David Jones, left, owner of Kittatinny Canoes, addressed the Highland Town Board during its monthly meeting on May 8. The Pike County, PA resident spoke regarding the proposed Local Law 3, which would ban heavy industrial uses such as gas drilling within the town.

Jones and several representatives of area hunting clubs said that the town should uphold private property rights and not ban gas drilling. “I believe in free enterprise,” he said. “This gas belongs to every single landowner. Let the mineral rights stay with the people and let them harvest that gas legally and lawfully.”

Jones is the owner of Kittatinny Canoes and a Wayne County landowner who has leased his Wayne property for drilling. Supervisor Andrew Boyar reported that the public hearing on Local Law 3 held on May 4 drew an estimated 350 people, with two thirds speaking in favor of the law.

The comment period closed on May 14. Master copies of all comments are on file in the town clerk’s office and the town board and task force will review every comment as the board continues toward final resolution on the matter. “It’s pretty clear that the Town of Highland favors a ban on fracking,” said Boyar, who added that there will be additional adjustments to the law to make it as focused as possible. “I’d like to compromise on some of the language without compromising the intent and the main purpose, which is to ban fracking,” he said.