The fight to overturn the sale of Towamencin Township’s municipal sewer system will continue, after voters chose to approve the Home Rule Charter ballot question in Tuesday’s primary election.
Unofficial election results provided by Montgomery County show the ballot measure passed by a vote of 2,728 to 2,418, with 40.18% of the township’s 13,147 registered voters turning out for the election. Opponents of the Home Rule Charter won the in-person portion of the election by five votes, however supporters of the ballot measure carried a 310-vote advantage in the mail-in vote.
“Obviously, we are thrilled with the outcome of yesterday’s election. This is an incredible moment not just for Towamencin, but for other communities in PA who feel unheard by their elected officials,” said Jenn Foster, Vice Chair of the Towamencin Government Study Commission. “We hope that this can be a model for how others in Pennsylvania can fight the hostile takeover of our water and wastewater by private monopolies and ensure their voices are heard.”
Asked if the Home Rule Charter victory was indicative of the majority of residents supporting NOPE’s efforts to overturn the sewer sale, Towamencin Government Study Commission Chair Kofi Osei said those that support the sale fall into a minority within the township.
“I am too much of a stickler for statistical reporting to answer that question definitively, but being in favor of selling the sewer system is the minority opinion in Towamencin with no question,” Osei said. “There were people who voted against the charter who said in no uncertain terms that they hated the sewer sale but were uncomfortable with the home rule charter.”
Osei and Foster attributed the success of the ballot initiative to the grassroots efforts of Towamencin NOPE (Neighbors Opposing Privatization Efforts) and their supporters, pointing to their outreach and transparency as key factors that resonated with residents.
“We continue to be proud of the work we were all able to accomplish,” said Osei and Foster. “At the end of the day, selling a well-maintained public asset is going to be an expensive way to raise revenue to individual households, and that is a fact that resonates with the community.”
Regarding the next steps, Foster said the Towamencin Supervisors must adhere to the Home Rule Charter — which prohibits the sale of water, wastewater, and storm water utilities — and terminate the sewer sale agreement with Pennsylvania American Water by the time the charter takes effect on July 1.
What happens after that is unknown.
Foster previously pointed to an example in Norristown where a Home Rule Charter provision was used to repeal the sale of the Norristown Municipal Waste Authority, however Aqua backed out of the sale prior to the referendum hitting the ballot. The four Towamencin Supervisors who voted in favor of selling the sewer system maintain that a Home Rule Charter would be unable to negate the sale and could potentially open the township to costly litigation, however Osei said the solicitor for the government study commission provided an opinion indicating the charter would be sufficient to overturn the sale.
Until that action is taken, Osei and Foster said they will remain engaged with the Towamencin Board of Supervisors and ensure adherence to the provisions of the new Home Rule Charter. Likewise, opponents of the charter, including the No Towamencin Home Rule PAC, said they will continue to attend meetings, communicate with taxpayers, and keep a watchful eye on future ballot initiatives.
Towamencin Supervisors Rich Marino and Laura Smith did not respond to questions sent by this news organization late Tuesday night, however we will add their responses if/when they choose to respond.
“This whole home rule charter process started because four of the supervisors refused to listen to their constituents,” Osei said. “With the referendum provisions, we hope this and future boards think twice before rushing through huge decisions.”
To take a comprehensive look at what led to Tuesday’s ballot question, click here.
See also:
Everything Towamencin Residents Need to Know About Tuesday’s Ballot Question on Home Rule Charter
Trash Talks Continue in Lansdale Borough
Towamencin Votes to Draft Backyard Chicken Ordinance
Zoning Decision on Proposed Super Wawa at Sumney Forge Shopping Center Expected Next Month
Upper Gwynedd Hears Plans for Proposed 60-Unit ‘Workforce Housing’ Development on Pennbrook Parkway
