POLAND TOWNSHIP Landfill plan sparks concern

Dirty roads and money distribution top the concerns residents have.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- Many township residents are upset with a proposed amendment to the township's agreement with Browning Ferris Industries over the Carbon Limestone Landfill here and are telling trustees how they feel.
BFI, the landfill owner, is looking to bring more long-haul trash to the dump. The company has offered a compensation package worth about $231,000 to the township should the proposal go forward.
The Poland Baseball Association would receive about $1,000 and an additional $30,000 would go to the creation of an indoor baseball-sports facility. Township resident Andrea Wood questioned Trustee Mark Naples' involvement with the league. Naples is a member of the baseball association's board.
Wood asked trustees if they see a a conflict of interest in Naples' discussing the proposal with BFI while sitting on the baseball association board.
Naples and Trustee Franklin Bennett said Naples has no personal stake in the agreement. They said trustees are looking to see what the company is offering the township and are asking for input from residents to determine the appropriate uses for any additional funds.
Here's the discussion: Wood and several other residents, however, say the company's proposal is not beneficial to the entire township. Wood said the money could be better used to create a park. A Styme Road woman agreed, saying the community could also use a pool.
"I am advocating a lot more discussion about this and if they [BFI] want an increase in tonnage, then I say whatever value the township gets should be spread equally throughout the township so all the citizens get value from it," Wood said.
Trustees said what one resident feels is an appropriate use for the money may not be shared by the community at large. They said they are looking to do what is best for the entire township.
Resident John Kotchmar of Center Road also voiced concern about the potential amendment. He said this could be the opportunity the company was looking for to "open up" the contract.
Trustees reiterated that the company only wants to increase the long-haul trash, from outside a 150-mile radius. There would be no increase in the overall trash amount, they said.
Another concern: Kotchmar also said a tremendous amount of mud is pulled from the dump by trucks and turns to dust when it dries out.
Police Chief Carl Massullo said officials are aware of the complaints from residents and said the landfill must be held accountable for all its actions.
"I have seen that roadway become a mess, quite frankly, because they [BFI] have not done the work they have done in the past," he said. "The condition of the roadway is an important issue for law enforcement."
Trustees say discussions are still in the preliminary stages.