Resident wants new businesses

By Tricia Pursell
The Daily Item

May 13, 2009 07:27 am

— MIDDLEBURG — A resident is angered at Borough Council members for their lack of effort in attracting businesses to the municipality’s growing list of vacant buildings.
“I’m paying an astronomical amount of taxes right now,” Bernie Schwalm said at Tuesday night’s meeting. “I would think it’s the council’s job to bring businesses into the town.”
Empty spots include the former Cole’s Hardware, Bilger Fuels, D&D Sports and a laundromat.
If the vacant buildings were occupied, taxes would decrease, but council members don’t seem to be stepping up to try and make that happen, Schwalm said.
Though the borough is paying $220 a year to be a member of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, Schwalm complained that the three council members on the business development committee have attended only two or three chamber meetings since 2003.
Council members voted on Tuesday night to renew their membership.
“We met two times, and then they left us hang, never got back to us,” Councilman Thomas Hackenberg said. “The county can’t even fill the Pawling Station (business park). I don’t know how we’re going to do this.”
Schwalm was angered that the council members never thought to contact the chamber themselves, instead of waiting for a phone call.
“Right now, I don’t think we’ll get any businesses in town,” Councilman Carl Walter said.
After Schwalm suggested that council members become more proactive and contact someone at the chamber or real estate agents for assistance, several council members challenged her to do something and alluded to a get-together she had with friends where issues concerning the borough were discussed.
Schwalm said what she does as a citizen is not council business. Last month, she expressed concern to council members that one of them, Carl Walter, contacted her boss and told him she was being disruptive at council meetings. At Tuesday’s meeting, borough Solicitor Robert Slivinski told Schwalm that she had made a personal attack on Walter when she read her letter at last month’s meeting about Walter’s phone call.
In an effort to calm the flaring tempers, Police Chief Tony Jordan stepped in with a suggestion about how to develop business opportunities. “There’s no reason to be backstabbing each other,” he said, suggesting that council members and residents form a committee to make something happen.
Jordan suggested they identify what businesses would be ideal for the vacant buildings and then use their resources to accommodate and bring those businesses in. “Until we do that, there’s not anything that can be done,” he said. “Make an effort to try and do something. Move forward, or none of us are going to benefit.”
Schwalm offered to serve on the committee if she is permitted to keep her county-held position.