Citizens dissatisfied with the Corbett administration’s plan to bailout Harrisburg are planning to oppose it in court.
Corbett’s receiver released the so-called “Harrisburg Strong” plan on August 26. It was ratified by Harrisburg city council this Monday, September 16, amid criticism that citizens had no time to digest or oppose the vast and complicated plan.
Harrisburg Receiver William Lynch plans to submit the plan to Commonwealth Court for approval this Thursday, September 19.
Concerned citizens will ask the court to oppose the plan on procedural and substantive grounds.
Harrisburg Controller Dan Miller is searching for an attorney who can represent him on such short notice.
“(This plan represents) a 40 year commitment. And no one looking at the specifics of the plan,” Miller says. “I don’t think there’s anyone on council who understands the plan. I know they just want it to go away.”
Bishop Dr. A.E. Sullivan, president of the Interdenominational Ministers’ Conference (IMC) of Greater Harrisburg, says, “The community should be opposed to this because there was no published independent review, or meaningful input from the community.
“A hasty decision nine times out of ten is a regrettable decision,” Sullivan says. “I think (the plan is) unjust, immoral and impractical.”
The Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA) plans to buy the Harrisburg incinerator for more than $125 million.
At Monday night’s hearing, receiver office attorney Steve Goldfield said, “There’s no way you can call the incinerator an asset. It’s only worth $30 to $40 million tops.”
The hearing tomorrow will be before Judge Bonnie Leadbetter, at 10:30 am in the Pennsylvania Judicial Center.
NewsLanc will be there to cover the hearing.
