Residents sue New Morgan over data center meeting
Four New Morgan residents sued the borough, alleging officials violated Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act during a meeting where council approved zoning changes tied to data center development. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate the zoning actions and require the borough to reconsider them at a meeting that is genuinely accessible to the public.
Four residents — Daniel Nugent, Benjamin Bonnett, Ronald Rice and Heather McHugh — filed suit in Berks County Court against New Morgan Borough, alleging that officials violated Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act during a Sept. 14 council meeting. The meeting involved approval of a change from residential to industrial zoning and creation of a data center overlay district near Route 10 and Furnace Road, opposite Historic Joanna Furnace.
The plaintiffs say more than 200 people attended or attempted to attend the meeting, but the room held only about 12 people and the borough did not provide an overflow space or remote access. After officials denied a request to postpone and reconvene in a larger venue, the lawsuit asked the court to invalidate the zoning actions, require a properly noticed reconsideration, improve access to future meetings and award legal costs. Borough officials declined to comment.