Rostraver considers selling township sewage authority
Rostraver Township commissioners on Wednesday unveiled a proposal from the Water Authority of Westmoreland County to possibly acquire the assets of Rostraver Township Sewage Authority.
In the proposal, the WAWC would assume the sewage authority’s $29 million current debt service, the township would receive $3 million, sewage rates would be frozen for three years and discussion would be open to retain current employees. The current debt service is for past township sewage projects and improvements.
At the April commissioners’ meeting, Rostraver Commissioner Devin DiRienzo said that board had been notified by Rostraver Township Sewage Authority of a rate increase. Commissioners voted unanimously not to grant the increase without more detailed information from the authority. The increase would fund infrastructure costs.
Rates would increase from $35 to $65 a month for District 1 residents, which includes the Sweeney plans and the Collingsburg areas of the township. Monthly rates would increase from $60 to $65 for the remaining township residents. DeRienzo said the rates could be increased over a five-year period.
Commissioners directed township solicitor Albert Gaudio to investigate the ethics of commissioners Gary Beck and Patrick Egros, who both have sons that work at the WAWC, being involved in a vote on the proposal. Solicitor Gaudio received a legal opinion from the Pennsylvania State Ethics board that states the commissioners can vote on any actions concerning the WAWC, since it is a governing body and though the township may benefit financially, the commissioners in question will not benefit.
DiRienzo said when he was elected to the board, he agreed to look at all options concerning Rostraver Sewage Authority. “I think this can be fixed. I don’t think they need to be sold. I am going to vote which way I feel is the best thing for all of the residents of this township,” he said. The board of commissioners will tentatively meet with the township sewage authority on at 7 p.m. Oct. 26.
In other news, commissioners set waste residential waste collection fees for 2017, with Bigs Trucking Inc. at an annual rate of $611,912. Residential annual fees will be $130 and $10 for senior citizens, 65 years old and older. Residents that have not paid the annual fee by March 31 will be charged a $5 late fee.