Chila named to Pinelands Commission

PEMBERTON  TWP. - Gloucester County Deputy Freeholder Director Joseph Chila became the newest Pinelands Commission member Friday amid criticism the agency is being stacked with pro-development members and supporters of a controversial South Jersey Gas pipeline.

Deputy State Attorney General Sean Moriarty administered the oath to Giuseppe "Joe"  Chila at a commission meeting at its headquarters in Pemberton Township. The Gloucester County board of freeholders had appointed Chila as the county representative on the commission, replacing his county's longtime member, Francis Witt of National Park. Witt, who resigned..

Gov. Chris Christie named named pro-pipeline Lumberton Mayor Sean Earlen, Burlington County's representative to the commission and a vice present of real estate and environmental affairs for a concrete company, as chairman two weeks ago. He replaces Mark Lohbauer, who was suddenly removed from the chairmanship by Christie, though Lohbauer will continue as a commissioner.

Environmental groups have criticized both Lohbauer's loss as chairman and Chila's appointment. Last year Lohbauer voted against a proposed South Jersey Gas pipeline through forested areas of the Pinelands, home to endangered species of plants, birds and amphibians.

Chila is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 351, which has supported both the South Jersey Gas pipeline as a construction job generator and the refueling of the B.L. England power plant along the coast that may benefit from the pipeline.

“The latest appointment to the Pinelands Commission is part of Christie and his allies' efforts to dismantle Pinelands protections and stack the commission with supporters of the pipeline and other development," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Robert Jackson, a commissioner who also voted against the pipeline, also was recently replaced.