Landfill impasse could reach resolution Weds.; Solicitors to meet

RINGTOWN – The impasse keeping millions in North Schuylkill Landfill Association funds in limbo could be resolved as soon as Wednesday.

Nine solicitors representing the association’s member municipalities are set to meet Wednesday, according to Robert Matta, solicitor for Union Township and Ringtown. He provided an update at Tuesday night’s Union Township Supervisors meeting.

“There’s a proposal on the table to try to resolve this and get everybody their money without the need for litigation — lengthy litigation and costly litigation,” Matta said. “There’s going to be a discussion, everybody’s going to be involved either in person or via Zoom.”

“I’m going to cross my fingers,” Matta added. “We could really use the money. Every municipality who are members of the North Schuylkill Landfill Association could use the money. Otherwise, it’s going to get tied up.”

The North Schuylkill Landfill Association has existed in limbo since the landfill itself closed in 1990 and the transfer station built at the site was sold in 2010.

The association has been working toward winding down and dissolving. It has just over $3.5 Million on hand that it plans to split evenly between the 17 member municipalities. The payment would be around $203,000, Matta said Tuesday night.

All but four municipalities are considered charter,” or full members. Four — Ashland, Gordon, Butler Township, and McAdoo — are not.

Charter members of the association are Delano Township, East Union Township, Frackville, Gilberton, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Ringtown, Rush Township, Ryan Township, Shenandoah, Union Township, and West Mahanoy Township.

At issue, Matta said, is that Frackville believes the four charter members should only receive proceeds related to the proceeds from the 2010 sale of the North Schuylkill Transfer Station, and not from the landfill itself.

The North Schuylkill Landfill Association itself says its delegates previously voted to distribute the funds equally to every member.

“Presently, some municipalities feel they are entitled to more money,” a statement provided to the Sentinel, attributed to the NSLA’s officers, says.

“The NSLA agrees to not distribute any money at this time until all municipalities agree to equal shares,” the statement adds. It is unclear if a full association vote was taken. “The money sat in the bank for 34 years, so it can sit in the bank for another 34 years.”

The Shenandoah Sentinel was the ONLY local news source at this Union Township Supervisors meeting. The Sentinel has also been the ONLY news source covering both the North Schuylkill Landfill Association impasse from the start, as well as Union Township Supervisors for several years. If you find value in our reporting and in knowing what YOUR local elected leaders are doing, PLEASE consider contributing to our efforts via Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee.

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