Cornwall Borough Council gives final approval on ICE agreement

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On Monday, the Cornwall Borough Council unanimously approved a 287(g) task force agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“My feeling is any kind of federal law enforcement agency that asks for assistance we’re going to assist them,” said Council President Bruce Harris.

Cornwall Borough has become the fifth law enforcement agency in Lebanon County to execute an agreement with ICE. The agreement had already been approved by Mayor Howard MacFadden and Police Chief Brett Hopkins prior to Monday’s meeting. Other agencies that currently hold cooperative agreements with ICE include the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office, Lebanon County Regional Police Department, the Lebanon County Sheriff’s Office, and South Lebanon Township Police Department.

Cornwall residents voiced opinions both in opposition to the agreement and in favor.

“I feel a lot safer as a Cornwall resident that our police department has the authority to do this stuff,” said Greg Meyer.

“You see and hear what’s happening,” said Tom Overholt. “My concern is, why are we going to go after the working people in our borough.”

The board then shifted discussion onto the blasting, zoning, wind/solar farms, and data center ordinances.

Councilman Bruce Conrad, who also serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission, said the zoning, wind and solar farm, and data center ordinances are ready to move forward. He stated that P&Z needs to continue to work on the blasting ordinance citing that several developers attended the P&Z meeting earlier that day and raised a number of concerns about the ordinance.

“I’m all for being business friendly but I’m absolutely gobsmacked that you’re giving the impression that you’re letting the developers write our blasting ordinances,” said councilwoman Julie Bowman. Bowman also questioned why the P&Z had not contacted other municipalities to review their blasting ordinances as a resource in developing Cornwall’s ordinance.

P&Z chair Ray Fratini stated that P&Z will have a blasting ordinance ready for council’s review for next month’s meeting.

In other business, the council:

• Unanimously voted to not approve a line of credit reduction for Landmark’s Cornwall Junction, until Landmark resolves their issues with all property owners. 
• Tabled the advertisement of ordinance for accepting a portion of Iron Valley Drive and Cobalt Alley, at the recommendation by solicitor Josele Cleary that the legal description and plan for Iron Valley Drive is suitable but not yet suitable for Cobalt Alley. 
• Discussed purchasing a generator, which had been approved several months prior but never completed as other projects took precedence, and voted to review prior generator plans before moving forward.
• Voted 5-2 to reimburse a Tice Lane resident $30,000 after a borough pipe caused a major sewage backup in the home’s basement. Conrad and Councilman Thomas Burton voted against the motion, with Conrad citing the borough’s historical practice of reimbursing residents for the full cost of damages. Several council members said they supported only a partial payment because the issue was not reported in a timely manner. The reimbursement is contingent on the resident signing a release agreeing to release the ability to make any claims against the borough. 
• Approved the purchase of additional road signage for Miners Village to help in limiting truck traffic through the area.  
• Voted 6-1 to schedule a public meeting to hear public comments regarding zoning in the borough. Councilman John Karnich was the sole opposition vote. 

The next borough council meeting will be held Monday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the borough building, 44 Rexmont Road, Lebanon. The meeting is open to the public.