Salisbury Stresses Regionalism, Rejects Arena Lawsuit

Arguing it would do more harm than good, the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted Thursday against joining the lawsuit against Allentown's and its plan to withold the township's earned income tax.

Four of the five-member board voted against joining the lawsuit filed in state court by Hanover and Bethlehem townships. Commissioner Robert Martucci Jr. abstained from voting because he said his construction company, Framework Technologies, Inc., has done work and will continue to do work for some of the parties involved in the proposed hockey arena project.

Township Manager Randy Soriano applauded the board's decision to take a regional approach and "for taking the time to think through this issue."

Salisbury Township and the he said.

"I think most of the discussion and press has been whether to sue somebody or join some lawsuit... Usually confrontation does not work. I think the board has looked closely at what the advantages are for the success of Allentown," Soriano said. "It is a win-win situation if this is a successful venture by Allentown....

"I think the board has sent a message tonight that we should turn the table around. We should be looking for more answers and cooperation with what do do about this legislation. We understand the plight of cities like Allentown.

"The success of Allentown's NIZ is to stimulate private development, tourism and investment in that area and [it] can not only benefit Salisbury Township but our overall region.

"We support any meaningful dialogue for discussing ways to partner and sharing in that success with the city... so the city is allowed to continue and dream about their goal. If we were in their shoes  I think we would want their support," Soriano said.

Although Salisbury does not yet know how much of the $1.8 million it receives annually in earned income tax will be withheld by Allentown, the township's tax revenue for the first quarter was $10,000 higher than last year, Soriano said. It would have cost the township $10,000 to join the lawsuit.

who was earlier a vocal opponent to the special taxing district and the way it had been handled, said she changed her mind after she met recently with state Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) and spoke to Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. Browne proposed the state law that created the special 130-acre taxing district in downtown Allentown to spur development.

"I've been happy with how they've answered all my questions," Ackerman said. "I feel it wouldn't serve our township to join in the lawsuit."

President James Brown said after speaking to the pair of leaders he felt confident the township "will be receiving all our money back from the taxes of the people who work in the zone and live here. I do feel that the downtown improvement will eventually greatly benefit Salisbury Township. We have a lot to gain from it, maybe not in the first year, but in the longterm I think it's the way we should go."

Kevin Lott, a construction worker from Hellertown, urged the board not to join the lawsuit. Lott, who said he represented 470 union carpenters in the Lehigh Valley, said the hockey arena and other projects planned for Allentown's neighborhood improvement zone will bring in thousands of desperately needed construction jobs.

"It's been three years that have been very, very difficult. We have many members that live in your township. This will create many jobs for union and non-union people alike. There's going to be a lot of work around it. We really need this work...I have guys losing their homes. It destroys families," Lott said.

Lott said while he realizes there were issues that should have been addressed, "you've got to put a face on this. It's tough out there."

Lott said he also wanted to see Allentown flourish again and be the great city it was when he was younger.

Ackerman stressed to Lott they were not against the construction in Allentown, rather, it was concern for how the funding plan would affect the township. "How were we supposed to stay solvent?," she said.

"I think some of the problem has been not enough communication," Lott said. "We waited until we got a hole in the ground before we started talking as a community. And we are one. If [Allentown is] successful, we're successful."

Ackerman said Browne apologized for the lack of communication. "He said that he should have been more forthright with all the information. He just didn't do it and so now he's sorry about that, that was an error," she said.