Landfill Deal Sparks Conflict In Community

November 13, 2004 - The Captial
By ELIZABETH LEIS, Staff Writer

A controversial west county landfill deal continues to breed conflict, with the vice president of one Crofton civic association resigning and another group publicly declaring its opposition.

Greater Crofton Council Vice President Art Huseonica resigned immediately following a forum Tuesday night where council members argued about the agreement between the Halle Companies and the presidents of the GCC and Greater Odenton Improvement Association.

Mr. Huseonica, who served in his post for almost two years, cited personal commitments as his reason for leaving the GCC, including pursuit of a doctorate, work obligations and a renewed interest in mountain climbing. GCC elections are held in January.

He has declined to state his position on the Sept. 22 memorandum of understanding that calls for the two associations to stop fighting the Silver Spring developer's plans to build the Chesapeake Terrace rubble landfill in the Forks of the Patuxent community of Odenton.

In exchange, Halle Cos. would build and then lease back a high school, plus pay up to $750,000 annually to a civic group run by the GCC and GOIA, and build a 500-acre park and a public swim center.

GCC President Torrey Jacobsen firmly denied Mr. Huseonica's resignation was related to the agreement.

"The GCC is not having a conflict," he said. "In no way is Art leaving because of the landfill."

The Crofton Civic Association, which represents 3,000 homeowners in the Crofton Special Tax District, was one of many groups that said it wasn't informed in advance that the agreement would be voted on in September.

A nonvoting member of the GCC, it would have been allowed only to comment on the deal.

On Wednesday, the CCA issued a statement opposing it.

While it would like a high school, the association said, "it is still clear that we should not sacrifice the health and safety of Crofton residents, including the children that would be attending the new high school, with the construction of the landfill."

Steve Grimaud, CCA president, said some board members questioned "how effective the GCC is representing their interest."

"The way this was handled didn't effectively allow everyone in the GCC's represented organizations to check with their constituents," he
said. "... They basically presented it one evening for people to vote on."

Mr. Jacobsen said Tuesday the council remains opposed to the landfill, but this agreement gives the community options.

"We accomplished a lot by doing a little," he said. "The (memo) has many good things and one bad thing, which is that the landfill comes."

Doreen Strothman, a member of the GOIA board of directors, said President Harry Sinclair Jr.'s decision to sign the memo has caused dissent within the organization. "The bylaws of our corporation said he can't act alone," she said. "It's clear we have to look at the way associations operate. There is a good bit of turmoil and we're looking at the process."

At Tuesday's forum, Mr. Sinclair defended signing the agreement, saying he had taken a phone poll of GOIA members.

"The (memo) gives us a place to talk," he said. "We're going to try to get something out of it. It's just a matter of time."

Halle must still receive a permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment and attempt to win over county officials, who have unsuccessfully battled the company's proposal in court.

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs is also reviewing whether an American Indian tribe in Oklahoma can use its name on the project, which would mean the landfill is exempt from county and state environmental regulations.