Robinson appoints special legal council
Robinson Township Board of Supervisors voted to appoint special legal council for the ongoing land usage application issues dealing with Range Resources.
Debate over the zoning permit issuance for gas well pads intended to be used for hydraulic fracturing operations have continued through previous board meetings. The special meeting took place before the scheduled planning commission meeting Monday night.
In a letter addressed to the board, Robinson solicitor John Smith advised the move because he currently is representing several individuals who live in close proximity to a Range well site that is the subject of a lawsuit.
“While I firmly believe that I could continue to represent the board with requisite diligence and zeal on these conditional use applications, my concern is that these new circumstances … (may) potentially be painted in a negative light or be perceived as biased, regardless of how the board ultimately rules. To be certain, I do not believe there is a conflict of interest with my representation of Robinson Township with this matter.”
Smith is acting as lawyer for a lawsuit against Range Resources that includes residents of Amwell Township.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Jonathan Kamin of the law firm Goldberg, Kamin and Garvin as special legal council for the two pending ordinance decisions involving Range Resources. Kamin currently acts as solicitor for 14 municipalities including South Fayette.
Final decisions regarding the Range well pads were tabled during the scheduled supervisor’s meeting January 14 when representatives from the energy company were not in attendance.