Weatherly Borough Council took no action after an offer from NorthPoint Development, a firm seeking to develop data center complexes in the region, including Packer and Banks townships.

NorthPoint owns land around Weatherly’s dump, and offered to convey that land to the borough, solicitor James Nanovic said Tuesday.

Council has had the NorthPoint properties on its agenda for months but has been waiting for an agreement from the developer.

Council received a proposal from the firm last month, but Nanovic was unable to review it in time for council action. The borough received the proposal the day of its December meeting.

On Tuesday, Nanovic explained that the agreement doesn’t really benefit the borough and sought additional information from the company regarding a conservation easement the firm wanted.

“I have not heard back, so there’s really no action needed by the borough at this time,” he said.

Mayor Michael Bellizia asked him to explain more about the NorthPoint agreement, as residents in neighboring communities are concerned about data center development.

“Despite what some people think that we’re going to put up a data center, nothing could be further from the truth,” Nanovic said. “This has nothing to do with data centers.”

NorthPoint offered the borough the land around the dump, but in its agreement wanted to reserve the right to place a conservation easement on the property, Nanovic said.

“Normally, that sounds harmless,” he said. “However, the way they had written the conservation easement, it effectively would have limited the ability of the borough to do anything on the property without the prior written consent of NorthPoint.”

That means that the borough couldn’t do anything, such as putting in recreation trails or providing an area for hunting, without NorthPoint’s written approval.

“The way it’s written, if we ask for approval, they don’t have to answer, and if they say no, they don’t have to give a reason for saying no,” Nanovic said. “So, it’s very one-sided.”

With NorthPoint retaining control, the property would be in the borough’s name only and the borough would not have the ability to do anything with the property in the future, the solicitor said.

“This makes no sense for the borough,” Nanovic said.

Packer Township Supervisor Susie Gerhard thanked council for taking no action on the NorthPoint property.

“We appreciate that move and hope that you do not change your mind on that, because as you are aware, we are fighting the data centers in our township,” she said.

“As good neighbors, I hope we can work together on this,” Gerhard said.

In other action at the meeting, council:

• Approved advertising a change to Chapter 91 Vehicle and Traffic Ordinance to change the snow ban parking rules on Wilbur Street and on the borough’s parking lot.

Council agreed to change the rules after residents raised concerns about having nowhere to move their vehicles during a snow ban since they are no longer allowed to park in a vacant lot near their homes.

Adoption of the ordinance change is expected at council’s January meeting.

• Approved the sale of police guns and the purchase of new guns. The police association is purchasing the guns, not the borough, Bellizia noted.

• Accept letters of interest in the council seat left vacant when Bellizia was appointed mayor/council president. Council will accept letters until Jan. 26 and an appointment will be made at their meeting Jan. 28.