Robinson supervisors seek ruling
After hearing concerns from citizens, the Robinson Township Board of Supervisors voted Thursday to have an ethics panel review the ability of Chairman Rodger Kendall and Supervisor Stephen Duran to vote on amendments to the new zoning ordinance and zoning maps.
Thursday’s meeting focused on issues dating to decisions made in December by the township’s old board, which angered and raised concerns among some residents.
Kendall said members of the community had raised the idea that he and Duran stood to gain “something personal” from the new amendments because Kendall has a Marcellus Shale gas well on his property and a family member of Duran has a gas lease.
“We have to be able to vote, but we are trying to avoid conflict,” Kendall said. “We have to be able to pass an ordinance.”
The board has three members, and two votes are required to take action.
Kendall said a letter will be prepared by the township’s solicitor and sent to the state Ethics Committee. A response is expected within seven to 21 days.
Additionally, the board voted to set a public hearing June 2 on the new amendments to the township’s zoning ordinance and zoning map. However, Kendall said it was too early to tell if the board would be voting that day.
“It depends on the Ethics Committee response,” he said. “I will not vote until I have approval or disapproval.”
Kendall, who wrote the ordinance himself and then personally paid to have an attorney review it before he submitted it to the township solicitor, said the hearing would include public comment and discussions.
“And, if need be, we will set another date (to vote),” he said.
It also was decided Thursday to have the new amendment reviewed to ensure changes match with portions of Act 13, the law governing oil and gas drilling in the state.
Kendall said the process should be simple.
The new ordinance will “simplify the process by correcting definitions” and clarifying zoning districts, Kendall said. He said the new amendments will allow both conditional and permitted drilling, depending on the district.
“The original ordinance had conditional use in all districts. Then a new one was passed that made special exceptions,” he said. “The permitted use is not in the middle of the general residential areas. Companies aren’t trying to put wells there.”
While many of the more than 30 residents in attendance seemed to have concerns over the new amendments, some felt the board was trying to help rebuild the area.
Township resident John Campbell said the oil and gas industry is here to stay. He thinks the township should embrace it.
“I’m glad that they are having the Ethics Committee get involved for their own safety,” he said. “But we keep hearing the same thing from the same people. And it’s from a few people against the oil and gas industry.”
Andrew Zimmer said he’d be eagerly awaiting the public hearing.
“If we open the township up to the oil and gas industry without regulations, the damage will be beyond belief,” he said.
Kendall said the new amendments will be available for public review at the township building.