NEW CASTLE —
New Castle City Council has approved a conditional use for a recycling facility on South Jefferson Street.
Upstate Shredding/Weitsman Recycling of Owego, N.Y., plans to construct three buildings on the site of the former Ferrotech Corp. property at 526 S. Jefferson St.
The company purchased Ferrotech at a bankruptcy auction in December.
At a public hearing on Tuesday, city resident Audrey Przybylski objected to the recycling facility, saying it would be “a detriment” to the community.
On Thursday, she contended the facility doesn’t comply with state law and that the owner, Adam Weitsman, is a convicted felon.
Councilman Richard Beshero, who conducted some research through the Internet during Thursday’s council meeting, said Weitsman served his time in prison and built up his business.
According to The Post-Standard in Syracuse, N.Y., Weitsman pleaded guilty to 86 felony counts of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement in connection with a loan application.
Presidents of two banks wrote letters to the judge asking that Weitsman not serve prison time. However, he was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and paid a $1 million fine.
After serving eight months in prison, he and his wife set up a foundation to donate profits to food pantries, guaranteeing at least $100,000 a year in donations.
Solicitor Jason Medure said his opinion had not changed, and that it is clear that the recycling facility fits within the zoning law.
One of the conditions placed on the property is that the company will need to submit an appeal to council if it wants to install a shredding machine in the future.
Closer Look
City OKs conditional use for recycling plant
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