On Tuesday, December 2, 2014 Conestoga Township, PA Supervisors voted not to protect its residents. In a 3-0 vote township supervisors rejected a Community Bill of Rights Ordinance. The ordinance would prohibit any land acquisition “for the construction, siting, or operation of unsustainable energy systems, because such systems would violate the right of Conestoga Township residents to a sustainable energy future.”
Several hundred people had attended the last two supervisor meetings, urging them to take action on the Community Bill of Rights. At the November 4, 2014 supervisor meeting the board agreed to a special meeting to address this bill.
About 200 people showed up for the Dec. 2 special meeting hoping the town supervisors would protect them via the Community Bill of Rights. Instead, town supervisors circled their wagons and voted to leave residents unprotected and follow the advice of their solicitor, Jim Thomas, who said the ordinance violated both the U.S. and Pennsylvania constitutions, was “ineffective and unenforceable and, most importantly, will not stop the pipeline.”
In actuality, the Community Rights Ordinance does not violate the Pennsylvania Constitution and has never been challenged by the federal government as to “violating” the US Constitution.
On May 18, 1971, Pennsylvania’s voters by a four-to-one margin ratified what is now Article I, Section 27 of our state constitution-the Environmental Rights Amendment:
“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.”
Pennsylvania Oath of Office states:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.”
Why did Conestoga Supervisors ignore the Pennsylvania Constitution and violate their oath of office?
They did it out of fear. Town Solicitor Thomas predicted Conestoga would be sued and legal action may bankrupt the town.
This same scenario of refusing to protect residents because the town may be sued has been played out all over Pennsylvania and in other states.
Imagine if you will, July 4, 1776, Independence Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Representatives from the thirteen colonies had finished reviewing the Declaration of Independence and were ready to vote on its passage.
Those signing the Declaration of Independence faced far worse consequences which would include imprisonment or death.
No representative stood up and said “Maybe we shouldn’t do this because we’ll be sued”.
If all it took was a threat of a lawsuit, we would be singing God Save the Queen instead of the Star Spangled Banner.
Since achieving independence and forming a country, the United States has fought many battles and wars to defend and enforce our rights as citizens.
If our founding fathers were willing to face imprisonment and death to achieve independence and acknowledge our inalienable rights to life, liberty and happiness, is it too much to ask town supervisors also stand up for our inalienable rights?
To the residents of Conestoga Township and other in Pennsylvania, it is time to throw the chicken hearted supervisors out of office and elect people who will protect people not corporations. This is after all a country based on the premise of being of the PEOPLE, for the PEOPLE and by the PEOPLE.
©2014 by Dory Hippauf
Tina says
It is time (and well past the time) to start protecting our selves and our communities. Our presently-elected officials are not going to do what is best for our children’s future. They need to be removed and replaced with forward-thinking individuals that see our state being decimated for capital gains.
Gene Thunderwolf says
We should be defending Mother Earth,when we abuse and kill Mother Earth,we abuse and kill ourselves.
Gene Thunderwolf says
When we abuse Mother Earth we abuse and kill ourselves.