Gas issues dominate forum

BY STACI WILSON

Natural gas issues and questions dominated concerns raised Friday at the county commissioner candidate forum at Elk Lake High School sponsored by the Susquehanna County League of Women Voters.

The county’s voters will go to the polls on Tuesday May 17 and have the chance to select two Democrats from incumbents Mary Ann Warren and Leon Allen, and two Republicans from incumbent Michael Giangrieco and challengers Fred Baker, Alan Hall, and Ricky Oakley.

Prior to taking questions from the audience and the League, candidates were given the opportunity to speak about their qualifications. Their brief introductions set the stage for the question and answer session.

All the candidates said they would have been in favor of the state taking a slower approach to drilling operations.

Giangrieco said, “I would have been in favor of a moratorium.”

He said the state’s Oil & Gas Act cannot address the current technology and that oversight from the state is still lacking.

Baker said, “There is a lot we don’t know but if it is a good a valid business I don’t want it stopped just because an environmental group wants it stopped.”

“It’s a hard balancing act,” Baker said. “I don’t think it is regulated close enough.”

Allen said, “They should have slowed down and looked at the technology more closely.”

Warren said the commissioners need to “get after DEP to have them let us know what’s going on.” She said DEP needed to slow down and look at what is going on.

Warren lamented the effect natural gas drilling activities will have on the county. “Susquehanna County is comprised of bedroom communities. We’re losing that.”

“(DEP) needs to favor the citizens who pay their salary not the gas companies. It has to be done correctly,” Warren said.

Hall offered that natural gas drilling issues provided a “classic example of ‘there’s no plan.’”

He said to get the issues under control; the commissioners would have to work with the legislators.

“We’ve only seen a small fraction of what is going on. We need to work with agencies to get regulations in place,” Hall said.

Oakley said he remembered when he was a child, natural gas companies came and “thumped” the ground but said they couldn’t get to the gas here. The laws were put into place then, Oakley said.

“Now they are using those laws against us,” he said.

New Milford Twp. resident Harold Empett asked how the candidates, if elected, could assist

hooking up the county’s small towns to compressed natural gas.

Warren said she has been put in contact with someone on that issue and “hopes to be moving forward.”

Allen said infrastructure was a challenge and he wasn’t sure if there would be enough interest to merit piping natural gas for homeowner use.

Hall proposed conducting a study to determine the need and demand for the service. He also suggested working with the gas companies to put a natural gas program in place that benefits the community.

Giangrieco said he has been working with gas and pipeline companies on almost a daily basis and that infrastructure was the biggest problem.

“My concern is getting it into enough residences, having enough people willing to hook up to make it financially responsible,” Giangrieco said but hoped the industry would look at the idea.

Baker said that resistance to natural gas companies in the area could prevent the industry from moving in that direction. “You don’t ingratiate yourself by resisting them,” he said.

Oakley said residents in Potter County are hooked up to natural gas. “You have to work with (the natural gas industry), they can branch out to areas that want it.”

Dimock Twp. resident Craig Sautner asked how the candidates would rectify the water problems that occurred on Carter Rd.

General consensus among the candidates was that commissioners should act as advocates for county residents to state lawmakers.

“Our job is to let them know what we need and push them,” Giangrieco said.

Baker agreed, “Your commissioners need to speak up for you.”

Hall said the issue has brought to light how much local control the county actually has in its power.

“People making decisions are not working for us,” Hall said.

Giangrieco agreed, “Not all state senators and representatives are on the landowners’ side. Some are busting their butt to help you; others are throwing road blocks up.”

Also at the League of Women Voters’ forum were Magisterial District Judge candidates Jodi Cordner and Raymond Telnock who are seeking to replace Peter Janicelli. Also on the ballot is Kathleen Ragard, whom LWW organizer Juleann Skinner said was sick Friday.

Also at the LWW forum were incumbent auditors George Starzec and Susan Jennings who are seeking reelection.

Skinner said incumbent Holly Bialy had a commitment with her daughter’s graduation the next day and could not be present. It was not clear why Democrat Melanie Kozlowski was not present.

Absentee ballots must be received by the county board of elections by May 13. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the primary was Tuesday, May 10.