HARMONY — The borough has once again tabled a motion to support the Jackson Township regional parks plan, with members citing concerns about land on Connoquenessing Creek and objections over the filling of flood plains.

After continued dialogue with Jackson Township council President Greg Such and Susan Altemus of the parks board asked the other council members to approve the resolution to support the plan minus the section regarding land around Connoquenessing Creek.

After discussion no one stepped forward to make a motion, and council members decided to continue talks with Jackson Township. The resolution would not require anything of the borough but would signal that Harmony supports the plan.

“I think we need to have a shared service agreement with them (Jackson),” said councilman Dave Szakelyhidi. “That’s the leverage we have and I don’t want to give up that leverage yet.”

He also raised concerns about the filling of flood plains.

“So far Harmony Borough has been adamant that we don’t fill flood plains,” he said. “But if they (Jackson) acquire the reservoir property in Zelienople and fill the reservoirs, those reservoirs are in the flood plain.”

Zelienople has begun filling these plains already under directives from the DCED.

Councilmember Don Sims raised concerns that Jackson Township has plans for land on Connoquenessing Creek that it does not own, though is scheduled to receive later this year.

“I don’t like making an agreement with someone that doesn’t own something,” Sims said. “If we can just wait until this summer ... I’ll be happy to do it then.”

Council members Joe Dippold and Jason Sarver spoke in favor of the plan, arguing that their inclusion could lead to future grant opportunities.

“I see this plan as the only way forward for us,” said Dippold. “Every year we have the exact same budget and our costs go up every year. This plan at least shows us a way we can work with other people to get more money.”

“We have the potential to gain,” said Sarver.

Altemus also asked the board to approve the resolution as she has in past meetings.

The meeting ended with a decision to continue talks with Jackson Township.

Neighboring Zelienople passed a resolution of support for the plan late last year.

The council also reorganized for the new year, electing Greg Such as council president, Don Sims as vice president and Jason Sarver as president pro tem.