Last month, I told you that Upper Mount Bethel Tp (UMBT) is seeking an extension of a tax break known as a LERTA for an industrial tract owned by developer RPL (Lou Pektor). Two NorCo Council members who actually live in the slate belt - John Goffredo and Tom Giovanni - claim it's needed because, economically, the area is struggling. UMBT Manager Ed Nelson said there's no jobs for kids who graduate from school. There has been a lot of opposition to this proposal, however, from UMBT residents who commute to their jobs and like the idea of one-lane bridges. They worry about warehouses, truck traffic and a deterioration of their rural lifestyles. Northampton County Council is set to vote on an extension this weak, but Council member John Cusick has suggested a compromise.
"At our Council meeting on Thursday, I will be introducing an amendment to the proposed UMBT LERTA extension. This idea was initially suggested by a participant during public comment and letter to the editor. I think it's a reasonable compromise. It would maintain the tax breaks on the old power plant properties which truly can be considered "deteriorated" without incentivizing the greenfield portion of the development.
"Hopefully I can get a second for discussion and a vote."
4 comments:
This is a good suggestion. I would add a clause prohibiting warehouses in the RPL area. If Pektor is telling the truth he won’t object . Cusick knows how to govern. I’m a Democrat and he has my vote in the fall.
Is this a political gambit for this Fall? Everything he writes will now be the magma Carta and everything he says will be the Gettysburg address, since you love the guy.
If Zarinski were political smart she would add the no warehouse amendment
If professional protesting was a full-time job. UMBT would have zero unemployment.
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