Damascus planning board chairman faulted for racial remark

By TOM KANE

DAMASCUS — At a January 4 meeting of the Damascus Township Planning Board, the chairman, Jonathan “Josh” Sheard allegedly made a racial slur concerning the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Two letters of protest over the incident were sent to the board, and the incident was discussed at the board’s Monday, January 8 meeting. One of letters was from Jennifer Campfield, a planning board member, and another from Gary Packer, a resident who attended the meeting.

“Things like this gives the township a black eye,” said township supervisor Stan Kuta.

“Mr. Sheard has apologized to several people over the incident,” said William Gager, chairman of the township board.

“But how do we know this kind of thing won’t continue?” a resident attending the Monday meeting called out. Gager said that he and the board would have to decide whether further action should be taken.

“I offered an apology for my comments and I think that should be an end to it,” Sheard said.

In other township matters:

• Gager complained to board members and residents of the practice of the Honesdale School Board to take one-half of the Real Estate Transfer Tax. “I don’t know why the school should be given the right to take revenue away from the township,” Gager said, and said he would speak to other municipalities in the school district to get their opinion.
• Zoning Officer Ed Lagarenne announced that $3.3 million was spent last year for construction in the township.
• Lagarenne further announced that residents were beginning to comply with the township’s recent junk yard ordinance.
• A road maintenance planning meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on March 1 at the township hall.
• The board will be presenting the township’s request for a grant from the Wayne County Commissioners at a meeting on Thursday, January 18. The county will distribute $392,000 from the Small Cities Development Authority of the federal government.