Editor:
On Jan. 10, Councilman Dion Guthrie introduced two amendments for the Trash Transfer Bill that would have allowed for a transfer station to be placed at a mandatory 500 feet away from a residential area instead of the 150 feet as in the original bill. This past fall, the county executive moved to purchase a piece of land for the transfer station off of Route 7. The intent of the purchase was made without the consultation of the homeowners in Joppa. When Mr. Guthrie asked for an appraisal of the land, the county executive's went on record to say an appraisal was not required. This is astounding to me, especially after the same office touted its $32 million budget surplus from the 2010-2011 fiscal year as a result of fiscal conservation that I applauded.
The county council had a number of opportunities to seek more information from the county executive's office, and this past Jan. 10, the council had the opportunity to listen to the complaints and grievances of the residents of Joppa.
The bill Mr. Guthrie sought to amend introduced by Council Members Mary-Ann Lisanti and Joseph Woods. When given the opportunity to question the amendment regarding the increased buffer, Mrs. Lisanti asked: "How did you come up with 500 feet?" My question to Mrs. Lisanti is: "Why are you less concerned about keeping garbage out of homeowners' backyards?"
Now that the Joppa transfer station will no longer be in District A that Mr. Guthrie represents, but instead in District B which Mr. Woods represent, the question I pose to Mr. Woods is: "When you are up for re-election in 2014, what will you say to the voters who rallied against the transfer station that you refused to listen to in 2012?"
Since even before Joppa residents' concerns fell on deaf ears at the Jan. 10 meeting, lately I have been disappointed with certain council member's conduct when my councilman speaks and that evening was the most disgusting display of so-called "leadership" I have ever witnessed. Instead of the council asking for an appraisal to determine the true value of the land off of Route 7, they have pretty much told the people of Joppa, Joppatowne and Edgewood they will have to deal with whatever they decide. When President Billy Boniface said there would be no discussion over the boos and jeers of the people of Joppa in that room, that should have been clue enough that people did not want the Transfer Station the way the bill was written.
I would like to remind the county council that although each member is elected by the people within the district, their actions determine the course of Harford County. When I hear Mr. Guthrie speak and see President Boniface and Council Member Richard Slutzky have side conversations and laugh, I am insulted. I am insulted because Mr. Guthrie attends community meetings and has worked diligently to speak on behalf of those that cannot speak at the meetings every Tuesday. When you ignore Mr. Guthrie you not only ignore me, you also ignore the voice of the residents he speaks for. As a result of that Jan. 10 meeting, the county council has made it clear that they do not respect nor care what the residents of District A has to say. And to that, I say: "Shame on you!"
Stephen Puopolo
Edgewood