Archbald Council Leadership Shifts Amid Data Center Controversy
In a significant shift in local governance, the Archbald Borough Council has witnessed a change in leadership amidst ongoing disputes over proposed data center campuses. This decision comes after more than a year of community opposition to the data centers, marked by a heated council meeting.
During the meeting, the sitting president, vice president, and president pro tem of the council were removed from their roles. The ousting was attributed to accusations from other council members that these leaders were not prioritizing the interests of the borough or its residents regarding the six proposed data center campuses.
Erin Owen, a council member, expressed regret over the necessity of the leadership changes, stating, “This gives me no pleasure, and a lot has been lost.” The audience at the meeting responded with applause.
The new appointments include Louis Rapoch as council president, Joseph Altier as vice president, and Owen herself as president pro tem. These changes replaced former leaders Dave Moran, Richard Guman, and Marie Andreoli. Moran supported Altier’s appointment, but he, Andreoli, and Guman opposed Rapoch and Owen’s new roles.
Previously, Moran, Guman, Andreoli, and former council member Francis Burke voted to approve a contentious zoning overlay for data centers on November 24. This decision was made despite a crowded meeting room filled with residents urging the council to delay and further investigate the zoning changes.
Community Voices and Legal Challenges
Municipalities in the United States are generally required to provide zoning for all potential uses, including data centers, which cannot be outright banned. Resident Geralyn Esposito praised the new council members, stating, “We have four council members who deserve a standing ovation. They have taken on an enormous task to rectify the egregious acts of fellow Archbald employees.”
At the meeting’s conclusion, former president Moran acknowledged the leadership change and expressed willingness to cooperate with the new leadership. “I’ll work with the leadership that’s in there that’s been appointed,” he remarked. “They are doing the best they can, I hope they continue to do it, to continue on.”
Andreoli commended residents for their continued engagement and urged them to lobby higher authorities, saying, “What you put together is amazing, and what I would ask of you is to do the same thing to the people who are higher than us. Hit your representatives, hit your senators, because they’re the ones who make the laws that we have to follow.”
Many attendees confirmed they had already reached out to their state elected officials.
Tom Aniska, a new council member, described the borough’s government as fractured and emphasized the need for a new direction. “We are stuck, and it’s Groundhog Day all over again, and that’s how I came up with my decision,” he explained.
Residents’ Concerns on Quality of Life
Residents of Archbald have organized under the Stop Archbald Data Centers group, expressing ongoing concerns that the zoning changes favor developers over the community. Madonna Munley highlighted the community’s fears: “The people of Archbald are living daily with the ever-present fear of what will happen to our community and our way of life if these data center campuses are built in the current locations that were chosen by those who will profit from them.”
Residents worry about potential disruptions to air quality, water, and electricity services due to the 24/7 operation of data centers. “What is the greater good? Is the greater good millions of dollars? Or is the greater good making sure our children are safe? Grandparents are safe, our community is safe, that is what we have to look at,” resident James Timmons questioned during the council meeting.
In other news, council unanimously voted to hire an environmental engineer. Attorney Brett Flower, who was hired by the borough as additional counsel for the data center developments, will select the engineer.
