Township to collect higher landfill fees

EXETER TOWNSHIP >> Exeter Township on Monday adopted an amendment to its 19-year-old host agreement with the Pioneer Crossing Landfill.

Under the newly negotiated agreement, the township will receive $2.35 per ton of waste, an increase of 10 cents per ton.

Township supervisors praised the deal as a financial benefit to the township, since the per-tonnage hike will increase revenue $40,000 a year.

In addition, the agreement calls for Pioneer Crossing to donate $1 million toward the construction of a new central fire station for the township, and to donate a further $60,000 annually to a local organization that benefits residents.

“This shows that we are business savvy,” said John Cusatis, supervisors’ chairman. “This is a really great deal going forward, and it will mean less tax dollars needed to build a central station.”

“I had asked if we could be aware of the negotiations for an amendment to the host agreement, and if there could be a public meeting on this. We (residents) were totally ignored. We had a right to put our 2 cents in. You took an illegal vote tonight.” — Stonehenge Drive resident Michelle Kircher

Stonehenge Drive resident Michelle Kircher, a former supervisor and current supervisor candidate, took a different stance.

“I had asked if we could be aware of the negotiations for an amendment to the host agreement, and if there could be a public meeting on this,” Kircher said. “We (residents) were totally ignored. We had a right to put our 2 cents in. You took an illegal vote tonight.”

Kircher went on to criticize the rate hike.

“Ten cents a ton more is an insult to our municipality,” she said.

Kircher also criticized the process, calling Supervisor Vincent Biancone unqualified to negotiate a deal.

Bill Fox, an attorney representing the landfill, brushed off the criticism, saying Kircher has historically been an opponent of both the landfill and its owner, Pat Mascaro, and his family.

Mascaro thanked the supervisors for being straightforward in a nononsense negotiation.

“I want the public to know that the township came to me seeking more money from my operation,” Mascaro said. “I would have needed nothing from the township for the next 25 years, but I thought about my children and grandchildren, and wanted to make sure they didn’t have to come to these types of meetings.”

Mascaro then called the current board forwardthinking and progressive.

“I am impressed by how business-oriented this board is,” he said. “That is a good sign and I intend on being a friend to Exeter Township.”

A press release issued by the township Monday night called its relationship with Pioneer Crossing a strong public-private partnership.

“This agreement serves as a long-term commitment on both sides to continuing the mutually beneficial relationship well into the future,” the release said.

Pioneer Crossing has made more than $9 million in local charitable contributions and donated more than $8 million in scholarships for needy students and supplemental education over the past 20 years.

Fireworks ordinance

In another matter Monday, the supervisors approved an ordinance to align the township’s use of fireworks with state law. The ordinance sets a limit of no more than an hour for a resident to conduct a consumer-grade fireworks display.

Should any resident want to have a longer display, he or she must seek permission from the supervisors.

Also, the supervisors set Halloween trick-or-treating on Oct. 31 from 5 to 9 p.m.