Pocono News Section

Company Shutdown Hurting Delaware Water Gap

Company Shutdown Hurting Delaware Water Gap - Monday, January 28, 2008 at 5:08PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Monday, Jan 28, 2008 @05:08pm EST
DELAWARE WATER GAP, MONROE COUNTY- The clock reads 12:30 in the afternoon but the dining room at Doughboy's Pizza in Delaware Water Gap is empty. Owner Mehmet Barzev said most of his regulars are gone, laid off by Laird Technologies.

"We usually have a little lunch crowd -- and people go home they pick up something to go home - that will go away," he said.

The manufacturing company once had nearly 400 employees in the Delaware Water Gap. Many of them visited Doughboy's often. But the company started to lay off workers in the fall. Now only about 50 people are left.

Laird officials said one reason they had to close the plant is because of massive floods. The Delaware Water Gap suffered three floods in less than two years. So Laird will close its doors for good in August.

The closing won't just take jobs, it will also take tax dollars. The company was the biggest taxpayer in the borough now the cash has to come from somewhere else - business owners and homeowners.

Homeowner Michael Miller said, "Money going out without some more coming in always concerns me."

The borough collected more than $30,000 a year from Laird employees. To make up for the loss borough officials recently raised the property tax rate 50%. That means many property owners can expect to pay between $200 and $300 more than last year.

Barzev said, "Floods! Taxes! What's next?"

Barzev is not sure how much more he can take. He said he'll take it one day at a time and hope the dinner crowd is better than the lunch crowd.

Delaware Water Gap's Mayor said the plant shutdown isn't the only reason for the tax increase. He said other things like the costs of gas and asphalt have hurt the budget as well.