Silver Spring Township raises concerns over revised yard waste agreement with Hampton Township

Concerns over a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dominated the Cumberland County Finance Meeting on May 7, 2025, as local officials voiced their apprehensions regarding the implications for municipal waste management. Silver Spring Township Supervisor Dave Blanker led the charge, emphasizing the need for clarity and fairness in the agreement that governs yard waste collection across participating municipalities.

During the meeting, Blanker highlighted that the updated MOU had only recently been distributed, leaving little time for thorough review. He expressed the importance of addressing previously submitted comments to ensure that the agreement serves the best interests of all involved parties. "We want to ensure that what’s good for us is also good for future participants," he stated, urging for immediate revisions rather than deferring decisions.

The discussion revealed a broader concern about financial commitments tied to the MOU, particularly regarding a capital improvement fund that could require municipalities to contribute significant resources. Blanker and other officials, including township manager Ray Palmer, stressed the necessity of understanding how these funds would be managed and recouped before any agreement is finalized. "We want to know what steps are going to be taken," Palmer remarked, indicating a desire for transparency in the financial aspects of the program.

In response to the concerns raised, MOU representative Mr. Metz assured attendees that he was committed to resolving the issues. He noted that the MOU only requires municipalities to contribute 50% of the capital improvement fund and expressed willingness to meet with concerned parties to clarify details and foster collaboration.

As the meeting concluded, the urgency for a revised agreement was palpable, with officials advocating for a solution that would not only address current concerns but also lay a solid foundation for future waste management initiatives in Cumberland County. The outcome of these discussions could significantly impact how municipalities manage yard waste collection moving forward.