Hearing transcript cost riles opponents
Compressor proceedings went 5 hours
WILKES-BARRE - Opponents of a proposed natural gas compressor station in West Wyoming are upset the cost to see a transcript of the zoning hearing on the proposed station exceeds $800.
They say they would have to pay a county stenographer an hourly rate to transcribe more than five hours of testimony from the Aug. 7 zoning meeting. Members of the county zoning hearing board do not have a transcript and plan to render a decision on the zoning request from UGI Energy Services Inc. at tonight's meeting.
The transcript is "the work product" of the stenographer, and zoning board members didn't request a transcript because board members "took notes" and "were there," board Solicitor Stephen Menn said.
"The only purpose for a transcript is for an appeal," Mr. Menn said.
After a zoning decision, the parties have 30 days to appeal to county court. The zoning board recorded some testimony on Aug. 7 but didn't have enough audio tape to record all testimony, Mr. Menn said.
UGI Energy Services is seeking a special exception to build a compressor station and 100-foot communication tower on a 14-acre parcel in West Wyoming, off North Ridge Lane about half a mile from Fire Cut Road.
The station would connect a pipeline bringing gas from wells in Susquehanna County to the Transco interstate pipeline near the site and would allow UGI to bring local gas to customers in the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton area.
During last week's county council meeting, Kingston resident Brian Shiner complained about the cost of the zoning transcript. Councilman Stephen A. Urban said Mr. Shiner, as well as others, are upset with the cost and believe legislators should change state law so stenographers cannot treat transcripts as personal property.
After the council meeting, Nancy Dolan and Steve Simko, opponents of UGI's request, talked to officials about the zoning board. Council appoints zoning board members, and county personnel assists the board.
The stenographer at the Aug. 7 hearing was Angela Sallemi, Ms. Dolan said. The county paid Ms. Sallemi $67,309 in wages last year, records show.
Contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com