Former supervisors ask Upper Burrell to add 2 more seats; ties to Marcellus shale raised

Two former supervisors asked Upper Burrell supervisors to consider a resolution for a referendum to add two more members to the current three-member board.

Former supervisors Dan Myers and Allen Uhler approached the board Wednesday asking for the council to vote on a resolution to put the question on the ballot in an upcoming election.

Supervisors didn’t take action on the request.

One of the reasons Myers brought up expanding the board again is because each of the three supervisors had personal involvement, at least at one time, with Marcellus shale gas well leases in the township.

Myers has tried to expand the number of supervisors before. In 2015, he secured enough signatures for a referendum on the ballot to add two more supervisors, but voters rejected the proposal.

Supervisors Chairman Ross Walker noted that larger townships such as Allegheny and Washington townships operate with three supervisors. “We don’t need more supervisors,” Walker said.

Myers brought up Walker’s public support of Olympus Energy during a West Deer meeting last month. Walker spoke supporting Olympus’ history with the wells in Upper Burrell during a hearing for a proposed new Marcellus well in West Deer.

Walker said he was asked to speak, received no payment and told the other two supervisors about his appearance at the West Deer meeting. Myers said to Walker during Wednesday night’s meeting, “Don’t you think it’s awkward to take it upon yourself to represent them (Olympus Energy)? Is it unethical?”

Walker said he didn’t think it was unethical. “Olympus has been nice to deal with,” he said.

Supervisor Mike Conley added, “If Olympus is in compliance, there is nothing we can do.” If the township supervisors would vote against a well development that meets the legal criteria, the township could get sued, he said.

The most recent approvals for two of the three Marcellus well pads in the township are located on industrial property where gas well operations are legal.

Walker reminded Myers that the township did debate the conditional use of the Zeus well pad for years before granting approval in 2017.

Uhler said he wanted more supervisors on the board because of growth in the township, particularly with Marcellus Shale gas operations. “Times have changed, and it’s good to have different opinions from the board,” he said.

Although the three supervisors hold or held leases for Marcellus Shale gas wells, there has been no conflict of interest with the supervisors approving several well pads in various stages of development, said Steve Yakopec, township solicitor.

Before he became a supervisor in 2020, Kenneth Slahtovsky entered into a lease for a well site; it was also approved before he was supervisor, Yakopec said. Supervisor Michael Conley sold land with Marcellus Shale leases, Yakopec said.

Walker signed a gas lease, but it has not been assigned to any well that would give him a royalty, he said.

Walker said he is ready to recuse himself from any well approvals that would involve his property. Yakopec said that Walker legally does not have to recuse himself from voting on wells thus far because there is no financial interest.