Judges Affirm Rejection Of Hazleton Area International Cargo Airport

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Schuylkill County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Commonwealth Court panel dealt another blow Thursday to a proposed international cargo airport in the Hazleton area, as it upheld Schuylkill County Court’s rejection of a special exception for the facility.

In a 19-page opinion, the panel affirmed county Judge James P. Goodman’s determination that Gladstone Partners LLC, Pittsburgh, had not satisfied the necessary conditions for a special exception.

“The application as submitted did not meet the objective requirements of … (the county zoning ordinance),” President Judge Dan Pellegrini wrote in the panel’s opinion.

As a result, barring a successful appeal by Gladstone Partners to the full Commonwealth Court or the state Supreme Court, plans for the airport have ground to a halt.

Read more: http://republicanherald.com/news/judges-affirm-rejection-of-airport-1.1776451

Appeals Court Sides With Macungie Mayor In Police Dispute

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lehigh County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Macungie Mayor Rick Hoffman has scored a victory in a dispute with Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin over control of the borough’s police department, the latest chapter in a costly and acrimonious legal battle.

In a state Commonwealth Court opinion issued Thursday, a seven-judge panel upheld a series of decisions by Lehigh County Judge Michele A. Varricchio, who ruled that Hoffman is the borough’s chief law enforcement officer and that he is entitled to unrestricted access to the police station and its files.

Hoffman was declaring an “across-the-board” victory in a case the judges characterized as “testy litigation” of questionable value to the borough.  Martin called part of the decision pertaining to “sensitive” police records access a victory for his office.

“Once again, I’ve been proven right,” Hoffman said. “I just wish it wouldn’t have gone this far.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-macungie-mayor-police-lawsuit-20130103,0,5955787.story