Schuylkill County officials will meet with state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley on May 28 to discuss a planned 7,500-bed immigration detention center and a biosolids company in the west end of the county that emanates foul odors so intense residents keep their windows closed, and a troublesome Blythe Township landfill.

But the meeting, to be held in the county, won’t be open to the public.

Retired District Judge David Plachko, who lives in St. Clair and has been vocal in his opposition to the Blythe Recycling And Demolition Site (BRADS) landfill, which often emits hydrogen sulfide fumes, asked if he could attend the meeting.

“No, you can’t,” said commissioners Chairman Larry L. Padora Jr.

When asked why the public won’t be allowed in, Padora said that it was DEP’s decision to close the conference.

He said the department was meeting with county officials “as a courtesy” and that the county was subordinate to its wishes.

“We have no authority over DEP,” Padora said.

DEP did not immediately respond to The Times News’ questions about the decision as of late Wednesday.

In response to a question from Norwegian Township resident Chris Melusky, Padora said that as long as officials don’t deliberate or vote on an issue, the closed meeting would not violate the state Sunshine Act.

“That’s technically correct,” said Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association attorney Melissa Melewsky.

But “ultimately, these are public officials discussing public issues that will have a significant impact on the community,” she said. “If that doesn’t cry out for public access, what does?”

It’s also important to the remember the Sunshine Act set the bare minimum for openness, Melewsky said.

“Public officials can go above and beyond to ensure transparency and to keep the public informed about issues that impact their lives,” she said. “When the public is left in the dark, they’re left to fill in the blanks. Accurate information coming from decision makers can combat misinformation.

“The issue comes down to why don’t they want the public there? Why is there a need for secrecy?”

Padora said that he would broach the subject of a public meeting to address the hot-button issues with DEP at the closed meeting. An open meeting would be held at a venue that could seat a large number of people.

Padora also told Plachko that the county has been opposed to the landfill from the start, but there’s not much that can be done at the local level. That’s why commissioners have been talking with DEP.

“We’re actually trying to do something,” Padora said. “We took an opportunity when we were with the Governor (Josh Shapiro’s) office to ask the governor to have them come here. So hopefully we can address these issues. …”

Padora also told Plachko that there are no plans for the landfill to expand its footprint, despite it’s planned purchase of 177 acres of adjoining land from Reading Anthracite. BRADS has been leasing the property for 10 years, Padora said.

DEP recently extended the Blythe Township landfill’s permit for an additional nine years despite it being frequently cited for problems.

In addition to the landfill, county residents have for months attended commissioners’ meetings to talk about their worries that the proposed immigrant detention facility near Tremont would deplete the town’s meager water supplies and overburden its sewage infrastructure.

Dozens of people in Frailey Township have for years begged commissioners to help them stop the biosolids company, Natural Soil Products, from releasing the rank fumes.

Biosolids are treated human waste.

Commissioners have been in touch with DEP about the problem, and the department has in the past found NSP had violated the terms of its permit.

While there is little county commissioners can directly do to stop the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s detention center or the biosolids company, they can appeal to state and federal government officials to mitigate the impacts.

Padora has said he is trying to arrange a meeting with new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin about getting currently verbal agreements on aspects like payments in lieu of taxes for the ICE facility to offset the losses to the county, Tremont Township and the Pine Grove Area School District.

DHS in January bought a 1.3-million-square-foot former warehouse near Tremont to convert into a detention center.

But the town of about 4,000 was already struggling to cope with a barely adequate sewage plant, and it depends on a relatively small reservoir to supply its drinking water.

The detention center would strain both.

DEP in March forbade the center from opening until it provided a written plan showing its operation would comply with state environmental laws.

DHS and ICE have appealed the action.