asphalt blasting has proceeded to ligation, keeping supervisors tight-lipped Monday.
Last month, Jackson Township solicitor Jeffrey Malak was authorized to pursue growing residential concerns regarding reported falling debris caused by blasting at the Chase Road quarry, as well as the alleged alteration of a court-ordered natural buffer zone, a strip of land between the active quarry and residential area.
Malak reported Monday the issue is now a legal case and supervisors are prohibited from discussing it in public.
Ed Chesnovitch, a resident and a founding member of the American Asphalt Citizens Advisory Committee, questioned John Wilkes Jr., supervisor chairman, on whether the municipal received a letter from American Asphalt owner Bernard Banks Jr.
Wilkes declined, citing under legal advisement from Malak he cannot commit on any correspondence with Banks.
In other news …
• Supervisors agreed to pass along a rate hike of $12 from the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority and a $4.50 increase from the Dallas Area Municipal Authority. The new rates will be effective January 2016.
Supervisor Al Fox, supervisor vice chairman, said both organizations raised their fees last year.
• Supervisors authorized a pay rate of $15.50 for the township’s four part-time police officers, effective Dec. 1.
Jackson Township supervisors will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, to pass the 2017 municipal budget.
Supervisors are planning a reorganization meeting on Jan. 3. Wilkes said a time would be set and advertised after the supervisors check their schedules.
