Meeting Summaries

July 2025 - Board of Supervisors

July 9 - WM/GCSL Application to Request the Rezoning of 212 acres of Farm and Forest Land owned by Slate Springs Farms LLC, Gary Perin Manager, to create a 2nd Solid Waste Processing and Disposal District was submitted in September of 2024.

At the July 9, 2025 Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors meeting, a motion was made by Ken Field and seconded by Nolan Kemmerer to move forward with advertising for the public meetings to consider the adoption of three (3) Ordinances proposed by WM/GCSL. The motion passed with Ken Field, Nolan Kemmerer and Jonathan Itterly voting yes. Glenn Borger and Ken Fairchild voted no.

Township Solicitor David Backenstoe was directed to prepare the advertising with a projected hearing date of August 27th, 2025. As per the PA Municipalities Planning Code and Plainfield Township Code regulations, residents near the proposed area to be rezoned will be notified by mail and the property will be posted prior to the public hearing.

The proposed Ordinances are currently being reviewed by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and will also be on the agenda of the Plainfield Township Planning Commission in August. Strategic Solutions a third party planning agency was hired by the Board in April of 2025 to conduct a review of the submission. The report was due back on July 10th, 2025. The projected timeline leaves little time for the Board and public to properly review the reports prior to the public hearing.

May 2025 - Board of Supervisors

The Monroe County Waste Authority's Executive Director, Mike Stettler addressed the Board by stating his that his job is to have places for Monroe County's waste to go and the expansion isn't just about (Plainfield) residents. Maybe Waste Management has found the perfect partner to locate their next landfill in Monroe County? Instead of buying up property from Slate Spring Farms that is so close to residents, Waste Management should consider working with Monroe County Waste Authority to acquire property that is appropriately separated from residential areas in Monroe County.

Nolan Kemmerer made a motion to have an Economic Committee, the GKEDC, be an advisor to the Township for Economic Development. John Itterly seconded. Glenn Borger brought up that they have closed meetings that are not open to the public and they don't represent the Township. David Backenstoe noted they are a 501 c3 . This was not an agenda item and it wasn't voted on to add onto the agenda. Furthermore, the GKEDC brought the Township Synagro and wants the expansion. Without following proper meeting protocol and without withdrawing the prior motion, Nolan made a motion to amend the agenda and it was seconded by John Itterly. The vote was 4 yes 1 no (Glenn Borger.)

Nolan Kemmerer made a motion for him to get together with Pete Albanese and some other members of the GKEDC to discuss economic development. John Itterly seconded and it passed 4 yes 1 no (Glenn Borger.) It should be noted the planning commission recommended the formation of a public economic development commission, that would be bound to public accountability and transparency.

April 2025 - Board of Supervisors

On April 9th, the first meeting following the decision of the Planning Commission, there was a motion to hire Strategic Solutions to consult on the rezoning topic. The motion had no cap on costs or written scope for the engagement. Residents spoke loudly against hiring a 3rd party to provide a second opinion on the work of the planning commission on the taxpayers' dime, and the motion was tabled.

On April 24th, after vocal and nearly unanimous opposition from the community members in attendance once again, Jonathan Itterly, Ken Fairchild, Ken Field, and Nolan Kemmerer hastily voted to hire a third party consultant called Strategic Solutions to re-hash the work of the planning commission. Only Glenn Borger voted in opposition. These 4 members voted to leap into an agreement with Strategic Solutions with no cap on the cost to taxpayers, and with no defined scope in writing. In his remarks, Jonathan Itterly said "to me the scope is clear, the same as the planning commission."

Ken Field made the motion to accept Strategic Solutions' proposal in spite of the township solicitor obtaining two competing proposals for consideration that the board had received just days earlier with no opportunity for review. For a group that claims to want all the information possible, why are they moving so quickly into this agreement?

March 2025 - Planning Commission Meeting

On March 17, 2025, after months of meetings featuring presentations, deliberation, and public comment, the Planning Commission representing Wind Gap, Pen Argyl, & Plainfield Township recommended NOT approving Waste Management's proposal to expand their landfill by a 4-1 vote.

September 12, 2024

A letter and supporting documents were received by the Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors from Saul Ewing, LLP, regarding Grand Central Sanitary Landfill and Slate Spring Farms, LLC. The letter requested the Board consider initiating the required review process for the submitted amendments at the September 26, 2024 meeting. The proposal is for land to be rezoned from Farm and Forest to Solid waste Processing and Disposal.

In July of 2020 an application by WM/GCSL and Slate Springs Farms LLC to rezone the same land area was denied by the Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors.

October 23, 2024

The Board of Supervisors voted to send the application to the Plainfield Township Planning Commission for review and recommendation.

March 17, 2025

After months of meetings featuring presentations, deliberation, and public comment, the Planning Commission recommended NOT approving the WM/GCSL proposal to rezone land for a new Solid Waste Processing and Disposal District. by a 4-1 vote. The board of supervisors has not taken action based on the planning commission's recommendation yet, but they have taken some steps recently; bringing into question whether the board intends to respect the planning commission's decision, or circumvent them and find a path to approve the expansion anyway.

April 24th, 2025

After vocal and nearly unanimous opposition from the community members in attendance, Plainfield Township supervisors Jonathan Itterly, Ken Fairchild, Ken Field, and Nolan Kemmerer voted to hire a third party consultant called Strategic Solutions to re-hash the work of the planning commission. Only Glenn Borger voted in opposition. These 4 members voted to enter into an agreement with Strategic Solutions with no cap on the cost to taxpayers, and with no defined scope in writing. In his remarks, Jonathan Itterly said "to me the scope is clear, the same as the planning commission."

Ken Field made the motion to accept Strategic Solutions' proposal in spite of Township Solicitor David Backenstoe obtaining two competing proposals for consideration that the board had received just days earlier with no opportunity for review. When asked who recommended the firm the response was Keystone Consulting Engineers.

Strategic Solutions LLC is projected to submit the review of the rezoning request to Plainfield Township by July 10, 2025. After receipt of the review, the Board stated they intend to hold a public meeting.

July 9th, 2025

WM/GCSL Application to Request the Rezoning of 212 acres of Farm and Forest Land owned by Slate Springs Farms LLC, Gary Perin Manager, to create a 2nd Solid Waste Processing and Disposal District was submitted in September of 2024.

At the July 9, 2025 Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors meeting, a motion was made by Ken Field and seconded by Nolan Kemmerer to move forward with advertising for the public meetings to consider the adoption of three (3) Ordinances proposed by WM/GCSL. The motion passed with Ken Field, Nolan Kemmerer and Jonathan Itterly voting yes. Glenn Borger and Ken Fairchild voted no.

Township Solicitor David Backenstoe was directed to prepare the advertising with a projected hearing date of August 27th, 2025. As per the PA Municipalities Planning Code and Plainfield Township Code regulations, residents near the proposed area to be rezoned will be notified by mail and the property will be posted prior to the public hearing.

The proposed Ordinances are currently being reviewed by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and will also be on the agenda of the Plainfield Township Planning Commission in August. Strategic Solutions a third party planning agency was hired by the Board in April of 2025 to conduct a review of the submission. The report was due back on July 10th, 2025. The projected timeline leaves little time for the Board and public to properly review the reports prior to the public hearing.

July 27, 2025

LV Planning Commission reviews rezoning plan: "On so many levels, this is just wrong"

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) and other concerned parties voiced significant opposition to Plainfield Township's proposed rezoning plan for a landfill. The commission's primary concern was the change from conditional to "by-right" use for landfills, which they believe is a "counterindication to the health, safety and welfare of the community." The LVPC also recommended that the township reevaluate the plan to better preserve farmlands, consider the historical and regional impacts of the landfill, and conduct an independent environmental study of the proposed expansion.