Why Can’t They Get Along in Middle?

COURT HOUSE — The Middle Township governing body and the citizens that attend its fortnightly meetings aren’t playing nicely together.
The groups are at odds over several ongoing issues, which has led to raised voices, interruptions or terse responses to questions at several township committee meetings.
At Monday’s meeting, committee got through a 26-item agenda approving an ordinance and numerous resolutions without any fireworks, but after the public portion began tempers flared.
Dan Lockwood, a Republican candidate running against Mayor F. Nathan Doughty in the upcoming November election, was the first to speak.
Lockwood questioned an agenda item regarding the payment of the township’s bills. The item listed a tally of $27,452 in the dedicated trust and $2,788,683 in the current account, but Lockwood asked for an itemized list of checks written by the township.
“It must be the accounting background in me,” he said noting that a look at the monthly bill payments might help him understand the fiscal budget numbers more clearly.
Township Administrator James Alexis told Lockwood that the monthly list of bills was several pages long. He suggested that Lockwood come to township hall and submit an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request to view the list.
Carole Mattessich – an attorney who represents her husband, township Tax Assessor Joseph Ravitz, in a lawsuit against the township – seconded Lockwood’s request.
Mattessich said she too would like an opportunity to review the monthly checks. She suggested that if it was too costly to reproduce the list with each agenda, committee could provide one copy for those interested to review before meetings.
“We’ll take that under advisement,” Doughty replied to her suggestion.
That wasn’t enough for the attorney.
“When can I expect an answer?” Mattessich pushed. “Can I expect an answer by the next meeting in two weeks?”
The mayor had enough.
“No!” Doughty said. “What did I say the first time? We’ll take it under advisement.”
“I find that an unacceptable and rude answer,” Mattessich responded.
Ralph and Lois Shuman belong to a group that opposes a mining and recycling facility application by Albrecht and Heun before the Middle Township Zoning Board.
The Shumans are passionate about their cause and often make lengthy, sometimes repetitive comments and questions at meetings, much to the chagrin of committee members.
On Monday, their questions to township Engineer Vince Orlando related to a host community benefit agreement between the township and Albrecht and Heun in which the company agreed to pay the township $1 per ton of recycled material taken into its current site on Goshen Road here.
Township Solicitor James Pickering instructed Orlando not to respond to question regarding the host community benefit because it is a matter of pending litigation, but Committeeman Steve Barry attempted to answer their questions.
Barry referred to a recent Herald story dealing with the host community benefit agreement. He said that there was a mix up between the recycling company and the township in which the calculation for the benefit program was changed without approval from the township.
Albrecht and Heun had been calculating the benefit by the amount of material taken out of the site when the agreement specified material taken into the site. This change led to a shortage to the township of over $200,000 over several years, he said.
The Shumans suggested the company must have huge stockpiles of material onsite.
When Barry was attempting to explain how a difference between the incoming and outgoing recycled material could be explained, he was interrupted by an aside comment from Lois Shuman.
Barry refused to finish his answer and the mayor took questions from several other citizens before Barry continued. Barry said he was sorry if his technique of refusing to talk after being interrupted was harsh, but he found it necessary when dealing with children.
Barry said Shuman must not have wanted to hear his answer because instead of listening she was talking.
“When you’re interested, you listen carefully,” the committeeman said.
Middle Township Committee meets here regularly on the first and third Mondays of each month at Township Hall, 33 Mechanic St. The next meeting is scheduled for July 21.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com