Allen Township resident Merritt Snyder wants answers.

And he wants this year's 2012 farmland preservation referendum removed from the Nov. 6 ballot.

As of last year's general election, Snyder sought to understand the underlining reasons why the residents of Allen Township were presented with a referendum vote on the issue of open space.

The 2011 referendum asked residents if they would support a 0.25-percent increase in the earned income tax for purposes of land conservation and preservation.

This year again he has the same questions on yet another referendum vote, titled farmland preservation, which will appear on next week's ballot.

Last year's open space referendum failed to pass.

He has appealed to the Allen Township board of supervisors to vote on removing the term "farmland preservation" and replace it with "open space" so the public will not be misled into believing it is a new and different issue.

The tax for the referendum, Snyder argues, is unnecessary.

"Let's face it. We don't need a new tax right now for anything," Snyder told The Press during a phone interview.

Snyder said he finds the referendum problematic since permits were awarded for a building apartment complex located on Spring Hill Road, in Allen Township.

"If they are so concerned about open space, why did they grant permits," he said. "This has nothing to do with open space."

Instead, Snyder claims the referendum is up again for another vote because Northampton County Executive John Stoffa is a resident and landowner in Allen Township.

"An open space initiative translates into a tax credit for Stoffa," Snyder alleges.

"They're [board of supervisors] acquiescing to a politician," he added. "They work for the residents of Allen Township, not one resident of Allen Township."

Snyder, who has distributed flyers regarding this year's open space referendum vote, said he hopes residents will think about the implications and reasons for such a measure.

Regarding the board of supervisors, he said, "Allen Township people do a good job overall."

Efforts by The Press to contact Stoffa and members of the Allen Township board of supervisors for comment proved unsuccessful.